Consecrated Persons in Angola Urged to Renew Missionary Zeal ahead of National Jubilee Celebration

The four-day Jubilee will feature Masses, conferences, roundtable discussions, and outreach visits to hospitals and care centers, beginning on January 30 in the Diocese of Viana and concluding on February 2 at the Our Lady of Fatima Parish of Luanda Archdiocese.

Reflecting on the event’s objectives, Fr. Cassinda stated, “The Jubilee seeks to remind consecrated persons that their vocation must be a living sign of hope for the people they serve.”

“By learning from the past and embracing the challenges of today, we aim to project a future rooted in a hope that does not disappoint,” he added.

The Angolan member of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CMF), also known as Claretians further said, “The focus is to reflect on how consecrated life has been and, and how it can continue to be a beacon of hope and reconciliation for God’s people.”

He went on to highlight the challenges faced by Consecrated Men and Women in Angola, including diminished focus on missionary service and the pressures for daily survival.

“Today, dedication to missionary service has somewhat diminished, although wherever a religious is present, they must always bear witness,” Fr. Cassinda said.

He added, “However, we can say that the struggle for survival often consumes more time than dedication to the pastoral service to which we are consecrated. Even though everything a religious does can be considered pastoral, this challenge persists.”

Fr. Cassinda also cited formation as a key challenge. 

“Proposing religious values to today’s youth is challenging, particularly because many young people come from dysfunctional families and social structures,” he noted.

The solution, the Priest said, begins at the grassroots. “We must strengthen the Church’s foundation, invest in catechesis, and, above all, value the family as the true domestic Church,” he said.

“By ‘domestic Church,’ I mean the importance of solid Christian education from childhood. Within consecrated life, we must train young people holistically, integrally, and comprehensively so that they value and deeply assimilate what they learn.” the Angolan Catholic Priest said.

He said, “I believe three aspects are essential: strengthening the foundation of Christian education, restoring the role of the family as the domestic Church, and intensifying formation within religious communities in a holistic and integral way.”