Revd Juliao Fenias Mboane

Fr Fenias (in red) at Chimoio in August 2010, with a group of orphans and vulnerable children from the Escola de Artes e Oficios of Chimoio

We have heard today (16 December 2010) of another death of one of the clergy in Niassa Diocese. Fr Fenias, of Pemba, has died suddenly.

Pemba, in Mozambique, is twinned with Ss Peter and Paul, Teddington and St James, Hampton Hill.

From Helen Van Koevering:

I write with the very sad news that Fenias died this afternoon. He had had an operation for appendicitis in Pemba and they were transferring him to Maputo hospital. He died en route. We don’t yet know when his funeral will be, and Padre Mepo in Quelimane will represent our diocese. Fenias was a very popular priest amongst us all and will be missed greatly. Mark is unable to attend the funeral as he is currently in Milange and preparing to go to Mongue and Molumbo on his way home by Sunday night. Both these places are out of cell range.

Please do pass on our news and pray for Fenias’ family in Maputo, for Padre Mepo, and for Mark as he travels.

Sheenagh Burrell, ALMA co-ordinator, writes:

Fr Juliao Fenias was the Priest in Pemba, Niassa Diocese and was also an important local figure – President of the Christian Council and part of many peace and justice initiatives of Pemba churches, and really involved with HIV, malaria and poverty work. Bishop Mark visited last month and was told that Fr Fenias was ‘a real man of God’. He is mourned in London too, for Pemba is linked with Ss Peter and Paul, Teddington and St James, Hampton Hill. In 2007 Chris Owens and Clare Rider from Teddington visited Pemba. A recent initiative to have a return visit from Pemba to Teddington in 2011 was in the early stages of planning.

Fr Fenias was also well known in Lebombo and you may remember our August circular featured his visit to Chimoio with Fr Juliao Mutemba. It was Fr Juliao who was waiting for Fr Fenias to arrive at Maputo airport and who, with Bishop Dinis, accompanied him to the mortuary. Bishop Mark has been travelling in Zambezia province out of cell phone contact visiting churches in Milange, Mongue and Molumbo. On Monday 20 December Fr. Elias Muholove, Fr Juliao and Fr. Jose Chamuce accompanied the coffin to the church of SS. Stephen and Lawrence, Maxaquene at 10:00 for the funeral at 11:00. The service at the church was conducted by Bishop Dinis, Fr. Carlos Matsinhe preached. The Venerable Daniel da Costa (Archdeacon of Lurio, Niassa) presented a message from the Diocese of Niassa.

Please pray for the the family of Fr Fenias, the people of Pemba, Lurio Archdeaconry, the Diocese of Niassa and for all of Fenias’ friends and colleagues in Lebombo and Niassa. May he, and the wife of Fr. Joao Roque in Maputo, who died at the same time, rest in peace and rise in glory.