ANGOLA, A COUNTRY ~
OF MANY VOCATIONS
Fr Martin, you are from Uruguay; you have worked in the missions
and in the Missions Sector at Rome; now you are the Provincial of
the Angola Vice-Province with Salesians from many nations. How do
you feel about the growing internationality ofour Congregation?
In Angola, after 40 years, internationality has diminished somewhat
given the growth of Angolan vocations. At the moment we are from
ten countries: one Paraguayan, one Spaniard, one Indian. two
Togolese, three Italians, three Vietnamese, five Argentinians. five
Uruguayans, six Brazilians and 117 Angolans. The variety of
nationalities is a great richness: it highlights the catholicity of the
Congregation. We also want to live this internationality by sending
Angolan confreres to other cultures: Ireland, Portugal, Papua New
Guinea, the Middle East.
Could you characterize the Angolan youth of today? How have they
changed since the time of your practical training in Angola thirty
years ago?
The socio-economic and political situation has changed a lot and
that has affected the lives of young people. Earlier we had the civil
war with all its tragedies. Now there is the possibility, at least for
many, of doing university studies. Migration from the interior of the
country to the big cities has increased, and globalised culture and the
resulting identity crisis are powerful factors. But in all this, the smile
is the same. The young Angolan is generally very cheerful. sociable
and open to Salesian values.
There are many young people in Angola who respond to Jesus' ea{{
to fo{{ow him as Salesians, aren't there?
The vocational response among young people is very generous. We
currently have 18 novices and 20 pre-novices, and we also have a
request from 74 adolescents and young people to become Salesians.
The two key words in this process are discernment and
accompaniment. That is why it is essential to make individual
journeys. to get to know their families. After the young people have
journeyed a while in our youth groups, some ask to enter the
aspirantate. We have four types of aspirantates: for young people
between 15 and 18 years in age, for those aged 19-20, for others who
do their discernment in Salesian communities and, finally, for those
who continue their discernment at home being accompanied by a
Salesian
Fr. Martín Lasarte Topolanski, SDB
Originally from Montevideo in Uruguay wh ere he became
a Salesian (1982) and w as ordained a priest (1991). After
studyin g engineering, philosophy and ped agogy in
Montevideo he earned a Batchelor's m theo logy at the
Salesian Pontifical University in Rome followed by
a Licentiate at the Pontifical Biblical Institute.
From 1995 he w orked in Angola, first as a form ator and
teacher at th e majo r se minary of Luanda, then as rector
and parish priest in the community of Lwena and the
Delegate for Salesian Youth Ministry in Angola .
In 2015 he moved to the Salesian Generalate in Rome
and worked for the formatio n of missionaries, worldw ide
missionary animation (editing Cagliero11, e .g.) and
international Salesian volunteering. He w as also one of
the syno d fathers o f the Pan-Amazonian Synod (2019).
Since 2020 he is th e Superior of the Salesian Vice
Province of "Mama Muxima" in Angola (ANG).
Uruguay → Angola → Rome → Angola
▀
: Discharges/Industrial Gases 58% ● Deforestation
33% ● Drainage of Reservoirs 8%
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Missionary Disciples
For many new Salesian missionary
vocations in Argentina.
We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in
evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life
that has the flavour of the Gospel.
[Pope Francis’ prayer intention]
