The first event, an “Afternoon of Praise,” is scheduled for Sunday, January 26, at the St. John Parish of Luanda Archdiocese.
The second, a “Night of Praise,” is to take place on January 30 at the Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral of Benguela Diocese.
In an interview with ACI Africa on Friday, January 24 in Luanda, Fr. João Carlos emphasized the significance of these events.
“We are organizing these events to support the construction of a larger church for the growing community in Benguela. The current structure accommodates only 300 to 500 faithful, while the demand exceeds two thousand,” Fr. Carlos told ACI Africa.
He added, “An hour and a half is ideal for a meaningful conversation through song. We plan to perform around 20 songs, carefully selected from our extensive repertoire to fit the time frame.”
The Brazilian member of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) further said, “It’s fulfilling to do something tangible.”
“I’ve been supporting Angolans for some time now by sharing daily meditations on the Word of God and reflections on the Gospel with many of them. But this time, there’s a concrete project to focus on. It’s not just me,” the 68-year-old Catholic Priest said, adding that the initiative was borne out of collective effort.
“Those attending the events in Luanda and Benguela will contribute offerings toward the church’s construction,” the Priest said.
He called on the residents of Luanda and Benguela to support the concerts, saying, “I invite everyone to participate in this project that will directly benefit the community by providing a larger church for worship.”
Fr. Carlos also revealed that he brought a donation from Brazilian Christians worth R$ 40,000 (US$ 6,778) to support the church construction.
Fr. Carlos expressed optimism about the turnout at the two concerts, saying, “After engaging with the local community at St. Paul Parish in Luanda and the Salesian teams involved, as well as the parishioners in Benguela, I expect strong attendance. Many people, especially here in the capital, follow my daily meditations and have expressed their intention to attend. The expectation is that a significant number of brothers and sisters will participate in these events.”
He divulged that some of his songs to be presented at the concert are compositions grounded in Gospel reflection and, drawing “directly from biblical texts or pastoral concerns rooted in God’s Word.”
Emphasizing the needs of the Our Lady of Navigators Parish in Benguela, Fr. Carlos explained that the parish needs space for more than 2,000 people.
He explained that the parish has land available for a new church, adding that although construction had already begun with the foundation, resources were insufficient to complete the project.
Appealing for support of the construction of the parish, Fr. Carlos said, “The new church will serve not only parishioners but also faithful from other parishes and diocesan events. It will be a significant asset to the Diocese of Benguela.”