Reps Circular

Bishop Rob, Bishop André (Angola) and Archdeacon John Hawkins in Luanda

Bishop Manuel (Nampula), Bishop Carlos (Lebombo), Bishop Vicente (Niassa), Minister of Public Works and Emeritus Bishop Dinis at Messumba

Children’s celebration at Chambone in Lebombo

Outside Messumba after the service

Angola becomes a Full Diocese

ALMA Chair, Bishop Rob Wickham, and Vice Chair Archdeacon of Hampstead made their first visit to Angola to attend the celebration marking Angola’s transition to a full Diocese on Advent Sunday after an extraordinary 16 years as a Missionary Diocese. Joined by MANNA friends, friends from New Hampshire, JC Flowers, and St Albans, Bishop Carlos from Lebombo, the PEO of ACSA Province, Archbishop Thabo and his wife Lunghi Makgoba there was a fulsome ceremony in a large Luandan conference centre. The photo above shows sharing the Cure of Souls and the presentation of the Bible. There are several videos which you may enjoy:

• Archbishop Justin sending a message to the new Diocese of Angola:
• Bishop Andre being led to his chair
• The Bishop and his people greeting each other

And also an article .

Archbishop Thabo lays the foundation stone for the Cathedral

The visitors were able to participate in the prayer walk of the perimeter of the site of the future Cathedral in Camama, bless this and see Archbishop Thabo lay the foundation stone.

Team ALMA not only visited the latest ALMA School extension project at St Joseph’s School Rocho Pinto (where we are funding the building of a second storey) but were also serenaded! See more.

They visited St Peter’s Casenga (twinned with St Mary the Virgin Primrose Hill and St Stephen’s Golfe  (twinned with St Stephen’s Canonbury) and met Jessica Head, UK Ambassador to Angola.

After the celebration national attention focused on the role of the Anglican Church in the elimination of malaria. This is the morning after the celebration with many of the guests participating - including Bishop Rob and Archdeacon John. So thankful for the Cross border malaria initiative. See more.

Of course 1 December was also World AIDS Day and it was special to see Bishop Manuel with his Clergy, Adeptos and Equipas da Vida leading a day of Community Action and Awareness.

21 December was a day of Celebration in Niassa.

On the Lakeshore the newly re-furbished St Bartholomew’s Cathedral Church in Messumba was re-inaugurated in the presence of the President of Mozambique. Bishop Vicente was joined by Bishop Carlos, Bishop Manuel and Emeritus Bishop Dinis for this special service which attracted national attention. Special badges were made for the occasion.

St Bartholomew’s Cathedral at Messumba (Niassa Diocese) is re-inaugurated after refurbishment in the presence of President Nyusi

See how this was reported on Mozambican News

There have also been some other causes for celebration too:

• Ivan Macie, our ALMA Link Officer in Lebombo, and Carla were married in Maputo on 6 December. We wish them every blessing!
• Fr Teodosio Tovela (who spent last February in London with us to experience training in the Diocese of London, St Mellitus College and with Sion College) was also married. We offer him and Suzana our very best wishes
• Bishop Vicente graduated with his MA in Ministry from Lilongwe 
• Bishop Mark Van Koevering, the previous Bishop of Niassa, is to be appointed Bishop of Lexington USA
• the five theology student ALMA is supporting at Hefsiba College (with thanks to St Peter’s Harrow, St Mike’s Southfields and St Paul’s Ealing) have all had very positive reports halfway through their second year
• An amazing service in Milange where the Eucharist was followed by a parish blood donation session, led by Fr Eugenio and his wife, for the local hospital. Lived theology!
• Wide ranging Community Ministry training sessions in Morrumbala 

However there have also been some hard times - particularly related to climate changes

• There has been significant flooding in Cuamba (linked with St Pancras) where the church and parish house compound and toilets have been severely flooded with excess water from the road outside which flows into the compound. It is estimated that 30 bags of cement could alter the angle. See photo below)
• Sadly Beira, which was so terribly affected by Cyclone Idai has recently flooded again
• Mecanhelas has experienced devastating high winds (see photo below)
• Meanwhile recovery and rebuilding after Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in March and April continues with many people still in tents

Flooding in Cuamba

Wind damage in Mecanhelas

In October Bishop Sarah spoke about this at our ALMA meeting as did Revd Simon Brandes, St Nicholas Chiswick, who was reporting on their parish link in Namcunde, one of the drought impacted areas of Angola. Bishop Sarah also  wrote about the impact of Climate Change:

“Christians across our diocese are engaged in seeking to respond prayerfully to climate change. Jesus commands us to love our neighbours as ourselves. Climate change impacts our poorest and most vulnerable ‘neighbours’ most severely. These are the very people we are instructed to show particular care for.

Next year our Lent Appeal will be focussed on ALMA, the diocesan partnership between the Anglican Church in Angola, London, and Mozambique. Precisely the kind of neighbours to which I refer. Out of love for them, and all those affected, please join me in asking God to guide and inspire us to find the courage to live and act differently that we may be good stewards of the earth”.

Read full letter here.

And here is the advance information and rationale about the Lent Appeal

All that remains is, on behalf of all the ALMA Team here in London, to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas and 2020 - in Angola, in London and throughout Mozambique. May the peace of the Christ child touch our hearts and lives.

Sheenagh