Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Maputo (Agenzia Fides)- On 4 November Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples will start a pastoral visit to Mozambique, making his first stop in Nampula, Mozambique's “northern capital” and economic hub of the north of not the entire country. In the evening of November 4 Cardinal Dias will preside Mass in Nampula Cathedral at which the local bishops and priests will concelebrate. On 5 November the Cardinal will visit the Chapel of St Francis Xavier ar Ilha de Moçambique.
On 6 and 7 November the Cardinal will be in Beira, the country's second largest city and main town of the central province of Sofala. Beira is one of Mozambique's main ports and is of major economic importance not only for Mozambique but also for Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, which have no access to the sea. In Beira Cardinal Dias visit Nazaré Centre for Catechists.
In the evening of 7 November the Cardinal will return to the capital, Maputo. The next day he will have a meeting with the Bishops' Conference and visit St Augustine Seminary. The prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples will return to Rome on 11 November.
In his address to the Bishops of Mozambique received in audience for their ad limina visit on May 26 this year, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged them to give special attention to formation for the clergy - theological and pastoral updating and a regular spiritual life - and to ensure future priests are well prepared. The Pope also stressed the need to “give new impulse to vocations pastoral all over the country" and "ensure basic formation for aspirants to the consecrated life and for catechists “deserving of praise for the generous and disinterested service, but in need of careful formation and support to fulfil their task to bear witness to the faith in the face of the cultural evolution of their brothers and sisters and to lead them through example to live a holy life con ” (see Fides 28/5/2007).
Information on the local Church (Catholic Year Book 2005): population 19,527,000; Catholics: 4,381,000; dioceses: 12; parishes: 296; bishops: 18; priests: 181; religious priests 500; brothers: 89; women religious: 1,113; catechists: 41,199. The Church runs 75 infant schools, with 4,367 pupils; 376 primary schools with 25,252 pupils; 46 middle and high schools with 18,169 pupils; 72 hospitals; 10 dispensaries, 2 care centres for people with leprosy; 14 centres for chronically ill and disabled persons. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 31/10/2007 righe 37 parole 454)
