Catholic Bishops in Angola and Mozambique have called on newly ordained priests to live their sacred calling with humility, integrity, and full commitment to serving God’s people amid growing social and moral challenges.
At St. Anne Parish in Maputo, Auxiliary Bishop Tonito Francisco Xavier Muananoua urged the newly ordained Rev. Domingos Maria Gravata to embrace priesthood as a mission of love and dedication. He reminded him that the priest’s role goes beyond rituals, calling him to be a voice for the voiceless and a presence for the forgotten. The bishop stressed that true ministry requires living out the Gospel through integrity, compassion, and social transformation.
Bishop Muananoua emphasized that it is not enough to preach the Word of God but to embody it in daily life. He called on priests to support families and guide young people facing modern challenges, describing priesthood as “a mission that extends beyond the altar to the realities of the people.”
In the Diocese of Namibe, Bishop Dionísio Hisilenapo urged five newly ordained priests to serve with discipline, truth, and responsibility. He warned against hypocrisy and laziness among clergy, stressing that the Church needs men of integrity who are ready to work even in poor and rural communities.
The bishop described the priesthood as a lifelong commitment to promoting unity, justice, and human dignity. He reminded the new priests that the people of God need leaders who not only preach the Gospel but live it daily through charity and service.
Bishop Hisilenapo further appealed for renewed missionary zeal, urging priests to embrace service in remote areas rather than seeking comfort. “The people need living examples of hope, especially in difficult times,” he said.
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