On 8th December 2024, the Society of African Missions (SMA) celebrates 168 years. The SMA is a missionary institute preaching the Good News of salvation and serving Africa and Africans for evangelization and human promotion and sustainable development.
Haven founded the SMA in Lyon on 8th December 1856, Venerable Bishop de Marion Bresillac arrived in Sierra Leone, West Africa in 1859. He never returned to his country France. He died on 25th June of that year. Two years later, the courageous Venerable Fr. Augustine Planque sent a new team of missionaries lead by the Italian pioneer missionary, Fr. Francesco Borghero to Ouidah in Dahomey.
Fr. Boghero visited Lagos in 1863 to begin the dynamic evangelization of Nigeria and the process of establishing the Catholic Church in the country. Since then, SMA missionaries, priests, brothers, together of Missionaries Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) have maintained continuous presence of missionary commitment in Nigeria for the past 166 years.
Today many Nigerians, with the backing of the Nigerian Catholic Hierarchies, Priests, Religious and especially our associate and Mission Support Groups (MSG) are now SMA missionaries in many countries of the world. May the name of the Lord be praised!!!
Click the link bellow to listen to the address of Very Rev. Fr. Antonio Porcellato, SMA Superior General on the occasion of the 168th Anniversary of the SMA
Happy celebrations to all SMA Fathers, Associates and Supporters (MSG)
SMA at 168!
