“Close, attentive and available pastor”: Angolan Catholic Bishop Pays Tribute to Late Predecessor

Bishop Jaca highlighted the profound impact the late Bishop had on the life of the Angolan Diocese through his dedication to evangelization and his humble style of leadership.

The 62-year-old Catholic Bishop said Bishop Braga “knew how to combine firmness and humility, guiding the local Church with a spirit of service and constant concern for the most vulnerable.”

“We remember with longing the one who gave his whole life in the service of the Church, and today we raise our prayers to God that He may receive him in His goodness and mercy,” Bishop Jaca said, emphasizing that prayer for the dead expresses Christian hope in eternal life.

The Angolan member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) said the memory of Bishop Braga should remain “a spiritual inspiration for priests, religious and lay faithful of the Diocese,” stressing that “the true shepherd is the one who serves and not the one who seeks to be served.”

According to Bishop Jaca, “his example continues to illuminate the path of our local Church.”

He further noted that the best way to honor the memory of his predecessor is to keep alive his spiritual legacy through fidelity to the Gospel, communion, and pastoral dedication.

“The life of Bishop Óscar continues to bear fruit in the local Church through the work of the Christian communities he helped strengthen,” the Catholic Bishop said.

Bishop Jaca described the commemoration of the sixth anniversary of Bishop Braga’s death as “a moment of renewal of faith and thanksgiving for the life of the former Bishop,” adding that “the Church does not forget those who served her with love and fidelity until the end of their earthly mission.”

Encouraging the people of God to imitate the example of the late Bishop, the Local Ordinary of Benguela said love for God must necessarily be expressed through love for one’s neighbor, especially the poor and needy.

“Charity is the most visible sign of the authenticity of faith,” he said.