December 2, 2014, SMA confreres of the Lyon’s Province celebrated in Montferrier, the closing of the jubilee year marking the birth bicentenary of Bishop Marion de Brésillac, Founder of the SMA. They came from Paris, Nantes, Lyon, Chaponost and other places to celebrate this great event with elders. We publish here the text of the homily by Father Francis Rozario, SMA General Counselor, representing the Superior General.

One of our SMA fathers once said in table that the first question he would ask God when he goes to heaven, would be this: “Why the creation is done in such a way that each species eats another to live”. Today’s first reading projects a vision of a completely different world. It is a vision that seems very unrealistic. We do not see wolves and lambs together nor panthers and kids. First, because “Birds of a feather flock together.” Being with similar less risk. If one begins by mixing one is afraid that the stronger eats the weaker. Even human society is organized according to this mentality. In a primitive and less developed society, “the reason of the strongest is always the best” and only the strong survive. It is a society that is afraid of anything that is different. Every village and every country protected against others. Even every charity group and evangelization were afraid of the other groups.
After the death of our Founder, the SMA was afraid of being swallowed by the White Fathers. When Father Carlo Zappa, SMA, wanted to cross the Niger River to establish a mission in Onitsha, Nigeria, the Holy Ghost Fathers, to whom this land was given for evangelism became frightened because the SMA were going to take their territory. They immediately sent a team of missionaries to work. We already see that the vision of the first reading begins to realize gradually. We are here in international community. We continue to discover the richness of multiculturalism and internationality.
Last week we had a meeting with the White Fathers, the Holy Ghost Fathers and Comboni missionnaries to see how these congregations working in Africa can all work together on common challenges.
We discover the importance of dialogue with other religions and beliefs. We have taken away the fear of the other and we are working in this direction. We see the other with less contempt and fear. The missionary vocation we share with Bishop De Brésillac calls us to serve the Society to be more open. With Jesus Christ, we say to the society: “Do not be afraid”. We say: “Do not be afraid of him for what he is your brother. Do not be afraid of her by what she’s your sister”. The missionaries have always said, we say and we say so.
We celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of our Founder. Today we celebrate the missionary works for over a century and a half. Missionary life’s announcing by itself his vocation to faith, hope and charity. Out there to meet each other, we announce that the other is our brother and sister. We are all children of the same father. This father loves us and guides us. Faith is not only the belief in the existence of God but in his providence. God guides us and cares for us. The missionary vocation is a testimony to that faith. We are at the beginning of winter. Trees lose leaves but we know that this loss does not announce the death of trees but their renewal. We finish the liturgical year and begin another. During this time of Advent we reflect on the changes and renewals. It is a death and a birth. It is important to engulf death hoping to enter a new and better life.
In the SMA we are living many changes and many renewals. We are invited to look ahead with hope and faith in God who guides. Faith and hope motivate us to be engaged in the society so that the whole society may live as a family. This concrete commitment is charity. Faith, Hope and Charity are the most important words to our beloved Founder. Let us ask ourselves today how each of us can live these virtues in our concrete contexts.

Francis Rozario, General Councilor