On September 9, we celebrate the Feast of Blessed Jacques Laval to honor the “Apostle of Mauritius,” a man who worked tirelessly to empower and care for a forgotten people. Father Laval was a tireless missionary, and hearing about all that he achieved can leave us feeling like we could never relate. But like every person, Father Laval faced challenges and struggles in his life and mission, starting when he decided to leave his medical profession to become a priest and continuing in his mission in Mauritius. We can see some concrete inspiration from his life that applies to our lives, as different as they may be from his.

From Sept. 1- Oct 4 we also celebrate the Season of Creation, a time for Christians to come together for meaningful action to care for our Earth. For Catholics, this ties closely into the tenets of Pope Francis's Laudato Si'.

As Spiritan missionaries serve on the margins all over the world, they are often working to find and implement these integrated solutions for their communities. The Spiritan Office for Mission Advancement (SOMA) provides financial and practical support to get these projects off the ground. In this way, with the help of our generous donors, we are able to all work together to take care of creation and create a more just world. Read More.

The Texas Mission Council, which includes Houston Lay Spiritans and Spiritan Friends, exists to promote and support missionary activities both at home and abroad through the collaborative efforts of Diocesan Mission Directors, Texas mission organizations, and individuals of all faiths interested in mission. Learn More

If you are 70.5 and have an eligible IRA account, you can make a qualified charitable contribution (QCD) directly from your IRA account to the Spiritan Office of Mission Advancement up to $108,000. The QCDs can be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the year. Learn More.