Solemn Professions in Mozambique

On August 18, 2024, during the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio in Mozambique, Mgr Luís Miguel Muñoz, and in the presence of the Custos of the Autonomous Custody of St. Clare of Assisi, Br. Lage Nhampoca Luís Afonso, four young Mozambicans committed themselves definitively to the Order of Friars Minor through Solemn Profession. Several friars, relatives of the professed, friends and faithful from the parish of St Anthony of Polana, Maputo, were present.

In his homily, the Nuncio asked: "But where does all the spiritual fruitfulness of the Franciscan Family, which has existed for more than eight centuries, come from? It comes from the evangelical radicality, I repeat, from the evangelical radicality of Francis of Assisi, a totally poor, obedient and chaste man, indeed the man on earth most like our Lord Jesus Christ".

Speaking to the newly professed, the Holy Father's representative in Mozambique recalled the nature of the Franciscan vocation, which is "a vocation of fraternity, of communion, of life in common"; and he went on to say that it must be nourished in prayer, in listening to the Word and in the sacraments: If you do not eat his body and drink his blood, that is, if you do not feed on Christ in prayer, in the word and in the sacraments, every day, I repeat, every day, you will begin to lose spiritual weight little by little, and you may even become spiritually anaemic and even die within".

At the end of the Eucharist, the families of the newly professed expressed their joy and gratitude to the Franciscan Order and to all those who accompanied their sons, as well as to those who take care of the boys in their different stages of life.

The Custos thanked the parents and families for "educating these young people in the faith" and, addressing the newly professed, he continued: "I want to assure you that the joy we express on this day is one of humble acceptance and gratitude for the wonders God is working in the life of each one of you: your commitment is an added value to the life of the Order. Congratulations! 

At present the Autonomous Custody of St. Clare of Assisi in Mozambique, founded in 1898, has 99 friars: 2 bishops, 57 solemnly professed, 37 temporarily professed and 5 novices.

Let us now meet the newly professed:

Br. Rito Manuel Trigo, 31, comes from Nampula. After secondary school, he entered the House of Formation of St Anthony of Chimoio in 2012 and professed on 16 January 2017. He studied philosophy and ethics at the Higher Institute of Mary Mother of Africa in Maputo from 2017 to 2021. He is currently in the second year of the Bachelor of Agricultural Engineering course in Manica.

Br. Manuel Luís Muavenche, 35, is from Nampula. After finishing secondary school, he entered the House of Formation of St Anthony in 2013. He made his first profession on 16 January 2018. He studied philosophy at St Bonaventure University in Lusaka, Zambia, from 2018 to 2021. He completed the Franciscan Year in 2022 and is currently attending the Agricultural Engineering course in Chimoio.

Br. Armando Damião, 38, was born in Chimoio. After various services in his Christian Community, he entered the Franciscan Propaedeutic Seminary of Santo António do Chimoio in 2013. He took his first vows on 16 January 2018. He studied Philosophy at St Bonaventure University in Lusaka. He celebrated the Franciscan Year in 2022. He is currently in his third year of theology at the St Pius X Interdiocesan Seminary in Maputo.

Br. Domingos Assique Salange, 30, comes from Cuamba, Niassa. He entered the Seminary of Santo António de Chimoio in 2012. He made his first profession on 16 January 2018. He studied philosophy at St Bonaventure University in Lusaka and completed the Franciscan Year in 2022. He is currently in his third year of theology at the St Pius X Interdiocesan Seminary in Maputo.

Br. Evodio João, OFM