Good News from ALMA, the Angola London Mozambique Association: Ordinations in Angola
Bishop André Soares, Bishop of Angola, has sent us news of the latest ordinations in his diocese. The ordinations took place on Epiphany Sunday, 8 January 2012, in the parish of St. Philip in Uige with 1100 people in attendance. Two women were among the ordinands, including the first woman priest, Joana Francisco, and a deacon Maria Domingos.
In this celebration another three deacons and three priests where ordained, totalling four deacons and four priests. One of the deacons is from Nigeria (recommended by his Bishop as he was transferred in Angola by his oil company). On the second Sunday after Epiphany, 15 January, at the parish of St. Steven in Luanda, 3000 people attended a celebration of the ordination of the Revd. Joana Francisco and the Revd. Maria Domingos.
Bishop Soares said
“Our thanks to ALMA, MANNA and USPG for providing grants which enabled us to train these servants of God.
If a woman priest of the Diocese of London wants to establish a link with St. Peter to encourage women for the ministry, we will be happy for that.
Please pray for the new priests and deacons on their new ministry.”
And in Lebombo two deacons and four priests were ordained on 29th January
While still happy with having new priests, we also feel the challenge of continuous training, for multiplication of the gospel and growth of the church. St. Christopher’s Seminary is opening on 2 February, and those students who were on holiday have now come back. We pray for a good and resourceful time in the seminary, hoping that more deacons and priests will be ordained in the near future.
And a new church…….
The foundation stone of the new church in T3, St. Bernard Mizeki, was laid on 14 January, 2012. The ceremony was led by Bishop Dinis Sengulane, in the presence of about 100 people. Among them were the representatives of the local government, Matola Municipality, and community leader and local religious affairs leaders. In his speech, Bishop Dinis appealed the people in order to build one another’s life, in order to attain a common welfare, and have a balanced physical and spiritual well-being.
Work has already began on the foundations, which are calculated to cost about 250,000 meticais (around £6000).
Members of St. Bernard Mizeki in T3 are very happy, and they thank God for answering their prayers through all those who have contributed towards the building of the church.
Taken from www.almalink.org/