Visit to Maputo for the Bishop’s Wedding

Severe travel difficulties meant I had less time in Maputo than intended: my flight had technical problems, was cancelled, rescheduled as a daytime flight the next day arriving in Johannesburg after midnight, meaning I missed the traditional wedding or Lobola, and arrived 24 hours late in Maputo airport where the church wedding was already being broadcast live on national television! Paulito from the diocese was waiting for me and skilfully got us through protracted traffic and to Chamanculo, the Diocesan Centre, where the wedding was taking place in St Ciprian’s. I caught the very end of the marriage and was there for the wedding Eucharist, signing of the register, welcome songs by the Sengulane and Valói offspring, the wondrous worship, and the next 30 hours of celebrations!

Some of the highlights for me were the radiant faces of bride and groom; the generosity of their children and grandchildren (each has four children and together they have ten grandchildren) and wider extended families; seeing such a gathering of Mozambican dignitaries, Lebombo clergy, and visiting Bishops and other representatives from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Connecticut, Sweden, Niassa (Bishop Mark, and Helen along with Matt and Kylie) and the UK; the publication of the new Lebombo Hymns and Chorus collection and the book of prayers for Children which Bishop Dinis and Lina gave to their guests. It was special to be called up to receive these and to greet the Bride and Groom.

The wedding service at St Ciprian’s was followed by a reception, in possibly the largest marquee I have ever seen, in the grounds of the Radisson hotel where, appropriately a sculpture from the swords into ploughshares project, an outline of Africa, is outside the hotel – a fitting reminder of Mozambique’s journey to peace and Bishop Dinis’ role in this. In the reception all the tables were named after Saints and there was much feasting, many speeches with songs (especially Fidelia and Bruno’s) and unforgettable dancing.

On Sunday Robert Ashdown (MANNA Treasurer and member of All Saints Fulham) and I worshipped at St Stephen and St Lawrence where Archbishop Thabo preached. Bishop Dinis and Lina were in the congregation and were joined by two other couples who had married the day before to be welcomed and  prayed for at the end of the service. Another anniversary was celebrated in the church hall, the 30th anniversary of the Portuguese speaking service, before we left to go to Bishop Dinis’ and Lina’s new home in Matola for lunch in the garden and the opportunity for more greetings and presentations to the couple.

Matola is an outer suburb of Maputo, about 15 miles from the centre, still rural in feel, and although not fully finished the new home with its blue roof has echoes of Chihunzuine –with two round rooms at the front linked by a rectangular main reception room. It has a beautiful garden with mature trees.

After lunch there were presentations to the couple from all sections of their families and congregations, each grouping wearing a specially printed T shirt or a distinctive capulana. The couple were given some matrimonial ‘Macumes’ (double capulanas with a length of white lace in the middle) and other traditional gifts. The overseas guests were also invited to make contributions. I found it very moving to hear these especially one who spoke of the impact of Bishop Dinis’ ministry on his own. I was able to tell Bishop Dinis and Lina that they were not only prayed for throughout Mozambique over this wedding weekend but also in London in their other Cathedral, St Paul’s, where Bishop Dinis is an honorary Canon. I reminded them of Bishop Dinis’ words that surround the ALMA Covenant ‘Partnership is a deep friendship between two people which engages their families and their offspring’ and of the joy at seeing this embodied in the wedding itself - in the generous and loving responses of their families and friends. It was a privilege to be there representing the ALMA family.

On Monday morning I spent some time with Paulino and Ivan in Anglican Social Action Department at the Diocesan Centre hearing about their work and then it was off to the airport, meeting Fr Juliao on the way to be entrusted with a gift for the new Priest at St John’s Greenhill, Harrow, Barry Hingston, who was being inducted the next day!