Dom Francisco Chimoio Celebrates 25 Years of Episcopal Ministry in Maputo
Maputo, March 15, 2026 — The Parish of the Divine Holy Spirit of Laulane in Maputo hosted a special Eucharistic celebration on Sunday marking the 25th anniversary of the episcopal ministry of Francisco Chimoio, Archbishop Emeritus of Maputo.
The Mass, presided over by Archbishop Chimoio, commemorated twenty-five years since his episcopal ordination, a ministry he carried out in both Pemba and Maputo. The celebration gathered clergy, religious, and lay faithful in a moment of thanksgiving for the archbishop’s pastoral service to the Church in Mozambique.
Among those concelebrating the Eucharist were João Carlos Nunes, Archbishop of Maputo, Tonito Muananoua, Auxiliary Bishop of Maputo, and Germano Grachane, Bishop Emeritus of Nacala, who joined the faithful in celebrating the milestone.
During the Mass, Archbishop Chimoio expressed gratitude to God and to the faithful who have accompanied him throughout his 25 years of episcopal ministry. He also offered prayers in remembrance of Jaime Pedro Gonçalves, the late Archbishop of Beira, who ordained him as bishop.
At the end of the celebration, the parish priest of Laulane, Fr. Agostinho Augusto, delivered a message of appreciation to the Archbishop Emeritus. In his tribute, he thanked Archbishop Chimoio for his pastoral example, describing him as “a shepherd who knows how to listen without imposing, who accompanies others with serenity and respect, but who also has the courage to speak with clarity when the truth and the good of the Church so require.”
The celebration concluded with a moment of fraternity and community gathering in the church courtyard, where parishioners and guests shared in a spirit of thanksgiving and fellowship.
The full Mass celebration can be watched on the YouTube channel of the Capuchin Friars with the link bellow: