Basilica Our Lady of Rosary at Karumathampatty

The diocese of Coimbatore, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, is highly revered by its first bishop, Melchior de Marion Brésillac, who found the congregation “the Society of African Missions”. He was consecrated bishop of Coimbatore by Bishop Bonnard in 1846 and resided at Karumathampatty.

The Provincial Assembly of SMA Ghana

In the light of the theme of GA 2019 “A family faithful to its missionary charism in the changing and complex context of today” was celebrated the first Provincial Assembly of the SMA Ghana Province under the theme: “Gathered under the tent for a renewed spirit”, taken from two biblical texts: Joshua 18:1 and Romans 12:2. 

This theme reminds us that the first agent of evangelization is the Holy Spirit and that we are a family “sent” as family to commune with God and to announce the Gospel to Africans and those of African origin in the world. We therefore need His guidance and protection as well as renew our missionary spirit from the source. 

163rd Foundation Day - SMA

On December 8, 2019, the foundation of Society of African missions was celebrated in Lyon, France. The people from outside were invited to join us on this day. The foundation day celebration began with the holy Eucharistic celebration by Fr. Krzysztof Pachut the general councilor. The provincial Superior introduced the general councilor to the crowd and thus we began the holy mass.

The Provincial Assembly of Togo

The Provincial Assembly of Togo was held from 24 to 30 November 2019 in the former house of the Golf Training District of Guinea in Bè Klikamè. It begins the adoration on the day of the solemnity of the Chtist King of the Universe. The next day, Bishop Denis Amouzou Dzagba, Archbishop of Lome, presides over the opening Mass at the end of his mission. He was surrounded by SMA confreres, some diocesan priests, OLA Sisters, Sisters of Our Lady of the Church and the SMA Friends of Togo.

News from the SMA Nigerian Provincial Assembly

Greetings From the beautiful and restful SMA JABI HOUSE.

Highlights of our week:

1. All assembly fathers (delegates, invitees, GC representative) arrived well. How beautiful it is to come together again. Some were meeting again after many years.

On the way to 2026

Beginning and legal framework

This program, developed in October 2017 by the SMA-NDA Cooperative Commission on Common Heritage, was approved by the two General Councils. This program, which some might qualify ambitiously, spans an eight-year period. In July 2018, the program was recognized by the General Chapter of NDA Sisters; in May 2019, it was ratified by the General Assembly of the SMA Fathers. Since then it has become a road map for both Institutes in the framework of research on the Common Heritage and the living of the charism today.

Youth holiday camp at St. Monica Catholic Church Kitengela -Kenya

I just returned to Lyon from Kampala (Uganda), where I took part in the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and its 18th Plenary Assembly which took place from 19 to 29 July 2019, on the theme “Church - Family of God in Africa, celebrate your jubilee, proclaim Jesus Christ your Saviour”. At the end of the celebration, which allowed for pastoral reflections on the theme “May they know Christ and have life in abundance” (Jn 17:3; 10:10), the Pastors of Africa and Madagascar, addressed a message and exhortation to the Church – Family of God in Africa and the youth were not left behind.

The new Provincial superior of Strasbourg Province and his council

From 24 to 28 June 2019 the Provincial Assembly of Strasbourg is held in Zinswald. After a recollection, Justin Kette, Superior, spoke in his opening remarks about the situation of our entity as an incentive for optimism. The Superior General Antonio Porcellato, invited to animate this assembly, preferred to leave this task while expressing his joy of participating in it once again. At this provincial meeting, participants agreed on a six-year term and a three-member council, the provincial superior and two councilors. André N'Koy (C) was elected provincial, Raja Lourdusamy (R) vice-provincial and Justin Inandjo (L) councilor.