On 125 years of Franciscan presence in Mozambique, from August 5th to 12th, 2023, Br Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General, accompanied by Br Victor Luís Quematcha, Definitor General of the area, and Br Isidro Lamelas, Delegate of the Minister General for Mozambique, visited the Autonomous Custody of St Clare of Assisi in Mozambique.
The Minister was welcomed by Br Lage Nhampoca Luís Afonso, Custos, together with the brothers of the Custody.
The first stage of the visit began in Maputo on the 5th, Saturday, with the celebration of Mass and a meeting with the brothers in initial formation. The following day, the 6th, the Minister presided over the celebration with the Franciscan Family of the Diocese of Maputo, represented by many of its members.
During his homily, Brother Massimo spoke of the Feast of the Transfiguration, which took place on that day, forty days before the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, is there to "build a bridge between Mount Tabor and Mount Golgotha, between glory and passion, between happiness and suffering", and then added: "The link between these dimensions, so different for us and sometimes placed in such an extreme situation, is at the center of this liturgy and the celebration of our own faith".
Commenting on the Gospel text, the Minister spoke of the face of Jesus which "appears to us as resplendent, while manifesting a light usually hidden". And he invited the Franciscan Family to manifest this light "nourished by the Eucharist, by listening to the Word of God and by charity".
After the Mass, we collected some testimonies on the visit of the Minister General.
For Br. Lage this visit is a grace and nourishes the hope of the birth of the Province in Mozambique: "The visit of the Minister General to Mozambique is a grace and blessing. Since his arrival, the Custody is experiencing days of great happiness. We hope that during the visit, with the Custodial Assembly beginning next 8th August and the conclusion of the 125th anniversary celebrations, all this will give us the impetus to say that we are ready to become a Province".
Also for Sister Miriam, OSC, of the Monastery of Chidenguele, Diocese of Xai-Xai, the presence of the Minister is a grace: "To have the presence of the Minister is a grace for us. I hope that this visit will bear fruit in our communities of Chidenguele and Namaacha'.
For Sister Maria Cruz, OSC, of the Namaacha Monastery, in the Diocese of Maputo, the visit is an occasion of spiritual renewal: 'At this time we can only thank our Father infinitely for the presence of the Minister General, Br. Massimo Fusarelli. This is a time of spiritual renewal to live our faith, a living faith in Christ, a person who is present in our lives; to have the spirit of faith and prayer that our fathers St Francis and St Clare put together in their Rules'.
Finally, for the SFO National Minister, Menecas Paulo, the presence of Brother Massimo in Mozambique is a blessing. "It is an honour and blessing for us to welcome the Minister General.This visit shows the unity of the Franciscan Family in Mozambique and in the world”.
The next stage of the visit will be to central part of the country, to the communities of Chimoio, Manica and Beira. In Manica, the Minister will visit the "St. Francisco Farm" and celebrate Mass a with the Franciscan Family of the area. Afterwards, He will then for Beira, "Centre of Nazaré", where he will participate in the 2023 Custodial Assembly.
On August 11, the Solemnity of Santa Clara, Patroness of the Custody, will be the highest point of the visit. That day will be the conclusion of the jubilee of the 125 years of Franciscan presence in Mozambique, the solemn profession of 4 friars and the sending of 2 friars to the new community of Mitucuè, in the diocese of Lichinga.
The Franciscan presence in Mozambique dates back to 1898 with the arrival in Beira of the first six Portuguese brothers: Br Antonio de Santa Maria, Br Rafael Maria da Assunção, Br José da Assunção Rolim, Br Daniel de Almeida, Br Serafim Felisberto and Br Salvador Franqueira. From Beira they expanded to the Dioceses of Chimoio, Inhambane, Xai-Xai, Maputo and Pretoria (South Africa).
Over the course of 125 years, the Franciscan Province of the Holy Martyrs of Portugal sent more than 200 friars to the missions in Mozambique. During this time, the friars have founded churches, schools, seminaries for the formation of young friars, newspapers, radio stations and many charity works. The high point was on 7 September 1970, with the opening of the first Franciscan novitiate in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Custody of St Clare of Mozambique currently has 88 friars (2 bishops, 44 solemnly professed and 40 temporarily professed), 4 novices and 6 postulants, distributed in 11 friaries in Mozambique and one in Pretoria. The brothers are dedicated to pastoral service in parishes, the education of young people with schools, spiritual assistance to the Poor Clares, religious and lay members of the Franciscan Family, and social charity.
