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Pastoral Visitation to Pungoe

[Source - Bishop Dinis Sengulane - August 2013]

Bishop Dinis

From August 19 to 26 it was the pastoral visitation to Beira, Sena and Caia Parishes.

Celebrating the Eucharist in eleven places with Baptism and Confirmation to more than 340 people and spending an average of five hours driving everyday in very bad roads and using dozens of litres of fuel and welcomed by cheering multitudes with Palm Sunday fervour, the visitation was an opportunity to rejoice as we saw God’s intervention in people’s lives through the Gospel.

The visit started in Tica and Nhamatanda on the first day, to continue the following day at Mecombozi which was prepared for a long work, the witnessing of the making of bricks to build their Church and Gravata, a very isolated Congregation in an area with military presence which did not create problems in spite of the service being held as it was getting dark.

The old car we were using had a serious breakdown which would have compromised the visit if the Administrator of Caia had not come to our rescue, lending his car to enable us to visit two congregations that day as we looked for an alternative for the remaining days. Four congregations were visited in Sena area and two in Caia.

After baptizing more than 100 people and confirming 70 in Caia, we drove to Marromeu, 100kms away (within the same Parish) where a new Congregation was formally founded, given the name of St. Mary & Martha and it witnessed the Baptism of 110 and confirming 56, the first members of this new Congregation. Rui, a dedicated catechist had cycled for 100kms a few days before to prepare for the visit. The Priest, João Camaguira has made the same trip a few times, he has been given a motorbike but he needs help for fuel to make this trip and deviate to visit St. Anne’s and Mangaze. By bicycle it is actually dangerous because of snakes on the road. God’s protection has been amazing in this area that no tragedy has happened.

Beira at St. George’s was the final place for Baptism and Confirmation with a fruitful meeting of the Parish Council and leaders of the Mother’s Union, Youth and Bernard Mizeki Guild and Harvest Festival which was characterized by couloir music, creativity and generosity. The blessing of a shop for IT belonging to a member of the Congregation marked the end of the visit to St. George’s.

The Levasflor component the two members of the Levasflor project/concession who were present at the Harvest Festival at St. George’s were moved by the story of the extension of the Church building, when one of the prayer groups brought 40 bags of cement and committed Levasflor to provide windows and door for the new Church and even brought a carpenter who took relevant practical steps to see the implications of such commitment.

Fr. Mateus Campira the Rector of St. George’s continued the pastoral visit, representing the Bishop, ministering at Levasflor where he committed himself to to visit there twice a month. Additionally he spoke to the Leaders of Condue Village and established a Congregation and was shown a plot where the Church can be built. This means that this visit brought into being three new Congregations, thus adding the number of those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

Mobility in the area is one of the major issues for the Clergy and Catechists. Poverty is a visible feature as you look at the members of the Congregations. Faith and joy is what moves those lovely people.

In His service,

+Dinis Lebombo