Missionary Sisters of
Our Lady of Apostles
UP TO THE END
AUGUSTINE PLANQUE
Augustine was born in 1826 in Chemy, a little village in the North of France, into a modest family of small landowners.
He entered the seminary at a very young age and was ordained priest in 1850.
He always had a deep desire within him: to be missionary.
WITH THE S.M.A.
In 1856 the missionary Bishop de Marion Brésillac sent out an appeal: he was looking for available priests to leave for the most abandoned and difficult countries in Africa to proclaim the Gospel.
This missionary project gave Fr. Planque the opportunity to realize his dream: he would be one of the first members of the SMA (Society of African Missions) founded by Bishop de Brésillac.
FIRST SUPERIOR
In 1859, three years after the SMA was founded, its Founder died in Sierra Leone.
In France there remained only two seminarians and two priests, one of whom was Augustine Planque.
At the age of 33 years Fr. Planque accepted the responsibility of Superior General so as to continue the work begun by Bishop de Brésillac.
FOUNDER
In 1876 he founded the Institute of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles for the evangelization and formation of women and Christian families.
For almost fifty years, he spent himself in the cause of missionary vocations, accompanying the formation of seminarians and novices, seeking economic aid and organizing the missions entrusted to the SMA and OLA in Africa.
Fr. Augustine Planque died on 21st August, 1907.
All his energies were spent for the Society of African Missions and the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles;
thanks to them, he will live the passion which animated the whole of his life: mission "ad gentes".
Français
Bishop Melchior de Marion Brésillac Founder of the Society of African Missions (SMA)
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