Our Lady of Monte da Caála

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Monte da Caála, located on Mount Mbandjela, began to be built in 1927, at the time, Father Domingos Vieira Baião, Missionary of the Congregation of the Fathers of the Holy Spirit, who at the time lived in the Cuando Catholic Mission.

The first weddings of the indigenous people of the region were held in this chapel, while white people and another part of society with a certain evolution, were married in the Povoação Church, at the Municipal headquarters.

From the 1950s, with Father Lima, resident in the Municipality and first Parish Priest of the Parish of Nossa Senhora de Fátima da Caála, he began to assist Capela do Monte, as well as the towns of Ngumbe, Ñgala and Mom.

It was then that the Catholic Missions of Longonjo emerged in 1954 and Cassoco in 1969.

Between the years 1959/61 the Chapel had to be restored, given the partial destruction it had suffered, because a giant snake had taken shelter in it. Before 1975, the chapel was very popular with pilgrims, especially in celebration of the Vila da Caála Festivities.
After Independence, the first constraint arises: Cuban soldiers occupy the small mountain as an observation outpost and, consequently, it becomes a barracks.

Over time the Chapel met many tenants, some of whom were military; In moments of relative peace, it began to be used for picnics by a certain elite, who knew where to put their feet, because of the landmines that had been placed there, during the military occupation.
The forest was also devastated for charcoal until the retaking of Huambo by government forces in 1994.

With the arrival of Peace the situation changed.
From 2004 onwards, people began to think about the Sanctuary and take the first steps towards the rehabilitation of the Chapel and place of Worship on Mount Mbandjela.
The first step was the demining of the entire area of the mountain.

It had many mines, as it was a strategic point during the war.
The act of reparation in the Chapel of Nossa do Monte was carried out on August 13, 2005, in a solemn event presided over by Dom José de Queirós Alves, Archbishop of Huambo, with many people and much fervor.

From then on, acts of worship began on Monte da Caála and people began to think about rebuilding the Chapel.
It was very destroyed and needed a thorough overhaul in all aspects, the Chapel and the entire surrounding environment.