Let’s Live “certain of the presence of God”: Catholic Archbishop of Luanda at Launch of Marian Crusade

Luanda, 26 October, 2025 / 10:51 PM

Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda in Angola has encouraged the people of God to live each day rooted in the certainty of God’s presence and guided by virtues of faith and hope.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Marian Crusade in his Metropolitan See, which began with a procession toward the Parish of Our Lady of Remedies, Archbishop Dias underscored the importance of prayer in families.

“We should make our lives a path full of faith, full of hope, certain of the presence of God — like the sun that never hides, like the sun that never goes out,” the Angolan Catholic Archbishop said during the Saturday, October 25 event that the Men’s Rosary Pastoral Movement of his Metropolitan See organized.

He emphasized that the pilgrimage was not a mere physical exercise, but above all spiritual, made “with Mary, our Mother, who walks with us — silent, humble, but strong in faith.”

The 67-year-old Catholic Archbishop reaffirmed that the Marian crusade is a sign of unity and renewal of faith in the heart of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda.

“Walking through the city’s streets is to ask God to enlighten our city and bless its inhabitants. Religion doesn’t matter; nationality doesn’t matter. What matters is that each person is a child of God,” he said.

Archbishop Dias lauded members of the Men’s Rosary Pastoral Movement for their “dedication, dynamism, and daily effort in the parishes.”

He described the public prayer in the city and the Archdiocese as “an act of love and commitment to the Gospel,” adding, “The Church lives and grows when the faithful pray together and publicly bear witness to their faith.”

Archbishop Dias further said that “this walk is also an invitation to conversion and to the active presence of Christians in social and community life,” and affirmed that “the light of God must shine in the streets of Luanda, in homes and in hearts, like the sun that never goes out.”

The Catholic Church leader recognized Mary as an example of persevering faith, recalling that “she walked with Jesus and continues to walk with us, always pointing us toward God.”

He noted that praying the Holy Rosary is a “powerful instrument of peace and unity, and that the Month of the Rosary, now concluding, should leave a deep mark on the lives of believers.”

Archbishop Dias also encouraged families to keep prayer at the center of home life, saying, “A family that prays together is a family that lives in God’s grace.”

Speaking to ACI Africa during the walk, Diocesan Coordinator of the Men’s Rosary Pastoral Movement, João Francisco, said, “From time to time, we revitalize the movement so that it gains more strength and embraces as many men as possible.”

Mr. João added, “This is one of the greatest initiatives we’ve carried out. We want to manifest our faith — especially as men — to evangelize and strengthen our devotion to Our Lady.”

He explained that “men are usually those who attend church the least, and this movement was created to awaken them to faith and spiritual life.” Mr. João warned that “a head of a family who doesn’t pray leaves his family spiritually crippled.”

The Marian Crusade featured the recitation of the Rosary and hymns to Our Lady during the procession from the Holy Family Parish to the Parish of Our Lady of Remedies.

Although primarily organized for men from all parishes of Luanda Archdiocese, many women also participated, to accompany and show their strength in leading their husbands to God and Marian spirituality.

Speaking on behalf of the women, Batonete Celsa de Alvarece, a member of the Legion of Mary from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, said, “A man without a woman is incomplete. That’s why we must walk together in the Word of the Lord so that families remain united and strengthened by the power of God.”

She added, “Women are the driving force and have the role of calling their husbands to faith and to the Church.”

Mauro Borges, also from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, said, “The Men’s Rosary Pastoral Movement is an important initiative because it helps us be reborn and realize how important it is to pray. Each participation brings new experiences and strengthens our belief in God. Serving God is the greatest purpose of this walk.”

On his part, Pinto Lopes Camaeca, from St. Zeno Parish, said that “the Men’s Rosary Pastoral Movement is essential for men to become spiritual leaders within their families — as heads of the domestic Church.”

He emphasized, “The family must be the first space of evangelization, and the man must take part in this spiritual mission.”

The Deputy Coordinator of the Men’s Rosary Pastoral Movement at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, José Lino, told ACI Africa that “the message was well conveyed in parishes and on social media, and we had an impressive turnout that exceeded expectations.”

Lino added, “The movement is growing, and the old notion that men don’t pray is no longer true.”

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Thanks to the movement’s activities since 2021, he continued, “men are now taking a more active part in Church life. Today, we see more and more men praying the Holy Rosary publicly, without shame, showing their devotion to Mary and their desire to walk with God.”