Catholic Priest in Mozambique Proposes Digital Tools to Keep up with Urban Youths in Ministry

Fr. Carlos Ernesto Mandlate, the spiritual advisor for the vocational ministry of the Archdiocese of Maputo, says the Church must use digital tools to reach urban youth who struggle to attend parish activities due to the fast pace of city life.

In an interview with ACI Africa on October 8, Fr. Mandlate suggested that the Church needs new methods to support the discernment of adolescents and young people. He noted that current methodologies are insufficient for those living in urban settings where time constraints make it difficult to participate in traditional vocational accompaniment groups.

The vocational ministry has begun using WhatsApp, social media, videos, audio recordings, and multimedia presentations to connect with young people. These digital reflections are shared online so individuals can follow them even when they cannot attend in person. Fr. Mandlate clarified that these digital tools are intended to complement rather than replace in-person accompaniment within parishes and pastoral communities.