Rome 10th – 11th June 2026
The General Council met with the Provincials of Europe South, Brasilia and Dublin who are founding provinces of the Vice Province of Angola and the missions in Mozambique. Present also were the Vice Provincial of Angola, Fr Celino Ndulo, the Mission Superiors in Mozambique Fr Jorge Martinez and Fr Antonio Vinisius and the Mission Procurator for Africa and Madagascar, Fr Gerard O’Connor, C.Ss.R.
The confreres met for the Holy Eucharist on the 10th morning in the chapel of the General Curia.
The meeting was held to share and discuss as well as discern a way forward with regard to the fusion of the missions in Mozambique with the Vice Province of Angola, both Portuguese speaking countries in Africa. The further point for discussion and discernment was to find a Mother Province that would accompany the Vice Province of Angola Mozambique.
Fr Rogério Gomes, C.Ss.R., Superior General, addressed the meeting and spoke of the importance of mission in the context of reconfiguration and the priority of Africa and Madagascar for the Congregation.
Each of the Units, Angola and the missions in Mozambique gave a presentation on the situation of the Redemptorist mission in Angola and Mozambique along with the successes and the challenges moving forward. Each of the Founding Units, (the former Province of Portugal now part of the Province of Europe South represented by Fr Gennaro Sorentino, the former Province of Buenos Aires now part of the Province of Peter Donders represented by Fr Javier Maçado, the Province of Dublin represented by Fr Brendan O’Rourke with the mission in Mozambique assisted by the former Vice Province of Fortaleza in Brazil now part of the Province of Brasilia in Brazil represented by Fr Joao Paolo) gave a presentation on their own present reality and way of supporting the ongoing reconfiguration of Angola and Mozambique.
After a day of sharing, discussion and discernment the General Government put forward a proposal which was reflected on, discussed and voted on by the group. The proposal of the General Government was unanimously accepted and this proposal will be further worked on by a commission consisting of Fr Gerard O’Connor, Fr Celino (V. Provincial of Angola), Fr Jorge (Mission Superior in Mozambique, and Fr Nicholas Ayouba, General Consultor. This commission will present its plan to the General Government by the end of August so that the General Council will take the final decision regarding the Mother Province for the Vice Province of Angola along with the mission of Mozambique.
The Meeting ended with a solemn Eucharistic Celebration in the shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help presided over by Fr Gerard O’Connor in Portuguese.
Fr. Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
General Consultor
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