Catechists keep the faith alive among victims of terrorism in Mozambique
Some parishes in northern Mozambique can encompass hundreds of communities, and priests and religious are not capable of reaching them all. Catechists are often on the front lines of the Church in the most difficult regions and circumstances.
Around 300 families live in difficult conditions in the Ressettlement Camp of Ntele, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. They have fled from the violence that plagues parts of the province, which has suffered from a Jihadist insurgency for over eight years, and are affected by the trauma of having suffered violence and losing friends and relatives. Many are Christian, but with clergy in the diocese overstretched, their faith is kept alive through the work of catechists such as Adérito Monteiro, 29.
“These are people who have seen their sons, mothers, husbands and relatives beheaded, and others kidnapped by Jihadist groups. They were forced to abandon everything, their homes, their farms, and all their possessions, and they have been resettled here,” Adérito tells ACN.
In the midst of Ntele, standing out among the makeshift homes and shacks, stands the Chapel of St Anthony. It too is made from natural and recycled materials, including old USAID bags which keep out the rain and the sun, but it is bigger and boasts a large cross composed of two branches.
This is where the catechists meet to plan their work. Some teach the basics of the Faith, others prepare groups for baptism or confirmation, but all share the same goal, says Adérito Monteiro. “In the midst of the horror and the trauma, we seek to rekindle the flame of hope, that Christ lives, that Christ is with us.”
Families lack almost everything in the camp of Ntele. Food, water and medical care are all in short supply. The same applies to catechetical materials. “We don’t have enough manuals for the catechists, so the same book will be used by two or three of us. One uses it in the morning, the other in the afternoon. This is just one of the difficulties we face.”
Another issue is the lack of priests, which means even more work for the catechists. “Our parish is composed of 17 areas, and each of these areas can have more than five communities. So, each parish has many communities, but sometimes it has only two priests, and they cannot reach everywhere. That is where we come in, we go where they cannot,” Adérito Monteiro tells ACN.
In the midst of so much suffering, trauma and violence, the generosity and the commitment of the catechists are signs of hope and affection.
Adério Monteiro shares a message with ACN benefactors, in the name of all his colleagues: “Thank you to all those who do what they can to assist us in helping our communities and our faithful in Cabo Delgado. I would ask that you continue to pray for us, to pray for the mission of the catechists. Pray for peace in Cabo Delgado, and for peace in Mozambique generally.”
In 2025, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) dedicates its Christmas campaign to catechists, true pillars of faith in the most difficult places, in order to keep hope in the world. The charity also supports the local Church in Mozambique, especially in the province of Cabo Delgado. In addition to financing the spiritual care of the victims and the healing of trauma, ACN provides emergency and pastoral assistance to displaced people and purchases vehicles to support pastoral workers in their evangelisation work.
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