ASPIRANCY AND ORIENTATION
The very beginning
Aspirancy
Aspirancy begins when a young man expresses his interest of becoming a missionary priest with the SMA to one of our Directors of Vocations. During this time, the Director of Vocations with help the aspirant to determine whether or not he is ready to begin the formal application process. Aspirancy is a step of commitment which invites you to consider more seriously if our Lord is calling you to be a missionary and to begin to understand just what the shift from your current life into a missionary life will entail, and whether this is truly a realistic option for you. The aspirancy stage lasts at least a year. The candidates who have the requirements and whose applications were accepted would be invited to interviews during which more discernment and screening are done. After the final interview the successful candidates are admitted into the SMA Preparatory Programme.
Orientation
The Preparatory Programme can be considered as a continuation of the aspirancy. The programme is designed to prepare the candidates for the studies and formation they are going to embark upon. During this period, among many other things, – they learn more about the SMA through the study of the history, the mission, the charism, the spirituality and the lifestyle. – they are introduced to community which is a pillar of our lifestyle. – the SMA discovers more about the candidates through various activities and assessments. The programme lasts 9 months and the successful candidates will proceed to the SMA Formation House to continue their formation.
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
If you feel an intense vocation within you…
FIRST CYCLE
And the Adventure Begins
The First Cycle of formation comprises of two stages: the Philosophical Studies and the Spiritual Year.
Philosophical Studies
During the first part of the First Cycle, the SMA students aspiring to Priesthood undertake studies that include an adequate knowledge of Philosophy (according to the canonical requirement) and also subjects specific to SMA training. The philosophical studies is an undergraduate programme which lasts four years and it is done in our formation house in Ibadan.
The Spiritual Year
This programme is very central in the journey of a-would-be SMA member. It takes place in an international setting with SMA students from different parts of the world for an intensive spiritual, missionary, intellectual and human development formation for one full year. The purposes of this year are as follows: – to give students an opportunity to come to a deeper understanding of themselves and their personal relationship with Jesus Christ; – to reflect on and develop their vocation; – to give them a greater understanding of the Society’s mission and history; – and to prepare them for their first missionary commitment. At the end of the programme, the successful candidates take their oath of temporary membership in the SMA.
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
If you feel an intense vocation within you…
SECOND CYCLE
Marching ON
The Second Cycle of formation ends the period of initial formation. It comprises of the Stage and the Theological Studies.
Stage
It is also called pastoral year. Stage is the time of a direct, supervised experience of the reality of missionary life and work in the SMA through a substantial period of missionary training in Africa and outside one’s country of origin. It opens the new temporary members up for firsthand missionary experience alongside an experienced SMA pastoral community. Stage has a minimum duration of nine months.
Théological Studies
After mission experience, the candidate is sent to any of the SMA theological formation houses around Africa (Kenya, Ivory Coast or Nigeria) for the second face phase of his formation, basically to study theology and manifest good knowledge of the society’s life style and maturity required for pastoral and missionary responsibility. At the end of these studies, the candidate may be admitted to a permanent commitment into the SMA through an Oath, making him a missionary and preparing him for pastoral ministry through conferral of the sacrament of Holy Orders. The theological studies lasts four years.
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
If you feel an intense vocation within you…
SMA
Ordination.
The end andThe beginning
The culmination of the journey through the different stages of initial formation is the priestly ordination.
Though it is the end of the initial formation, the SMA considers formation to be a life-long process of conversion and growth, of attuning ourselves ever more perfectly to the mind and heart of Jesus Christ in our missionary commitment.
The newly ordained priest is sent on a mission in conformity with our charism and spirituality.
SMA LAY ASSOCIATE
A Lay Associate is a Catholic adult, man or woman, married or single, who having known the charism and spirituality of the SMA, apply to commit himself or herself by a written formal commitment to share in the charism, spirituality and mission of the SMA according to SMA Constitutions and Laws.
Once admitted after a period of discernment and formation, the Lay Associate gives his/her entire life to the mission during the time of association.
He or she is associated through a formal commitment and not by oat.
Like SMA Members, he/she accepts tasks assigned by the Provincial Superior.
Mission of SMA Lay Associate: It is to share in the vision, mission and spirituality of SMA in his/her Lay state and for a specific period as stipulated in the contract signed with the Nigeria Province and expressed in the commitment.
Criteria for admission as SMA Lay Associate
The criteria for the admission of laity to the mission of the SMA are provided by the Constitutions as well as by the general orientations of the SMA Formation Charter, taking account of the vocation and specific role of laity in the Church. The following points are especially important:
To enjoy good physical and psychological health;
To have evident human and spiritual maturity, expressed in the exercise of concrete responsibilities;
To be a baptised Catholic personally attached to Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church;
To participate and be actively involved in the life of the local Catholic community (an involvement to which those responsible for the community can testify);
To have a personal and community prayer life;
To be ready to work and live in an international community;
To have an initial knowledge of the SMA and an explicit desire to share its mission in union with those responsible;
To be informed about the African churches and be willing to share in their mission with respect for those responsible for it at the local level.
In July 2022, the SMA Nigeria Province admitted Ms. Maggie Ibru as an SMA Lay Associate. She is presently appointed to the Promotion Office in the South of Nigeria.
If you feel an intense vocation within you to be a Lay Missionary kindly
Contact Us
SMA ASSOCIATES and LAY ASSOCIATES
The Second Vatican Council has highlighted the place of the laity in the mission of the Catholic Church, men and women have requested to be more closely associated with the SMA as lay persons, celibate or married, temporarily or for life, sharing in the life and mission of the SMA along with its priest and brother members.
The SMA responded officially to this request in paragraph 33 of its Constitutions: “Since missionary activity is entrusted to the whole Church, the Society invites clerics and lay people to share actively in its life and work as missionaries. The manner and the duration of their association and formation, as well as their rights and duties, are specified in particular statues and agreements by each Province, with the approval of the Superior General and the consent of his Council.”
To specify the place of these lay missionaries in the SMA, the 2001 General Assembly, in its chapter on Ministry, assigned the following task to the General Council: “In consultation with those concerned, the General Council will establish general criteria for the admission, formation and involvement of lay missionaries in the mission of the SMA. A member of each Council of the relevant SMA units will see to it that these criteria are applied within the area for which he is responsible.” (GA 2001, p. 25, 6/2). 1- SMA Associates: They are Catholics Priests or Lay (men and/or women) who, feeling called and after a period of discernment and formation, are admitted through a formal commitment to share in the charism, spirituality and mission of the SMA called in accordance with SMA Constitution and Laws.
An associate is not a member. Membership is by oath, and Association is by commitment.
