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A Missionary’s First Regional Assembly Experience in Mozambique
Karl Cabanalan, SVD
Whether in Asia, Africa, Europe, or elsewhere, our way of living together with confreres, praying together, and working together in mission gives me a sense of home even in unfamiliar surroundings. This has been a great source of strength and consolation in my first months here in Mozambique.
It has only been barely five months since I arrived. The confreres here are relatively few, and because we are spread out across different parts of the country, I have not yet had the chance to meet all of them personally. That is why the recent Regional Assembly was something I truly looked forward to. It gave me the opportunity to see the bigger picture of our mission here in Mozambique and the opportunity to connect with my confreres. The assembly was made even more meaningful with the presence of our Visitator General, Fr. Eryk Koppa, who journeyed with us throughout the gathering. His presence reminded me that our mission here, though sometimes small and scattered, is always part of the larger SVD family.
What also surprised and thrilled me was the participation of three members of the Lay Mission Partners of the SVD. Their presence was something I did not expect, but it undoubtedly enriched our gathering. Lay involvement in the mission here is not just a support, but a living witness that the work of evangelization is truly shared. Their enthusiasm, ideas, and faith gave a fresh dimension to our sessions, and their company during Bible sharing and daily Masses added more life, color, and animation to the assembly. I was reminded of the reality that the SVD mission is not just about the confreres working together but it is a collaborative mission where everyone—lay partners and confreres alike—shares in God’s mission work.
Among the different proposals and discussions that emerged in the plenary, the one that struck me most was the plan to open a separate community for those who will be entering the propaedeutic stage, that crucial first step in formation. For me, this is a very significant sign of hope. It means that vocations here are growing, and that the Region of Mozambique is ready to embrace the challenge of nurturing them. It shows that despite the struggles and limitations we may be facing the seeds of The Word continue to take root in local soil.
As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of our congregation this year, I see in this small but vibrant region of Mozambique a living testimony that our mission is still alive, still growing, relevant and still moving forward. With local vocations blossoming, with the accompaniment of formators, and with the dynamic support of our lay partners, I believe the mission of the SVD here will continue to flourish.
Truly, this is a concrete expression of our Jubilee theme: “Witnessing to the Light, from everywhere to everyone!” Even here in Mozambique, far from where I was born, formed and raised, I can see how that light continues to shine—sometimes quietly, sometimes vibrantly, but always faithfully—through the lives of confreres, lay partners, and the people we journey with.
