News

Evangelie verkondigen in, met en vanuit Afrika

‘Het evangelie verkondigen in Afrika, met Afrika en vanuit Afrika.” Dat was het thema van de 22^eAlgemene Vergadering van de Sociëteit voor Afrikaanse Missiën, die van half mei tot begin juni in de buurt van Rome werd gehouden. Tijdens de provinciale vergadering van de Nederlandse S.M.A., die in juli in Steyl plaatsvond, kwam de concrete uitvoering daarvan aan de orde.

New board of Dutch province appointed

During the provincial meeting of the Society for African Missions in mid-July, a new board was appointed for the SMA-Netherlands. Father Fabian Gbortsu succeeds Father Jos Pijpers as provincial superior, who has left the board after many years.

Successful boat campaign in Togo

While on holiday in the Netherlands for several months last summer, Father Ton Storcken held a flash action for boats in the parishes of Eckelrade, Gronsveld and Rijckholt, where he was previously pastor.

Associates weekend: in the sun in the south

From Friday afternoon, March 28th, to Sunday, March 30th, SMA associates gathered at the Nivon House in Heerlen. They took excursions around the city and visited the Mission House in Cadier en Keer.

Father Henk Zengers S.M.A. passed away

Father Henk Zengers SMA passed away on Monday, March 17, at the Bergweide care center in Heerlen. The funeral took place on Tuesday, March 25, in Mheer, where he served as pastor for many years. He was 90 years old.

The optimism of an African priest in the Netherlands

Father Fabian Gbortsu SMA is from Ghana and has been working in the Netherlands since October 2023. For Onze Krant, he reflects on his presence as an African priest in our country, using several Bible texts.

Winter edition of Our Newspaper published

The winter edition of Onze Krant has been published. In it, Father Fabian Gbortsu SMA explains that he sees his role as an African priest in the Netherlands as primarily prophetic. Father Ton Storcken reports from Togo that the seminary where he works is now also accepting SMA seminarians from other African countries.

Christmas cards available for ordering again

Governing means foreseeing. And so, last summer, SMA staff prepared the annual Christmas card campaign.

Mission house sold again

The former Mission House of the Society for African Missions in Cadier en Keer has been sold again. The SMA sold the house to a property developer a few years ago. Unable to find a suitable new use for the property, he recently resold it.

Autumn issue of Our Newspaper published

The autumn issue of Onze Krant has been published.

Renovated Africa House Amsterdam opened

On Tuesday, June 25 (the day of SMA founder Bishop Melchior de Marion Bresillac), the SMA Africa House in Amsterdam officially opened its doors with a festive gathering.

Sunday, May 26: Open-air mass at the Lourdes Grotto Mission House

The annual open-air mass will take place at the Lourdes Grotto in Cadier en Keer on Sunday, May 26th. Chaplain Huub Horstman of the Holy Cross Parish will officiate. Music will be provided by the African choir Kimba Zabula from Eijsden, led by Boaventura Gouveia from Angola.

Father Pieter Bootsma S.M.A. passed away

Father Pieter Bootsma SMA passed away on Thursday, April 18, in Maastricht. His health had been declining recently. Father Bootsma was 98 and had been a priest for almost 70 years. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 24, in Bemelen.

New edition of Our Newspaper available

The latest edition of Onze Krant magazine is available. It features a look inside the renovated Africa House in Amsterdam. Father Valentin Fadegnon talks about his work with the French-speaking community in Amsterdam, and Father Fabian Gbortsu is the new "bridge builder" at the Mission House in Cadier en Keer.

S.M.A. opens new Africa House in Amsterdam

The Society for African Missions will open a new Africa House in Amsterdam on January 1st. It will be located in the church of the All Saints parish in Amsterdam-Zuidoost, which is closely associated with the SMA. From this new Africa House, the community in Amsterdam will work to support migrant communities and undocumented migrants.

Christmas card campaign has started again

For over 50 years, the SMA has held a Christmas fundraiser to raise money for the society's projects. This year, it will be held again. The SMA offers six types of Christmas cards, which those interested can order. The cards are offered free of charge, but in return, a donation of their own choosing is requested. These are double cards, which come with an envelope. The cards can be ordered individually or in sets. Larger quantities are also available.

S.M.A. Journal November 2023

Watch the November 2023 SMA journal with news from:

• Rome - Historic visit of the Bishops of
• Ivory Coast
• Nigeria
• Lyon
• Castelnaudary

S.M.A. Journal October 2023

Watch the October 2023 SMA journal with news from:

• Ivory Coast
• Lyon
• Ireland
• Generalate

S.M.A. Journal August 2023

Watch the August SMA journal with the following topics:

• News from Rome
• News from Ivory Coast
• News from Tanzania
• General information

S.M.A. Journal July 2023

View the SMA journal from March 2023. Including:

• News from Lyon
• News from Ghana
• News from Strasbourg

140 Years of Roman Catholic Church in Ashanti

The Society for African Missions in Ghana celebrated the 140th anniversary of the establishment of the Catholic Church in the Ashanti region. The anniversary also marks the 140th anniversary of the SMA's presence in present-day Ghana. In 1882, Father Auguste Moreau SMA became the first missionary to arrive in this region, where the Dutch SMA later became very active.

Radiant centenary S.M.A.-Netherlands

Under a bright blue sky, the 100th anniversary of the Dutch province of the SMA was celebrated in Bemelen on Whit Monday (May 29). The first provincialate was also located in Bemelen in 1923, hence the choice of the venue.

Celebration of 100 years of the Dutch province of S.M.A.

The Dutch province of the Society for African Missions is celebrating its centennial this year. This will be celebrated on Monday, May 29th (Whit Monday) with a large feast day and reunion in Bemelen, near Cadier en Keer.

Anniversary gift: A school for Babaso

A celebration calls for gifts. To mark the centennial of the Dutch province of the SMA, the priests are naturally not asking for personal gifts, but they are asking for a donation for the further development of the Bresillac Primary School in Babaso, in the Afram Plains region of Ghana. SMA missionaries, including many Dutch priests and lay missionaries, have been active in this region for at least 50 years.

Sunday, May 7: Open-air mass at the Lourdes Grotto

As part of the SMA's annual Lourdes Prayer Week, an open-air mass will be held on Sunday, May 7th, at the Lourdes Grotto in the park of the Mission House in Cadier en Keer. The mass begins at 11:00 a.m. and features African music performed by the Kwimba Zabula choir from Eijsden.

Father Gé Buurman S.M.A. (84) passed away

Father Gé Buurman SMA passed away at the Mission House in Cadier en Keer on Friday, March 10th. He was 84 and had been a member of the Society for African Missions for 60 years. The funeral took place on March 16th.

S.M.A. Journal March 2023

View the SMA journal from March 2023. Including:

• News from Italy
• News from Ivory Coast
• News from Benin

Father Willie Zijlstra (91) passed away

Father Willie Zijlstra passed away on Saturday, January 28th, at the Mission House in Cadier en Keer. Father Zijlstra was 91 years old. The funeral will be held on Friday, February 3rd, in the Mission House chapel.

Winter Edition of Our Newspaper

Read the winter edition of Onze Krant. This time, the SMA magazine features an extensive interview with Huub Senden, who, at 74, has decided to become an associate member. It also features a preview of the SMA's centennial celebrations later this year, and the founder's city has now become a mission field itself.

Call for help for Lulu project

The Lulu project in Mwanza, Tanzania, has been successfully coordinated for the past three years by SMA lay missionary Susanne Beentjes. The aim is to continue the project in 2023, but due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the current global situation, there is a funding shortage. The project is also in need of a second-hand car, which requires additional funding. This is our appeal for financial support for Susanne's mission.

Father Arjen van Balen S.M.A. passed away

Father Arjen van Balen SMA passed away in the early morning of August 16th at the Mission House in Cadier en Keer. He was 98 years old. Father Van Balen's funeral will be held in Cadier en Keer on Monday, August 22nd.

Father Wiel van Eijk S.M.A. passed away

On Tuesday, August 2nd, Father Wiel van Eijk SMA passed away peacefully in his sleep. He reached the blessed age of 92. The funeral will be held on Tuesday, August 9th in Cadier en Keer.

Open-air celebration Lourdes grotto very atmospheric

The Lourdes celebration in the park of the Mission House in Cadier en Keer on Sunday, May 15th, was a great success. Thanks in part to the beautiful weather, many people from the surrounding area came to attend the open-air service. The songs of the Kwimba Zabula choir, led by Boaventura Gouveia, created the perfect African atmosphere.

Open-air mass at the Lourdes grotto in Cadier en Keer

On Sunday, May 15th, there will be another open-air mass at the Lourdes Grotto in the park of the Mission House in Cadier en Keer. In recent years, the May celebration was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but this year everyone is warmly welcome again.

Message from the General Superior on the 165th anniversary of S.M.A.

Message from the General Superior on the occasion of the 165th anniversary of the SMA on December 8, 2021

Father Koos Janssen S.M.A. passed away unexpectedly

Father Koos Janssen SMA passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 6th. He suddenly became unwell in the presence of his confreres. He was quickly transferred to the university hospital in Maastricht, where he died shortly after arrival. Father Janssen was 84 years old. The funeral can be followed online on Friday, January 14th.

Autumn edition of Our Newspaper published

The fall edition of Onze Krant has been published. In this issue, lay missionary Colinda Janssen reflects on her turbulent years in Africa. From 2015 to last year, she worked in Liberia. This was her second assignment, having already spent several years in Ghana between 2003 and 2009. She tells her story in Onze Krant.

Father Rinke de Vreeze (98) passed away

Father Rinke de Vreeze SMA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 27, in the rectory of his former parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Braamt (near Doetinchem). He reached the age of 98, having been a member of the Society for African Missions for 74 years. Father De Vreeze's funeral will be held on Monday, August 2, in Zeddam.

S.M.A. Amsterdam in international S.M.A. journal

The SMA's international media team produces a monthly video newscast featuring all SMA provinces and districts worldwide. The June 2021 edition also features the SMA's work in the Netherlands. A report extensively covers migrant assistance in Amsterdam. This episode also focuses on the SMA's work in Nigeria and Spain.

Lourdes Prayer Week/May Action in adapted form

This year, the Lourdes Prayer Week/May Day event will take place in a modified format from May 16th to 22nd. The planned open-air mass at the Lourdes Grotto in Cadier en Keer on Sunday, May 16th, is unfortunately cancelled. However, you can still share prayer intentions.

Father Herman Bommer S.M.A. passed away

Father Herman Bommer SMA passed away on April 15th at the "De Berkenhof" nursing home in Berkhout near Hoorn. He was 84 years old. Father Bommer had been in need of care for quite some time. The funeral will be held on April 21st in De Rijp, where he served as pastor for many years.

Lay missionary Marga van Barschot has passed away

Former lay missionary Marga van Barschot passed away in Tanzania on Saturday, April 10. She was an associate member of the SMA from 1999 to 2019. Until her passing, she was associated with the SMA community in Mwanza, Tanzania.

Magazine Our Newspaper completely renewed

The magazine "Onze Krant" (Our Newspaper) of the Society for African Missions has been completely redesigned. The first issue, featuring a completely new design, is being published this week.

Anniversaries 2021

In 2021, the following SMA members will be able to celebrate a special anniversary.

'A strange end to a beautiful period'

COVID-19 unexpectedly ended Edna Brouns's mission to Ghana. She left for Kumasi as a lay missionary in 2016. She returned home this year, more than six months earlier than planned. She reflects for Onze Krant.

Father Johan van Brakel passed away

The day after Christmas 2020, Father Johan van Brakel SMA passed away at the Mission House in Cadier en Keer. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the funeral took place privately.