The 26 Delegates to the 18th Provincial Assembly of the Society of African Missions [SMA], meeting in the Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre, Newry, Co Down, have elected Fr Malachy Flanagan, SMA, to a second six-year term as Provincial Leader.
From Co Louth, Fr Malachy was born in 1962. He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Tomás O’Fiaich in his home parish, Tullyallen, in 1989.
After Ordination, he served in pastoral ministry for seven years in Ilorin Diocese, Nigeria in both urban and rural parishes. In 1996, with the creation of the new jurisdiction of the Apostolic Prefecture of Kontagora, Fr Malachy transferred to this new area which later became an Apostolic Vicariate and then the Diocese of Kontagora. While in Kontagora, Fr Malachy was appointed Chancellor and Secretary to Bishop Tim Carroll SMA and he was also responsible for development and pastoral projects for this new jurisdiction. In both Ilorin and Kontagora, Fr Malachy worked on the missionary frontline, announcing the Good News of God’s love in areas where the Gospel had yet to be preached.
In 2006 he was recalled to join the staff in the Office of the Provincial Bursar in Cork. He succeeded Fr Jarlath Walsh as Provincial Bursar after the 2007 Provincial Assembly.
Co-opted onto the Provincial Council in May 2013, he was then elected as Vice-Provincial Leader during the 2013 Provincial Assembly. In 2019 he was elected as Provincial Leader.
Please remember Fr Malachy in your prayers at this time and during this coming term of office.