Martin Lasarte, 60 years old, was appointed by Pope Francis, on Saturday, to the position of bishop of the diocese of Luena, in the east of the country, after the Catholic circumscription has been without a bishop since February 2022, with the death of Bishop Jesus Tirso Blanco.
Speaking to Lusa, the priest of the Salesians congregation, in Angola for 33 years, said that he accepted the challenge for the love he has for the province of Moxico, where he has worked in the 1990s and in 2002, with displaced people and demobilized war fighters.
The missionary, born in Montevideo, recognized that he will face many challenges, especially due to the extension of the province, promising, however, "to work together, like a strong and fecund bee" to transform the province and its citizens into dignified and respected people.
The bee, a flying animal characteristic of the province of Moxico for the production of honey, is one of the symbols of the episcopal coat of arms (identity element of bishops and archbishops for their ecclesial ministry).
"But the bee is strong and fruitful when it works together, so let's all work together in this province of ours, let's all collaborate, people from civil society, churches, to really make our province a worthy place", argued the priest.
Transforming the province of Moxico into a beautiful place, where every Angolan "Moxicano" feels at home, respected and promoted is also one of the purposes of the new bishop.
"And that [citizens / faithful] can produce many fruits of coexistence, solidarity, faith so that we can make our province grow and develop", he pointed out.
Martin Lasarte Topolansky, who is also the current superior of the Salesians in Angola, is due to be ordained as bishop and take office in the city of Luena next September.
The Catholic priest was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, on October 12, 1962. He took his first vows on January 31, 1982 and was ordained a priest on August 17, 1991.
