The presence in Metoro and Pemba has always left in the sisters the desire to go to other places, to be itinerant, to seek other spaces. We have completed 20 years of presence in this place and, after an arduous process of discernment, I have decided that we will leave the Diocese of Pemba (Metoro and Pemba) and go to another place, Inhambane. This small city is about 6 hours from Maputo, the capital of the country. Geographically it is located towards the south of the country. We are leaving one place, where we believe our presence and apostolic activity has borne much fruit, to go to another.
Our possibilities of number of sisters and conditions to be in these frontier places do not allow us to continue where we have been and at the same time open something new.
The Mozambique community has been in this discernment process since September 2023. It was the sisters who presented alternatives. From our July meeting in Rome, we made a plan that is being carried out as agreed.
Let us pray for this movement that is taking place there. Movement always brings life. And it reminds us that we are to go. We want to open ourselves to the hope of the new that is beginning.
Let us be grateful for the lives of so many Daughters of Jesus who have given their lives in this country. In a special way, this community that is there today and that has gone through difficult situations, such as facing a war situation, something that requires a lot of courage. Pray also for this community that will be formed there. We can no longer be the number of sisters that we have been in the past. Today our presences will have to be smaller, and therefore more united, more from a common mission project that is born and starts from the same local Church. May the Lord confirm these simple and humble steps we wish to take during this congregational Advent.
Circular Letter number 39 of the Superior General of October 31, 2024
