The Society of African Missions is a Catholic missionary group of an Apostolic life that was founded in France on December 8, 1856. In French, the Society is known as – La Société des Missions Africaines – abbreviated as S.M.A. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the group was founded by an experienced French Missionary to India, Bishop Melchior Joseph de Marion Bresillac, who was born in the southern part of France (Castelnaudry).
The Society of African Missions first arrived in Africa in 1859. They took charge of the Vicariate of Sierra Leone created and given to the SMA in 1858 – the vicariate territory covered the present day Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Tragically, five out of the first six SMA members to come to Africa died in about the first seven months of their arrival in Africa, including the Founder of the SMA, Bishop Melchior de Marion Bresillac.
The second attempt of the SMA in Africa was spearheaded by Fr. Francesco Borghero from Italy, aged 30, Fr. Francisco Fernandez from Spain, aged 25 and Fr. Louis Edde from France, aged 23. A new Vicariate was created in 1860 known as
the Apostolic Vicariate of Dahomey which was the territory that the founder, Melchior, had requested for at the beginning. It covered from the present day part of Ghana to the River Niger in Nigeria along the coast.
The SMA missions began to have stability and progressive development from 1861 under the watch of the first Superior General of the SMA, Fr. Augustin Planque. Today the SMA have members from the continents of Africa, Asia, America and Europe. The SMA members are to is presently on mission in about 18 African countries.