On Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th April 2025 the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles and members of the Society of African Missions gathered in Benin to open a year of shared remembrance and renewal, in anticipation of upcoming Jubilees in 2026. These Jubilees will mark three deeply significant milestones in the life of the OLA and SMA.
- 150 years since the founding of the OLA,
- the 200th anniversary of the birth of the OLA founder, Fr. Augustine Planque SMA, and
- 170 years since the foundation of the SMA.
Four separate events took place in Benin. Recordings of these, courtesy of SMA Togo TV, can be viewed via the links below. They are mostly in French with some English.
In July 2025 further events will take place in Chemy, France, the birthplace of Fr Planque and then in Lyon, the place where the the SMA began.
On the way to 2026 SMA – OLA Triple Celebration (Welcome and Cultural Activities) Benin (Fort Français de Ouidah): https://youtu.be/mn64zWaXO54
Colloquium on the history, reality and future of the mission: https://youtube.com/live/BmdFBEPIQi0
On the way to 2026 SMA – OLA Triple Celebration – Opening Mass: https://youtube.com/live/IGKJInZVp0Q
Ecumenical prayer at the Basilica: https://www.youtube.com/live/TJcAsoSrxf8?si=gNdgTzWBWuynZdOP