“You are a sign of hope”: Catholic Archbishop to Women Religious at Profession in Mozambique

Speaking on the Vow of Chastity, the Archbishop explained, “As human beings, we have a body through which we relate to others, express love and care, and receive affection in return.”

He added, “With the Vow of Chastity, the Consecrated offer their body and entire being to God, not for one individual but for the service of all. This allows them to be a ‘sister’ to everyone.”

On the Vow of Poverty, he highlighted the challenge of renouncing personal ownership, saying, “To live, we need resources, and it is natural for a person to say, ‘This is mine; I worked for it.’ However, a person who takes the Vow of Poverty says, ‘This is not mine; it is ours.’ Everything they acquire—knowledge, possessions, resources—belongs to the community. They do not claim personal wealth but live in solidarity with their fellow sisters.”

The Argentine member of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCI) further said, “The food I eat is not mine; it is ours. If I need something, I will receive it just as any other sister in my community would.”

Archbishop Zuanna went on to reflect on the difficulty of renouncing personal plans in the context of the Vow of Obedience.

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“We all have dreams, goals, and aspirations. But with the Vow of Obedience, a consecrated person surrenders their personal projects to embrace the mission of the congregation. They align their will with the community’s path, following the guidance of their religious family,” he said.

He reminded the faithful that Religious Congregations have constitutions that outline a spiritual journey modeled after Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

“Just as Mary humbly accepted God’s will, the Consecrated embrace obedience as a way to fulfill their divine calling,” the Mozambican Catholic Church leader said, and added, “Obedience is not about losing the ability to make decisions, but about committing to God's will as discerned through the Church and the community.”

He acknowledged the challenges of following the three Evangelical Counsels, especially in renouncing personal desires to embrace the needs of the community. 

Such a commitment, when made with sincerity, leads to a “fulfilling life in service to God,” Archbishop Zuanna said, adding, “Today, you and I renew our commitment to these vows. Some do so for a determined period, as part of their journey. Others, like those making their Perpetual Profession today, declare, ‘This is my path, and God is calling me to this for life.’” 

“To give oneself definitively to the Lord means never looking back. It is a commitment of great generosity, faith, and devotion,” he further said, and warned against basing Religious Profession solely on enthusiasm or personal motivation.

“If a vocation is built only on personal generosity and excitement, it risks being like a beautiful house built on sand—unstable and vulnerable,” he said.

In his view, “True vocation must be rooted in faith and the strength of one’s commitment to God.”

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.