As Angola prepares to celebrate 50 years of independence, Catholic laypeople across the country are gathering in Namibe for a historic event: the Third National Congress of Catholic Laity, taking place July 24–25, 2025. While the congress is deeply rooted in Angola’s unique context, it sends a powerful and timely message to the global Church — that now more than ever, lay Catholics must step forward to lead in civil society.
Hosted by the National Secretariat for the Apostolate of the Laity of the Bishops’ Conference of Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe (CEAST), this congress is more than a local ecclesial gathering. It is a model for what lay leadership can — and must — look like around the world.
A Milestone Moment for the Church
Sebastião Marques Panzo, who leads the National Secretariat, described the congress as “a decisive milestone” in the history of Angola’s Church. But the vision he articulated transcends borders. Laypeople, he said, are called to renew their mission in light of Church teaching, the realities of our times, and the example of recent pontificates — particularly the late Pope Francis, who championed a Church of missionary disciples fully engaged in public life.
“This will be a moment for examining our conscience and planning the future,” Panzo declared. “Without evaluation, there is no authentic progress.”
The event is guided by the theme: “Angola at 50 Years: The Role of Catholic Laity in the Political, Social, Economic, and Business Sectors.” It speaks directly to the heart of Catholic social teaching: that faith is not meant to remain private, but to permeate every corner of society through the witness, integrity, and leadership of the baptized.
Building on a Legacy of Faithful Engagement
This congress continues a tradition that began with the first lay congress in 1992, following Angola’s shift to multiparty democracy. Then, the Church called laypeople to responsible citizenship and political maturity. By 2019, the second congress had evolved to focus on lay Catholics as "salt and light" — agents of solidarity and public faith.
Now in 2025, Angola’s laity are aiming to consolidate these past lessons and chart a bold course for the next four years. Strategic planning, national unity, and active participation are at the heart of this effort. The congress will include both a public formation event and a closed-door session for 150 diocesan delegates who will draft strategic directives for the Church’s mission in society.
“This solid balance between faith and action,” Panzo noted, “is the great richness of the congress.”
A Model for the Global Church
What’s happening in Angola is not an isolated occurrence. Across the globe, from Latin America to Africa to the United States, a growing awareness is emerging: the renewal of the Church — and of society — depends in large part on the formation and mobilization of lay leaders. Catholic professionals are increasingly recognizing their vocation not merely as workers in secular fields, but as missionaries in boardrooms, classrooms, parliaments, and neighborhoods.
The Angolan congress exemplifies how the laity can be equipped, organized, and sent to be Christ’s presence in the world. Its inclusive design — combining grassroots testimonies, livestreamed access, theological formation, and strategic visioning — offers a roadmap other nations can learn from.
Moving Forward: A Call to Action
Following the event, CEAST plans to publish two key documents: a summary report from the public conference and a strategic orientation document for 2025–2029. These resources are meant not only to guide Angola’s Church, but also to serve as a beacon for Catholics worldwide who are striving to build a more participatory, transparent, and missionary Church.
As Panzo reminded participants: “May each layperson embrace their vocation with courage and wisdom.”
For Catholic professionals everywhere, the message is clear: the future of the Church and society depends on your witness, your leadership, and your commitment to the Gospel in every sector of life.
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