Father Renzo Mandirola warns SMA Curia of living in a laboratory

Father Renzo Mandirola warned the General Curia of the Society of African Missions (SMA) against the danger of living in a laboratory during a meeting held from September 8 to 10, 2026, at the Domus Aurea Center in Rome. Mandirola, a priest from the Italian Province, urged leaders to assess the current reality of the SMA and to meet the immediate needs of people by going out to encounter them.

Mandirola suggested that the Curia should act as a voice to inspire the SMA and encourage creativity. He noted that while the past is important, it can stifle the present and prevent new developments. He called for a creative faithfulness guided by the Holy Spirit, which requires analyzing how the world dictates the agenda for the Church as an ecclesial structure.

The meeting also included a session on teamwork led by Sister Anne Falola, a member of the General Council of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles (NSA).