Return of Fr. Luigi Maccalli
Interview with Fr. Luigi Maccalli
Mission of Bangui
"It was your prayers that sustained me in these years of imprisonment."
Dear friends,
We, Missionary Fathers of the Italian Province of the Society of the African Missions, greet you and wish you all the best.
Together we received with great joy the news about the release of our confrere and friend, Fr. Pier Luigi Maccalli.
Our profound thanksgiving goes to the Lord of Life and to each one of you who, with your prayers and sincere thoughts, continued in the faith awaiting his return.
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Pier Luigi Maccalli landed with a military plane in Rome-Ciampino on the afternoon of Friday 9 October, together with Nicola Chiacchio, his fellow prisoner. Welcomed by Prime Minister Conte and the Foreign Minister Di Maio, he then completed the formalities at the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office and at the Crisis Unit of the Farnesina (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). We were finally able to see him and take him to the SMA Generalate in via Della Nocetta in Rome on Friday evening, together with his sister's family who came to welcome him.
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“It is with joy that we learn and that we confirm the release of Father Pier Luigi Maccali”, exclaimed on the official website of the Society of African Missions (SMA), Rev. Father Antonio Porcellato, Superior General of the said society of which Father Pier Luigi Maccali is a member.
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The official statement from the Superior General of the Society of African Missions
Today on Oct 8, 2020, around 10 pm in Rome we received the news of the liberation of our confrere Fr. Luigi Maccalli who had been kidnapped in Niger on September 17, 2018. Fr. Luigi has been freed with the Malian politician Soumaila Cisse, Mrs. Sophie Petromin a french social worker, and another Italian named Nicola Chiacchio.
The joy of the whole SMA family is great and our gratitude to the Lord is even greater. We rejoice with the Maccalli family, with Fr. Walter Maccalli our confrere and brother of Fr. Luigi, and all those who were concerned, prayed and contributed in one way or the other for the liberation of Fr. Luigi especially the entire dioceses of Crema, and Niamey with their Bishops at the head.
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“You will not only represent the SMA or your dioceses abroad, but you will be ambassadors of Zambia as a nation.”These words were addressed to Fr. Peddy Sinda, Fr. Western Chewe, Fr. Deotacius Chikontwe, Fr. Chikosi Temani, and Fr. Bernard Mulongo, the five newly ordained priests of the Society of African Missions by the Zambian District Superior Fr. Ignatius Malwa. The ordination Mass was celebrated in the open air under the covid-19 restrictions, the family and friends expressed their joy in song and dance.
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The SMA International Media Centre had the privilege to interview Fr. Oshalaiye Christopher, SMA about his mission in the Republic of Benin. This article is a response to that interview.
“I am a happy missionary priest and I am glad to have the opportunity to minister to the people of God every day.” “At some point in time, I thought the number of people present at Mass was more important, I was quite surprised to witness in this new parish that just about 10 – 15 people came for morning Mass which was incomparable to the previous parish I worked in,” he exclaimed, adding that, “it is the savoir-faire I had in Niger when I went to help out the SMA confreres during the break that changed my notion of numbers positively.”
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As part of its policy to promote youth employment and access to basic infrastructure for the most vulnerable, the Togolese government has launched several programs, including the Support of Vulnerable Populations (PSVP). The PSVP, which is a state program, decided to accompany the Church of Togo and more precisely the diocese of Sokodé in its mission of preferential option for the poor. The OCDI Caritas Sokodé is the organ that materializes this mission of the Church in the diocese of Sokodé.
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SMA Founder Bsp. Melchior Marion de Brésillac
Message from the Superior General and his councils
Welcome Back Pier Luigi MACCALLISMA Missionnary kidnapped in Niger, Sept 17, 2018
He has arrived Rome on 8th October 2020