The fifth day of the plenary council started in a very celebratory mood today. A surprise kept till this morning to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Fr. Tom Ryan, the Provincial Superior of the British Province, silver jubilee of Fr. Didier Lawson, the General bursar, and Fr. Paul Ennin, the Provincial Superior of Ghana, 20th anniversary of Fr. Francois de Paul, the Vicar General, Fr. Francis Rozario, the General Councilor, and Fr. Narcis Ogu Seka, the Provincial Superior of Côte-d’Ivoire. 

The honors were given to Fr. Ryan to preside over the Eucharist as an elder brother.

The morning session was dedicated to two important Items, namely the laws and the constitution of the society as well as the safeguarding protocol.

Fr. Rozario, who chairs the commission working on the updates of the C&L gave a historical background of the document since inception and the changes it has undergone hitherto. As we are all aware the SMA has gone through a lot of phases within a short period of time and especially as far as new entities are concerned.

While the laws of the SMA have drastically changed over the years, the SMA Constitution has not really changed that much. While it is within the mandate of the Plenary Council to modify the protocol of a General Assembly, the prerogative to revise and change the laws and constitution is vested upon the General Assembly.

Constitution and Laws are the Engine of the Society of African Missions as they define who the SMA is, it points to what they do and stipulate their philosophy of life and convictions behind their lifestyle. The character of SMA as a Missionary congregation whose mission is to Africa and people of African origin, and the care of the poor and the most abandoned, has endured the test of time appearing for the first time in the constitution and laws in 1856.

The Plenary Council was invited to reflect upon these three aspects of the C&L and see whether they still mean the same thing they did 167 years ago! In order to do this, the commission that also includes Emmanuel Dim, Fr. Benadin Kinoume, and Fr. Fachtna O’Driscoll, came up with a set of questions that members are called to reflect upon with members of their entities.

The set of questions include; What does it mean to be a missionary? What distinguishes an SMA missionary from every baptized? What is our relationship with Africa? Who are the poor and the most abandoned for you today and how do you respond in line with our charism?

With regard to the Apostolic activities, Evangelization of Africa and the people of African origin and maintaining the apostolic spirit outside Africa and with non-Africans are understood to mean that the SMA have a precise mission, and a precise missionary identity. They remain missionaries even if they are not on their official mission post. Their apostolic spirit is part of their identity, and they are missionaries even during their holidays and retirement. 

The commission found out that since 1990, the word evangelization has been used with caution. The only place it appears explaining the SMA charism is in Article 9 where it reads, “We have special concern for those who are not yet evangelized.” This is connected to the respect for other religions and is explained by the use of words such as Dialogue among cultures, religions, and Churches, Witness the values of God’s kingdom on earth, Inculturation, total liberation of people […] from sin and evil, build up truly Christian communities, and collaborate with local Churches. But the questions the commissions put forward include; Do these sufficiently address the mandate to evangelize? Do these correspond to our missionary activity today? What are the new ways of evangelization today consistent with our charism that are not reflected in this section?

Since Vatican II, Missionaries depend on the invitation and the hospitality of the local ordinaries to be present in Africa. Missionaries are no longer in charge of evangelization but are collaborators with the local bishops.

The Plenary Council members were asked to reflect on existing missions in Africa that are considered difficult and not one is willing to go. Since 1983, the SMA has been accepting members from the countries they work in. Going to a country today means not only taking up a pastoral commitment but also the whole package from vocation animation to retirement facilities. But how does this influence their discernment and decisions? 

As far as the way of life of the SMA fathers is concerned, nothing much has changed. They are called to be obedient to the Church, resilient by remaining ready to respond to the needs of the times and ready to go where the need for missionaries is greater.

Their commitment is – ad vitam, they are a Society of Apostolic life and embrace fraternal life in common.

They live an Apostolic Spirit / care for the poor and the marginalized and work toward Justice and peace.

The SMA members are also bound by obedience to authorities, they embrace celibacy, Apostolic Poverty as well as internationality.

The SMA are also called to care for nature and have an inter congregational collaboration. Last but not least, all SMA members commit safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

As members reflected on aspects of the C&L that are pertinent, neglected, obsolete and what could be improved upon, they were also invited to think of other lifestyles that are in line with their charism that would be fruitful to missionaries today.

The Plenary Council ended on a light note with a toast for the jubilarians followed by a sumptuous meal courtesy of the host province.

                                                                       By Dominic Wabwireh,SMA