Novena in Honour of Our Lady of Lourdes

At St Joseph’s Church, Wilton, Cork.
From Tuesday 3rd February to Wednesday 11th February, 2026.
Mass 10am each morning (except Sunday, which will be at 10.30am)

About the SMA

The Society of African Missions (SMA) is a catholic missionary society founded in 1856 by Venerable Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac.  It is an International family of Missionaries bonded together by their common response to the command of Jesus Christ to: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mk 16: 15).

SMA’s work to build up faith communities, church structures, provide education, health care, social development and to promote justice and care for creation.  Through these means, SMAs seek to be an effective response to the missionary vocation of the Church, chiefly among Africans and people of African origin.

Our projects

The Tanga House project is run by members of the Society of African Missions (SMA) in cooperation with Polish Loreto Sisters and SMA lay missionaries.  It provides a safe home for Albino children in Tanzania – who because of their condition are often stigmatised and excluded.  They are sometimes killed or subjected to violence and mutilation due to a superstitious belief associated with witchcraft that albino body parts can bring wealth.

Remember the Missions in Your WILL

Leaving a gift in your Will is a special way to help our Mission work. Your kindness and generosity can live on even after you are gone.

If you require more information please contact the SMA House nearest to you, or send an e-mail to [email protected].

Latest News

Twenty-Nine New SMA Members

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 marked with end of year exams for some and the joy of...

SMA INTERNATIONAL NEWS –  July 2024

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 overview of the SMA mission and hear comments from the Bishop of...

The 165th Anniversary of the SMA Founders Death

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 SMA founder, Melchior de Marion Brésillac. He died with the words...

Strengthening the Culture of Democracy through Values

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 European Union.  Below is the text of a...

WORLD REFUGEE DAY – 20 June 2024

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 to conflict, violence, persecution, or natural disasters. ...

Ways to Support

Our Projects in Africa

The goals of building up faith communities and church structures, providing education, health care, social development and caring for our environment have been at the heart of the SMA’s missionary work.

Over the years we have supported the care of children at Tanga House, we have helped develop housing for those that were homeless, we have assisted in the building of schools and we have continued to educate Seminarians training to become SMA Missionary Priests.

Missionary Association Cards and prayers for a loved one

You can donate to the SMA by ordering one or more Missionary Association Cards.  Our cards are designed to let someone know that you have remembered them in a prayerful way.  All prayer intentions received are placed before the altar in the Community Chapel of the SMA House from where you got the Card and will be remembered in our daily prayers and Masses.

We have a number of options available for Birthdays, Sympathy, Get Well, Christmas, etc.

Events in Ireland

Each year we host a selection of events such as Summer schools and camps, climate change and biodiversity conferences and events on human trafficking and advocacy.

We also host Novenas across Ireland.

Sunday Homilies

Homily for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A

Homily for the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A

Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20 Theme: ‘But who do you say I am?’  (Mt 16:15) At the foot of Mount Hermon, on the border between Israel and Syria, where the river Jordan...

Homily for the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A

Homily for the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A

Readings:  Isaiah 56:1,6-7; Romans 11:13-15,29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 Theme: ‘Woman, great is your Faith’ (Mt 15:28) There is no more powerful force in this world than the love of a mother for her...

Homily for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A

Homily for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A

Readings: 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33 Theme:    Faith in Stormy Times It’s never easy, at any time, to keep faith but to hold on to it in stormy times, as many people are...

Videos

Beginnings provides an historical account of the initiation of the SMA. It is the SMA story on the founder, choices and international expansion.

Fr. Anthony was extremely active in the Twafawne building project; a community housing initiative for women that had lost their homes.

Supporters in Ireland contribute vital funds to sponsor priests in training in Africa. You can hear about the FVC supporters and what is involved.

 Each month we share videos regularly on :

History and occasions
Prayers and meditations
Reflections and teachings
Climate change, biodiversity and human trafficking
Mindfulness