Renewed in Call, Sent in Mercy: SMMM in the UK Embrace Mission Anew
On 4th May 2026, members of the Congregation of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy (SMMM) in the United Kingdom gathered at St Mary and St Margaret Parish, Castlemilk, Scotland, for their annual meeting and retreat. Present with them was their Superior General, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Christian Oyems Okwuru, SMMM, who came all the way from Nigeria on canonical visit and mission animation.
The gathering was opened with a three-day retreat, held from Monday 4th to Wednesday 6th May 2026, and facilitated by Rev. Fr. Oluwafemi Victor Orilua, CSSp. A member of the Spiritan Congregation from the Province of Nigeria South-West, Fr. Orilua currently serves in Scotland under the British Province as a school chaplain. He is also the founder of Spiritans Sound Outreach, a dynamic youth ministry dedicated to evangelisation through media and the discovery and nurturing of young talents, as well as the publisher of Treasures Unveiler Magazine.
The retreat, themed “Rediscovering Our Call: Gift, Mission, and Communion,” drew its inspiration from Ephesians 4:7–16. It offered a rich spiritual space for participants to revisit the origins of their vocation-listening anew to the voice of God who first called them, discerning the unique gifts entrusted to each for mission, and deepening their identity as members of a family committed to proclaiming God’s mercy with a distinctive Marian devotion. Through moments of intense prayer, personal reflection, and engaging discussions, the retreat rekindled spiritual vitality and renewed zeal for mission among the participants.
The founder of the Congregation of the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy (SMMM) is Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Gogo Nwedo, CSSp, also known as Bishop Anthony Gogo Nwedo, C.S.Sp., the first indigenous Bishop of Umuahia Diocese in Nigeria. The congregation was officially founded on 25th October 1970 in Umuahia, Nigeria.
Bishop Nwedo was a member of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans). The Spiritans first arrived in Eastern Nigeria in 1885, led by pioneers such as Bishop Joseph Shanahan from Ireland. While the Irish Spiritans evangelised the East, the British focused on the North and Middle belt, with Canadian Spiritans also contributing significantly, particularly in parts of Northern Nigeria, including Kogi State.
Today, the fruits of this missionary legacy are evident in the growing number of African missionaries serving across the globe. Their presence continues to revitalise and enrich communities far beyond their place of origin, including regions that once sent missionaries to Africa. In the United Kingdom, their impact is increasingly visible and appreciated.
Interestingly, SMMM is one of several congregations founded by Nigerian Spiritans. Alongside the male congregation, Bishop Nwedo also established the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy. The Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy first arrived in the United Kingdom in 2010. Currently they are twenty-two, serving across Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales under the leadership of their Regional Superior, Fr. Francis Chukwubuikem Ututo (SMMM). Their apostolate spans parish ministry, education, and hospital chaplaincy, reflecting a vibrant and growing missionary presence.
In a remarkable turn of missionary history, the Church now witnesses a new wave of evangelisation flowing from Africa to the wider world. With renewed conviction, deep spiritual roots, and a strong sense of communion, missionaries from Africa-like the members of SMMM- are not only sustaining the faith in many parts of Europe but also breathing fresh life into it. This growing missionary movement stands as a powerful sign of hope: that the Gospel continues to cross boundaries, cultures, and generations, carried by hearts set ablaze for Christ and committed to proclaiming His mercy to all.