The solemn Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Provincial and Frs. Sebastian and Kailash were co-celebrants. In the beginning of the mass Fr. Sebastian introduced the new Mozambique team to the people. Homily was given by Rev. Fr. Provincial and it was translated in the local language called “ronga”. In his homily Rev. Fr. Provincial stressed on the aspect of and their thirst for Word of God. Soon after the homily there was blessing of the foundation stone and followed by the Eucharistic celebration. People were very enthusiastic and alive in singing and in participation of the mass. Soon after the Mass Holy Rosaries were distributed to the faithful. We had solemn lunch and we thanked that community and left for another community called Manhangane which is about 20 km from Catuane community.

There too people welcomed us singing and dancing. After the welcoming ceremony Rev. Fr. Provincial inaugurated and blessed the new chapel. There was no celebration of the Eucharist but the celebration of the Word, followed by a prayer service. In the beginning of the service Rev. Fr. Sebastian introduced all of us to that community and Rev. Fr. Provincial preached the Word of God. After the prayer service we had a solemn dinner.

Indeed it was a wonderful experience for the new Mozambique team. In our encounter with the faithful we could notice the real thirst for the Word of God.

Report from: Bro. Ravi Kumar msfs

Blessing and Inauguration of the Inhaca (island) church

The 26th of March, Sunday, 2006, will go down in history as a remarkable day for the Inhacans. It is on this day that they realized their long felt need of having a church in their island land.

Inhaca (Inyaaka) is situated some 35 kms from Maputo at the entrance to the bay. It is named after the chief who provided refuge the shipwrecked early Portuguese explorers. Inhaca was probably first sighted by Europeans  in 1502, when Vasco de Gama undertook his epic voyage around the Cape of Good Hope in search of King Solomon’s legendary mines. En route to India, De Gama was rejoined by Luis Fernandes who had been separated from the fleet during a storm at the Cape.   Inhaca island is part of the area of our Catembe parish, where Frs. Alex and Prabhudas are at the service. But it is very difficult to reach there as the bay turns violent often. Last time the Superior General could not reach there due to the disturbed sea. However, somehow we reach our parishioners at least once a month.

This time the Archbishop did not have much problem to reach and return on the same day. It was his very first visit. And that too for the blessing of the new church. We started building this church, in fact, since two and half years. Untold problems of fund-raising, of reaching building material to the site etc were the major problems. And then the escalating prices and the prohibitive transport charges.  The community has three substations. The main one is called Community of  Our Lady of Rosary. The new church bears the same name.

26th February was fixed for the blessing. Dom Chimoio blessed and inaugurated it amidst the traditional singing and drumming from gratitude filled community present in large number. The Archbishop and the guests enjoyed the delicious sea-food-dinner and colorful dances by the children. He thanked them especially for the well prepared beautiful liturgy.

It takes three hours by boat to reach the island. Once you reach there you are not very sure of returning when as it will depend on the calmness of the sea.

Inhaca is a tourist center. As there is an airstrip there in the island, many reach there from Maputo just in 10 minutes time. The inhaca reserve and biology museum and the camp-site at Ponta Torres are famous. Due to tourist importance, Inhaca is a district by itself now and has an air-port.

Fr. Alex Tigga MSFS

The Parish Priest, Catembe