MOZ 24 - BEING A MISSIONARY PRESENCE
Project Location
The project is carried out in Mozambique, in several parishes where the Comboni Missionaries are present: Balama, Nacala, Maputo, Nampula and Nampula – Muahivire.
Balama is located in the Cabo Delgado region, included in the Diocese of Pemba and is made up of 64 small Christian communities.
Nacala is a port town, the community is located in Bairro Ontupaia where the population is mostly made up of women, young people and children. The parish is made up of 16 communities, 5 of which are in the neighborhood where we live.
The community of Nampula is present in the parish of S. José, adjacent to the house of the community of the sisters. The parish, which is very large, includes 19 prayer nuclei and three communities. Nampula-Muahivire is a suburb of the city of Nampula where the parish of S. Francisco Xavier is located.
The pastoral work of the Maputo community is carried out in different parishes of the same Archdiocese: the parish of S. Anna which is located in the city, the parish of Benfica and Muamba is located on the outskirts 50 kilometers from the center and has 8 communities very far from the parish and with difficult roads especially in rainy weather.
Project description
The project aims to support pastoral, human, and Christian formation programs for children, youth, and adults in parishes where the Missionary Sisters are present, focusing on Christian community leaders so they can help their brothers and sisters grow in faith and missionary commitment in their Mozambican church.
The Mozambican church, after years of Catholic presence, appears to be still in the process of first evangelization and still urgently needs to be accompanied in its journey toward a true encounter with God, transforming the lives of the faithful by changing their cultural habits, which are at odds with the values of the Gospel. Furthermore, children and young people need strong witnesses of faith and specific formation that can help them discover their vocation within the church and be able to respond to it courageously.
The Comboni Missionary Sisters, present in Mozambique for over 75 years, strive to live their faith joyfully by being close to the people and caring for those far from the parish centers, who tend to have fewer opportunities for formation at all levels. The sisters frequently visit the villages, many of which are far from the parishes, making transportation and vehicle maintenance costly. People show their gratitude for the formation offered by the sisters, arriving at the training sessions with local products to help with the necessary food, so the sisters contribute only the remainder.
Objectives
- Provide solid pastoral, human, and Christian formation to children, youth, and adults in seven parishes and their communities scattered throughout the villages.
- Adequately train leaders in each community to lead their communities.
- Provide parishes with opportunities for formation and sharing on the missionary dimension of the Church so that every Christian can assume their role within the parish community.
- Accompany young people in their process of discovering their vocation.
Local contribution
The pastoral agents, after receiving training, become promoters for the community. The communities support themselves by paying the expenses related to the maintenance of the chapel, small aids to the poor.
Beneficiaries
Direct: Leaders and youth from seven parishes
Indirect: family and society
Referent sisters of the project: Sr Beatriz Helena Pedraza García an Sr Adriana Vinco
Project's costs