Province of Southern Africa

On January 2, anniversary of the Institute, the dream of a new foundation in Mozambique has become true with the opening of a community in Bilene. Brothers Domingos Lopes, Fernando Baptista Mulila, and Mário Valia are the members of this community.

The Marists Brothers arrived in Mozambique in 1948. Today there are 13 Brothers in the country, five of which are native. There are seven Mozambicans in formation within the Province of Southern Africa: four novices in Matola, and three Brothers at MIC in Nairobi. Presently there are four communities in the country: Matola, Bilene, Manhiça and Nivava.

The provincial novitiate is in Matola (photo), under the direction of two brothers from Zambia, one from Portugal, and one from Spain. There are currently 24 novices: 14 in the first year, and 10 in the second.

The community of Manhiça directs a school with roughly 14 hundred students from a poor rural area. The brothers of this community are also dedicated to the pastoral work in the parish.

In Bilene, the brothers are recovering a school established by the Institute in 1970 and expropriated in 1975, which now the government is handing back to them.

There are two brothers in Nivava, who are directing an elementary school located in a very large property, within a very poor and isolated area.