Capuchin Provincial in Angola Urges Friars to Protect Prayer Life amid Social Media Distractions

Fr. Pietro Tosato, the Capuchin Provincial Superior in Angola, urged eight friars making their perpetual profession to protect their prayer life from the distractions of social media. During a Mass on October 4 at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in the Archdiocese of Luanda, Fr. Tosato cautioned that new forms of communication can excessively absorb the attention of consecrated persons.

Fr. Tosato noted an imbalance between the time spent on unnecessary activities and the time dedicated to prayer. He observed that people often use phones to film or record even during Church services. He told the friars that their ability to witness to the Gospel depends on their interior relationship with Jesus Christ, stating that they cannot give to others what they do not possess. He encouraged the friars to prioritize their relationship with Christ before beginning missionary activities.