06/09/2026
Mission in Angola
“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation”. (Mark 16:15)
Our Portuguese community of Our Lady of Carmel in Taipa, Macao, went on a mission to Angola this year. The mission was planned from 8 to 26 August. Our group consisted of seven people: 1 priest SCJ, 1 SCJ seminarian, me, and 4 youths.
Father Eduardo is a Dehonian priest; he is in charge of that Portuguese community. For 3 consecutive years, he has been bringing young people to do missions outside Macao, especially to Lusophone countries. For the first 2 years, they went to Cabo Verde, and this year, for the first time, we went to Angola. I was able to join the group this year.
We arrived in Luanda, the capital of Angola, which is celebrating its 450th anniversary of foundation. A Dehonian priest went to pick us up at the airport and took us to their house. The plan in the beginning was to do the mission in Luena-Moxico, another province of Angola, but when we arrived in Angola, the airline contacted us, cancelling the flight. Because of that, we stayed in the Dehonian house in Luanda and improvised a new mission.
In their house, there were already 3 ladies doing volunteer work in an orphanage nearby. So, we joined their service.
The orphanage was founded by Ms Dominga 30 years ago, and they actually have 200 orphans, boys and girls from baby to adult age.
During the weekdays, we went to stay with the kids, where we organized activities according to the different groups and ages. Since they were on vacation, we could spend the whole day with them: playing, praying, talking, etc.
On Saturdays, we were able to visit the city, learn about its history, and to go on pilgrimage to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Conception of Muxima and the church of Saint Joseph.
On Sundays, we were able to visit the parish and some of the communities that the Dehonian Fathers are in charge of.
This mission in Luanda, Angola, was such a great experience. As always happens when someone is ready to do volunteer work, we make plans to give, but in fact, we are the ones who receive the most. For this, it was so edifying: the charity and spirit of service of the priests who received us in their community, the warm welcome of the parishioners, the inestimable smile of each kid and youth who received us in the orphanage, and the joy and companionship of the group. I am grateful to God for giving me this opportunity to attend and be part of this mission because everything we learned there, personally and as a group, will stay with us forever.
May God bless the missionaries and their work around the world.
Sr. Maria Mae da Igreja, SSVM
