World Mission Sunday

Every third Sunday of October, the Catholic church throughout the world commemorates World Mission Sunday. Pope Francis, in his message to all Christians highlightened on the mission that we have received from Christ. These words alone speak about witnessing our faith to the ends of the earth. It is a moment of profound solidarity when the whole church care for ‘Christian communities in need--- and support the proclamation of the Gospel’--even to the ends of the earth.

Lyon Cours Gambetta: Overnight prayer for Fr. Pier Luigi Maccali

Lyon Cours Gambetta: Overnight prayer for Fr. Pier Luigi Maccali

The 5th October, 2018 from 7pm to 8pm, the SMA chapel at 150 Cours Gambetta in Lyon (69007) served as framework within which the overnight prayer in favour of the liberation of Fr. Pier Luigi Maccali, an SMA Italian Missionary kidnapped in Niger on the 17^th September 2018. Animated by Most Rev. Michel Cartatéguy, former archbishop of Niamey, the celebration was attended by about 150 people of diverse origin coming from the city of Lyon and its environs. 

October 27th: SMA day for ecumenical, interreligious and intercultural dialogue

During our 2013 General Assembly, our delegates chose October 27 as the day of, interreligious, ecumenical and inter-cultural dialogue. The GA asks all members at various levels to make "a great effort to promote" this day.

Why this date of October 27 ? On October 27, 1986, for the first time in the world, Pope John Paul II gathered in Assisi more than a hundred religious leaders for a prayer session for peace. This day of October 27 remains engraved in the annals of humanity in general and of the Catholic Church in particular. By choosing this day to promote dialogue between religions and cultures of the world, the SMA wants to be part of the spirit of Assisi to build peace and to promote humanity in its search for the truth about God. You will find attached a short article (written by Sr. Marie-Hélène Robert, OLA and professor of theology) on the beauty of inter-religious dialogue, its foundation and its importance in our world where relativism and fundamentalism abound. Click here to read the article.

Fr. Polycarpe Guinimbele: From the parish of Doutchi (Niger), to the Central African District-in-Formation

Father Polycarp Désiré Guinimbele is a priest with the Society of African Missions since 2014. He is from the Central African Republic. While in Lyon, at the SMA Media Center, he shared with us his missionary experience in Niger (2014-2017) then in the Central African Republic where since October 2017, he was appointed secretary, bursar as well as the missionary vocation animator.

With Mary Mother of Jesus Sr. Paulette Makes her perpetual Vows

Sr. Paulette Afi Manavi MODZINOU was born on the 29th July 1988 in Togo. (West Africa). She’s the last born of a Catholic Christian family of six children comprising five girls and one boy.

Zambia: visit of the Superior General

I paid a visit to the Region of Zambia from 3^rd to 18^th June, 2018. I began my visit in the city of Lusaka. Here, two confreres are ministering in city parishes: Paddy Barry at St Agnes, Ibex Hill and Moses Chileshe at St Theresa’s Chainda. Both parishes are busy with the usual round of pastoral and sacramental duties to be performed. Paddy also looks after the SMA Transit house at Woodlands. This is a house of welcome for SMA and many other visitors to Zambia.