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All Set for Episcopal Consecration of Catholic Bishop for São Tomé and Príncipe Diocese

Members of the planning committee for the Episcopal Ordination of Mons. João de Ceita Nazaré. Credit: Radio Jubilar

By João Vissesse

São Tomé, 17 March, 2024 / 9:30 pm (ACI Africa).

All seems set for the Episcopal Consecration of the new Bishop for the Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Central African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe.

In a Monday, March 11 interview with Radio Jubilar, the  Financial Administrator of the Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe said the various commissions are working to make the March 17 Episcopal Consecration of Mons. João de Ceita Nazaré a success.

“The week of March 11-17 will be marked by the arrival of guests and Bishops from the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) who will take part in the event that will mark the history of the Catholic Church and the country,” Fr. Fausto Matos said.

Fr. Matos added, “The Apostolic Administrator created a central commission to work towards March 17, and from that commission we created subcommittees to work on some areas that we think are very important for the event.”

“The subcommittees are, in turn, subdivided into: Liturgy, hospitality, communication and image commissions, to prepare for this great event,” he said. 

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The Catholic Priest acknowledged with appreciation the collaboration from the political leadership, saying, “We have already met with the authorities; there is good receptivity on the part of the São Toméan government. They are committed and above all there is great engagement; we have had some support and this fills us with joy.”

Born in August 1973 in Trindade, São Tomé, Bishop-elect Nazaré who was appointed Local Ordinary for the Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe on January 9, was ordained a Priest in August 2006.

The holder of a licentiate in theology and Portuguese literature from the Catholic University of Portugal and the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, respectively, has previously served as Vicar General of São Tomé and Principe Diocese, head of the diocesan Caritas and Radio Jubilar, and lecturer at the University of São Tomé and Principe.

Speaking to journalists on January 9, the Bishop-elect appealed for prayers for the success of his Episcopal Ministry.

“I ask for your prayers, so that God who is merciful will look down from above up on us and ensure the success of this mission,” Mons. Nazaré told journalists soon after his appointment was made public. 

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The 50-year-old São Toméan Bishop-elect added, “Let us work together in this great project, which is the construction, edification of this Church.”

“It is only with unity that we will be able to succeed,” he said, and implored, “We also ask St. Thomas and St. Anthony to intercede for us so that this task of ours will always be according to God's will.”

Once Consecrated, Bishop-elect Nazaré will be at the helm of the 1,001 square kilometer Diocese that was established in November 1534 as the Diocese of Tomé from the Metropolitan See of Funchal, Portugal.

João Vissesse

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. 

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