11.15.2019 | A Visit to the Sacred Ground of Mozambique

A month after Pope Francis\´ apostolic visit to Mozambique, I had the grace of stepping on this African soil from October 10 to 27. Sister Mariaelena Aceti, General Councilor, and I wanted to know a lot about the reality of the people and the mission of our Sisters of St. Joseph in Mocímboa da Praia, Mozambique.

When we arrived in Pemba, we had the opportunity to visit some female religious congregations founded by foreign missionaries and Mozambican vocations, a challenge in the experience of the inter-cultural!

Along the way to Mocímboa da Praia, we saw the marks of the destruction from cyclone Kenneth and attacks by armed groups. Several times we were stopped by the military controlling the road. For two years, this northern region of Mozambique has been living in a climate of fear and insecurity due to hidden powers that want to impose their own interests, killing people, burning villages and sowing destruction every.

We are grateful for the welcome and time spent with our Sisters Eliane Costa Santana, Maria Inez Leite Ramos, Sandra Vilela Eleutério and Vilma de Oliveira. The time we spent together was a time of much listening, sharing of life and the journey of the Province and the Congregation, rereading and envisioning the mission, gaining knowledge of the history and culture of the people, and the work in the Social Center in the parish and diocesan commissions. Sister Valesca de Mesquita Orsi from Tanzania was with us reflecting on the challenges of the vocational and formation process, in the light of the International Formation Session.

Due to the instability of the country in ensuring peace and national reconciliation agreements, our charism of UNITY is much needed. The Bishop of Pemba, D. Luiz Fernando Lisboa, stressed the presence of the solidarity of our Sisters with the suffering and displaced people, victims of armed attacks.

In a bleak and uneven environment, the face of our Mozambican brothers and sisters presents a beautiful smile of hope. Let us intensify our prayers and support the mission of the Congregation in this region.

Sister Katia Rejane Sassi