To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ across cultures and to serve the poorest, marginalized, and those without the faith, especially through missionary outreach, pastoral ministry, intercultural dialogue, and solidarity with local churches, inspired by the missionary spirit of St. Columban.

The Missionary Society of St. Columban was founded in 1917 in Ireland by Fr. Edward J. Galvin and Fr. John Blowick as the Maynooth Mission to China, with the explicit aim of sharing the Catholic faith and serving people in places where the Gospel was not yet fully preached. The society received formal approval from the Holy See in 1918, taking its name from St. Columban, the Irish missionary of the 6th–7th centuries, and quickly established missions in China and later across Asia and the Pacific regions.
As political and social changes affected mission territories, the Columbans adapted by expanding into Latin America, Oceania, Africa, and other parts of Asia and the Americas, accompanying local churches in pastoral care, justice and peace initiatives, and intercultural dialogue. Today they work in 17+ countries worldwide, collaborating with lay missionaries and Columban Sisters, striving to build vibrant faith communities and promote a Gospel witness of justice, peace, and solidarity with the poor.

✉️ Fr. Bill Morton, National Vocations Director (USA): • vocations@columban.org — Vocations inquiries for those discerning Columban missionary priesthood.