AFRICA/ANGOLA - “Being like children”: The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood and its projects for an “Angolan and missionary” Church

Sunday, 19 April 2026 mission local churches missionary childhood pontifical mission societies school baptism catechism

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Luanda (Fides News Agency) – Benguela and Ndalatando. Two of the projects for children supported by the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood (POSI) are located in these dioceses. Father José Diego Jerónimo Zola, Secretary of POSI in Angola, whose connection with the Pontifical Mission Societies dates back to his seminary days, describes to Fides the realities and desires that animate the widespread presence of the Holy Childhood throughout the country, in both large cities and small towns. This reveals the face of a Church, an ecclesial community, that finds comfort and encouragement in supporting and accompanying children and adolescents who frequently experience poverty, school dropout, and abuse.

The Society of Missionary Childhood (POSI) seeks to accompany children, adolescents, and their educators on their journey of faith, fostering missionary sensibility in them, supporting them in the spirit of solidarity with their peers, and promoting national gatherings to share the diverse realities of this vast country. These are some of POSI's objectives, which are also pursued through projects aimed at protecting children in collaboration with the government and other institutions, as well as through the construction of schools.

In Benguela, last March, the foundation stone was laid for a school entrusted to the Sisters of Our Lady of La Salette (in the picture), intended to prevent children and adolescents from dropping out of school and who, otherwise, would not have the opportunity to access education and, therefore, to build their future. Father Zola shares the joy and gratitude for the many children he has seen grow up in schools also supported by POSI, many of whom are now doctors, teachers, or engineers, and who never forget their experience in Missionary Childhood. “What I love most,” he confesses to Fides News Agency, “is being with children, being among children, being for children, and also being like children,” hoping that the growing number of children and teenagers will contribute to the flourishing of an Angolan and missionary Church.

“The other project I want to mention,” Father José Diego Jerónimo continues, “is the one that has emerged in the recently built parish of Saint Teresa of Ávila in Ndalatando. Its objective is the construction of classrooms for catechesis, thus creating a dignified and welcoming space to transmit Christian education to children and teenagers.” Father Zola also recounts that many children and teenagers begin participating in the activities and catechesis of POSI without being baptized, thus beginning their journey in the faith of the Apostles, a process that leads them to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation.

“The Pope, who is visiting our country these days,” concludes the secretary of the Angolan POSI, “embraces and blesses our children and adolescents with his apostolic journey. We want to hear his words of peace, reconciliation, and social justice; we want to be ‘uplifted’ by his words of hope.” (EG) (Fides News Agency, 19/4/2026)