Missionaries of Africa in the US

09/09/2026

Congratulations to Fr. Henry Byamukama Mbekeize, M.Afr., as he celebrates the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination!

For his Silver Jubilee, Fr. Henry reflected on the Gospel image of the workers called into the vineyard and on his own journey from Uganda to missionary service across borders and cultures.

“The Lord is calling. Are you available?”

Read Fr. Henry’s Jubilee reflection, “GO INTO MY VINEYARD!”

https://missionariesofafrica.org/2026/09/go-into-my-vineyard-reflection/

08/29/2026

We are pleased to share this post from the Pontifical Oriental Institute featuring Fr. Paul Reilly, M.Afr., a Missionary of Africa, and his studies in Rome.
For our English-speaking followers, here is a translation of the original italian:
“Academic formation becomes richer when it grows out of missionary experience.”

From Ethiopia to Rome, the journey of Fr. Paul Reilly, M.Afr., a student in the Faculty of Eastern Christian Studies at the Pontifical Oriental Institute, is a testimony to how study can become a service to the Church and a bridge between Christian traditions.

After experiencing the civil war in northern Ethiopia, he is now deepening his study of monasticism in the Ethiopian Church, sharing his daily academic journey with students and professors from around the world.

“As a missionary who feels called to promote the search for unity within the divided Body of Christ, I can say that being part of this academic community has been the privilege of a lifetime.”

At the Pontifical Oriental Institute, academic formation is intertwined with encounters among Churches, cultures, and experiences. It is an international community where research is enriched by mutual listening, ecumenical dialogue, and the stories of those who live out their missionary vocation in contexts often marked by great challenges.

08/28/2026

Congratulations to Brother Jim Heintz, M.Afr.

On August 27, Brother James Heintz, M.Afr., celebrated the 60th anniversary of his First Oath as a Missionary of Africa.

A native of Quincy, Illinois, Brother Jim prepared for missionary life in Franklin, Pennsylvania, and Lennoxville, Quebec, and studied auto mechanics in Chicago before being assigned to Ghana in 1970. He later spent 20 years serving in Malawi.

Brother Jim is retired and living with the Missionaries of Africa community in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Please join us in congratulating Brother Jim and giving thanks for his 60 years of faithful service as a Missionary of Africa. May God continue to bless him!

08/24/2026

As students across the United States return to school, the Missionaries of Africa USA Development Office is launching our annual back-to-school appeal to help improve schools across Africa.

This year, we are highlighting St. Stephen Kalakwi Parish School in eastern Uganda, where Father Leon Gansonre, M.Afr., serves as pastor. The school welcomes 700 students each day but urgently needs new latrines for boys and girls, including sinks and water for handwashing.

St. Stephen is one of four school projects we hope to support in Uganda this fall. Our goal is to raise $27,500 to support these projects and other school needs identified by our missionaries across Africa.

As children return to their classrooms, please keep our students and teachers in your prayers. And if you are able to support our back-to-school appeal, your gift will help give children across Africa healthier, safer schools where they can learn with dignity. https://missionariesofafrica.org/?p=3192

08/20/2026

07/20/2026

07/08/2026

We were grateful to join in this joyful celebration.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington invites you to join us...

06/03/2026

A blessed celebration of the Feast of the Uganda Martyrs at the Missionaries of Africa House. Their steadfast faith in the face of persecution remains a powerful witness to the Gospel and a source of inspiration for the Church today.

05/19/2026

In Uganda, Martyrs Day celebrations have been postponed amid concerns over the Ebola outbreak. The annual pilgrimage honors St. Charles Lwanga and his companions, the Uganda Martyrs, whose witness to the faith continues to inspire Catholics around the world.

The Catholic feast of the Uganda Martyrs will still be celebrated globally on June 3. In Uganda, Catholics are being encouraged to celebrate privately or in smaller gatherings as health precautions remain in place.

Please keep the people of Uganda in your prayers.

Uganda has postponed the annual Martyrs’ Day commemorations, set for 3 June, due to Ebola concerns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

04/10/2026

This is an interesting exploration of Pope Leo’s trip to Africa. It highlights why this visit is such an important moment not only for the Church in Africa but for the Church around the world.

ANALYSIS: A closer look at the four countries on the Pope’s itinerary shows how the Church’s role — before and after independence — has shaped his visit.