SMA SEMINARY FOCUS-
ST PETER CLAVER HOUSE OF FORMATION,
BANGUI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC,

The St Peter Claver House of Formation was built on the outskirts of Bangui in 1991 to accommodate candidates from Central African Republic who desire to share in the missionary life and activity of the SMA. The campus includes a group of seven buildings – the chapel, the refectory and kitchen, the library and meeting room, the students' common room, two blocks of student rooms (six rooms in each block accommodates 12 students) and another block for the two priests who form the staff of the House.

St Peter Claver is situated about 10 minutes walk from the Inter-Diocesan Major Seminary where the SMA candidates study Philosophy and follow other related courses in the first cycle of their Seminary formation. At present (2007) there are 8 seminarians in residence: 4 in their preparatory year, 2 in the first Philosophy year and 2 in the second.

In 2006 the community organized a poultry farm to raise some funds to help run the house. Just as the birds were ready for sale however, an outbreak of chicken disease struck the area and everyone was afraid to eat chicken. As a result the poultry enterprise, instead of making money for the center, sustained a big loss. The venture has not been repeated this year due to lack of funds and continuing fear of chicken disease. The community will continue to seek other ways of raising funds to help run the House of Formation.

SMA Priests from the Central African Republic who have already graduated from St Peter Claver include:
Fr. Barthelemy Namdinganamna who is pursuing further studies in the Republic of Benin.
Fr. Joseph Tanga-Koti who is pursuing further studies in Rome.
Fr. Nestor Aziagbia Nongo who is pursuing further studies in Strasbourg.
Fr. Francis Barka-Narko is on mission in Pretoria, South Africa.
Fr. Amos Ngaizoure is working in Bangui, Central African Republic.
Fr. Anicet Senganambi is on mission in Nigeria.
Fr. Justin Kette is secretary to the SMA African District in Formation in Lome, Togo.

Students receiving cassocks

SMA students with religious sisters