"I abandon myself totally into God's hands"

By Our own correspondent

RMG, Rome, Italy, 18 December 2019 -- On 18 December 2019, following the consultation and with the consent of his Council, the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel F. Artime, appointed Timorese missionary Fr. Adolfo de Jesus Sarmento as the new Provincial of Mozambique Vice-province (MOZ - Mary Help of Christians) for the six year period 2020-2026, Fr Adolfo is currently novice-master and rector in the Namaacha community and formation delegate for the Vice-province.

The Provincial-elect shared his first feelings and request for prayers a few hours after the Rector Major's phone call: "First of all I would like to express my deep gratitude to God for my Salesian vocation, through which he called me to be a missionary to bring Good News to young people. With faith and filial love in Don Bosco, I put myself totally at the disposition of the Rector Major for the task that he entrusts me with to serve and accompany the confreres and the young people in the Vice Province of Mozambique. I am aware of the challenges and difficulties that there are. Therefore, dear confreres of Timor Leste and the EAO region, I abandon myself totally into God´s hand through yours prayers. Please continue to pray for me!"

Fr. Sarmento has already spent 22 years as a missionary in Mozambique, including his theology studies in Utume, Nairobi - Kenya. He is among the first of the Salesian missionaries ad gentes from his native Timor Leste (TLS), coming from Venilale parish entrusted to the Salesians. In 2013 he earned his Licentiate - specialization in Pedagogy at Rome - Salesian Pontifical University. After his ordination in 2002 he served the young people in formation in the communities of Moamba, Inharrime and Naamacha. Since 2015 he has been Novice Director for the large group of young men from Angola and Mozambique, the two Portuguese'speaking vice-provinces of Africa.

The first Salesian presence in Mozambique began in the times of Blessed Michael Rua (1907), under the province of Portugal, however the Vice province of Mary Help of Christians was established only in 2006. Fr Adolfo will become the fourth Superior of Mozambique - MOZ. There are 45 professed Salesians, 4 novices, 5 prenovices and 15 aspirants in the Vice-province in Mozambique, with 8 canonical communities and a vibrant Salesian Family with 10 different groups.

Prayers for the provincial community of Mozambique and its new Superior will be highly appreciated!

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