The 61-year-old Angolan Catholic Bishop, leader who started his Episcopal Ministry on July 23 following his appointment on May 4 said the philosophy of young people should “only be to do good and not to do evil.”
Bishop Firmino invited young people to combine discipline and wisdom to build a fraternal Diocese that imitates the footsteps of Jesus Christ, the eternal youth.
“Be disciplined young people, not undisciplined. The Book of Wisdom says that those who reject wisdom allied or combined with discipline will meet a terrible end. In other words, a generation that is neither wise nor disciplined will suffer a terrible end,” he added.
The Angolan Catholic Bishop expressed concern about young people who commit crimes and consume drugs and alcohol, warning them that these evils are destructive.
“Among you there are also many criminals. Among you there are also many who drink whisky in sachets, but as they are introduced into their bodies these sachets destroy them,” he said and added, “We have many young people who are alive but already dead. So we need to imitate, to identify ourselves with Christ, the one who renews us internally and also renews our hearts, our relationships.”
According to Bishop Firmino, the only way to secure eternity is by practicing good works, which is why it is necessary to dream of worthy works that elevate our Christian being.
"Because our mandate to secure eternity in heaven is through the practice of good works, and young people are the great dreamers. Woe betide the young person who doesn't dream. For this reason, they must say what they have dreamed, so that those who do not dream may put into practice what others have dreamed. Because some are good dreamers and others don't get there, but are good at putting things into practice. So let's reconcile these two realities and build the society we need today,” he said.
“May Christ the King, the Shepherd and Animator of young people, also make our journeys ever younger,” Bishop Firmino implored.
João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.
