Suai, September 3, 2025 – The Organizing Committee for the 26th Commemoration of the Setembro Negro Suai Massacre in 1999, which includes Centro Chega!, the Authority of Covalima Municipality, the Parish of Nossa Senhora de Fátima Suai Church, the Memorial Museum of Covalima Municipality, victims and survivors, students, and community members, held a four-hour procession from the airport to the Monument of Setembro Negro 1999 by taking the statue of Nossa Senhora de Fátima and the Cross. The procession featured a banner, “Remember the Massacre of 6 Setembro Negro 1999 – 134 people of Covalima, alongside 3 Fathers, finally turned into Setembro Negro.” The Authority of the National Police of Covalima Municipality was responsible for event security.
Aderito da Costa Vilar Morreira, the Father of the Suai Church Parish, explained that the Catholic Church, through the Parish of Nossa Senhora de Fátima Suai Church and in collaboration with the Organising Committee, took the stature of Our Lady as a guiding mother who leads us to God. We pray for the deceased, seeking to free them from sin through God’s intercession. He highlighted the significant role of the church in the fight for independence, noting that during challenging times, leaders held a strong belief that independence would be gained. As long as we have gained independence, commemorating this massacre is to awaken Christianity’s feelings and sensibilities.
Father Aderito added, “This procession aims to awaken Christianity, particularly among the new generations, to understand that independence also came at the cost of the lives, bones, and blood of the three priests and Christians who died at Ave Maria Church of Suai.”
Additionally, the President of the Covalima Municipality Authority, Miguel Armanda Cardoso, emphasized that this procession serves as a tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for independence. He pointed out that three priests were murdered alongside the civilian population at the Ave Maria Suai Church. This procession honors their memory and serves as a reminder to the younger generation not to forget Setembro Negro (Black September).
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