In the midst of 2020’s racial unrest, the North American Racial Justice Initiative was born. Together the U.S. Province and the Canadian Provinces formalized a plan to examine “Our Spiritan Mission in the Context of Racism” and to address the issue of racial injustice within our Spiritan community and ministries.

As we continue to welcome the new Lay members who made their first formal commitments in October 2024, we’re pleased to introduce John Boyles. Though John made his first formal commitment to the Lay Spiritans last year, he’s been involved with the Spiritans since 1994. Since 2022, John has been the Director of the Spiritan Office of Mission Advancement (SOMA).

Fr. Andrew Cuong Phan, C.S.Sp., has been recently assigned to the U.S. Province. Born and raised in Binh Dinh, Vietnam, he is the only son in his family, with two younger sisters who reside in Ho Chi Minh City.

Last year, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit our young provinces in Southeast Asia, including Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Read about SOMA's recent visitors from Rome and Pennsylvania, an overview of SOMA's impact in 2024, an update from Haiti, and the impact of USAID.

Updates on the Spiritans in Haiti, a new residence for Priests in Zimbabwe, a grant to help a farming cooperative in Malou, South Sudan and a Christmas letter from Fr. Mike.

One of the newest confreres we’ve welcomed to the U.S. Province is Fr. Chrysologue Pontien Kenfack Djondzo, C.S.Sp. Fr. Pontien was born December 9, 1991, in Yaoundé in the West Region of Cameroon.

Over the next several issues of One Heart, One Spirit, we’ll be welcoming the new Lay Spiritans who made their first formal commitments to the Lay Spiritans on October 2, 2024. First, we’re pleased to introduce Giovan Cuchapin.

The 14th Annual Faithful Citizenship Dinner was an occasion of great celebration for the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (CFC) at The University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX. After three decades of working to integrate faith with our cultural formation as Americans, the CFC took the occasion to celebrate their founder, Fr. Donald S. Nesti, C.S.Sp. and honor all those who have supported their mission.

A Mass of Installation was held on October 2 at the Spiritan Center Chapel in Bethel Park, PA, to welcome Fr. John Fogarty, C.S.Sp. as the new Provincial.

For young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), support structures often fall off after high school. With limited post-secondary options, many are challenged with a lack of opportunities and careers. They can end up in low-paying jobs that don’t necessarily match their dreams for their lives. As a result, people with IDDs end up on the margins.

Fr. Nuno Miguel da Silva Rodrigues, C.S.Sp., is one of our most recent Spiritan Missionaries to come to serve on mission in the U.S. Province. He currently lives with the Spiritan Community in Central Falls, Rhode Island.

A new group at Holy Ghost Prep, a Spiritan high school in Bensalem, PA, is encouraging leadership and service in the Spiritan tradition. The group, named “Hearts on Fire” is led by Fr. Dan Sormani, C.S.Sp., the chaplain at the school.

When people ask me how I became a Lay Spiritan, they are often surprised when, without hesitation, I reply it was because I read the Spiritan charism. My journey to our community started twenty years before I knew anything about the Spiritans.

SOMA Donors Affect Lives: Your Donations at Work through 3 SOMA Grants

Since its inception, SOMA has been responding and will continue responding to several of the Laudato Si’ goals, namely: Response to the Cry of the Earth, Response to the Cry of the Poor, and Ecological Economics.

At Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish, a Spiritan Parish in Arlington, VA, caring for our common home is an important part of their justice and peace work. As a parish, they focus on “thinking globally while acting locally.”

Updates from Spiritan school St. Martial in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the history of Spiritan presence in Haiti, Spiritan Day of Giving results, and the Spiritan in Mission Dinner in Houston, TX.

When faced with the question of final profession, I have been reflecting on the idea of vocation itself.

The Congregation of the Holy Spirit United States Province held its Provincial Chapter from June 17-21, 2024, at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This week-long meeting is convened every eight years (previously six)—alternating every four years (previously three) with Provincial Assemblies— for prayerful reflection on the work and direction of the Congregation and election of the leadership team.