Bishop of Angra warns of the danger of “social, political and religious radicalization” in today’s cities”

D. Armando Esteves Domingues began Holy Week by celebrating Palm Sunday Mass for scout leaders from the Azores, gathered this weekend at VI INDABA

The bishop of Angra took advantage of the liturgy of this Palm Sunday to ask the scout leaders of the Azores, who were gathered in São Miguel this weekend, at the VI INDABA Açores, to educate young people in valuing, respecting and considering others as way to prevent the radicalism that today’s societies experience.

“Today, Jesus begins a new raid and descends into the city of Jerusalem, from the Mount of Olives and enters as a peaceful and humble king, sitting on a donkey. Jesus encounters the noise of the city where so many whistle and are followed. Then others come and are equally followed. The city we have today is becoming more radical in its political, social and even religious vision. Having your own opinion about life is good, but let’s not close ourselves off to other people’s different opinions. Show, dear leaders, plurality; help young people to see and respect others, to consider them”, said D. Armando Esteves Domingues, this morning, during the Palm Sunday Mass, which he celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Fátima, in Ponta Delgada.

“The other is always the temple. Let us be this educational movement capable of leading others to get the best of themselves, helping them to experience the beauty of others” he insisted, recalling Jesus’ journey from the beginning of Lent when he retired to the desert to reflect and discern and then enter triumphantly in Jerusalem, where he leaves condemned with a cross on his back.

“It is this cross that helps us look at the mission with braver eyes” said the diocesan prelate.

“When the cross appeared, there were those who gave up, those who did not know Him, those who said bad things about Him, but He continued forward, confident”, recalled D. Armando Esteves Domingues to launch a second challenge to the CNE leaders: “You are sworn in as leadership ; the Church of the Azores needs this leadership. Let’s look together at the role of scouting and look further ahead: let’s help children face these confused cities, which have forgotten God. Help to put Him back in the center.”

“Share responsibilities, work as a team, make each other capable of developing skills, show that God, with his cross, is at the center and his example is the only way to combat radicalization” he said, asking that the Eucharist “be life and not just another scouting activity”.

“I count on you a lot; we all need each other. Let’s not close ourselves off and let’s make this centenary (the CNE marks one hundred years of its foundation in the Region) remember but also think about the present and future of scouting. Renew and innovate. Let us allow ourselves to refound ourselves in scouting, in the Church and in the world.”

In the rite of peace, D. Armando Estes Domingues chose to improvise his own prayer in which he does not forget the wars in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, in North Africa and all the people who do not have peace and live days of death. For everyone he asked “the King of peace” to give them “His peace” and “open the hearts of men and rulers, freeing them from hatred and violence”.

The bishop of Angra will preside over a Mass tomorrow at the Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião, during which the priests of São Miguel will renew their priestly promises, especially those who cannot participate in the Chrism Mass at the cathedral the following day, at 11:00 am. . D. Armando Esteves Domingues will remain in Terceira throughout the next week presiding over all celebrations in the Cathedral, some of which will be broadcast on Antena 1 Açores and RTP Açores.