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“Be ever available, humble”: Catholic Archbishop to Women Religious at Perpetual Profession in Angola

Members of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy (RSM), who made their Perpetual Profession at St. Joseph Cathedral of Angola’s Catholic Archdiocese of Lubango have been urged to be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit through their availability in humility.

In his homily during the Final Vows of Sr. Maria Beatriz Segunda Caposso, Sr. Maria José, and Sr. Domingas Malesso Jacinto, Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi emphasized the need for the women Religious to be visible signs of God’s presence.

“Be always faithful and open to the action of the Holy Spirit. Remember that at the heart of the Church, Consecrated Life is essential to its holiness and mission. Be ever available, humble, and above all, deeply passionate about God, so that through you, God's presence may be visible in the world,” Archbishop Mbilingi said during the Saturday, February 1 event.

He added, “By making your Perpetual Profession, you consecrate yourselves even more fully to Christ, and your journey is one of faith, perseverance, and fidelity, always attentive to God's grace and the needs of the people.”

The Catholic Archbishop of Lubango urged the RSM members to “continue to be witnesses of divine mercy, following Christ’s example, and bringing His light to those most in need – families, youth, the sick, the poor, and all those on the margins of society.”

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Reflecting on the Day of the Consecrated that is annually marked on February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the temple, Archbishop Mbilingi said, “Your vocation is a testimony of mercy, service, and God's constant presence in the world, in the Dioceses where you live, and in your missions.”

He continued, “Over these 25 years, you have been called to live in community, withdrawn from the world yet in the world, as a living sign of God. Your Consecrated Life is a sign of hope for a world increasingly thirsty for mercy and the truth of the Gospel.”

The Angolan-born member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp./Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) encouraged the women Religious seek the will of God in their lives, fulfilling His purpose for each of them.

“Dear Sisters, this is a special moment for you. Today, as you profess your perpetual vows, you say a definitive ‘yes’ to God. Your commitment mirrors the angels’ mission – to serve God and fulfill His divine purposes,” he said, and encouraged the RSM members to respond to the needs of society with “faith, perseverance, and dedication.”

He called upon the Sisters to “embody the mission of the angels, who are sent by God to carry out His work of salvation and mercy.”

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“Like the angels, these Sisters live as messengers of the Lord, extending His divine presence in the world. Their ministry involves spreading the Good News, serving the most vulnerable, and offering comfort to those in need,” the Spiritan Archbishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in January 2000 as Coadjutor Bishop of Angola’s Lwena Catholic Diocese said.

The Charism of the RSM members, he went on to say, “is particularly expressed in evangelization and vocational ministry, guiding those called by God to discern their path. They also work in family ministry, providing spiritual support to families, offering catechesis, and conducting faith-enriching activities.”

“Through their work in schools, they nurture young minds in the faith and Christian values. Their mission also extends to caring for the sick, assisting the clergy, and ministering to marginalized communities, including the poor, orphans, and prisoners,” Archbishop Mbilingi said.

Meanwhile, in the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda, members of the Poor Clare Sisters, a Contemplative Order, have been urged to immerse themselves in the creative silence of their total dedication to the Lord and to heal the wounds of the world through their contemplative life.

In his homily at the Solemn Profession Mass at the Monastery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Luanda, Bishop Fernando Francisco, called upon Sr. Piedade de Maria dos Anjos, Sr. Maria Letícia da Igreja, and Sr. Maria Lourdes da Previdência to help heal the wounds of the world through the contemplative living.

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“Your life is the manifestation of Christ’s life, in silence and prayer. Even though you are apart from external activities, you are the united forces sustaining the mystical body of the Church, Bishop Fernando, an Auxiliary Bishop of Luanda Archdiocese said during the February 1 event, adding, “We feel this, and if we were more vigilant and intuitive, we would understand it.”

He likened the Nuns to branches united to the vine of Christ, saying, “The divine sap that flows through your hearts nourishes not only your spiritual lives but the entire Church, bearing fruits of salvation and hope.”

He said, “The contemplative life you embrace today is a glimpse of the promised fullness, an anticipation of the Kingdom of God in history. It is a testimony that places those who live it at the forefront of the Church’s mission, as a prophetic sign that everything, absolutely everything, finds meaning in God,” Bishop Fernando the Poor Clare Sisters in Luanda Archdiocese.

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