Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nampula (Fides Service) - “Vida Nova”, the magazine of Christian formation and information most read by Catholics and non was published for the first time in 1960 as the monthly bulletin of the diocese of Nampula, main town in Nampula province in northern Mozambique. In those years it was produced and printed by a Catechetics Centre at Anchilo run by the Comboni missionaries who still produce the magazine. In almost fifty years of history the magazine has come a long way: from a few hundred copies to 30,000 and almost 500,000 readers (literacy rate 46.5%), local diffusion now national.
As the review “Andare alle genti” produced by the Consolata Missionary Sisters recalls “Vida Nova” magazine has always sought to offer its readers Christian formation and information on problems and aspects of personal, family, social and church life. It has always given space to dialogue with readers “Casella postale 564”, which shed light on difficulties great and small of daily life, particularly in periods of war. In this regard the magazine reported the news that 15,000 readers responded to a Signature for Peace campaign, with on the cover readers’ letters and signatures some were fingerprints (50% illiterate) calling on the government and Renamo (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana) to sign a peace agreement.
Intense civil and ecclesial passion has always animated the pages of Vida Nova giving space to respect for human rights, international news, progress in treatment of endemic diseases such as malaria. After the war with the birth of democracy many articles focused on national reconciliation, civil and religious freedom, illustration of political programmes and the exercise of rights in a democratic society. In the field of religious formation the magazine has a four page supplement, “Word of Life”, with biblical references on Sunday Liturgy and comments on the readings, most useful for communities which celebrate Sunday without a priest. Special events like the Special Synod for Africa, the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, the Year of the Eucharist were occasions to propose formation on various subjects including evangelisation, witness, youth, the family, women, solidarity, social justice and inter-religious dialogue. (R.F.) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2006 - righe 29, parole 411)
