Catholic Bishop in Angola Urges Scouts to “be firm, courageous”, Lead Others to Faith

“We Catholics, under the illusion that there are so many of us, want a form of scouting that, to me, combines everything without any criteria and doesn't cause any growth or impact on life,” the Bishop of Cabinda Diocese who doubles as the president of the Episcopal Commission for youth, university ministry and Scouting of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) said.

He added, “Your scouting duties must start at home. Being a person who inspires confidence, being loyal, being helpful and always doing a good deed, being a friend to all, being dedicated and respectful, protecting plants and animals, being obedient, having a good spirit, being sober and economical, respecting the good of others, pure in thought, word and deed.”

Speaking during the same September 16 event, the Coordinator of Catholic Scouts in Cabinda Diocese, Manuel Domingos Sita Frank, said, “Putting into practice what has been learnt, especially catechesis, must be at the heart of the scouts, the active participation not only of the assistants, but of all the scouts in the life of the parish.”

“Our perspective is that in a short space of time we will be able to draw up a Diocesan program of spirituality so that what is discussed on a Wednesday, which has usually been spirituality in scouting, in a particular group is the same theme to be given in all the Catholic groups,” Mr. Sita said, and added, “By doing this I believe we'll all be aligned and on the same page.”

João Vissesse contributed in the writing of this story

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