From the beginning, Spiritans have been offered a ministry of presence and of hope. Over three centuries, we have brought the Word of God to people on five continents.

The Spiritans have a rich history of serving the poor and marginalized. It has never been an easy job. 
 

• Spiritans in the 1840s worked with newly-freed slaves on the islands of Haiti, Mauritius, and Reunion.
• In East Africa, Spritians bought men and women out of slavery in Zanzibar, opened schools and hospitals, taught people marketable skills, and gave property to those who needed it. 
  
• In Mexico, the Spiritans were invited by the local Catholic bishops to minister to Catholics in remote areas where there were not enough diocesan priests to serve the growing numbers of faithful.
  
• In Africa, two-thirds of the 1,500 Spiritans are African-born. More than half of the leadership of the Spiritans worldwide is chosen from Africa. And the key to our missionary work is "to be African with the Africans," regardless of where we were born.
  

The core of mission remains constant -- the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus to those who have never heard it at all and to those who have heard it inadequately. The goal is always to establish a viable local faith community with its own leadership, incorporating the language and customs of the people.