Advertisement

Desecrated Catholic Parish in Angola Receives Two Ciboria after ACI Africa Coverage

The two ciboria donated to St. John Calabria Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda in Angola that was desecrated when bandits attacked the church on July 10. Credit: ACI Africa

By ACI Africa Staff

Luanda, 10 August, 2023 / 9:55 pm (ACI Africa).

Members of St Norbert's Parish  in Paoli, PA near Philadelphia in the United States of America have donated two ciboria to St. John Calabria Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda in Angola that was desecrated when bandits attacked the church on July 10.

The items were handed to the Parish Priest of the Angolan church, Fr. Hilario Ndumba on behalf of St. Norbert Parish by Captain Joe Sacchetti, who learnt about the desecration from a publication by ACI Africa.

The items were handed to the Parish Priest of the Angolan church, Fr. Hilario Ndumba on behalf of St. Norbert Parish by Captain Joe Sacchetti, who learnt about the desecration from a publication by ACI Africa. Credit: ACI Africa

“Thousands of communities read the story about the theft and desecration and did nothing, nor offered words,” Fr. Ndumba told ACI Africa when he received the Church items on August 5, and added, “One community read that story and took action from the other side of the world.”

Fr. Hilario Ndumba and Captain Joe Sacchetti. Credit: ACI Africa

Advertisement

“In all my years as a Priest of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence, I could never have imagined this generosity,” the Angolan Catholic Priest said.

On July 10, bandits attacked the Angolan Parish making away with two Ciboria after accessing the Tabernacle.

Credit: ACI Africa

Addressing journalists on July 13, Fr. Lino Aguiar explained the events of July 10, saying, “Our Parish was broken into by some unidentified criminals who desecrated the Church, opened the Tabernacle and removed the hosts, threw them on the floor, and then took two Ciboria.”

The member of the Congregation of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence (PSDP) added that they only came to know about the desecration when they went to the church for morning Mass.

More in Africa

Vatican

Pope Francis Expresses “spiritual closeness” to Kenyans as Flash Floods Cause Dozens of Deaths, Widespread Destruction

Read the article

St. John Calabria Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda in Angola. Credit: ACI Afrca

In an interview with ACI Africa after the donation, Captain Sacchetti said, “I learned of the robbery from an article I read on ACI Africa. It didn't take long for the parishioners at St. Norberts to come together and buy 2 beautiful new ciboria.”

Credit: ACI Africa

“We've inscribed Populus Sancti Ioannis Calabriae et Sancti Norberti corpus unum sunt (the people of St John Calabria and St Norberts are one body) to honor both the function of the ciboria and also the unity of your friends in the USA together with your parishioners as one global church,” he added.

He continued, “The people of the churches of St. John of Calabria and St. Norbert are one body.”

Trending

Advertisement

Captain Joe Sacchetti and Fr. Lino Aguiar. Credit: ACI Africa

“The beautiful symbolism proclaims a new and precious home for the body of Christ and the unity of one people, both from the United States and Africa,” Captain Sacchetti said.

Credit: ACI Africa

Masses are being celebrated in a makeshift worship site in the church’s parking lot, following a three-week closure of the church as a result of the desecration. 

Credit: ACI Africa

(Story continues below)

João Vissesse contributed to the writing of this story

ACI Africa Staff

ACI Africa was founded in 2019. We provide free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Catholic Church in Africa, giving particular emphasis to the words of the Holy Father and happenings of the Holy See, to any person with access to the internet. ACI Africa is proud to offer free access to its news items to Catholic dioceses, parishes, and websites, in order to increase awareness of the activities of the universal Church and to foster a sense of Catholic thought and culture in the life of every Catholic.

You may also like

Some unidentified criminals who desecrated the St. John Calabria Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda in Angola, opened the Tabernacle and removed the hosts, threw them on the floor, and then took two Ciboria. Credit: Jose Quiabolo

Angolan Catholic Church Desecrated, Blessed Sacrament Scattered

The church of St. John Calabria Parish of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda in Angola was desecrated, with the desecrators...

With the incense burned from the newly blessed fire, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, incenses the "Stone of Anointing," located at the entrance of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, where, according to tradition, the body of Jesus was anointed and prepared with aromatic oils for burial. March 30, 2024. / Credit: Marinella Bandini

"The mother of all holy vigils": Jerusalem Basilica is First Place to Announce Easter

In the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, the church of the Lord’s resurrection, the Easter Vigil is held on Saturday...

Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of Angola’s Luanda Archdiocese. Credit: Radio Ecclesia

Catholic Doctors in Angola Encouraged to “find time” to Volunteer in Parishes

Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of Angola’s Luanda Archdiocese has called on Catholic Doctors in the country to set aside some...