Family Vocations Community

Established in 1959 to support the young priests in formation, The Family Vocations Crusade (FVC) began in the North based at Dromantine but spread throughout Ireland and has a total membership of about 15,000.  In June 2017, the Extraordinary Provincial Council adapted its name to the Family Vocations Community. Ireland is divided into Ulster, the West, Dublin, Leinster and Munster and an SMA is the Director of FVC in each region. The work of the Director is pastoral as well as administrative, attending meetings and saying house Masses, visiting sick sponsors and attending funerals, as well as overseeing the financial matters. The camps at Dromantine were developed for the sons (and later daughters) of FVC members but are now open to any young person wishing to attend.

Head Sponsors form groups of Sponsors who make an annual contribution towards the formation of SMA seminarians, now all in Africa and Asia. Each cycle of sponsorship lasts 8 years at the end of which the groups are invited to an 8year Mass of thanksgiving for their support of the young priests in formation. This usually coincides with the Annual Masses for sponsors held in September each year, at which time an SMA priest from Africa or Asia representing the newly ordained class visits Ireland to attend theses Masses and meet the sponsors.