PROVINCE OF MOZAMBIQUE

The first missionaries, arrived in Mozambique on October 30, 1941. It was during the Pontificate of Pope Pius XII, at the request of Archbishop Teodósio Clemente de Gouveia, Archbishop of Maputo when the Sisters arrived to fulfill the prophecy of Anne Marie Rivier:

“My daughters will cross the seas!”

From 1945 to 1951/1979, in Namaacha, the Sisters dedicated themselves to the School, Novitiate, Catechesis, and families. Nationalization movement in the country, made the works took another orientation.

From 1963 to 2000, the Mission was held in Machava and closed to open Quissico. In 1964 the Normal School of Magude was founded, from 1964 to 1967 the Mission of Anchilo and from 1967 to 2020 that of Corrane.

In 1948 the Sisters in Magude took care of the parish school, the minor seminary, the dispensary and the chapels. With the nationalizations, the Mission became complicated. In March 1989, the kidnapping of 4 Sisters, led to the temporary closure of the house. Shortly afterwards, the pastoral and teaching activities in the mission of Mozambique have improved until the present.

From 1964 to 1974, the Sisters took care of the Teacher Training School of S.Pedro, in Nampula. They moved to the neighborhood, near the community of S. Maria, where they took care of the Interdiocesan Seminary, the formation of Catechists, Youth Ministry, the Vocation Center and Teaching.

From 1964 to 1967 the Sisters took care of the Catechetical Center of Anchilo. And in 1971 of the lepers in Namaíta.

In 1982, the Maria Rivier Association was created and guided by the sisters. They collaborate in the proclamation of Jesus Christ.

From 1987 to 1991, the Sisters went to Liúpo, opting for the poor the service of evangelization, promotion, vocation ministry and health care. The mission was closed due to the escalation of the war.

From 1967 to 2020, in response to the call of the poorest, the Sisters exercised their apostolic zeal in Corrane: in teaching, catechesis, assistance to Christian communities, sewing, visiting families, mothers’ meetings and education of youth. We are constantly solicited for evangelization and teaching. Catechesis has always been and will always be a priority in our apostolic commitments…

The growth of PM in Mozambique was broken by the Revolution. From 1975 to 1978 was a difficult period for evangelization and teaching. Gradually fear and disorientation were overcome. The presence of the Sisters was a witness to the Christian communities. The nuclei of grouped families, meet together either weekly or in rotation. They were and still are meetings around the Word of God, in prayer and in sharing, these are factors of vitality for the Church in Mozambique.

To better understand the current situation of PM, it is necessary to refer to the Portuguese Revolution of April 25, 1974 and the Independence of Mozambique on June 25, 1975. Two difficult periods, most of the Portuguese left the country. The two colleges closed. A good number of Sisters returned to Portugal, several Mozambican Sisters left the Congregation.

On July 19, 1975, during the Revolution, at the request of Father João Romano, Benfica was founded. The 3 Sisters who started the work dedicated themselves to evangelization. Later, the little school and the parochial school were established.

The Community of Quissico begun in 2001, for the foundation of a girls’ home. In 2010, in response to the request of D. Alberto Setela, Bishop of Inhembane, who was a former student of the Sisters of PM, in Magude.

The Sisters are dedicated to catechesis, formation, liturgy, communities and teaching. In this time of pandemic, they continue their silent presence, participating in the study of the readings and Sunday Masses through the community radio

The Nacala Community was founded in 2007. The Sisters dedicate themselves to evangelization, visit families and do pastoral work with the displaced people from the attacks in Cabo Delgado.

Vocation ministry is a priority in our apostolic commitments and each sister is a vocation promoter.

Currently, we are in seven communities, Nacala, Nampula, Quissico, Magude, Benfica, Laulane (novitiate) and Maputo (provincial house). We are continuing the activities already started, taking into account our world of violence and suffering, terrorist attacks, insecurities, which become a challenge for us.

Outside of our schools, we also collaborate with other educational institutions, we have the girls’ home.  Guided by the call of the Gospel of Matthew 25, we care for the people displaced by the wars who flock to the cities.

More than ever, we feel how important it is to be transmitters of hope, joy, serenity and peace; to be presences and witnesses of God’s mercy; to be proclamers of Jesus Christ, according to our charism.

We are few Sisters, and our young women are still in formation, and a few have left the novitiate.

We feel strongly the limitation of available personnel, a limitation that prevents us from responding positively and immediately to all these requests.