Update #25: Saving Souls!

Dearest Friends of the SSIH Mission,

Imagine a world where the light of Christ flickers dimly, where souls hunger for truth but find no shepherds to guide them. Now picture a humble corner of Nigeria, where the SSIH Mission dares to fight that darkness by forming holy priests to carry the Gospel and give the Sacraments to a weary world. This sacred dream—to build a Traditional Catholic major seminary for 35 young men called by God and guided by 5 devoted staff—is no longer just a vision: the first bricks have been laid! Yet, this holy work hangs in the balance, and we need your continued support, our brothers and sisters in Faith, to keep building this miracle.

Your generosity has already lit the way—funding site surveys and those precious first bricks now rising from the soil. We’ve begun construction, but the path ahead remains steep. In a Nigeria battered by 34% inflation, fuel is at ₦1,000 per liter, this takes a lot of our raised support for gas as we travel to the various villages to offer the Sacraments and teach Catechism. The Naira stretched thin (1 USD = 1,600 NGN), every penny is a battle. Yet, every dollar you give builds more than walls—it builds Hope, Faith, and a future for the Church. After consulting local contractors, priests, and Catholic stakeholders, we’ve refined our plans to balance tradition with practicality, projecting a total cost of $600,000–$1,000,000 (₦960 million–₦1.6 billion) to plant a seed that could save a million souls.

At the heart of this mission is the Main Chapel, a modest 300-square-meter sanctuary where 35 seminarians will kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, their voices rising in timeless chants. Local construction rates of $400–$600 per square meter set finishing the building costs at $120,000–$180,000. For religious statues, sticking with a range of ₦1,000,000–₦3,000,000 ($625–$1,875 USD) for 3–5 fiberglass or wooden pieces should work nicely for the main Chapel. We could try to import statues but the import payments are so high. Add $50,000 for wood for the pews and a simple altar, plus $30,000 for an imported organ to lift their prayers heavenward. A priest in Owerri recently shared that a 500 m² church cost $312,500, affirming our estimates. The foundation is started—will you help us raise its walls?

Next, the Seminarian Residence will shelter 35 souls who’ve left everything to serve. To house this larger group, we envision 500 square meters, using local bricks and concrete amid soaring cement prices (₦4,500 per bag), costing $75,000–$150,000 to build, plus $4,000 for beds and basics—totaling $115,000–$190,000. Contractors note these figures align with Nigeria’s economic realities, keeping costs manageable. The groundwork is laid—can we keep building to give these young men a fully equipped seminary residence?

Their academic formation hinges on the Classroom Building (200 m², $40,000–$70,000, plus $2,000 for desks with chairs seat 35) and Library (100 m², $20,000–$30,000, plus $15,000 for books), together $110,000–$150,000. How can they preach the Word if we don’t equip them to learn it? The Refectory and Kitchen (150 m², $45,000–$60,000 with equipment) will nourish their bodies, while the Staff Residence (150 m², $37,500–$60,000) houses the 5 who guide them. Even the Courtyard and Gardens ($10,000) and Outdoor Stations of the Cross ($8,000) can offer peace and sacrifice—small costs for eternal rewards. We are currently able to function with the most basics but it is a real struggle without the proper places and equipment.

For a standard residential borehole (well for water), the average cost across Nigeria typically falls between ₦600,000 and ₦1,500,000 ($375–$938 USD), including drilling, casing, and basic pump installation. Our current well has dried up and unless we drill a deeper well, the water situation is dire.

The first bricks mark a triumph of your past support, yet we cannot finish without you. A gift of $10 buys another brick; $100 furnishes a seminarian’s room; $1,000 raises a chapel wall higher. No amount is too small when given with love, and every dollar keeps this mission growing.

To feed 35 seminarians and 15 nuns in Nigeria with the current cost as of March 2025:

• Daily: ₦60,000–₦100,000 ($38–$63 USD).

• Monthly: ₦1,800,000–₦3,000,000 ($1,125–$1,875 USD).

Please, don’t turn away from this call. Offer a Holy Mass, a Rosary, a financial sacrifice for these 35 future priests. Share our story with your parish, your family, anyone with a heart for Christ. Together, under Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart, we’ve begun a legacy of salvation—one priest, one soul at a time. Will you stand with us to continue building, reclaiming souls for Christ in a land crying out for hope?

We are so so grateful and promise our continuous Prayers, Penances and Sacrifices for all that you have helped us accomplish thus far for the salvation of souls!

If you may wish to equip; construct or build the Chapel, Grotto, Garden, Station of the Cross Walkway, the Borehole, a few bricks of a bag of cement, the Statues of our Sacred and Immaculate Hearts; a wall of the Seminary, we could name these places/items after your favorite Saints, Archangel or Holy Titles or Names you desire. Your name, or your family names will ever be in the Hearts of the Two Greatest Hearts of Love, be assured! Please donate here and email us here your names.

The picture above is of the Sisters teaching the Children Catechism in the Asukunya SSIH NOVITIATE. There is lots of work to be done for these poor souls.

Below are more pictures of the SSIH Seminarians and Sisters doing much grassroots evangelization. The SSIH are catching souls for Christ in different parts of the countryside of Ikwata-Oju, the local GOVERNMENT AREA and of Gbem-Vandeikya Local Government Area where the Seminary resides. They are also collecting the essential water for the SSIH Mission daily needs.

Thank you all for all the sacrifices and prayers and donations we are extremely grateful and pray you continue these good works for God loves a cheerful giver which we know you are in a very unique way unto the Restoration of our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Roman Catholic Church.

Viva Christo Rey! Viva Immaculata Maria.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Fr. Abah Samuel Maria

Rector

SSIH Mission