Bishop in Mozambique: “Wreckage is all that’s left”
Bishop António Juliasse of Pemba, in northern Mozambique, visited communities that were attacked by Islamic terrorists and thanked ACN for its support of the country’s Church. Mozambique has suffered under insurgents since 2017.
“As pastor of the diocese, I feel great pain for not being able to visit all the Christians, due to a lack of security,” said the Bishop of Pemba. “But when local Christian leaders told me that it was possible to reach some regions, I departed immediately. And I was warmly welcomed in an atmosphere of joy and hope.”
In a message sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop António Juliasse spoke of the people’s joy at his visit, as well as the deep pain felt over the years for not being able to see them more often.
During his pastoral visit, Bishop Juliasse traveled to the communities of Nangololo, Litingina, Imbuho, Chilinde, and Mueda, all of whom have suffered under insurgents aligned with the Islamic State (IS). The insurgency has been active since 2017 and mostly affects the province of Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique, which is part of the Diocese of Pemba. The insurgency is thought to have caused about 5,000 deaths and internally displaced up to one million people.
“We managed to celebrate Mass and administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Nangololo, which will celebrate its centenary in November. This parish has been a center of evangelization in the northern part of the diocese. It was originally founded by Monfortine missionaries, but since then, other missionaries and diocesan clergy have served it,” the bishop explained to ACN.
Besides a church, the mission in Nangololo included classrooms and training centers, as well as a radio station, a clinic, and a well. But during an attack in 2020, almost everything was destroyed by the insurgents. Nonetheless, the faithful gathered with the bishop in the ruins of the mission to celebrate Mass. “Everywhere I went, we celebrated Mass this way, in the open, among the ruins of the churches that had been destroyed and vandalized, like in Nangololo,” Bishop Juliasse continued. “It is very painful to see the ruins of buildings that, for so long, were an expression of people’s faith. Now, not much is left besides the wreckage.”
The insurgency has created a general atmosphere of fear and also a serious problem with food. “Everywhere, there is fear and uncertainty about the future. There is still great suffering. Many people are still living in camps for the internally displaced, though with less humanitarian assistance nowadays. Without safety, people are afraid to go and work their fields, which are often a few miles away from the villages, as they are afraid of being attacked. And that means production is low, which leads to hunger, because people don’t produce enough food, and also because the other services don’t work properly. So, the situation is still very complicated,” Bishop Juliasse told ACN.
But hope prevails here. “It is through faith in God and the hope that one day this war will end, that these people manage to endure their suffering,” the bishop explained. “This visit was comforting, because despite the great difficulties people live with, they are strong in the Faith, and the Lord has blessed them with His grace. Even in their great poverty, they are very generous amongst themselves. I was not expecting any sort of collection, given their state, but I was given plenty of produce, as an expression of a people who welcome their pastor and want to share with him the little they have. I was deeply moved by this.”
ACN has supported the Church in Pemba for many years. Projects with the local diocese include provision of fuel, financial support for priests, assistance for the internally displaced, formation aid for seminarians, subsistence aid for religious, and spiritual support for victims of terrorism. The pontifical foundation has also helped fund and produce radio programs, which are a crucial means of evangelization in this context.
“I am so grateful to all who support us and allow us to be close to the people,” the bishop said in his message. “Aid to the Church in Need has helped our priests in this way, so they can provide spiritual support to those who suffer. I would like to express my thanks to all those who contributed, making this possible. Thank you very much!” he concluded.
– Paulo Aido
