On Saturday, June 6, the new house of the Brothers of the Holy Family, located in the Cavongue Alto neighborhood of Huambo, Angola, was inaugurated and blessed. The ceremony began with a ribbon-cutting at the main entrance by Brother Superior General Francisco Javier Hernando and the Archbishop of the Diocese, Monsignor Ceferino Zeca Martins.
We then went up to the main hall, where the blessing ceremony for the house took place. After remarks by Brother Juan Andrés Martos, the architect, and the contractor, the Archbishop walked through all the rooms of the house, sprinkling them with holy water. Once the blessing ceremony was over, time was set aside for the guests to tour the four floors of the house.
We then continued with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Archbishop, during which the chapel and the altar were blessed, and as a symbolic gesture, he handed the keys to the tabernacle to the Superior General. The Superior General delivered a brief speech of thanks during the time of thanksgiving.
Finally, we enjoyed a delicious festive meal, preceded by the traditional Angolan-style cake-cutting. The banquet was successfully prepared by the Sisters of the Consolers of Jesus Christ, High and Eternal Priest.
About 80 people participated in the celebration, including all the Brothers and those in formation from our Congregation in Angola, priests, men and women religious, seminarians, civil authorities, friends, and neighbors.
We hope that this new house will be a suitable place for the formation of Brothers and those in formation during these early years of the Institute’s presence in this African country.
