Rocca di Papa – Rome, May 29, 2025

Day four of the second week of the General Assembly of the Society of African Missions (SMA) marked a significant turning point, as delegates began formulating the practical direction of the Society for the next six years. Building on days of prayer, reflection, and deep discussion, the Assembly focused on defining the identity, mission, and strategic priorities of the SMA under the newly proposed direction statement:

“Missionaries of hope, rooted in Christ and inspired by our charism, we journey together towards renewed models of evangelization.”

This statement served as the central theme of the day’s work. In morning table group sessions, members dissected its key elements—hope, synodality, the SMA’s charism, and the personal motivation for mission—and discussed how these should guide the Society’s commitments and actions going forward.

Seven Working Groups, One Shared Vision

Later in the day, members were divided into seven specialized working groups, each assigned one of the priority themes that have surfaced over the course of the Assembly:

1. Care of Members – focusing on accompaniment, leadership transition, safeguarding, sabbatical and renewal programs, and care for members with particular difficulties.
2. Good Governance and Synodality – reflecting on structures that encourage shared discernment and effective leadership.
3. Sustainability and Solidarity – examining responsible financial management and equitable resource sharing.
4. Integral Formation – encompassing pre-formation, initial formation, ongoing formation, and targeted professional development.
5. Witnessing Intercultural Communion – encouraging intercultural dialogue, intentionality, and communal witness.
6. Growth and Development of Units – supporting the expansion and strengthening of smaller or emerging units.
7. New Models of Evangelization – proposing fresh approaches to mission that respond to today’s cultural and spiritual realities.

One voice from the Assembly raised a critical point: the need to more explicitly highlight communion with local Churches, referencing the 1968 General Assembly, “We emphasize communion, collaboration, and dialogue with the local Churches of Africa and our Churches of origin.”

Each group was tasked with preparing a working paper, outlining the core elements of their priority area and offering recommendations and concrete actions for consideration by the General Assembly. These documents, once finalized, will form the basis of the Assembly’s final decisions and commitments.

As the Assembly moves into the final stretch of its second week, the atmosphere is one of focused determination.

By Dominic Wabwireh