Fr João de Deus Kamtedza SJ, (1930-1985)
Biography: João de Deus was born in Mozambique, in Nkau, on the plateau of Angónia (Tete), on March 8, 1930. He entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus on 1 September 1951 in Portugal and obtained a Degree in philosophy on the Pontifical College of Philosophy in Braga in 1958. He did his Theology in Spain, in San Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona, from 1961 to 1965. He was ordained priest in Lifidzi, Mozambique, on August 15, 1964.
In Mozambique, Father João worked always in Angónia, Tete. In 1984, he was sent to Chapotera together with Fr Sílvio, and from there they did their missionary work all through the territory of the previous mission of Lifidzi which had been nationalized by the government in 1975. They were absolutely dedicated to the work of constructing the Kingdom of God, which frequently requires not only proclamation, but also renunciation and denunciation. For this very cause, they were killed on 30 October 1985 by an armed group that took them from their home, leaving their bodies abandoned in the bush.
The two missionaries were killed because they denounced the atrocities of the war and defended the dignity of the people of Angónia, being considered, therefore, “uncomfortable witnesses” of the abuses by political and police authorities. Courageous, fearless and always defending the people, the two missionaries chose to continue serving their church, even after being advised to leave the region (even by their superiors), at a time when many religious were kidnapped and killed.
After their death, the people of Angonia, feeling deprived of those who defended them, ran away into Malawi. The popular veneration for the martyrs started immediately and, without any orientation from the hierarchical church, the people started gathering at the Sanctuary of Chapotera (the place where the priests were killed) on every 30 of October for a prayer vigil. The diocesan phase of the cause of the Chapotera Martyrs, the Jesuits João de Deus Kamtedza and Sílvio Moreira, closed on 12 August 2023.
Motivation: Kamtedza was faithful to the people that he was missioned to serve. We find inspiration in the dedication to which he served the people of Mozambique despite the hardships and to the end of martyrdom. As a native Jesuit from this part of Africa, we find it fitting and honoring to recognize him as an inspiration not only to the lay faithful and Jesuits in this part of the world but to Africans as a whole. The ongoing cause of the Chapotera martyrs has also motivated this name choice.