The official logo for the Sunday of the Word of God

An icon of the encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus was chosen as the official logo for the worldwide celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God.

The colorful logo is based on an icon written by the late-Benedictine Sr. Marie-Paul Farran, a member of the Our Lady of Calvary Congregation, who lived and worked at its monastery on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

The logo was presented to the press at a Vatican news conference on 17th January, ahead of the newly established Sunday of the Word of God, which is being celebrated on 26th January this year.

Pope Francis has asked that the third Sunday in Ordinary Time each year be observed as a special day devoted to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the word of God.

The Joy of Christmas celebration in Pèrèrè

The poor condition of roads made it impossible for me to get to the 3^rd mass on time. Hence, I was late for 30min in spite of the four wheel drive car. At a point, I had to leave the car on the way and call for a motorbike to take me to the village. On arrival at the village, Christians were patiently waiting while having entertainment…

Faithful to the tradition of the missionary commitment of the Society of African Missions (SMA), to areas of primary evangelization, SMA missionaries continue to witness to the joy of the Gospel in the parish of the Conversion of St Paul, Pèrèrè in northern Bénin Republic, 388 kilometers from Cotonou, the commercial capital of the country. 

CHRISTMAS ON THE HILLS OF WEST -POKOT

 A little boy touched my heart so much on Christmas day. The boy joined the car holding an egg. So I enquired from Fr. Lawrence, what the egg was for, he told me that was the offering of the boy for Christmas. What a generous spirit! The boy spared his one egg for God; indeed God loves the cheerful giver.

The Pokot people

This year I joined the SMA community in Chepareria in the diocese of Kitale in Kenya to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was welcomed by Frs. Anthony CJ and LawrenceAmalraj. I was with Fr Mohan (superior of the formation in Nairobi) and two seminarians: Jean-Paul Lawson and Lambert Kette.

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.