Friday, September 29th, Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, this year marks a significant day in the life of one of our confreres. It marks a significant day too in the life of our Society. On September 29th, 1992, Fr Michael Adrie was ordained an SMA missionary priest. That makes twenty-five years of missionary service in the Society. We rejoice with Michael and congratulate him on reaching the Silver Jubilee of priesthood.

Michael has a special place in the Society’s history. He is the first from the African Foundation or any of the new Foundations created after General Assembly 1983. Thus, today marks a significant milestone in the Society’s journey.

It signifies the maturing of the Society. Since 1992, over two hundred and fifty African men have been ordained for SMA missionary service. Ninety others have been ordained in the other newer Units. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a tribute to those who pushed the dream of calling SMA missionaries from within Africa and other parts where the SMA was not established. It is a tribute too to all vocation animators and formators for the guidance provided to these young men.
A Silver Jubilee marks a point on a path and is not the end of the journey. Today, our mission requires more men and women to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the task. These – priests and laity – are called from within Africa but from all other sections of our Society as well. We pray that the Holy Spirit will open-up new wellsprings of response so that the gospel may continue to be preached to the most abandoned, especially among the people of Africa and those of African origin.