At the end of the second week of the 2025 SMA General Assembly (GA25) delegates elected three Councillors who will assist the newly elected Superior General, Rev. Fr. François Marie Hervé du Penhoat over the next six years . The new Councillors are:
Fr. Damian Andrew Bresnahan was elected as the new Vicar General of the SMA. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 26, 1988. He brings with him a wealth of pastoral, formational, and leadership experience, accumulated over nearly four decades of dedicated service to the mission of the SMA.
Until recently appointment, Fr. Damian served as Leader of the SMA Community and Director of the Retreat & Conference Centre at Dromantine, Northern Ireland. His previous appointments also included: Work as a Member of the Irish SMA Provincial Leadership Team, Community Leader, SMA House, Blackrock Road, Cork and many years of Pastoral Ministry, SMA Formation, and Regional Leadership in Nigeria.
Fr. Didier LAWSON Eloi, who was ordained to the priesthood on July 4, 1998 was elected as a General Councillor of the SMA. Until his recent appointment, Fr. Didier served as the General Bursar of the Society of African Missions (SMA), where he brought dedication and integrity to the management of the Society’s financial affairs.
Fr. Didier has previously served in Central Africa, gaining valuable pastoral and administrative experience in a variety of contexts.
Fr. James Kulwa Shimbala, who was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 2003 was elected as the third General Councillor. Fr. Shimbala brings with him over two decades of rich pastoral, academic, and formational experience across various countries in Africa and Europe. Until this appointment, he served as Vice Superior of the Tanzania District of the SMA.
Fr. Shimbala is recognized for his commitment to formation, his deep spirituality, and his dedication to intercultural and psycho-spiritual development within the SMA and beyond. His contributions to the growth and accompaniment of young missionaries have left a lasting impact in multiple mission territories.
The SMA as an International organisation wishes to express gratitude to Frs. Damian Andrew Bresnahan, Didier Eloi Lawson, and James Kulwa Shimbala, for their continued commitment and leadership, and we assure them of our prayers and support in their new responsibilities in the service of the Society.
The above is an edited version of an article published in May 31st by SMA Media Rome on the SMA International Website https://smainternational.site/2025/05/new-general-councillors/