Luanda (Angola) - On the morning of 8 December 2022, Br Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General, on a visit to Angola from 1 to 10 December, presided at Mass and received the solemn vows of eight young friars of the Franciscan Foundation of the Immaculate Mother of God of Angola. Br Victor Luís Quematcha, Br César Külkamp, General Definitors, Br Paulo Roberto Pereira, Provincial of the Imaculada Province of Brazil, and other priests concelebrated the Mass, which was attended by a large assembly of the faithful, including religious, friends and relatives of the friars.
During his homily, Br Massimo expressed his joy at celebrating the feast of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the entire Order, before the people of Angola. He then stressed the importance for the friar minor of nourishing his consecration through prayer and the reading of the Gospel: "Today, consecrate yourselves totally to God and thus say before all your brothers and sisters that He is the heart of your life. Nourish this reality through prayer, Gospel reading, sacramental life, and fraternal communion. The centre of the life of the Friars Minor is personal friendship with the Lord Jesus and the bond that grows out of it. Do not forget this, nurture this bond, and let us help you when your relationship with the Lord weakens".
When the time came to ask for the intercession of the saints who have preceded us on the path of the Gospel, the eight friars prostrated themselves on the ground while the whole assembly intoned the Litany of all the Saints. Then the eight friars, one by one, made their solemn vows in the hands of the Minister General.
Here is the testimony of some of the newly professed.
Br Alberto Capingala Martinho Sambei, born in Lobito, 30: "With solemn vows, I reaffirm my yes to God that I made once at Baptism. It is with great joy and responsibility that I entrust myself to the Order of Friars Minor. Therefore, with this definitive yes, I desire to live the Franciscan charism ardently and be faithful to the call God has made for me. I also aspire to live the evangelical counsels with authenticity and to look forward to the growth of our Foundation of the Immaculate Mother of God of Angola".
Brother Evaristo Seque Joaquim, born in Lobito, 28 years old, offers himself to serve everyone without reserve: "I want to make myself available to serve and welcome my brothers in their different circumstances, aware that what unites us (the GOSPEL) is much greater than what can separate us".
Br António da Silva Manuel, born in Luanda, 27: "By solemn profession, I aspire to be a living presence of the Franciscan face. To live and bring the signs of simplicity, hospitality, and fraternity to all the men and women of our time".
Br Domingos Makuva Paulo, 30, born in the Province of Huila: "I want to say yes to God's call and manifest from my heart my desire to carry out the decision I made on the day of my first profession. With the help of each of my brothers, I say yes to God, to the desire to firmly live the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. With this profound reflection, it only remains to say: This is what I want, this is what I seek, this is what I desire with all my heart".
Br Domingos Cacanda Soma, born in Benguela, 30: "With solemn profession, I aspire to be a minor among minors, but to live and bear the signs of simplicity, hospitality and fraternity with joy and love".
Download the Minister General's homily in Portuguese HERE
