“Do not be afraid”: Catholic Archbishop to Members of Commission for Pastoral Care of Migrants, Itinerants

Huambo, 16 September, 2025 / 11:20 AM

Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins of Angola’s Catholic Archdiocese of Huambo has encouraged members of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants (CEPAMI), an entity of the Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST), to realize their mission with courage, faith, and determination even in the most difficult contexts.

In his homily during the closing Mass of the 14th General Assembly of CEPAMI, Archbishop Zeca, who is the President of the CEAST Commission noted that “the mission of migrants is not simply a passage or a temporary stage, but a permanent and firm commitment.”

“Do not be afraid for the mission requires courage to face the snares and traps of this world, which try to divert migrants from their true vocation,” the Angolan member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) said during the September 13 Eucharistic celebration that was held at the Diocesan Clergy House of the Lwena Catholic Diocese.

He told CEPAMI members that “as messengers of faith and hope, you are called to be light and salt wherever you are, especially in contexts of adversity” and went on to emphasize, “The mission of migrants is not simply a passage or a temporary stage, but a permanent and firm commitment.”

“Migrants are missionaries of hope because they carry with them the message of God’s love, which must be witnessed everywhere, especially in the most difficult places, where suffering and marginalization are most deeply felt,” the President of CEPAMI said.

For him, “It is essential that pastoral agents prepare not only to face the physical and material challenges of migration, but also the spiritual and cultural barriers that may arise.” 

He added, “This mission requires inner strength, unshakable faith, and the capacity to be a living sign of the Gospel.”

The Local Ordinary of Huambo noted that the commitment of migrants should be seen as “a true witness of divine love, a way of bringing hope to those most in need, even in adverse and hostile contexts.”

“Bearing witness to God’s love is not only a religious task but also a social commitment that requires courage and dedication,” Archbishop Zeca said, and continued, “This commitment cannot be relativized. It is a vocation that demands total dedication, courage to face dangers, and a faith that transcends the boundaries of fear and doubt.”

The Angolan SVD Bishop underscored the need “to go beyond appearances and embrace a faith that manifests itself in works, especially in defending and accompanying migrants.” 

He called for authenticity and coherence in Christian living, reminding the people of God that “true piety must be reflected in commitment to the most vulnerable, including migrants who face daily challenges in search of a better life.”

Archbishop Zeca went on to emphasize the importance of providing spiritual, psychological, and material support to migrants so that they may carry out their mission with dignity and hope.

He said, “It is essential that the pastoral care of migrants be a space of welcome, of strengthening faith, and of encouragement for the mission.”

“We cannot give up, even when the road seems difficult and the storm strong. The mission of migrants is to be a beacon that lights the darkness, a living witness of the hope that does not fail,” Archbishop Zeca said.