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Rocca di Papa, May 23, 2025 — The 22nd General Assembly of the Society of African Missions (SMA) experienced an intense day this Friday, marked by attentive listening, communal discernment, and dialogue rooted in regional missionary realities. While the approval of the previous day’s minutes was originally scheduled to open the session, this formality was postponed to allow delegates to continue immersing themselves in the key themes that will shape the Society’s future.

Listening to Better Discern

The central focus of the day was the in-depth study of the synthesis of the preparatory questionnaire sent to SMA members around the world. The result of several months of consultation with confreres, collaborators, and friends of the mission, this document reflects the aspirations, concerns, and convictions of a Society seeking to remain faithful to its charism in a changing world.

Notably, discussions took place in regional groups, allowing reflections to be contextualized in light of local challenges. This dynamic fostered a wealth of perspectives and enabled a more embodied appropriation of the themes addressed.

Mission: An Identity to Be Redefined

Among the four key areas discussed — mission, spirituality and lifestyle, formation, and governance structures — it was mission that dominated the debates. Mentioned over 400 times in the analyzed responses, it has sparked deep introspection. What is SMA’s specific missionary identity today? Who are the “most abandoned” to whom we are sent? The tension between faithfulness to Primary Evangelization and adaptation to new realities was clearly felt.

The discussions also highlighted the need to clarify the relationship between missio ad gentes and missio inter gentes, while reaffirming SMA’s founding vocation: contributing to the building of local Churches without competing with them.

Spirituality: Rediscovering the Source

The call of Bishop Marion de Brésillac to be a “missionary from the bottom of my heart” continues to resonate. Internationality, community life, and simplicity are seen as spiritual treasures that need to be cultivated more deeply.

Significant progress was noted in the protection of vulnerable persons and in collaboration with the “spiritual family of Brésillac,” a term some members prefer to refer to the broader charismatic family.

Formation: Deepening the Foundations

Initial formation, now harmonized across the Society — especially the role of the Spiritual Year — was praised. However, some emphasized the importance of personalized accompaniment both during and after formation to ensure the holistic growth of future missionaries. Rooting formation in humility, simplicity, and commitment to Primary Evangelization remains an ongoing challenge.

A Spirit of Reflection… and Hope

The overall atmosphere of the Assembly remains serene and constructive. The minutes, postponed in the morning, were eventually approved after some adjustments. In both group discussions and plenary sessions, a genuine effort of collective discernment is underway, seeking a shared vision for the coming decades.

Some lighter but equally impactful moments helped keep the Assembly energized. Sister Tiziana Merlleti, the session facilitator recently appointed to a leadership position in a Vatican dicastery, made a strong impression with her enthusiasm. Music-led stretching, dynamic facilitation, and a fraternal spirit — she succeeded in awakening the drowsy spirits of the afternoon.

Toward Recollection: A Pause for the Heart

Tomorrow, Saturday, will be a day of recollection — a strong spiritual moment deliberately placed after the initial working sessions. This pause aims to internalize what has been heard and to open hearts to the Spirit’s breath before defining future orientations. Sunday, the Lord’s Day, will be a day of rest. Work will resume on Monday with thematic groups focusing on future priorities.

As facilitator Emili Turu reminded the assembly: “Were not our hearts burning…?” This reference to the disciples on the road to Emmaus echoes the synodal journey of recent days: listening, discerning, walking together.

The question is now clear: What kind of SMA do we want to be in 6, 10, or 30 years?

By Dominic Wabwireh