We Would Love
to Keep in Touch!
Where we you born and raised?

Untitled-1Fr. Paulino Nguli, M.S. (born: 1975; professed: 1999; ordained:
Aug. 1, 2004)
I am Fr. Paulino Nguli, M.S., a native Angolan, born in 1975. I joined the Province of France and went for further for studies in psychology. Presently I am Superior of the community of Vienne, at the Shrine of Notre Dame de Pipet. I am often asked to serve as a translator for La Salette International meetings.

How did you first hear about La Salette?

At home we spoke only Portuguese so I have learned my mother tongue, Umbundu, from living and playing in the street. I discovered La Salette as a child by meeting Fr. Joachim Hatewa, M.S., who often spoke of the message of La Salette.

He founded the La Salette Laity in Angola. Also, on July 22, 1992, he founded the Angolan expression of the Congregation of the Sisters of La Salette who subsequently joined the Sisters of Our Lady of La Salette (SNDS).

Fr. Joachim was a musician who composed many songs in Portuguese. Singing about the need for conversion, reconciliation with God, others and with oneself, in a country that was just emerging from civil war.

How were you affected by Angola’s civil war?

Actually I was born in the midst of civil war. I grew up in the war and went to school. The hardest part is having gone away from home to the Minor Seminary was being away from my family. We could not move far without taking the risk of being attacked by marauders or stepping on an IED (improvised explosive device).

The war worsened from 1992 to 2002 when it entered the city. Subsequently I was appointed head of Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission and, at the request of the Conference of Bishops, my appointment was extended to the entire country of Angola. Meantime I ministered in parishes throughout my region. In this team were represented people of various political groups with many different opinions and experiences.

How did you minister as a reconciler in this situation of civil war?
Untitled-2Fr. Joachim Hatewa, M.S. (born: 1942; ordained: July 22, 1972;
professed: 1975)

Reconciliation was very difficult. Some people were at times called to meet face-to-face with people who had killed their father or mother, brother or sister. Yet reconciliation remained essential. It often involved a great deal of tension, especially when someone even boasted that they caused much violence but refused to confess and ask forgiveness! I ministered, remembering that I am a La Salette, called to work for reconciliation among Mary’s people.

I worked in a community which was mostly composed of former rebels. Initially our civil war initially was not ethnic. But after the departure of the Portuguese, there were three leaders who fought with others in order lead our country: Dr. Agostinho N’eto (MPLA), Jonas Malheiro Savimbi (UNITA had led the rebellion until 2002) and Holden Roberto (FNLA).

But, in fact, ethnic differences were used to mobilize the rebellion. In the long run, men provoked and maintained violence and war among the people. The ambitions of certain men were transformed because of hatred. In this way they were able to set tribes against tribes. Because of this, the Angolan people did not have enough time to savor their release from years of colonial oppression.

During this extended period of civil war, the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, along with the Conference of Bishops, never stopped calling for the leaders of various camps to disarm and to sit down at the dialogue table in order to achieve reconciliation – such an essential goal for us all.

Of course, even though our war has official ended, we are still waiting for complete and lasting peace to happen. We will keep working for this final reconciliation.

(Reprinted with permission from the La Salette publication, Les Annales)
Untitled-3
A small group of La Salettes in Angola