Angola

Population: 13.9 million (2002)
Life expectancy male/female: 45/48 years
Infant mortality rate: 17.2% (2000)
Illiteracy: 80% Religions: Catholics 43%; Protestants 12%; Animists 45%.
Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
GDP per capita: US$ 920 (1995)

Angola is situated in the southern African zone, with 1.274.400 km2 and an estimated population of 11 million inhabitants. The prolonged civil war (1961-1995) which the people had to bear, limited flourishing in every way. But this war offered little intervals of peace which bear witness to the will of the population to live, and to the decision to serve on the part of the Church. At present, the construction of democracy has come up against difficulties which the international community has had difficulty in controlling.The Spiritans complete 132 years of presence in Angola this year, 1998. The missionary contribution of many countries and provinces of Europe has to be acknowledged and God has to be thanked for it; they founded the greater part of the missions.

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At present the province has 85 confreres: One bishop, 64 priests, 5 brothers, and 15 professed students. Vocations are abundant and deserve a greater number of formators for a proper and necessary vocational discernment.During the visitation by the General Council (1997) it was possible to get a sense of the hopes and anxieties of the confreres and of the communities which they assist and evangelise.
The work is being done with much dedication, despite limitations of the present moment and the personal situation of some confreres. In many areas there is need for renewal.Besides commitments with Spiritan circumscriptions of Guinea-Bissau, Congo, Mozambique and Central Africa where the province has members, first evangelisation in Angola is a continuing priority. That idea will continue to be the revitalising spring of vocations.

To this end work has been done to enlarge the physical structures of the communities. In the areas of Justice and Peace the Province gave an example of courage and availability, especially during the years of war. Many of the confreres now working in Angola, arrived during the time of combat.

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