Meeting Report
[Source: Helen Doery]
The meeting on the 30 October was very well attended and packed full of interesting reports. Sheenagh opened the meeting with prayer, followed by the welcoming of a number of new ALMA Reps.
We then heard a full and interesting report from Bianca Dally and Fr. Louis Darrant about their parish, St Paul’s Knightsbridge, visit to their new link parish of All Saints Nhamavila, in Lebombo. They were greeted by Fr Alfredo, the local priest of All Saints and thirteen others churches, and we heard and viewed pictures of Fr Louis participating in a Eucharist straightaway despite not being a Portuguese speaker. Fr. Alfredo introduced the Knightsbridge group to a number of his other congregations where they were greeted with singing and dancing, and a sharing of their expectations of the relationship as well as discussing their difficulties. At the 8.30am service the next day, Sunday, there were 295 adults and Fr Louis was involved again, in the blessing of the 250 children present. Like many other rural priests, Fr Alfredo had no vehicle with which to visit his many churches so his congregation is saving to buy him a bike and eventually a motor bike so he may travel along the sandy tracks to his many parishioners. Later that day they were able to go across to Maciene and meet up with the group from Twyford Secondary School.
Following this engrossing presentation we then heard from three pupils from Twyford, talking about different aspects of their school’s visit to Maciene School. It was most interesting hearing their varied impressions and reactions to life in a Mozambican School as well as their group’s extra-curricular activities such as visiting a memorial to the previous president of Mozambique and of course a trip to the beach. The boys were accompanied by their School Chaplain The Revd. Dr. John Seymour, ALMA Schools Adviser.
Other issues covered were
