The Local Ordinary of Benguela Diocese, who doubles as President of the Episcopal Commission for Culture and Social Communications of the Bishops’ Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST) further said, “Cities are built, neighbourhoods are built and urbanization must include spaces for churches, as well as for schools, nurseries, and public gardens because citizens need all of this.”
The Angolan member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) went on to highlight persecution as one of the challenges the people of God face across the globe, saying, “The Church has been persecuted over the centuries and persecution continues. In many places, it continues to hinder the natural growth of Christian life.”
“All these difficulties can cause some Christians to become discouraged,” he said, and added, “We must continue to fight and live our faith and work so that the Gospel continues to be proclaimed.”
The Bishop of Benguela Diocese since June 2018, following his transfer from Caxito Diocese encouraged faith in God, who he said owns the Church.
“God is faithful and the difficulties we may encounter today will certainly disappear in the future because this Church is God’s Church and it will last for centuries,” Bishop Jaca said.
He continued, “We must show the joy of our faith, our hope to everyone and commit ourselves without discouragement so that this land full of Christians may truly be a country blessed by God, a country where Christians are an example, a light, a beacon.”
João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.
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