Coadjutor bishop
On February 26, 1984 Gabriel Mbilingi joined the Congregation of the Spiritan (Latin: "Congregatio Sancti Spiritus; CSSp") and received the ordination. On 15 October 1999 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Lwena; on 6 January 2000 the Pope himself consecrated him as bishop. Later he followed the resignation of his predecessor, José da Próspero Ascensao Puaty as Bishop of Lwena in the Huambo Province. 2006 he was appointed Coadjutor bishop of the Archdiocese of Lubango.