Rocca di Papa, Rome – June 3, 2025
The 22nd General Assembly of the Society of African Missions (SMA) entered a critical phase on June 3 as delegates resumed discussions with sharpened focus and deepening resolve. As the Assembly approaches its conclusion, the day was marked by a blend of pastoral reflection, structural discernment, and missiological vision.

With deliberations structured around three key themes—Integral Formation, Rekindling the Missionary Zeal for Today, and Evolving Realities of SMA Units—the day captured both the spirit and strategic intent of the gathering.

Integral Formation: Lifelong Discipleship at the Core

The morning began with a comprehensive presentation on Integral Formation, positioning it not as a stage to be completed but as a lifelong journey of discipleship and service. Formation, the working group emphasized, must nurture a missionary’s inner life as much as it does pastoral skill.

Among the notable recommendations were:

• Investing in qualified personnel for early formation programs,
• Strengthening discernment in the selection of candidates,
• Deepening collaboration between Unit Superiors and the General Council, and
• Prioritizing spiritual direction throughout a member’s missionary life.

Renewed interest was also shown in the idea of creating theology formation communities in Europe. These would serve as intercultural hubs to deepen academic, spiritual, and pastoral formation—while ensuring consistency and quality across Units.

Delegates later engaged in table group discussions, bringing practical feedback shaped by regional realities and missionary contexts.

Rekindling the Missionary Zeal for Today: A Call to Rediscover the Fire

In the afternoon, attention turned to the SMA’s missionary identity. What started as a discussion on “new models of evangelization” quickly transformed into a heartfelt call: Rekindle the Missionary Zeal for Today.

Delegates reflected openly on signs of fatigue and complacency in some areas of the Society’s missionary work. While acknowledging the dedication of many, they called for a return to the spirit of SMA’s founder and the early missionaries—marked by courage, sacrifice, and prophetic witness.

Proposed strategies to reenergize missionary life included:

• Updating methods of evangelization through collaboration with local churches,
• Prioritizing intercultural and interreligious dialogue as tools for peace,
• Empowering laypeople through “communities of missionary disciples,”
• Extending pastoral assignments to allow deeper immersion,
• Focusing efforts on both geographic and existential peripheries, and
• Reinforcing justice and ecological engagement through a strengthened JPIC (Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation) approach.

Discussions also explored the opening of new missions: Chad and Papua New Guinea. Though concerns over human resources were raised, many saw these moves as a gesture of global missionary solidarity.

Evolving Realities of SMA Units: Adapting Structure to Sustain Mission

The final segment of the afternoon addressed a pressing institutional matter: the evolving realities of SMA Units. With several Units facing constraints in personnel and financial viability, delegates reviewed proposals to ensure structural sustainability and missionary effectiveness.

Three core issues were examined:

1. Reviewing Unit Status Criteria
   Following previous Assembly guidelines, the Superior General and Council were tasked with evaluating Unit viability to ensure coherence with SMA’s mission and available resources.
2. Redefining the Role of Seconded Members
   Delegates called for a shift in perspective around ‘seconded members’—those serving outside their Unit of origin. Several suggestions were offered:
   • Recognize seconded members as fully integrated into their Unit of mission.
   • Clarify their rights and obligations, including consultative input from their original Unit.
   • Allow for voting rights either in both Units or solely in the Unit of mission, depending on feasibility.
3. Change of Status for Kenya
   Delegates discussed also on the wish of the district of Kenya to become a Province, in accordance with constitutional norms.

A Living Assembly: Spirit-Led and Forward-Facing

As the day closed, it was clear that the Assembly is not merely adjusting policies—it is engaging in a profound act of communal self-renewal. Thematic reports are evolving not just as texts, but as expressions of shared vision, grounded in fidelity and open to the future.

A poignant moment of solidarity marked the day, as delegates paused to pray for a fellow member, Fr. Eric Aka, who underwent surgery earlier in the day. His health situation served as a reminder of the personal bonds and human realities that underlie the Assembly’s work.

With only a few days remaining, the delegates move ahead with greater clarity and collective momentum—toward a future rooted in formation, missionary courage, and structural integrity.

As one participant aptly summarized: “We are not just revising documents. We are reimagining our vocation together.”

By Dominic Wabwireh