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ALMA Reps Meeting 25 March 2014 at London Diocesan House

[Source: Helen Doery]

The meeting
Singing Fr Julião’s song

This meeting had an emphasis on news from Lebombo although it was announced that Niassa’s Diocesan Synod on 6 March had elected Revd Manuel Ernesto as Bishop Suffragan of Niassa given responsibility over the area of Lurio and Zambezia. Niassa is the first of our partner Dioceses to multiply in this way.

Archdeacon Rachel Treweek opened the meeting in prayer.  Sheenagh Burrell shared a review of ALMA life in 2013 – so much happened - and then we were led in learning a most beautiful song that Fr Julião had taught St John’s Greenhill when he had visited his link church a number of years ago. A group of singers from both St John’s and St Paul’s Old Ford gave the lead and we all joined in quickly, having our Portuguese enhanced by some coaching from one of our members. We plan to sing it in memory of Fr. Julião, (who died last May), at the ALMA Sunday Service in St Paul’s Cathedral on 13 July when Bishop Dinis Sengulane will be present.

Archdeacon Rachel, Chair of ALMA Strategy Group, was our main speaker, sharing her visit to Lebombo in 2013, relating it to the five Lent Appeals of London Challenge 2012, and also reviewing our procedures for the spending of money on projects with our partners. These have been refined over the years to ensure that the projects we fund are first that particular diocese’s priority, that they don’t deter local initiatives in finding local answers to community needs and also so that we comply fully with HMRC Guidelines.

She then spoke and showed pictures of  our visit to Lebombo in August last year when we visited a number of Lent Appeal projects; these were 2008 Appeal for Schools – a completed project building new class rooms and adapting others at Maciene (see ‘Report of Rebuilding of Maciene School(PDF2845Kb)), 2009 for Water – the sinking of a bore at Magumeto, similar to the project at Chihunzuine nearby, 2010 for Children – Magoanine – the building of a Nursery School in a new housing area as a way to reach out to the community, 2011 for Training – she presented Africa Bible Commentaries to Seminary Students but they were also found in prominent positions in homes and offices of all the priests we met, 2012 – Giving Ministry Wheels – Archdeacon Rachel was able to hand over the keys for the new Diocesan vehicle to Bishop Dinis at its blessing. In 2013 there was no ALMA Lent Appeal but a number of churches and individuals gave generously to the Diocesan Flood Appeal and a few pictures of the effects of those floods were shown.

Rachel Treweek
Archdeacon Rachel Treweek

As 25 March was the official day of Bishop Dinis’ retirement after completing 38 active years as Bishop, Sheenagh gave a resume of his life and ALMA involvement in word and picture, and we joined in singing a couple of verses of the hymn he had chosen to sing at each of the centres in his diocese when he said farewell to his people – Onward Christian Soldiers. We spent a short time giving thanks for his service as bishop, and also his huge involvement in negotiating and sustaining the peace from the Civil War in Mozambique and his world-wide work in areas of reconciliation and health issues, especially to do with malaria. Archdeacon Rachel and Sheenagh then flew to Maputo the next evening to represent London Diocese at the official retirement celebrations in the stadium.

There was time for mingling with others, and to browse or take away a number of printed news sheets - an interview with Bishop Dinis from allafrica.com, news about food shortages in Angola and copies of the 2013 Annual Report. (There is also a filmed interview with Bishop Dinis from the Episcopal News Service.)