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NEW YORK, NY — The Pontifical Mission Societies USA (TPMS USA) announces the appointment of Father Augustine Dada, a priest of the Diocese of Ondo, Nigeria, as Vice President of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, dedicated to supporting the formation and education of seminarians, religious novices, and clergy in the Church’s 1,130 mission territories. 

Monsignor Roger J. Landry, National Director of The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, made the appointment, saying that Father Dada will be “a gift to the Church in mission territories and to the Church in the United States.”

“Father Dada is a recipient of the life-changing work of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, with his entire seminary formation made possible by scholarships from the Society. He won’t just be a spokesman, but a leader and a powerful living testimony of the enormous fruits of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle.” Monsignor Landry said.

“He is a Missionary of Mercy, appointed by Pope Francis in 2016, and has approached his priestly work in Nigeria, and for the past several years in the United States, with this mercy in mind. The greatest act of mercy responds to the greatest need of it: the salvation that comes from Jesus Christ and I am really grateful to have him join our leadership team as we work to support the future priests and religious who will share Christ’s salvific message in missionary dioceses.”

Ordained in 2009, Father Dada has served both in Nigeria and in the United States, most recently as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Elmsford, New York. He has been active in mission and development work linking his home Diocese of Ondo with communities and institutions abroad.

In his new role, Father Dada will help guide TPMS USA’s work supporting the formation of seminarians and religious novices in the Church’s 1,130 mission territories—particularly through scholarships for seminarians, infrastructure projects for seminaries, support for the continuing education of seminary faculty and accompaniment for those preparing for priestly and consecrated life. Of the 201,000 seminarians in the world, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle supports 82,500 with full scholarships.

“It is a privilege to serve the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, whose mission is so close to my own heart,” Father Dada said. “I know from experience what it means for a young seminarian or religious to rely on the generosity of the universal Church. To now help provide that same hope and support to the next generation of missionaries is both humbling and deeply inspiring. I am super excited to work with Monsignor Landry and the entire TPMS family to strengthen the formation of future priests and religious who will bring Christ to every corner of the world.”

The Society of St. Peter the Apostle, founded in 1889 by Jeanne Bigard and her mother, Stéphanie, is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies. Its support ensures that future priests and religious from some of the poorest and most remote parts of the world receive the formation they need to serve faithfully and fruitfully.

“Father Dada’s own journey—from a seminary in Nigeria to ministry in the United States and now to national leadership within TPMS—embodies the missionary exchange of gifts at the heart of the Church,” Monsignor Landry added. “We are confident that his leadership will strengthen our commitment to forming indigenous pastors and consecrated men and women who will be fruits of the faith, signs of hope and witnesses to Christ’s love in mission territories.”