About | Missionary Society O

Christ's Ambassadors in Canada

The Beginning

The Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria (MSP) was founded on World Mission Sunday, October 23, 1977 by Cardinal Dominic Ekandem, and established by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria. The foundation of MSP was in response to the teachings of Jesus to go out and make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15), and the call of the Second Vatican Council on young churches in Africa to share in the missionary work of the Universal Church as emphasized by Pope Paul VI in Uganda in 1969. The faith we received from the early missionaries that came to Nigeria, we are now sharing across the world.

In 1978, with the endorsement of the Nigerian Catholic bishops, the Missionary Society of St. Paul was erected as a Pious Union

Ordination of MSP priest began in 1985.

In 1994, the Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith approved the canonical status of the MSP as a Society of Apostolic Life. Fundamental aspects of the MSP apostolate include primary evangelization and re-evangelizing communities of faith. Missionaries of St. Paul strive to “to be all things to all people” (1 Cor 9:22), in order to proclaim and witness God’s love in every locale and context.

Four decades later, Cardinal Ekandem’s vision continues to bear fruit, with approximately 300 Missionaries of St. Paul serving in diverse pastoral ministries in the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and North America.Today we have over 300 ordained MSP priests, and more than 250 MSP priests in active ministry. MSP has a seminary in Nigeria with more than 100 seminarians studying for the priesthood. Today priests of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria work in Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Malawi, Nigeria, South Sudan, the Gambia, Liberia, and South Africa. The MSP are also in England, Grenada, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Rome, Ireland, Bahamas, Canada, and United States of America.

MSP Canada Mission

"When Canadians embarked on their mission to Nigeria, one wonders if they imagined that Nigerians would one day be missionaries to Canada."

The Catholic Ambassador
www.mspfathers.org

Who and where MSP serve

Today the MSP serve as a missionary order of religious priests in the Canadian Catholic dioceses of Prince Albert, SK, and Peterborough, ON. And in 2026 the MSP have responded to the invitations for additional MSP priests to serve in the dioceses of Calgary, AB, and Victoria, BC. The MSP priests in Canada bring to their respective pastoral ministries their homegrown faith and their experiences from previous missionary work in nations including Liberia, Malawi, Italy and the United States of America.

With a missionary spirit of compassion and joy, the MSP priests are here in Canada to humbly meet the immediate needs of the Catholic Church in Canada. The MSP are engaging within the parish communities they are called to serve and outreaching to those in need - especially families facing life issues that thirst for God's embrace. At the same time, they are enriched by the strong faith of the people they now serve.

Canada becomes its own unique mission

In 2015 the Missionary Society of St. Paul’s General Council created the MSP Canada Mission. MSP priests serving in both the United States of America and Canada no longer share a common leadership structure. On January 25, 2017, Most Rev. Albert Thévenot, M. Afr., Bishop of Prince Albert, formally inaugurated the MSP Canada Mission at a Eucharistic celebration in the St. Joseph Calasanctius Roman Catholic Church, North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The Missionary Society of St. Paul is grateful to Bishop Thévenot for presiding at this memorable event and for providing an initial base for the MSP Canada Mission.

In 2025, the MSP Canada Mission established their first national headquarters in Huntsville ON., which was formally opened under the graciousness of Most Rev. Daniel Meihm, Bishop of the Diocese of Peterborough, Ontario. From these humble beginnings the MSP intend to extend their mission of gratitude in Canada by dedicating more resources to serve the nation with a mission office.

The MSP Canada Mission is indebted to its past and current board of directors, its legal team, the AMSP and to MSP friends across Canada for their diligent service and generous support.

The presence of MSP priests in Canada testifies to this witness of faith and reciprocates the generosity of Canadian missionaries to the Catholic Church in Nigeria.

The MSP Canada Mission is thankful to God for its fruitful pastoral ministries in Canada and looks forward to future mission collaborations with other dioceses in ministering to Canadian Catholics.