3. In Mogincual with the Imam

On one of the last days of my visit, the SVD team in Mozambique was received in grand style at the third parish entrusted to its care. With great enthusiasm the people of Mogincual, both Catholics and Muslims, gathered for the "official" arrival of the new missionaries. They were escorted by the bishop of Nacala and by a Comboni missionary who had been visiting the parish from time to time in the years since the end of the civil war.

The drive to Mogincual was itself an adventure. The road was little more than a dirt path through dense brush for the last 50 kilometers. Many of the bridges along the way are in ruins. As we came into town the traditional chief, a Muslim, was there to greet us. Gathered with him were the imam of the town mosque together with many members of the Muslim community. Of course the Catholics were also out in force, greeting our arrival with enthusiastic songs of welcome. I was rather impressed by the dignity of the town chief and by his obvious desire to promote understanding between the Catholics and Muslims in the area.

As I was sitting with the bishop and talking with the Muslim community gathered about, the chief asked the imam to say a few words. The imam is a younger man, and quite persuasive. He spoke about the urgent needs of the people in this time of reconstruction after the long civil war. He mentioned especially the need for education, and for health care, both of which had previously been provided by the old mission. Then he spoke about an especially urgent need to build a better road into the town. For a good while the discussion focused on those things that the Muslims and Catholics could do together for the betterment of all the people. Then the imam summarized the whole conversation with his closing remark. He said, "We dont need one road for the Muslims and another road for the Catholics. I think one road is enough, and we should work together to build it."

New treasure. There are many new treasures apparent in the renewed beginnings in Mogincual. Unlike the first beginnings some 500 years ago, the invitation now comes from an established local church headed by a Mozambican bishop. And in place of the frequently open rivalries of the past among missionary religious congregations, there is now a spirit of active cooperation. The Comboni who have long worked in Mozambique show open and generous hospitality to the SVD team and to many other recent newcomers. And for SVD at least, a newer element is the greater stress on the community life and apostolic commitment of the team.

This is in contrast to the much heavier emphasis on the initiative of individual missionaries of an earlier generation. But perhaps the greatest of new treasures is the opportunity for a dialogue of life and deeds with Muslims, other Christians, and followers of traditional religions. In our day, there seems to be in some places at least, an opening for a different approach to other believers. In place of suspicion and even hostility, there is a chance to show mutual hospitality and to seek collaboration on common projects for the benefit of all.

Old treasure. Now along with the new opportunities that face the Church and its missionaries in Mozambique there is some old treasure as well. For many there is faith that Jesus message can make an important difference in the building up of the nation and its culture. There is hope for a better future. There is the call to show love of God through love of neighbors. The SVD team in Mozambique also treasurers the certainty that the road to the Kingdom passes through Mogincual.