The Spiritan Office for Mission Advancement (SOMA) team in Houston, TX held their first annual Spiritans in Mission Dinner on May 16, 2024.

The event at Hotel Granduca was a great opportunity for local Spiritans, donors and friends to fellowship, learn more about the Spiritan mission and contribute to the Spiritan cause.

Prints of art from the Spiritan-sponsored Art Ministry Project at Arba Minch Prison in Ethiopia were available to view and purchase throughout the evening. The art program was started in 2015 by Fr. Paddy Moran, C.S.Sp., to help instill a sense of dignity and self-expression in the men and women participating in the program. SOMA has provided financial support for this program and other projects at the prison.

Extreme weather caused the electricity to go out for part of the event, but the evening continued by candlelight. The SOMA team Fr. Mike Grey, C.S.Sp., Ray Sylvester, and John Boyles took turns sharing the Spiritan story as the storms raged outside.