At the service of the Church in Mozambique

Once again in September, only a group of bishops visited the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life, for the customary five-yearly ad Limina Visit.

The bishops of the Mozambique Bishops' Conference were at the Dicastery on 27 September and presented, in an open and cordial dialogue, their current situation, the challenges and opportunities facing the Mozambican Church today.

A Church alive and suffering

The country has experienced years of civil war, which have resulted in destruction, malnutrition and internal and external displacement. Many people are in need of help. 

Despite being a living and growing Church, the Mozambican Catholic Church suffers from acts of persecution.  Yet, there is great fervour in religious practice: many catechumens, many vocations and an active presence of Christians at Sunday celebrations and feasts. In all parishes there is a growing number of small Christian communities. The participation of the faithful at festive masses is very active. Among the faithful there are people who are very dedicated to the Christian life, providing services of charity (visiting the sick, caring for the poor) and evangelisation (as catechists, animators of various ministries).

The novelty of the accompaniment of the elderly

If the formation of the laity passes through the usual formation of young people and families, a winning experiment is emerging in the diocese of Beira: the accompaniment of the elderly faithful. A novelty in the panorama of the Mozambican Church, which follows the encouragement of the Dicastery to structure a pastoral care dedicated to the elderly in each Episcopal Conference.