To respond to the missionary call of the Church by sending diocesan priests (and qualified clergy) from more economically advantaged regions to serve in places with a shortage of priests, especially in remote, rural, or under‑resourced parishes, fostering sacramental life, community evangelization, and service to the poor and marginalized.

The Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle was founded in 1958 by Richard Cardinal Cushing in Boston, USA, as a missionary initiative in response to Pope St. John XXIII’s call for clergy to serve in areas lacking sufficient pastoral care. Its original focus was on the Church in Peru, where the first volunteer priests arrived in 1959 to undertake language studies and pastoral work. Over time, the Society expanded its work into Bolivia and Ecuador while continuing to rely on clergy volunteers from English‑speaking countries.
Organized as a public association rather than as a religious institute, the St. James Society invites diocesan clergy to commit at least five years of service in mission territories, usually in Latin America, offering sacramental ministry, evangelization, and community support. Its members remain incardinated in their home dioceses but serve under the local bishops in the mission areas, helping strengthen the local Church where resources are limited and needs are great.

✉️ Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle — General Contact: • office@socstjames.com — General office and missionary participation inquiries (Boston, USA).