The Society of African Missions is an international community of Catholic missionaries who serve the people of Africa and people of African descent around the world. SMA stands for our official name: Society of African Missions. People often ask, then why SMA and not SAM? The initials refer to the name in Latin: Societas Missionum ad Afros.  SMA was founded at Lyons (France) in 1856 by the  Venerable Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac.  For a brief overview of the history of the Society of African Missions. Click here

The SMA is divided into Provinces, Districts and Delegations.

African members come from Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia.  

Asian members come from India and the Philippines.

American members come from Argentina, Canada and the USA.  

European members come from Belgium, Britain, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain.  The Society welcomes all who agree to work for its aim and accept the style of life it proposes.