SMA Journal
Welcome to what we plan to be one of many SMA Journals – short video accounts of SMA events and happenings in the present...
Update so far on COP29
Below is an update provided by the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice on Mon 18 Nov 2024. It provides a brief overview of...
Holy See to COP29: Indifference is an accomplice to injustice
Below is an article written by Francesca Merlo in the Vatican Newsletter of Nov 14th in which she reports on the address made to...
Fr Michael Waters, SMA, RIP.
Below is the text of the homily preached by Fr Colm O Shea SMA at the requiem Mass for Fr Michael Waters.
1966 was a...
NOVEMBER 2024 | For those who have lost a child
In his prayer intention for November, the Pope invites us to pray that “all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find...
Fr Michael Waters SMA [RIP]
The death has taken place of Fr Michael Waters, SMA. Fr Michael died peacefully with his family around him at the SMA House, African...
COP 29 – its hard to be hopeful
The UN's 29th Climate Change Conference of Peoples (Cop 29) will take place from the 11 to the 22nd of Nov. The under-whelming progress...
SMA INTERNATIONAL NEWS – Nov 2024
Welcome to the SMA International News for November. In this edition we hear about a visit by a group of young people from Turin...
Reflection on Readings for All Souls Day, Sat 12 October 2024 – Fr Kevin...
Readings: Is 25:6-9; Ps. 26 varia; Rom 5:5-11; Mk 15:33-39, 16:1-6
After celebrating the Communion of Saints yesterday we turn today to the Commemoration of...
2024 Conference on Intergenerational Climate Justice
Climate Breakdown: Who Cares? This was the theme for the 5th Conference on Intergenerational Climate Justice Conference that took place online on the morning...
Message of the Holy Father for World Mission Sunday 2024
The following is the Message of the Holy Father Francis for the 98th World Mission Day, to be held on Sunday 20 October 2024...
Father Pier Luigi Maccalli: “I return home after 6 years between tears of joy...
(Agenzia Fides) - "The thread of my presence in Niger (of 11 uninterrupted years) was broken on September 17, 2018 with the kidnapping. Exactly...
Reflection on Readings for Sat 12 October 2024 – Fr Kevin O’Gorman SMA
Readings: Gal 3:22-29; Ps 104:2-7; Lk 11:27-28.
Today’s Gospel text is one of the shortest readings in the Lectionary. Jesus’s commendation of course contains an...
SMA INTERNATIONAL NEWS – Oct 2024
Welcome to this edition of SMA International News For the Month of October 2024.
In this edition we hear about a recent event in Côte d'Ivoire. ...
SMA PARISH WILTON – Support for the Trócaire Gaza Appeal
On Sunday 8 September, the Annual International Fun Day took place in St Joseph’s Parish Wilton. It was a day to celebrate the international,...
RECRUITMENT: Director SMA Dromantine Retreat & Conference Centre
The Society of African Missions is seeking to recruit a Director to will lead and manage all business operations and hospitality services within the...
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE 110th WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND...
God walks with his people
Dear brothers and sisters!
Last 29 October marked the conclusion of the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General...
Presentation of the Holy Father’s Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees...
Tomorrow is World Day of Migrants and Refugees a day that celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee...
NOVENA in honour of St Threrese – join Ceremonies from Dromantine and...
Monday September 23rd to Tuesday 1st of October.
Ceremonies are taking place at SMA House Dromantine, County Down and at the SMA Parish, Blackrock...
Fr Jeremiah MORAN SMA – Martyr of Evangelization
This article was written by Fr Basil Soyoye, a Nigerian SMA Missionary now based in Castelnaudary, France. It tells the story of one of...
“Diversity is a great wealth”: a missionary leaving for a new experience of faith
Below is an article first published by Agenzia Fides and written by Anselmo Fabiano an SMA Seminarian from Italy. On the 25th of June...
Reflection for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Sat Sept 14...
Numbers 21:4-9, Philippians 2:6-11, Ps. 77:1-2, 34-38, John 3:13-17
When you enter through the North door the ground falling away before you as you face...
National Novena in honour of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus 2024
The Novena at St Joseph’s Church Blackrock Road, Cork, takes place from Monday September 23rd to Tuesday 1st of October.
Mass will be at...
SEPTEMBER 2024 | For the cry of the earth.
The Prayer intention for September coincides with the Season of Creation. Pope Francis invites us to pray for the care of the planet and...
SEASON OF CREATION 2024 – Explainer and Events.
“Each year from September 1 to October 4, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common...
SMA INTERNATIONAL NEWS – Sept 2024
This month we go to Ivory Coast to hear about training of young people, aged between 8 and 16, in the values of peace...
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE...
“Hope and Act with Creation” is the theme of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September 2024. The...
Reflection on Readings for Sat 31 August 2024 – Fr Kevin O’Gorman SMA
Readings: 1Cor 1:26-31; Ps 32: 12-13, 18-21; Matt 25:14-30.
We have a wonderful seam of spirituality in today’s selection of scriptural readings. Paul, the master...
Caring for the wonders of Creation – in Wilton Parish
Even though it has not been a great summer life goes one and much is happening, even though we may not notice. As we...
A new Resource page on Synodality
Over the last year Fr Michael McCabe SMA has written and published a series of thee articles on the topic of Synodality. These were...
AFRICA/ANGOLA – Father Avò’s mission: to find people as Jesus found them, even in...
This article was first published by Agenzia Fides in July 2024
"Without catechists, nothing can be done here," says Father Renzo Adorni, a missionary in...
My First Missionary Experience as an SMA Priest
Over the last month three articles, written by SMA Seminarians at various stages in their training, were published. This time, in the last of...
Irish Ambassador to Nigeria visits SMA House Blackrock Road
On 31 July 2024 the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Peter Ryan and his wife Teresa, made a visit to the SMA Community in Blackrock...
Reflection on Readings for Sat 10 August 2024 – Fr Kevin O’Gorman SMA
Readings: 2 Cor 9:6-10 Ps 111 John 12:24-26
We have heard a lot already – and will hear a lot more in the months and...
My Journey to the SMA – FVC Newsletter 2024
This is the third article in this series about SMA Seminarians that was first published in the recent edition of the Family Vocations Community...
SMA INTERNATIONAL NEWS – August 2024
Welcome to this new edition of our SMA News for this month of August 2024. In this edition we go to Poland where a...
AUGUST 2024 | For political leaders
Let us pray that political leaders be at the service of their own people, working for integral human development and the common good, taking...
CHAINS, DESERT AND FREEDOM- An interview with Fr. Luigi Maccalli SMA
The 17th September, 2018 is a day that Fr Luigi Maccalli SMA will never forget. On that evening, a gang of armed mujahidin kidnapped...
My experience so far – FVC Newsletter 2024
This is the second in a series of short articles written by SMA Seminarians in Africa published in the 2024 Family Vocations Community Newsletter...
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024
Each year on 30 July, we observe World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. This year’s theme is
“Leave No Child Behind* in the Fight...
AFRICAN DEMOCRACY – Afrobarometer Report
The Executive Summary of the report "African insights 2024, Democracy at risk - the people's perspective" is reproduced below. Researched and published by the...
Life as a Seminarian – FVC Newsletter Summer 2024
Over the next few weeks we will publish a series of articles that give an insight into the lives of SMA Seminarians undergoing formation...
GHANA – “Pilgrims of Hope”: campaign by men and women religious for the protection...
Hundreds of Consecrated men and women crossed the streets of the main cities of Ghana such as Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Takoradi, Sunyani, Damongo,...
Hotspot West Africa – Conflicts and Interventions
The article below was published by AEFJN Brussels in the AEFJN Echo of June 2024. It gives some interesting perspectives on changes that have...
Discussing the 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report
For the third year running the SMA and OLA Justice and Communications Offices have, within ten days of its publication, collaborated in organising an...
Father Peter Thompson, SMA [RIP]
It is with feelings of deep sorrow that we announce the death of our dear confrere
Father Peter Thompson, SMA. Born in the Archdiocese of...
JUNE 2024 | For the pastoral care of the sick
Let us pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick grant the Lord’s strength to those who receive it and to their...
Twenty-Nine New SMA Members
For the more than four hundred SMA Students, at various stages in their journey to priesthood, May and June are a particularly busy time...
SMA INTERNATIONAL NEWS – July 2024
Welcome to the latest edition of SMA International News for the month of July.
In this edition we will go to Sierra Leone for an...
AFRICA EUROPE FAITH AND JUSTICE NETWORK (AEFJN) – Food Security in Africa
The SMA and the OLA Justice Offices were instrumental in re-establishing a branch of the AEFJN in Ireland and for the last three years...
The 165th Anniversary of the SMA Founders Death
Today, 25th of June members of the Society of African Missions all around the world mark the 165th Anniversary of the death of the...
Strengthening the Culture of Democracy through Values
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) is composed of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of all Member States of the...
WORLD REFUGEE DAY – 20 June 2024
World Refugee Day, observed annually on 20 June, honours the strength and resilience of those who have been forced to flee their homes due...
Flowers from Africa
Below is text from a Background Paper published by the German Network Africa which is affiliated to the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network...
Answer to a Prayer
Setting out to complete a long-held dream to canoe around Ireland Fr Michael O’Shea made good headway until he was crossing Dundalk Bay. Then...
The Wreck of the California – looking back on a Missionary’s Journey during World...
This article was recently re-published in the African Missionary Magazine, No 43, Spring – summer 2024. It is an edited version of an account...
JUNE 2024 | For those fleeing their own countries
Let us pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys fraught with danger and violence, may find welcome and new...
Reflection for the Immaculate heart of Mary, 8th June – Fr Kevin O’Gorman
Six months from now we will hopefully gather to celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a special day...
Together, we are stronger
At a time when we hear much about a vocal right wing anti-immigrant movement in Ireland we are delighted to bring you this short...
SMA International News – June 2024
Welcome to this edition of our international news which comes from Knock in County Mayo, Ireland. The SMA pilgrimage to Knock has been one of...
When the Founder’s village becomes a mission land
This article was first published in the African Missionary Magazine, No 43, Spring - summer 2024. The image on the left is a composite...
Reflection on Readings for Sat 1st June 2024 – Fr Kevin O’Gorman SMA
First Reading: Jude 1: 17, 20b-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6
Alleluia: Colossians 3: 16a, 17c
Gospel: Mark 11: 27-33
In today’s reading from his Gospel Mark summarizes the conflict...
Fr Fionnbarra Ó’Cuilleanáin SMA [RIP}
It is with feelings of deep sorrow that we announce the death of our dear confrere Father Fionnbarra Ó’Cuilleanáin, SMA.
His Funeral Mass will take...
SMA Preparatory Programme in Tanzania
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer edition of the African Missionary Magazine 2024. Below is a Gallery...
MASS FROM KNOCK SHRINE – marking the close of the annual SMA Novena to...
This year we celebrate the 44th National SMA Pilgrimage and Novena of Prayer to Our Lady of Knock. The Novena ends today at 3pm...
Homily for the Funeral of Fr Tom Harlow – Wilton May 17th 2024.
Fr Tom Harlow SMA was in failing health for the past few years. He died peacefully in the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork on 15...
Visit of Emir Sanusi of Nigeria to SMA House Blackrock Road – VIDEO
On the evening of May 15th, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the 14th Emir of Kano, Nigeria visited SMA House Blackrock Rd. During the visit he...
April 2024 | For the formation of men and women religious, and seminarians
Let us pray that men and women religious, and seminarians, grow in their own vocational journey through human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, that...
IMMIGRATION – in context
In recent times much of our media coverage has been taken up with reports on anti-immigrant protests that are being manipulated and promoted by...
Reflection for Ascension 2024
In their Gospels Luke and John adopt two very different approaches, the one narrative, the other philosophical (before theology became a title in its...
Pay, convert or flee: the dilemma of Christian communities
Below is an article from Agenzia Fides written by Mauro Armanino. It describes the situation in Niger where SMA Fathers have worked.
It happens about...
Sacred Earth: Interfaith Gathering at Ardfoyle
On Saturday 27th of April an event organised by the OLA and SMA Justice Offices in collaboration with Cork Three Faiths Forum took place...
SMA International News – May 2024
Welcome to the May edition of SMA International News. This month our news story comes from Accra, Ghana.
In 2022, amidst a world cautiously emerging...
A Reflection on the Readings of Saturday 4th May 2024 – Kevin O’Gorman SMA
Today’s readings from Acts and the Psalm are very positive and upbeat. Paul and Timothy travel teaching leaving local churches to live in peace...
“Sewing” Justice: A Theological Response to Garment Worker Exploitation
In the past the SMA Justice Office has focused on the issues of fast fashion and the abuse of human rights in supply chains,...
Reflection for Saturday – Fourth Week of Easter – 27th April 2024
Yesterday’s Gospel reading, also from John, gave us the declaration of Jesus ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’. Today’s Gospel ends...
EARTH DAY 2022
- A billion plastic beverage containers were sold last year in the United States.
- None of them will be made into new plastic bottles.
-...
Pope Francis’ Vision of a Synodal Church
Below is the third in a series of reflections written by Fr Micheal McCabe SMA on synodality. Links to the previous two at given...
Christianity in Dialogue with Islam and African Traditional Religion: Challenges and Opportunities.
Below is Communiqué of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue dated 11.04.2024. It was issued after a workshop held in Nairobi Kenya. The full text...
SMA Ordinations – 12 April 2024
Today the 12th of April six young SMA's have been ordained at the Church of Sts John and Sylvia in the Diocese of Ngong...
APRIL 2024 | For the role of women
Pope Francis: “If we don’t respect women, our society will not progress”
In The Pope Video for April, Pope Francis lifts up his prayer “that the dignity and worth...
SMA International News – April 2024
Welcome to SMA International News For the Month of April.
In this edition we are happy to feature the work of the SMA in the District...
Funeral Homily for the late Fr Valentine [Val] Hynes, SMA
Fr Val Hynes, SMA, , died peacefully on the afternoon of Friday, 15 March 2024, at St Theresa’s Nursing Unit, African Missions, Blackrock Road,...
Easter Sunday 2024 – Exploring Easter as Event, Encounter, Evangelisation
It is essential to establish Easter as an event. This emerges in the Gospels themselves when details of the burial of Jesus are recounted...
Good Friday 2024
A Reflection on Good Friday by Fr Kevin O'Gorman SMA
Today’s liturgy is simple, even stark. The altar is stripped, the tabernacle left open. There...
Lenten Reflection – Fr Pat Kelly SMA
In this, the final video Reflection of this series, Fr Pat Kelly reflects on a Palm Sunday procession in the Holy Land that he...
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on the day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and...
Fr Valentine [Val] Hynes, SMA [RIP]
Fr Val Hynes, SMA, died peacefully in the St Theresa's Nursing Unit at the SMA House, African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork, Ireland on Friday...
A Short Prayer for Sunday
This is the seventh and last in a series of short prayers, one for each day of the week, recorded by Parishioners from SMA...
A Short Prayer for Saturday
This is the sixth in a series of short prayers, one for each day of the week, recorded by Parishioners from SMA Parish Wilton,...
A Short Prayer for Friday
This is the fifth in a series of short prayers, one for each day of the week, recorded by Parishioners from SMA Parish Wilton,...
A Short Prayer for Thursday
This is the fourth in a series of short prayers, one for each day of the week, recorded by Parishioners from SMA Parish Wilton,...
A Short Prayer for Wednesday
This is the third in a series of short prayers, one for each day of the week, recorded by Parishioners from SMA Parish Wilton,...
A Short Prayer for Tuesday
This is the second in a series of short prayers, one for each day of the week, recorded by Parishioners from SMA Parish Wilton,...
Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent- Year B
Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12: 20-33
Theme: The Way of the Cross
As we continue our Lenten journey with Christ, the human face of...
A Short Prayer for Monday
This is the first in a series of short prayers, just about thirty seconds, one each day in this week of Lent. They were...
Fr Cornelius Murphy SMA – Funeral Homily
Fr Con Murphy died unexpectedly in the SMA House, African Missions, Blackrock Road, Cork on Thursday, 8 February 2024. After reposing in the SMA...
A LENTEN REFLECTION – from Fr Gus O’Driscoll SMA
This the fourth in our series of Lenten Reflections comes from Fr Gus O Driscoll SMA.
Lent for him is a time to live...
MARCH 2024 | For the martyrs of our day, witnesses to Christ
“The martyrs are a sign that we’re on the right path”
In this video message from Pope Francis he requests prayers for the new martyrs...
‘LET US ALL SAY: ENOUGH … STOP THE WAR!’ – IRISH BISHOPS STATEMENT
On the second day of the 2024 Spring General Meeting of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Maynooth, the bishops called for an urgent...
4th Sunday of Lent 2024 – Year B
2 Chronicles 36:14-16,19-21 - Ephesians 2:4-10 - John 3:14-21
Two of the most beautiful, heart-warming and challenging statements in the Bible are found in the...
SMA International News – March 2024
Welcome to the SMA International News for March 2024. This month our news bulletin is shorter than usual and concerns three events associated with...
Synodality: What’s it all About? – by Michael McCabe SMA
Introduction
Just as the concept of ‘inculturation’ suddenly appeared on the horizon of ecclesial discourse about fifty years ago, so the concept of ‘synodality’ has...
A LENTEN REFLECTION – Fr Colm Nilan SMA
This week's Reflection is from Fr Colm Nilan SMA who lives in the SMA Community in Claregalway, Ireland.
Lent is a time of preparation, of...
Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent – Year B
Readings: Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25
Theme: ‘A House of Prayer for all Peoples’ (Isaiah 56:7)
A few days ago, I came across a...
Fr Seamus Nohilly SMA [RIP]
The members of the Society of African Missions are mourning the unexpected death of their confrere, Fr Seamus Nohilly, who died peacefully in...
Lenten Reflection – Fr John Denvir SMA
In this, the second in our series of Lenten Reflections, Fr John Denvir SMA reflects on his favourite colour - Purple. He considers the...
Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent – Year B
Readings: Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18; Romans 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10
Theme: ‘The Love that dances in the heart of things’ (Malcolm Guite)
Today, we are invited to reflect on...
DROMANTINE RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER – 2024 PROGRAMME
Visitors to Dromantine are invariably impressed by the stunning beauty of the early 19th century house, extensive grounds, lake, colourful woodlands and pleasant walks...
A LENTEN REFLECTION – Fr Anthony Kelly SMA
Today Ash Wednesday, and also St Valentine's Day, we bring you the first in a series of reflections and short videos that will be...
Homily for the First Sunday of Lent, Year B
Readings: Genesis 9:8-15; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15
Theme: Jesus in the Wilderness
Jesus’ life was dominated by a single passion: to proclaim and establish on...
Living Lent
The cornerstone of Lent is the call to conversion which commences on Ash Wednesday. Sometimes the impression is given that such conversion is change...
FEBRUARY 2024 | For the terminally ill
Pope Francis asks that the terminally ill and their families be cared for and assisted
The Pope Video for February, the month in which the Church...
Fr Cornelius [Con] Murphy SMA [RIP]
The members of the Society of African Missions are mourning the death of Fr Con Murphy, SMA. Fr Con died unexpectedly at the African...
Fr Frank Coltsmann, SMA [RIP]
The death has taken place on Saturday, 3 February 2024, of Fr Frank Coltsmann, SMA. Fr Frank died peacefully in the St Theresa's Nursing...
SMA International News – February 2024
Welcome to the SMA International News for February 2024. As usual we have three reports from SMA's and OLA's around the world.
1 – From...
Towards a Synodal Church in Mission
A brief look at the Synthesis Report of the First Universal Session of the Synod on Synodality by Michael McCabe SMA
Introduction
The first universal session...
Lourdes Novena: 3-11 February 2024
Saturday 3rd to Sunday 11th February 2024, we join in a Novena of Prayer to Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Visitors...
SMA Zambia Golden Jubilee Celebration
Last December the Divine Mercy Parish, Ndola, Zambia was the venue for a celebration marking the 50th Anniversary of the arrival of Irish SMA's...
Prayer for Christian Unity 2024 – Reflection for Saturday 20th January
This reflection is based on the Mass readings for Saturday 20th January.
In the week of Prayer for Christian Unity today’s readings are – to...
Not a moment to waste
A recent report by George Lee, for RTE News, speaking about the latest information form the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service makes for grim...
SMA International News – January 2024
Welcome to the first Bulletin of the SMA International News for 2024. Our thanks to all who have contributed to making these over the...
EPIPHANY 2023 – Wilton
The Feast of Epiphany brings to an end the Nativity narrative – set in Bethlehem – by the entry of the three Wise Men...
JANUARY 2024 | For the gift of diversity in the Church
In this the first Pope's Prayer intention for 2024, Pope Francis asks us to pray for "the gift of diversity in the Church.
We are...
MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS FOR WORLD DAY OF PEACE 1 JANUARY 2024
Below is the text of Pope Francis's message for World Day of Peace. The theme is Artificial Intelligence, a topic we have all heard...
COP28 and Laudate Deum
COP stands for "conference of the parties", with parties being the 197 countries that have signed up to the UN climate treaty (UNFCCC) to...
Slavery, Human Trafficking and St Bakhita
Below is the first in a series of articles that will be published in the lead up to the International Day of Prayer and...