Published on 24/01/2025
Pope Francis has erected the Catholic Diocese of Alto Molócuè in the Southern African nation of Mozambique and appointed Mons. Estêvão Ângelo Fernando, of the Clergy of Quelimane Catholic Diocese its pioneer Bishop.
The erection of the new Diocese and the appointment of Mons. Fernando, currently serving as Formator and Treasurer at the São Carlos Lwanga Philosophical Seminary in Nampula, was made public by the Holy See Press office in its Thursday, January 23 publication.
The Diocese of Alto Molócuè has been curved out from the Dioceses of Gurúè and Quelimane, making it a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nampula.
The seat of the new Diocese is in the district of Alto Molócuè, and also covers Mocubela, Pebane, Gilé, and Mulevala districts. The parish church dedicated to Nossa Senhora Rainha do Mundo becomes the Cathedral of the new Diocese.
The newly erected Mozambican Diocese measures 28,632 square kilometers and has a population of 1,199,649 of which 487,465 are Catholic faithful, representing 40.6 percent of the total population of the territory of the Diocese, according to the Holy See report.
Born in June 1974 in Inhassunge within the Diocese of Quelimane, Mons. Fernando started his Priestly formation at the Propedeutic Seminary of St. Augustine in Quelimane, and was ordained a Priest on 24 June 2001.
He pursued his Philosophical and Theological studies at the Seminary of St. Augustine in Matola, and the Seminary of St. Pius X in Maputo respectively.
The holder of Licentiate in Pastoral Theology from the Theological Faculty of Triveneto in Padua has served in various capacities including Parochial Vicar and later Pastor of Mocuba and member of the Southern Africa Commission for Refugees.
He has also served as Spiritual Director of the Xaverian Apostolic Movement, Rector of the Propedeutic Seminary of St. Augustine in Quelimane and President of the Communication Commission in Quelimane.
The alumni of the Rome based Pontifical Lateran University where he obtained Doctorate in Pastoral Theology has also served as Formator at the Philosophical Seminary of St. Augustine in Matola.
Outside the country, the Bishop-elect has served as Assistant Pastor at Santa Maria Maggiore Parish in Cordenons, Diocese of Concordia-Pordenonea and Assistant Pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Pordenone, Diocese of Concordia-Pordenone in Italy.
After his Episcopal Ordination, the Bishop-elect is to oversee the newly erected Diocese, which has 14 parishes, 21 Diocesan Priests, 11 religious Priests,26 Religious Sisters, 16 seminarians, and two Religious Brothers.
