Desecrated Catholic Parish in Angola Receives Two Ciboria after ACI Africa Coverage

“In all my years as a Priest of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence, I could never have imagined this generosity,” the Angolan Catholic Priest said.

On July 10, bandits attacked the Angolan Parish making away with two Ciboria after accessing the Tabernacle.

Credit: ACI Africa

Addressing journalists on July 13, Fr. Lino Aguiar explained the events of July 10, saying, “Our Parish was broken into by some unidentified criminals who desecrated the Church, opened the Tabernacle and removed the hosts, threw them on the floor, and then took two Ciboria.”

The member of the Congregation of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence (PSDP) added that they only came to know about the desecration when they went to the church for morning Mass.

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St. John Calabria Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda in Angola. Credit: ACI Afrca

In an interview with ACI Africa after the donation, Captain Sacchetti said, “I learned of the robbery from an article I read on ACI Africa. It didn't take long for the parishioners at St. Norberts to come together and buy 2 beautiful new ciboria.”

Credit: ACI Africa

“We've inscribed Populus Sancti Ioannis Calabriae et Sancti Norberti corpus unum sunt (the people of St John Calabria and St Norberts are one body) to honor both the function of the ciboria and also the unity of your friends in the USA together with your parishioners as one global church,” he added.

He continued, “The people of the churches of St. John of Calabria and St. Norbert are one body.”

Captain Joe Sacchetti and Fr. Lino Aguiar. Credit: ACI Africa

“The beautiful symbolism proclaims a new and precious home for the body of Christ and the unity of one people, both from the United States and Africa,” Captain Sacchetti said.

Credit: ACI Africa

Masses are being celebrated in a makeshift worship site in the church’s parking lot, following a three-week closure of the church as a result of the desecration. 

Credit: ACI Africa

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João Vissesse contributed to the writing of this story

ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.