By Sr Luzia Kibonga, Link Communications Person, Sector of Angola and Mozambique (SAM)

The four-day Assembly of the Sector of Angola and Mozambique came to an end on September 22, 2024, with the election of the new sector leadership team.

In the light of the synodal process, the theme of the VIII Sector Assembly was ‘Drawn by Love, Passionate for Justice, Let us be enlightened by Jesus’ example of searching for God’s will.’

Sisters are partners-in-mission attending were delighted to be able to celebrate the event in the presence of Congregational Leader Sr Joan Marie Lopez and Congregational Councilors Srs Josita Corera, Marie Françoise Mestry, and Yolanda Sanchez.

Facilitated by Sr. Eliene Barros from Brazil, the meetings reviewed the activities of the last three years and defined the priorities for the next three.

These priorities evolve around five pillars: mission and partnership, consecrated life, comprehensive formation, regionalization, and integral ecology.

One of the important issues discussed was that of regionalization, restructuring and new governance to which the Congregation is called for the vitality of the mission and to better serve those on the margins of society.

With prayer, discernment, listening, and conversion in the Spirit, the Assembly elected Sr Eva Pedro Ribeiro as the new sector coordinator, along with Srs Suzeth Fula, Antonica João, and Prameela Perumpally to form her leadership team (pictured left).

In her closing message of the Assembly, outgoing leader Sr Marcelina do Nascimento thanked her team for their zeal, wisdom, intelligence, and courage and entrusted the new team under the protection of our spiritual founders, St. John Eudes and St. Mary Euphrasia – as well as Sr Mary of the Divine Heart to whom the Sector House in Talatona where the Assembly was held is dedicated.

Drawn by love and passionate for justice, let us be enlightened by Jesus’ example of searching for God’s will as, together, we work to continue the Good Shepherd mission.