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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Christmas is the night of joy and liberation from slavery: missionaries urge the faithful...
"Instead of working only on setting up the physical nativity scene, we insisted on building the interior nativity scene, the nativity scene of our...
SMA International News – December 23
Welcome to the final edition of the SMA International News for 2023. We round of this year with reports from:
Zambia - we preview the...
Respect for Mother Earth and harmony between peoples in the life of a missionary
You can see many two-story fortified houses scattered in the meadows, in the forests, and on the hills of Benin Republic and Togo. This...
SMA International News – November 23
Welcome to the SMA International News Bulletin for or the Month of November.
In this edition we have stories from:
ROME - Where we hear of...
Moving tribute from a new bishop to his father
Bishop-elect Gerald Mamman Musa, the first Hausa-speaking Nigerian to be appointed bishop in Nigeria, thanks his late catechist-father for instilling in him a passion...
Peace is not made with weapons – Fr Luigi Maccalli SMA
While in captivity I understood that peace is not made with weapons
"I am very saddened by what I hear and see in the...
Billiri Parish – helping ourselves and help from our friends
Billiri Mission, called St Andrew's Parish in Bauchi State, Nigeria was founded by SMA’s in 1953. It was the first parish established in an...
SMA International News – October 23
Welcome to the October edition of SMA International News. This month we hear from
Côte d’Ivoire - we hear of a spiritual and cultural experience...
SMA International News – September 2023
Welcome to this edition of SMA International News for the Month of September. This month we have stories from:
Rome: We hear about the Doctoral...
SMA International News – August 2023
Welcome to the August edition of the SMA International News. This month’s bulletin features stories from:
ROME: We hear about a visit of OLA Sisters to...
SMA Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Opening its Doors to African and Asian Students...
In 1952 a decision was made by the SMA to admit African candidates to the Society. However, due to the fact that there were...
SMA International News – July 2023
Welcome to this edition of SMA International News For the Month of JULY.
In this edition we have stories from:
LYON and we have a report from...
Gold and Silver Jubilees of SMA’s Celebrated in Tanzania
At the end of April 2023, one Golden and three Silver Jubilees were celebrated at the SMA District House in Mwanza, Tanzania, The event...
SMA International News – June 2023
Welcome to the June edition of the International News. This month we have stories from Spain, Lyon, France and from Rome, Italy.
First we go...
SMA GHANA – A Glance at the Pastoral Dimension of Our Life and...
After the resurrection, Christ commissioned his disciples in these words: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father...
AFRICA/GHANA – Interreligious dialogue, education, evangelization in the Kingdom of Ashanti
Below is an article published in the Agenzia Fides Newsletter of 11.05.23 concerning the work of the SMA in the Kingdom of Ashanti in...
SMA International News – May 2023
Welcome to this month's SMA International News. In this bulletin we have reports from:
Ivory Coast: a report from the 2023 MISAL - the international...
Thank you for a job well done
In Parishes all around the world Easter, and the weeks leading up to it were busy preparing and organizing for Holy Thursday, Good Friday...
SMA International News – April 2023
Welcome to the April edition of the SMA International News. In this Bulletin we have reports from:
Liberia: Where we join an annual pilgrimage in...
Mission is an adventure worth living – Father Giovanni Benetti SMA
Below is an article published by Agenzia Fides about an Italian SMA living and working in the Brésillac' Centre - the SMA House of...
SMA International News – March 2023
Welcome to the SMA International News for the month of March. This month we have news reports from, Italy, Cote d'Ivoire and Benin Republic.
From...
SMA International News – February 2023
Welcome to the February edition of the SMA International News. This month we have stories from, Togo, Ghana, Ireland and a report about the...
Nigerian politicians accused, following priest’s burning to death
In an interview with FIDES - the Vatican News Agency - Bishop Luka Sylvester Gopep, Auxiliary bishop of Minna diocese, Nigeria, spoke of the...
SMA International News – January 2023
Welcome to the first edition of the SMA International News of 2023. This month we have stories from Tanzania, Ireland and Nigeria.
From Ireland we...
SMA International News – December 2022
Welcome to the December Bulletin of the SMA International News. This month we have stories from France, Benin Republic and Canada.
We hear from France,...
SMA International News – November 2022
Welcome to the November bulletin of the SMA International News. This month we have stories from France, Togo and Zambia.
We hear from Lyons, about...
SMA International News – October 2022
Welcome to the October bulletin of the SMA International News. This month we have stories from Burkina Faso, Ireland and Benin Republic.
We hear a...
SMA International News – September 2022
Welcome to the September bulletin of the SMA International News. This month we have stories from, Ireland, Ivory coast and Zambia.
We hear about the...
Blind Children Living with Dignity and Freedom in Niger Republic
"Our appeal was followed by all, the children and young people and their families", Fr Raphael Casamayor SMA told FIDES about the recent initiatives...
SHALOM Empowerment Center addresses violence against women and children
The Shalom Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (SCCRR) is based in Nairobi, Kenya, East Africa. Founded in 2009 by SMA Father Padraig Devine,...
SMA International News – August 2022
Welcome to the August edition of the SMA International News which brings reports from:
Italy: from where we hear about the collaboration between the SMA...
SMA International News – July 2022
Welcome to the July edition of the SMA International News which brings news from:
Rome: We hear about the Plenary Council that took place early...
Nigerian Bishop sets the record straight for President Higgins
On Pentecost Sunday last, the Catholic community of Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria were brutally attacked and many killed and injured. Newspapers were quick to...
St Ciaran’s College, Ballygawley, makes a difference
The Peregrini (Pilgrims) Movement from St Ciaran’s College, Ballygawley, Co
Peregrini is from the Latin for pilgrim, which refers to going on pilgrimage to move...
SMA International News – June 2022
Welcome to the June edition of the SMA International News which brings news from:
Zambia: We hear about celebrations to mark the tenth anniversary of...
A Letter from Poland – THANK YOU
Prowincja Polska Stowarzyszenie Misji Afrykańskich
Borzęcin Duży, POLSKA
Dear Superiors of the various units of the Society of African Missions, dear parish priests of SMA parishes...
SMA International News – May 2022
Welcome to the May edition of the SMA International News which brings news from:
Ireland: where the parishioners of the SMA parish of Wilton, seeing what...
African Catholic leader says Church needs to better tap into the qualities of women
Marie-Laure Abotcha-Boni, is a member of the National Contact team for the Synodal process in Côte d'Ivoire. In an interview with La Croix Africa,...
The salvation of Africa and its children comes from African women
“The salvation of Africa and its children comes from African women who remain faithful to their mission as guardians of life and the family:...
Memory of Catholic Africa
"We will never stop praising the work of catechists in Africa", writes SMA Father Basil Soyoye, from Nigeria, regarding the 'Memory of Catholic Africa'...
Nigerian Christians dying for their faith
Open Doors International, a non-denominational organization that assists persecuted Christians around the globe, has issued an annual report in which it claims a record...
The vital role of Catechists in the Church
Last May, Pope Francis established the ministry of catechists (Antiquum ministerium). Fr Walter Maccalli SMA, who has served as a missionary in the Ivory...
The challenge of a new mission… the support of a joyful and active laity,...
In many countries of the African continent young people have few prospects and life is precarious. In Foya, in a remote corner of Liberia,...
Another Catholic church in northern Nigeria burned and destroyed
The Vatican News Agency – FIDES – is reporting the destruction of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Kikwari, Kajuru County in the Archdiocese...
Covid-19: challenge and opportunity – Pope Francis
Let us Dream – The Path to a Better Future
(Pope Francis’s Vision for a Post-Pandemic World)
Let us Dream is Pope Francis’ latest publication. Written...
Police brutality: Archbishop of Lagos calls for clarification
AFRICA/NIGERIA -s (Agenzia Fides)
"Recently there have been reports and videos documenting that members of the Nigerian police, in particular SARS operatives, have been...
In a democracy, political leaders must reflect the diversity of the Country
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "I think even the most optimistic Nigerian must conceive that we are nowhere near coming to define the real sense...
I have never been as unsure of Nigeria’s future as I am now
After Independence, in order to build a great nation, each country went to work. But in Nigeria, after Independence, our people went to pray...
2nd anniversary of Fr Maccalli’s abduction
Today, 17 September 2020, we are particularly mindful of our kidnapped SMA brother, Fr Pierluigi Maccalli who was taken from his Mission in...
Dark Clouds of Violence over Our Land
A Statement from the
Catholic Bishops of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province, Nigeria,
on the incessant killings in the Province
The dark clouds of violence have enveloped our...
There is still a lot of fear, but finally our churches have reopened
Fr Matteo Revelli, a member of the Italian Province of the SMA, has worked for more than 20 years in Morocco, a predominantly Muslim...
Angola: the post-Covid recovery, still a fragile path
In a report sent to FIDES, the News Agency of the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Fr Renzo Adorni SMA, wrote that...
Plenary Council 2017 – Nairobi, Kenya – Opening Address
The SMA Plenary Council is an annual meeting to evaluate the ongoing mission of the Society and plan for the future. It gathers together...
Prophesy or Prejudice? The plight of Nigeria’s Christians
A Foretaste of the Future?
“And of course as London, Paris, Moscow and an ever-increasing number of cities around the world are finding out, this...
“CARITAS ET AMOR …in the footsteps of love”
Journalist, writer and RTE presenter, Rowan Hand, has produced a 436-page tome that is at once a personal memoir and a eulogy to the...
Zambia stands on the edge
“Our country is now all, except in designation, a dictatorship and if it is not yet, then we are not far from it.
Our...
SMA Leadership and Structures
The supreme governing body in the Society of African Missions is the General Assembly. It is made up of ex-officio members and elected members...
The ‘Yahoo boys’ – Nigeria’s undergraduate conmen
A recent article by Oludayo Tade, a lecturer of criminology, deviance and social problems at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, offers a disturbing, yet...
Nigeria’s deadly battle for land: Herdsmen v farmers
The BBC reports on the growing tension between Fulani herdsmen and Nigerian farmers in which hundreds have died during 2016.
Herdsmen and farmers appear to...
Nigerian Bishop speaks out against Boko Haram
On 27 May 2016, CNS of Nigeria reported disturbing concerns expressed by the Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Rt Rev Joseph Bagobiri , at...
Fulani militants target Christians in Nigeria
The Al Jazeera TV network has reported on the growing concerns amongst farmers and the Christian community in central and southern Nigeria over the...
Boko Haram Kills women and children at funeral
SMA Missionaries continue to alert us to the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria and neighbouring countries. At the weekend we received news of...
UN Report: 12 children per minute become refugees
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees expressed the hope that the new figures would galvanize political leadership worldwide. “We need action, political...
Systematic attempts to eliminate Christianity in northern Nigeria
On 27 May 2016 the Catholic News Service of Nigeria reported disturbing concerns expressed by the Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese, Rt Rev Joseph Bagobiri...
Nigeria seeks to retrieve stolen funds
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria has urged the World Bank to do all in its power to facilitate the speedy return of Nigeria's stolen...
Church torched by Fulani herdsmen
Despite the undoubted threat which Boko Haram poses to Nigeria there are also other conflicts ongoing in Africa's largest nation . Since the beginning...
The suffering of displaced women and children
Agenzia Fides – the News Agency for the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples – is reporting from Abuja, Nigeria, that over recent...
Ten Years Ago in Kontagora…
... a Reflection on the Events of the night of 23rd/24th February 2006It’s incredible that ten years have already elapsed since the dramatic events...
SMA present in Egypt since 1877
The SMA has been present in Egypt since 1877 and at Choubra, in the suburbs of Cairo, where they originally opened a seminary, since...
The origin of the SMA in Egypt
In 1877, just over twenty years after the foundation of the Society, the SMA Co-founder - Fr Augustin Planque - was in Rome listening...
Muslim population in CAR held hostage by jihadists
FIDES REPORT: According to Bishop Nestor Nongo-Aziagbia SMA of Bossangoa the Muslim population of "Km 5" in Bangui is taken hostage by jihadist members...
Egypt… a ray of hope
The presence of SMA missionaries in Egypt goes back to the earliest years of our Society. Eighteen years after the foundation of the Society...
Fr Porcellato elected as Vicar General
Delegates to the 20th SMA General Assembly, meeting in Rome, elected Fr Antonio Porcellato as Vicar General of the Society, to assist the recently-elected Superior...
Eight Report – 29 April 2013
Bethany, A place of rest and meeting After a Sunday of rest with good weather in the spring sunshine, the delegates of the 20th...
Sixth Report XX SMA General Assembly
Our ministry is a gift from God This Friday, 26 April 2013, the 18th day of the SMA General Assembly, we continued the reflections...
Fifth Report XX SMA General Assembly
25 April 2013 – Italian Liberation Day No report was sent for Wednesday, 24 April. On 25th, Thursday, we sent you the Newsletter...
Corkman elected to lead SMA worldwide
Delegates attending the XX SMA General Assembly in Rome have elected Fr. Fachtna O'Driscoll to lead the Society as Superior General for the coming six...
Fourth Report XX SMA General Assembly
17 April 2013 – 9th day of the XX SMA General Assembly Meeting with San Egidio community We continued our reflection on mission in...
Cause of the Founder – XX SMA General Assembly Report
Father Bruno Semplicio SMA, Postulator, presented his Report to the General Assembly on the Cause for the canonization of our Founder, Bishop Melchior de...
Second Report XX General Assembly
We began the second day of the General Assembly (GA) with Morning Prayer of the Church. It was a day for Reports:...
Plenary Council 2011 Closing homily
Our Journey towards GA 2013 With the end of PC 2011, the journey towards GA 2013 has begun for the world Society. As we...
Plenary Council 2011 Concluding Address
Fr Jean-Marie Guillaume SMA brought the 2011 Plenary Council to a close on Wednesday, 8 June with the following Address: We have arrived at...
Plenary Council 2011
Plenary Council 2011 The SMA Plenary Council brings together the Superiors of the various units of the Society of African...
Plenary Council 2011 Opening Mass
31st May, the visitation of Mary - Opening Mass of the SMA Plenary Council. In the actual language of Missiology we find the expression "God’s mission"...
Plenary Council
The SMA Plenary Council, which meets once a year, brings together Society leaders from throughout the world. Ex-officio members of the Council are the...
Jubilee Celebrations
The Society of African Missions Jubilee 1856 - 2006 SMA Irish Provincial Team - 2006 Events: The official...
SMA General Council : 2007 – 2013
From left: Fr Thomas Wright (General Councillor), Fr Kieran O'Reilly (Superior General) with Fr Paul...
SMA – How We Live
Internationality
The SMA is and international group organized into Provinces, Districts and Delegations throughout the world and maintains its unity by means of a central...
SMA Founder
The founder of the SMA, Melchior de Marion Brésillac was born in Castelnaudary in the south of France, on 2 December 1813, into a...
Our Founder Today, No 12, 2012
THE CHALLENGE OF “APOSTOLIC SIMPLICITY” No 12, February 2012 Bishop deBrésillac was a missionary in India for twelve years in an area where the...
Cause of the SMA Founder 2011
THE CAUSE FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF OUR FOUNDER The involvement of all SMA members Dear confrere, For a number of years now the Cause of the...
Our Founder today, no 10 – 2011
Mission as fidelity Fr Giuseppe Brusegan SMA, a member of the Italian Province, is rightly recognised as a man well-versed in the writings and...
Gulf of Guinea District-in-formation
Gulf of Guinea District-in-formation
A brief history
The SMA was founded by Bishop de Brésillac on 8 December 1856 in Lyons, France. The Society had a...
Our Founder Today No 9 2011
OUR FOUNDER TODAY THE CONVERTING WORD OF GOD SMA Father Rémi F Kouassi (from Ivory Coast) shares with us some thoughts on the...
Italian SMA witnesses to events in Cairo
Italian SMA witnesses to events in Cairo Fr Renzo Mandirola SMA is a former Provincial of the SMA Italian Province. He also served on the...
Resignation of SMA Superior General
Resignation of SMA Superior General Following the appointment of Fr Kieran O’Reilly SMA, by Pope Benedict XVI, as the Bishop of the Diocese of...
Bight of Benin District-in-formation 2010
In 1983 the Society of African Missions (SMA) decided the time was right to widen its membership base. From its foundation in 1856 SMA priests...
Our Founder Today – 7
Having the "Spirit of our state" Melchior de Brésillac was a priest for only a few months when he was curate of St Michel...
Melchior de Marion Bresillac & the SMA
The SMA General Council has produced a further book on the SMA Founder, Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac, in order to make this...
Founder no 6 March 2010
OUR FOUNDER TODAY No. 6 March 2010 IN SEARCH OF JESUS BY TAKING UP ONE’S CROSS In joining the SMA I believed, like all...
Founder of SMA
Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac The founder of the SMA, Melchior de Marion Brésillac was born in Castelnaudary in the south of France, on...
Cause of the Founder
Melchior De Marion Brésillac (1813-1859) - Founder of the SMA A life totally consecrated to the Missions 2...