On August 6, 2023, a meeting was held to explore the possibility of opening a new Conventual Franciscan presence in Angola. The meeting took place Calai, a city in southern Angola on the border with Namibia.
The Most Reverend Leopoldo NDAKALAKO, Bishop of Menongue, Angola, expressed his desire to invite the Conventual Franciscans into his diocese—the second largest in Angola.
In response to this invitation, the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, delegated Friar Dariusz MAZUREK to organize a meeting to explore the possibility of opening a new Conventual Franciscan presence in Angola. In fact, until recent years, the Province of St. Francis in Brazil used to have a presence there.
Those attending the meeting included Bishop NDAKALAKO; Friar Ferena LAMBE KATOLO, the Minister Provincial of the Province of the Franciscan Protomartyrs in Zambia; Friars Charles MUKUKA and Jackson KULEYA, from Zambia; Father Jonas NEQUETELA, the Pastor of the local parish in Calai; and Friar Dariusz MAZUREK, the General Delegate for Mission Animation.
The bishop expressed his desire to bring the Franciscan charism to life in his diocese through our presence. Moreover, he proposed that we carry out pastoral ministry among the many marginalized and poor people in the area.
The friars from Zambia were able to familiarize themselves with Calai and the parish there. They spoke with the local bishop and participated in meetings with the local authorities. They were thus able to collect all the information needed to present an overview to the friars of their Province regarding the possibility of opening a new presence.
Obviously, what the friars experience living in Angola will have to be evaluated before a final decision can be made. That way the decision will be based, not on this meeting alone, but on real experience.
Let us pray for good discernment.
Friar Dariusz MAZUREK
General Delegate for Mission Animation
