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.

The first Benin - Niger Provincial superior and his council

The first Provincial Assembly of Benin – Niger began on 20th October. There are 19 participants (15 delegates and 4 invitees) of this Assembly.The members were divided into four groups for the fruitful discussion of Leadership, Finance, Formation and spirituality and lifestyle.

The first Indian Provincial Superior and his council

The first Indian provincial Assembly kicked off on Monday 23 September 2019. Unlike the polish province, which invited all its permanent members to take part in it, Indian assembly had eight (8) delegates, three (3) Ex-Officio members, one (1) secretary and one (1) facilitator. India has also moved from being a District in Formation to a Province following the decision taken at the 21st SMA General assembly in Rome earlier this year.

The first Polish Provincial superior and his council

The 21st SMA General Assembly raised the polish district among others to the status of a province. The just-concluded polish Assembly elected their 1st provincial superior and his council on the 17th of September 2019. The superior Fr. Grzegorz Kucharski (c), the vice-superior, Fr. Adam Fijolek (r), and the councilor, Fr. Waclaw Krzempek (l).

The new Irish Provincial Superior and his council

The Irish Provincial Assembly took place at the African Missions Retreat & Conference Centre in Dromantine, Newry, Co Down from 1 - 20 July 2019. Among the decisions taken by the 27 delegates was the election of Fathers Malachy Flanagan as Provincial Leader, Eamonn Finnegan as Vice Provincial Leader and Anthony Kelly as Provincial Councillor. Fr Malachy served in Ilorin diocese and Kontagora Vicariate in Nigeria as well as Provincial Bursar, Provincial Councillor and Vice Provincial Leader in Ireland.

The new Spanish provincial and his council

The Spanish new Province held its very first provincial assembly from 23rd June and ended on 28th June 2019. During this assembly facilitated by the Lyon provincial superior Fr. Francois du Penhoat, saw the election of Fr. Marcos Delgado (C) as the new and first Spanish provincial on the 25th June 2019.