Visit of Accompaniment to the Area of Mozambique
“Only in Your love will we be one
Come, Lord Jesus, and bless us
Keep in joy the echoes of Your day
A whole life to love!”
It was to the sound of this melody by Sr. Mª Céu Quinteiro, sung in all the communities, that we lived our presence in the Area of Mozambique.
It was a journey marked by the music of fraternal welcome, by the joy of encounters and reunions, by prayer and shared reflection, the breaking of bread, and the sharing of life and mission.
In each community, we became more aware of Unity and Communion as precious Gospel values that we are called to witness to in our wounded world. Together, we listened to God’s dreams and to those of our Founder, Jean Gailhac, about community life, as well as to the differences between the ideal and the reality being lived. Commitments were made and concrete steps were identified.
We talked about accountability in our consecrated life; about intergenerationality as an opportunity for mutual enrichment, making space both for the wisdom and experience of the older Sisters and for the new and creative dynamism of the younger ones. In this way, we build our “being a Body on Mission.”
Indeed, all the communities include Sisters in initial formation, and God continues to bless us with the call of other young women who wish to follow Christ in our Institute. The two novices, having completed their apostolic experience, were preparing to return to the novitiate, accompanied by their novice director. In the Beira community, we were filled with the joy of the first-year pre-novices; in Quelimane, we met the second-year pre-novices and a group of candidates, with questions about our Mission. They radiate hope and joy! And they also bring with them the responsibility of providing formation that is both discerning and integral.
From our arrival in Maputo on 8 September until our return journey to Rome on the 26th, we travelled many kilometres, by plane and by jeep, in order to encounter each reality. Accompanied by Sisters and trusted drivers, during the many hours spent travelling along the roads between Manje, Inhazónia, Beira, Gurué, Quelimane and Maputo, we were able to see and talk about the difficult conditions in which a large part of the Mozambican population lives.
There are small signs of progress, but they are still far from what is needed to guarantee the basic living conditions of the people in the towns and villages.
Mozambique is going through a major moral, political, social, economic and religious crisis, and the challenges are many. It is a country rich in natural, economic and human resources which, with serious and transparent governance committed to the common good, could be among the developed countries of the African continent.
Among the country’s priorities, beginning with the building of peace, there is a clear need for a good healthcare system, the development of infrastructure, and investment in education. This is a country with many children and young people, where the conviction of our Venerable Founder makes perfect sense: it is necessary to invest in integral education, the formation of upright consciences, and the qualified development of skills, preparing the younger generations to take on leadership roles in the country.
We return with grateful hearts. We give thanks for God’s call to share the gift of our charism in the land of Mozambique. We gratefully remember the Sisters who, throughout almost 75 years, have given themselves in mission. We give thanks and pray for all those who, at the present time, participate in the life of the Institute and of the Church, serving justice and the development of its people, cooperating with Jesus Christ “so that all may have Life.”
Mª Teresa Nogueira, rshm and Mª Conceição Pereira, rshm
Members of the Institute Leadership Council
