The 18th Provincial Assembly of the Society of African Missions (SMA) in the Province of Lyon, held at the serene Cartières of Chaponost, marks a historic turning point with the election of a new Superior: Fr. Augustin Placide Houessinon, originally from Benin Republic. For the first time in the history of the Province of Lyon, an African confrère has been elected to this role — a powerful symbol of the SMA’s commitment to interculturality and its evolving missionary identity.

A Transition Steeped in Significance

This election comes just a week after the conclusion of the 2025 SMA General Assembly in Rome, where Fr. François de Penhoat, until then Provincial of Lyon, was elected Superior General of the SMA. This created a vacancy in Lyon’s leadership, and according to SMA constitutions, the Vice-Provincial, Fr. Eric Aka, automatically stepped in as Provincial.

Fr. Eric Aka will be remembered as one of the shortest-serving Provincials in Lyon’s annals — not due to resignation or censure, but rather due to this swift and providential sequence of events. It was he who officially opened the Provincial Assembly on Tuesday, June 17, with a warm and heartfelt welcome to all participants, invoking gratitude, faith, and mission as the guiding lights of the gathering.

A Time of Reflection and Discernment

The assembly began with a recollection led by Sr. Marie Hélène Robert, OLA, centered on the theme of generosity in our missionary call. She invited participants to reflect on the spiritual power of generosity — as a path to holiness, fraternity, and mission — and not merely as human benevolence, but as a response to divine grace. “The generosity of the missionary,” she said, “inspires other generosities,” pointing to the ripple effect of witness.

The recollection was followed by Fr. Paul Ennin, Provincial of Ghana and the chosen moderator of the assembly, who guided participants into deeper meditation. He encouraged them to live these days in Chaponost as a moment of discernment for the mission in France, a shift from traditional geographic mission paradigms to a mission centered around people — especially the poor and marginalized — wherever they are.

Thematic Focus: Mission in a Changing France

An important moment came with a presentation by Valérie Aubourg, ethnologist and lecturer at UCLY, who outlined the socio-cultural evolution of French society and the growing presence of Catholic migrants from Africa and overseas territories. These insights laid the foundation for developing a renewed understanding of SMA’s missionary presence in France.

Aubourg highlighted seven major societal transformations: globalization, neoliberalism, ecological crises, technological advancement, expanded democracy, gender equality, and the decline of religion in public life. These forces, she said, challenge the Church and mission alike, prompting five different types of ecclesial responses — from adapting and innovating to resisting or reasserting tradition. The missionaries were invited to identify which elements are most critical for a renewed missionary vision.

Synodality and Prophetic Witness

The Assembly was also marked by strong synodal reflections. Daniel Cardot, speaking on the recent Synod, underlined that mission today demands not just strategy, but relational conversion, attentive listening, and a commitment to justice, ecology, and dialogue. This was echoed by Michel Cartatéguy, who emphasized that listening — to each other, to society, and to God — is at the heart of our missionary identity today, much like Christ on the road to Emmaus.

The gathering’s multicultural, intergenerational, and international character — hailed by Aubourg as “a prophetic sign” — reflected the very spirit of SMA. The daily work of the Assembly was also shaped by group reflections, seeking to define six priorities for the province (which later became seven, showing the richness of the dialogue).

A Spirit-Led Election

On the evening of Thursday, June 19, the Assembly reached a high point with the election of the new Provincial Superior. The “extra omnes” was pronounced by Archbishop Michel Cartatéguy, and in a climate of prayer, the delegates cast their votes. The result: the election of Fr. Augustin Placide Houessinon— a moment of joy, applause, and deep spiritual significance.

Fr. Houessinon’s election is not just a personal milestone but a historical shift for Lyon Province. It embodies the SMA’s renewed identity: “Missionaries of hope, rooted in Christ and inspired by our charism, journeying together toward renewed models of evangelization,” as stated at the 22nd General Assembly in Rome.

Looking Forward with Hope

The 18th Provincial Assembly will conclude on Wednesday, June 25, with the closing address of the new Provincial. The days ahead will be marked by further reflections, decisions, and fraternal exchanges — but above all, by the hope that animates the SMA’s continued commitment to mission, both in France and beyond.

In the words of Pope Francis, often quoted throughout the Assembly:

“Walk, build, and confess. If we don’t confess Jesus Christ, we become just another NGO. But we are the Church, the Bride of Christ.”

As Fr. Houssinou takes up his new mission, may the entire Lyon Province Walk boldly into the future — listening, building, and confessing — with generosity, hope, and faith in the Spirit who calls and leads.

By Dominic Wabwireh