“Pilgrims of Hope” – Province Assembly MOZ

Maputo (Mozambique). On  27 and 28 December 2025, the Assembly of the St. John Bosco Province (MOZ) was held at the Province headquarters in Maputo on the theme, “Pilgrims of Hope: Reviving Passion for Mission in Light of GC XXIV”. It was a time of listening, discernment, and renewal of the charismatic commitment of Mozambique’s Educating Communities in harmony with the Jubilee of the Church. About sixty Sisters, lay educators, and a young man participated in the meeting.

The goal was to “rekindle passion” for the mission, returning to the sources of one’s vocation, to boldly respond to the challenges of young people and current realities. “As pilgrims, we do not walk alone; we bring the joy of the Gospel and the desire to be light into the reality in which we are inserted. For this reason, we count on the active participation of educators who answered questions sent earlier and were able to contribute to the search for paths and priorities for the coming years. Together the journey can be difficult, but when challenges are shared, they can become lighter and a source of sanctification for us.”

The Assembly opened on the morning of 27 December with a creative invocation to the Holy Spirit in the courtyard of the Provincial House animated by the Temporary Professed FMAs and Sister Ana Dorcas Chaquisse, delegate of Youth Ministry. This was followed by the lectio divina led by the community of Moatize, who invited us to “rekindle the gift of God that is in us” (2 Tim 1:6-7).

The work got underway with the presentation of the Provincial’s biennial report by Sister Carolina Ilda Hermínio, with the intervention of representatives from various sectors following an introduction by the Secretary, Sister Inácia Chaquisse, who presented the Province’s general data, some reports on the aspects to be strengthened, the socio-political situation of the country, and the Province Team.

In virtual connection, the participants then followed the presentation by Sister Nilza Fátima de Moraes, General Councilor for Formation, who explored the Assembly’s topic in depth. The morning continued with the reading of the report with the sector referents and with the presentation of the aspects to be strengthened in the formation process held by Sister Luísa Macamo. Then there was the synthesis of the first thematic block – presented by the communities of the Mary Help of Christians College of Namaacha, Saint John Bosco of Infulene, and Mary Mazzarello of Chiúre. This ended with the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Adolfo de Jesus Sarmento, Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Mozambique.

The afternoon continued with summaries of the second block. Synodality was presented by the Communities of Inharrime, Pemba, and Jardim. The third block on ecology, was presented by the Communities of Nampula, Moatize, and Namaacha. Group work on the three blocks followed the action guidelines  of GCXXIV, and concluded with the plenary assembly.

On 28 December, the work continued with several presentations: “Reflections on the educational passion in light of the last SDB General Chapter,” given by Fr. Adolfo Sarmento, SDB; the presentation by Sister Inácia Chaquisse, “The Salesian educational passion today”; the summary of the young people’s sharing on the charismatic presence in Mozambique; the presentation by Fr. Josè Angel, SDB, “Reviving the fire: people passionate about the mission.”

The morning ended with the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Josè Angel, while in the afternoon, after the presentation of the provincial accounts by the bursar, Sr. Lorella Figini, and reflections in the hall, the Assembly concluded with the words of Sr. Carolina Ilda Hermínio, a moment of thanksgiving, and a festive dinner.

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