Igreja/Sociedade: Bispo de Angra desafiou diocese a passar «à outra margem», no novo ano pastoral

Bishop Armando Esteves Domingues challenged the Diocese of Angra to move to the other side during the opening of the 2026/2027 pastoral year on September 25 in Horta, Faial. According to the online portal Igreja Açores, the bishop stated that the diocese cannot reach this goal without a Church in continuous conversion.

Domingues explained that the mission requires moving from organizing to involving others and shifting from comfort to meeting people where they are. He noted that the other side is not merely a geographic destination but a spiritual shift toward building bridges rather than keeping doors closed. He specifically identified families who have drifted away, the sick, the lonely, prisoners, and those who no longer feel they have a place in the community as people the Church must reach.

The bishop emphasized that internal conversion must lead to active mission rather than remaining stationary. He told the faithful that the Church should focus on relationships rather than just tasks and should not seek to recover worldly status or rankings.