Reps Circular
From Sheenagh Burrell ALMA Communications Officer
sb@burrell1980.freeserve.co.uk T: 020 8567 7400
THIS CIRCULAR IS FROM BISHOP MICHAEL
Dear Friends,
Visit to Angola
From Friday 9 June – Sunday 25 June, Peter Southwood (our ALMA Link Officer), will accompany Cynthia and myself on a Diocesan visit to our Sister Church in Angola.
I will be very grateful if, during these two weeks, you and your congregation will keep Bishop André and the Church in Angola in your daily prayers – and, indeed, pray for the three of us as we go to learn more about our sisters and brothers in that country. We can then with confidence take the affection and prayerful greetings of the people of the Diocese of London along with us.
In order to help you with this work of prayer I am sending a map with some details about the Angolan Church and the itinerary that Bishop Andre has worked out for us. It looks to be a rich and exciting diet!
Pray for us: as we will pray for you.
Yours sincerely
+Michael
The party will include Mrs Cynthia Colclough and Mr Peter Southwood, ALMA Link Officer
| Date | Time | Activity | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/06/2006 | 19h50 | Depart London Heathrow Airport | |
| 10/06/2006 | 04h20 | Arrive Luanda Airport | |
| 16h00 | Evening prayer | Bishop’s residence | |
| 11/06/2006 | 10h00 | Eucharist | St. Stephen |
| 12/06/2006 | 09h30 | +MK & PS Admin. Activities Mrs Cynthia Colclough to meet with Mothers’ Union |
Bishop’s Office St. Stephen |
| 13/06/2006 | 09h30 | Courtesy visit to USA Embassy | |
| 10h30 | Courtesy visit to UK Embassy | ||
| 14h00 | Visit at St. Joseph school | St Joseph’s | |
| 14/06/2006 | 09h00 | Any other activity | Office |
| 12h00 | Departure to Uige | Airport: Internal Flight 1 | |
| 15/06/2006 | 09h00 | Audience with government | Uige |
| 14h00 | Eucharist | Mateus community | |
| 16/06/2006 | 08h00 | Departure to Kimussungo area | |
| 10h00 | Eucharist and confirmation | S. Simão Cinereu - Kimussungo | |
| 17/06/2006 | 08h00 | Departure to Songo | |
| 10h00 | Eucharist and confirmation | St. Barnabe parish | |
18/06/2006 |
10h00 |
Eucharist and confirmation |
Uige |
| 19/06/2006 | 08h00 | Visit to the church in Negage | Negage |
| 20/06/2006 | 08h00 | Visit to St. John | |
| 13h00 | Return Uige to Luanda | Airport: Internal Flight 2 | |
| 21/06/2006 | Departure to Benguela | Airport: Internal Flight 3 | |
| Benguela | |||
| 22/06/2006 | Return from Benguela to Luanda | Airport: Internal Flight 4 | |
| Luanda | |||
| 23/06/2006 | 09h30 | Visit to St. Mary school and St. Peter hospital | |
| 14h00 | Briefing in the office | ||
| 24/06/2006 | 23h50 | Return from Angola to London | Airport |
| 25/06/2006 | 08h30 | Arrive London Heathrow |
The Anglican Church in Angola began in 1925 when an English Lay Reader, Archibald Patterson, arrived in Uige. Portuguese colonial power ended in 1975 and the country was plunged into a civil war that lasted for 27 years. During these years this forgotten Anglican Church continued to hold onto the vision and mission that it had received through Archibald Patterson’s ministry. Despite the legacy of war, suffering and poverty the Church continued to grow from its original foundations in Uige and Luanda – on down the coast to Benguela and Lobito and into the central highlands. It also spread in the extreme south in Cunene Province having been founded by other pioneer missionaries moving north from Namibia. The Church has a vital contribution to make in the rebuilding of a society deeply scared by decades of war and diaspora coupled with extreme poverty and lack of infrastructure.
Angola (three times the size of the UK) with a population of 12 million became a missionary diocese in 2003 when Andre Soares was consecrated as their first Bishop. There are 4 districts: Luanda; Uige; Nzadi-a Lukizi and Lukunba Lozi served by Archdeacons and several missionary areas: Benguela; Cunene/Ondjiva; Huila;Huambo each served by a priest, and Cabinda served by a Catechist. The Angolan Church is growing fast and now has over 200 congregations and about 23,000 members.
A new theological training programme by extension (TEE) is being funded from London Diocese and has 135 training for ministry.
Eight parishes in London are twinned with Angolan parishes :