Fifty years have passed since the first three Daughters of St. Paul (Sr. Giuseppa Panarello, Sr. Teresa Ramos and Sr. Vincentina Lopes) arrived in Beira, Mozambique. Fifty years of joy, challenges and sufferings, but also 50 years of unshakeable faith that worked miracles.
To commemorate this important anniversary, Archbishop Francisco Chimoio of Maputo celebrated a special Mass for the sisters on 19 February. Several FSPs from South Africa and Angola traveled to Maputo to participate in this event in union with the sisters, their many friends, relatives and collaborators.
Among those present for the occasion was Sr. Teresa Ramos, one of the three Mozambique pioneers, who is now a missionary in South Africa, and also Sr. Olga Massango, the Institute’s first Mozambican vocation, who is currently a missionary in Kenya.
Archbishop Chimoio thanked the Daughters of St. Paul for their presence and mission, saying that they are a gift for the whole Church of Mozambique.
In her message of best wishes for this milestone, Superior General Sr. Anna Maria Parenzan echoed Blessed James Alberione’s very meaningful statement: “I want to close the 50th anniversary of the Congregation with a Te Deum and open the future with a Veni Creator…. The Lord has carried us as if on the wings of an eagle: he guided our steps, gave us the grace to initiate [this work] and, after a number of years of forced silence, rekindled the Pauline apostolate in this land. This small seed is truly growing and, with the grace of God, it will certainly become a great tree…. Now a new stage is beginning–one that I am sure will be overflowing with hope, apostolic fruit and vocations.”
