The celebrations of March 14th, the anniversary of Father Dehon’s birth, took on a special color this year: God blessed us with the Perpetual Profession of Agostinho Longuia Butica on the 14th and, on the 15th, the Diaconal Ordination of both Agostinho and Adão Manuel Mateus.
All Dehonians working in Angola were present, including members of the St. Therese of Luau community, the Sacred Heart of Jesus community of Lwena (both in the Moxico Province), and the Father Dehon House community located in Viana, Luanda.
The celebrations took place at the headquarters of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, entrusted to the Dehonians and located in the Diocese of Viana, Luanda. In addition to the Dehonian confreres, the families of the two religious, Agostinho Butica and Adão Mateus, participated in the event, as did a large number of the faithful who wished to celebrate this milestone in faith and joy.
The celebration of Perpetual Profession was presided over on Saturday by the District Superior, Father David Mieiro; the Diaconal Ordinations on Sunday were presided over by the Bishop of Viana, Bishop Emílio Sumbelelo, at the conclusion of his pastoral visit to Our Lady of the Rosary Parish.
On Sunday, after the ordinations, we shared a festive lunch with representatives of the various parish movements and groups to conclude this memorable weekend around the table. We count on everyone’s prayers so that our newly ordained may always be faithful to their vocation and fervent in their zeal for the Kingdom of God in souls and hearts.
