Recently, the ALMA team have been busy collating and reporting news and information on the Angola, London, Mozambique Association, including information on the new Bishop of Niassa.
For those who are unaware, this important association has become part of the soul of all four partner dioceses. Through our dedicated volunteers, led by Sheenagh Burrell and Helen Doery, our dioceses are able to share our joys and sorrows, learn from each other, acknowledge the differences in our economic contexts, share the good news with the poor and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. It is led in London by the Rt Revd Rob Wickham, Bishop of Edmonton.
The latest news is that the Provincial (ACSA) Synod of Bishops in South Africa have elected a new Bishop of Niassa, who is the 35-year old Revd Vicente Msossa. The new Bishop-elect is currently a priest at Sao Paolo Lichinga, which is twinned with St Paul’s Old Ford, East London. He trained at the College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown and has been ordained for three years.
Please hold Vicente, his wife Anastacia, and their children Andrason, Ebenezer and Omegarda in your prayers as they prepare for this new call on their lives. Please pray too for the Niassa team in this time of transition especially the Vicar General, Bishop Manuel, the Diocesan Secretary and Board, and the Director of Mission.
The ALMA team would like to thank Bishop Carlos Matsinhe for sharing a flavour of the Synod’s worship that can be found on the ALMA Facebook page. A must watch from Synod is a wonderful film Anchored in the Love of Christ about the ministry, mission and vision of the ACSA – with glimpses of faith in action across the 28 Dioceses and six countries. It includes a visit of theological students from the College of the Transfiguration to Maciene and Nhamavila in the Lebombo Diocese, and an interview with Bishop Carlos.
More information can be found on the ALMA pages, or if you would prefer, please email Sheenagh to join the email newsletter list. If you are new to the Facebook page, please also ‘Like’ the page and share the updates with your friends and churches across London, so these stories can be shared more widely.