Catholic Bishops in Angola Call for Appropriate Work Ethic, Solidarity, Shared Responsibility

Luanda, 25 June, 2025 / 2:15 AM

Catholic Bishops in Angola have, in separate messages on June 22, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), urged the people of God in their respective Episcopal Sees to foster an appropriate work ethic, uphold human dignity, practice solidarity, and embrace the values of communal sharing.

In the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda, Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias encouraged health and prison workers to carry out their duties with “nobility, moral integrity, and a Christian sense of service.”

“Do your work knowing that you are in one of the noblest places of service to the human person,” Archbishop Dias said during Holy Mass at Josina Machel National Hospital in Luanda.

He added, “These words are not just for one group, but for all—Bishops, Priests, Religious, and the Laity alike.”

The Angolan Catholic Archbishop emphasized that God observes every honest task, urging that daily work must become an expression of faith.

“Work done with justice and love ceases to be just a means of survival; it becomes a form of solidarity and a splendid prayer,” he said.

In the Catholic Archdiocese of Huambo, Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins reflected on the Gospel message of shared and multiplication of the bread, emphasizing that recognizing God as the source of all provision eliminates any sense of exclusivity.

“When we understand that God is Lord of the bread, it can no longer be just for me or my family—it is for all who are hungry,” Archbishop Zeca said in his June 22 homily at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish of his Metropolitan See.

Reflecting on the symbolism of “bread” to include anything that nourishes the human spirit—courage, hope, friendship, trust, he said, “This is the bread we are called to share in every community.”

On his part, Bishop Belmiro Cuica Chissengueti of the Catholic Diocese of Cabinda warned that the absence of solidarity and genuine freedom leads to social captivity. 

“When there is no sharing and no real freedom, we become slaves in our own land. And we are not far from that,” Bishop Chissengueti said in his June 22 homily at Our Lady Queen of the World Cathedral of Cabinda Diocese.

He lamented the widespread marginalization of Angolans in the labour market, saying, “From Simindele to Yema, many nationals are reduced to street vendors, cart pushers, or makeshift workers. This is due to a lack of solidarity.”

The Angolan member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp./Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) further said, “When a city is dirty, it’s because its people are dirty. And we are dirty because our city is dirty.”

He called for civic responsibility and community action, insisting that no government can manage waste without citizen involvement. 

“Developed nations thrive on civic consciousness. If I don’t use the bin, I harm myself—and my children,” Bishop Chissengueti said.

Expressing his awareness of the despair many Angolans face, he said, “We need to rediscover the miracle of the multiplication of bread, which begins with the miracle of sharing—a miracle that each of us can live.”