Luanda, 11 February, 2025 / 8:23 pm (ACI Africa).
Those directly involved in the ministry of evangelization as pastoral agents must inspire hope among the people of God, Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of Angola’s Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda has said.
In his homily during the Opening Mass for the 2025 Pastoral Year in his Metropolitan See, Archbishop Dias urged pastoral agents to model their lives on the person of Jesus, especially during the new Pastoral Year that is to be lived in the context of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year.
“Our catechesis, our liturgies, our works of charity and justice – our entire lives – must be bearers of hope. This is only possible if they are centred on Jesus, who is our hope and loves all,” the Angolan Catholic Archbishop said during the February 9 event that was held at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Major Seminary in Luanda.
He posed, “How can we help those who suffer to maintain hope? How can we assist those in poverty and misery in keeping hope alive? How can we support those facing inner struggles, at risk of losing their sense of purpose?”
“This is our challenge, but also our joy: to go against the current of despair, to show that love never runs out, that love is never exhausted. While we may struggle to find ways to help, we are certain that Jesus knows the way,” Archbishop Dias said.
