by José Padín

I think of my ministry in this rural parish in northwestern Mozambique as one of "hanging out" with the youth. That's because I was trained as a pastoral counselor, but formal counseling is "foreign" to this culture. Yet much the same ministry can be accomplished through informal conversations. So that's what I do. For example, after hanging out with local secondary school students, they feel comfortable enough with me to start talking about important issues like problems at home or personal health concerns.

The youth in general in Mozambique are emotionally unstable. They lack self-esteem and there are no longer adequate cultural supports for them. The traditional system of support was destroyed by decades of civil war and the mass exodus of refugees. Jealousy among the people also prevents personal development. I'm trying to find ways to promote a sense of stability among the youth. I plan on having some weekend retreats for them, for instance.

At the parish-run secondary school, I serve as the overseer to advise the principal and teachers. The school was started as part of the church's plan to assist returning refugees. I teach a class in ethics to the 300 students, while also trying to insure that the staff fulfills their responsibilities. It's quite a challenge to address the problems of corruption and intimidation that exist. Some teachers are actually afraid of the students -- many of the students are in their 20's having grown up in refugee camps. Now they've returned to their own country but with distorted ideas about life. They don't think they have to work for a good grade in class and will sometimes threaten a teacher who gives them a failing mark. The former marxist politics that controlled Mozambique also contributed to the loss of cultural morals and religious / family values. Young people no longer respect their elders.

One way I try to build up a rapport with the local young adults is by tending to a variety of domestic animals. At the mission compound, we raise goats, pigs, rabbits, and chickens. The youth are familiar with these activities, so they feel comfortable joining me in the chores. We also hope to build a parish youth center for sports.

Metangula Parish stretches about 200 miles from north to south adjacent to Lake Nyasa. The dirt roads are often impassible during the rainy season and bridges are often washed away by swollen rivers. The parish has a boat that we use to reach the villages along the lake shore. Due to my daily responsibilities at the school, I tend to visit the closer villages for Mass and the sacraments, while Father Ken Thesing goes to the further outstations.

With such a large territory to serve and such great needs among the people, my greatest hope is that more missioners will come to join us in Mozambique!

José's Biography             José's Reflections

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