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.

The SMA Africa House is located in the All Saints Parish building in Holenderacht, Amsterdam Southeast. The central hall was transformed into an atmospheric African scene with decorative cloths and musical instruments. The many visitors were first treated to coffee and cake.

The opening program included a retrospective on the origins of the Africa House and the first priests who were actively involved in the Bijlmer neighborhood. The program then focused on the years in the building on Van Ostadestraat in the De Pijp neighborhood, the time at the Diaconal Center in the Bijlmer, and now the step towards a new partnership with the All Saints parish. This was led by Father Gerard Timmermans.

The celebration was held on the anniversary of the death of the founder of the SMA, Bishop Melhior de Marion Bresillac, and his life and work were commemorated by Father Valentin Fadegnon.

The Africa House team—consisting of Fathers Emmanuel Andoh, Alan de Guzman, Valentin Fadegnong, and SMA associate Liesbeth Glas—expressed their hope that the Africa House will regain a valuable place in society and play a positive role in the life of the African community in Amsterdam Southeast. This will be achieved through activities such as Dutch lessons, computer classes, street pastoral work, and support for undocumented immigrants and the elderly, among others, and above all, by maintaining a missionary presence.

The opening program was festively enlivened by singer Marian Nduku and her Okuband. To conclude, guests were treated to a delicious African lunch of jollof rice and chicken.

Africa House
Millingenhof 158
1106 KK Amsterdam
smaafrikahuis@gmail.com