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Mozambique – Bishop António Constantino celebrates 25 years of priesthood and confirms 128 faithful
Thursday October 22, 2026
Bishop António Constantino of Caia and Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination on October 4 in the parish where he was born and ordained, the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Alto da Manga. In a church full to overflowing, the bishop administered the sacrament of Confirmation to 128 people.
Alto da Manga was the first commitment undertaken by the Comboni Missionaries in the city of Beira, in 1967. Bishop António was ordained a priest on May 13, 2001.
In his homily, the bishop highlighted the happy coincidence with the celebration of Confirmation: “Just as you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit today, so I too, 25 years ago, received, through the same Spirit, the gift of the priesthood. It is the same Spirit who pours out the abundance of his gifts upon the faithful.”
He went on to stress that the gift of the priesthood and of the missionary vocation is not his own merit and does not belong to him: it is a gift of God and belongs to everyone, since he was ordained to serve the People of God and to bring the Good News to the ends of the earth. “Rather than a source of pride, being a priest and Comboni missionary, and today a bishop, he added, is a reason for gratitude for the Lord’s goodness and mercy.”
Bishop António also referred to Comboni’s dream of “saving Africa through Africa”, which is being realised today in so many Mozambican missionaries.
He concluded his homily with a hymn of thanksgiving and praise to God and to all who have accompanied him along the way, in particular the Comboni missionaries, his travelling companions, and the People of God:
“Twenty-five years are years of God’s faithfulness… When I look back on this road, I find no reason to boast. Above all, I find reasons to give thanks:
It was God who called.
It was God who sustained.
It was God who opened paths.
It was God who gave strength.
It was God who forgave weaknesses.
It was God who remained faithful.”
The celebration, well attended and fully lived by all present, ended with messages marking the occasion and a fellowship lunch, to which the newly confirmed and their families contributed by sharing what they had brought.
We thank God for the gift of Bishop António Constantino’s priesthood and ask for the gift of new vocations for the mission.
Fr Jeremias Martins, MCCJ