“Be ready to serve with joy, generosity”: Bishop to Catholic Women Entity in Angola at Diocesan Congress

Benguela, 25 August, 2024 / 8:54 PM

Bishop António Francisco Jaca of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Benguela has urged members of the Association for the Promotion of Women in the Angolan Catholic Church (PROMAICA) to reach out to the people of God in service, doing so generously and “with joy”.

In his homily during the opening Mass of the Diocesan Congress of PROMAICA, Bishop Jaca said, “We are living in challenging times where, often, we fail to care for the Lord’s sheep as we should.”

“Women must always be ready to serve at the Lord’s table, with generosity and love,” the Angolan Catholic Bishop said during the August 23 Eucharistic celebration at Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral of Benguela Diocese.

He went on to emphasize the need for a renewed commitment among PROMAICA members to reaching out to members of their respective communities in service and cautioned against giving into the temptation to seek personal gain.

The August 22-24 Congress at the Socio-Pastoral Center in Benguela brought together thousands of Catholic women from various Catholic Parishes of the Angolan Episcopal See. 

In his homily, the Local Ordinary of Benguela, who doubles as the President of the Episcopal Commission for Culture and Social Communications of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) said, “We are merely servants, and that is what we should be.”

“Let us not seek personal gain in serving others,” he warned.

The Angolan Catholic Church leader, who started his Episcopal Ministry in July 2007 as Bishop of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Caxito went on to underscore the need to understand the mission and identity of Catholic women in light of the mission of the Church.

He said, “The identity and mission of Catholic women must be understood in light of the Church’s identity and mission.”

Bishop Jaca called upon PROMAICA members to be “the light of the world and the salt of the earth, serving as beacons of hope and contributors to God’s Kingdom.”

He continued, “This Congress provides a significant opportunity for Catholic women in Angola to reaffirm their role and strengthen their spiritual resolve to address contemporary challenges.”

The Local Ordinary of Benguela Diocese urged the Catholic women to “remain firm in their faith and be pillars of the family.”

Meanwhile, during the August 22-24 Congress, the National Coordinator of PROMAICA, Júlia de Araújo, highlighted the need for motivation as important.

“We strive to motivate our members and address the needs and aspirations of women across the country, contributing to the education of young mothers within Christian principles and love for others,” Júlia de Araújo said.