Mozambique
In Mozambique, the first Diocesan Forum dedicated to the pastoral care of the works of mercy relaunches the mission of Christian communities. A journey intertwined with the commitment of spazio + spadoni and the experience of OPERA M.
“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).
This is the Gospel word accompanying the first Diocesan Forum on the pastoral care of the works of mercy, which began on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in Cuamba, in the Diocese of Lichinga, Mozambique. An event born from the desire to rekindle the concrete practice of mercy in parishes and Christian communities, bringing attention to the most fragile and vulnerable back to the heart of ecclesial life.
After the opening prayer, led by the diocesan bishop, Bishop Atanásio Amisse Canira, the participants reflected on the profound meaning of Christian mercy. The prelate’s reference to the words of the Gospel of Luke – “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36) – set the direction of the journey: mercy is not merely a feeling, but a way of life that translates faith into daily acts of closeness, welcome, and solidarity.
Delegations from nearly all the parishes of the diocese took part in the Forum, with the presence of priests, women religious, and laypeople. A participation that testifies to the desire to involve the entire ecclesial community in a shared journey, so that the works of mercy do not remain a theoretical appeal, but become an integral part of the proclamation of the Gospel and pastoral action.
It is precisely in this perspective that the commitment of spazio + spadoni fits in, an organization that promotes the spread of the culture of the works of mercy and supports paths capable of making them concrete in community life. Through training, sharing experiences, and enhancing local initiatives, the goal is to contribute to a Church capable of recognizing Christ in the faces of the people met every day.
A particular role is played by OPERA M, the path accompanying the rediscovery of the works of mercy as a community and missionary experience. It is not simply a matter of performing individual acts of charity, but of fostering a transformation in how relationships are lived, how the local community is inhabited, and how the needs of the least are addressed.
The Lichinga Forum thus recalls an essential truth: God’s mercy is always at work, and every Christian community is called to make it visible. It is in concrete actions, mutual care, and the ability to leave no one behind that the Gospel continues to take shape in history.
Photo of the Diocese of Lichinga
