The Cathedral of Cotonou was filled with a large and fervent assembly for a Eucharistic celebration in memory of the missionaries of the Society of African Missions (SMA) and the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) on Monday, April 28, who have now entered eternal life.

Members of the extended Bresillac family — priests, sisters, and lay associates — gathered from Benin, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire to honor these pioneers of faith. The Mass was presided over by Fr. Désiré Salako, Provincial Superior of Benin, and concelebrated by numerous confreres, including the Superior General, Fr. Antonio Porcellato, the Vicar General, Fr. François de Paul Hungue, and several other leaders from African delegations and missionary communities in the region.

A Moment of Prayer and Fraternal Joy

Following the Eucharist, the community shared a short but deeply moving vigil of prayer. The evening concluded at the OLA Sisters’ convent with a moment of fraternal fellowship — a beautiful prelude to the upcoming triple jubilee celebrations: the 150th anniversary of the OLA Sisters, the 200th anniversary of Fr. Planque, and soon, the centenary of the ordination of Fr. Mouléro, the first priest from Benin.

A Call to Inner Renewal

In a deeply impactful homily, Fr. François de Penhoat invited the faithful to reflect on two key Gospel figures: Nicodemus and Bishop de Brésillac. Like Nicodemus, who sought a personal dialogue with Jesus but was challenged to “be born again,” Christians today are called to let go of appearances and intellectual constructs and open their hearts in humility to a renewed, genuine relationship with God.

Bishop de Brésillac, after resigning his episcopal office in India, spent a year in silence and prayer, seemingly broken. But from that experience came a profound inspiration: Go to Africa. From then on, he was transformed — no longer just an intellectual but a man consumed by missionary passion. Likewise, the first OLA Sisters — simple silk workers from Lyon — left everything after hearing Pauline Jaricot speak about the universal mission. They too were “born again from above” for a purpose they could not fully foresee.

Three Core Dimensions of Our Missionary Identity

Fr. François recalled the three pillars that define the missionary vocation according to Bishop de Brésillac: Ad extra, Ad vitam, Ad gentes.

• Ad extra – A call to leave everything behind: Early missionaries left their homeland forever to proclaim the Gospel in unknown lands. Today, travel is easier, but true detachment and cultural immersion remain a challenge. Mission demands an inward journey, a heart open to the people we are sent to.
• Ad vitam – A lifelong commitment: Early missionaries lived close to death — many died young, often at 25 or 28. This gave rise to a spirituality of living each moment fully, trusting that someone else would continue the mission if they died. We are called to recover this depth of commitment and persevere even as we age.
• Ad gentes – Proclaiming the Gospel to those who have not heard it: In Africa, the Gospel took root with surprising speed. Missionaries often found that the Holy Spirit had already prepared hearts. Faith grew not through perfect methods, but through the holiness of life and personal witness.

A Message for Today

Fr. François urged today’s missionaries to live not only by doing, but by being deeply rooted in Christ and truly loving the people they are sent to. Missionary life means embracing our foreignness, learning humility, and persisting with love through cultural differences.

This jubilee year invites both the SMA and OLA to return to their roots, rediscover the strength of their shared founding charism, and commit themselves to a renewed missionary spirit, guided by the Holy Spirit, grounded in Gospel values, and open to the real challenges and beauty of the people they serve.

By Dominic Wabwireh