Luanda, 13 August, 2022 / 6:00 pm (ACI Africa).
The Catholic Pontifical and Charity foundation, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, is appealing for financial assistance to aid the Diocese of Mbanza Congo in Angola in the construction of a Marian Shrine to “deepen the people’s Catholic identity” in the Angolan Episcopal See.
In a Wednesday, August 10 report, ACN has noted that Mbanza Congo is an impoverished Diocese and one of the few Dioceses in the Southern African country lacking a Marian Shrine.
ACN has reported that the shrine will lead to “a deepening of faith and a strengthening of the people’s Catholic identity in the midst of intensive activity by the many sects that are seeking to win away followers.”
“The shrine is intended not only as a place of pilgrimage but also as a center for retreats and faith formation activities. In short, a sort of spiritual center for the diocese and a place that will exert a powerful influence on the faith life of the people, by helping them to mature and grow in their faith,” ACN has reported.
The Local Ordinary of Mbanza Congo Diocese, Bishop Vicente Carlos Kiaziku, told ACN that the shine “is intended as a symbol of the way in which the faithful can journey with Mary towards Christ and go to meet him together.”