13.05.2014
Three African Bishops Visit Dioceses During CMSI 200th Anniversary Celebrations
CMS Ireland is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year and as part of the events marking the milestone will be holding its ‘Changing Times’ conference in Armagh this Thursday and Friday, May 15 and 16.
Many people who have been connected to the work of CMSI overseas will attend the conference and among the many visitors to Ireland will be three Bishops who will also visit Dublin and Glendalough during their stay. Bishop Gaddiel Lenini (Kajiado, Kenya) has been visiting Bray while Bishop Anthony Poggo (Kajo Keji, South Sudan) will be in Delgany while Bishop Jered Kalimba (Shyogwe, Rwanda) will be in Whitechurch.
Bishop Anthony Poggo is visiting Delgany from May 17 to 20. His diocese of Kajo–Keji is located south of the South Sudanese capital Juba. In recent years he has travelled widely (UK, US, South Africa, Australia) in order to build bridges and seek support.
On Sunday May 18 he will address a public meeting entitled ‘The South Sudan Crisis – What the Churches are Doing to Help’ in the Old Schoolhouse in Delgany.
On Sunday evening, Bishop Anthony will speak about the background to the conflict in South Sudan and give a first hand account of the current situation. He will also describe how the Churches are working to resolve conflict and outline some of the ways in which other Churches and countries can help. There will be an opportunity for questions, a cup of tea and a chance to meet Bishop Anthony informally.
Meanwhile in Whitechurch Bishop Jered Kalimba will be hosted by the parish from May 16 to 21. The Bishop will preach in Whitechurch Church at 10.30 am on Sunday morning. Whitechurch has had a mission link with the Anglican Diocese of Shyogwe in Rwanda for a number of years. Teams of parishioners from Whitechurch Parish have visited Shyogwe Diocese several times over the past decade and a further team will be flying out in November. Bishop Jered has visited Whitechurch Parish on three previous occasions and is always a most pleasant and valued presence.
Bishop Gaddiel Lenini from Kajiado Diocese in Kenya has been in Bray since May 9 also as part of the CMS Ireland 200 celebrations. It was his first visit to these Dioceses and he took part in many regular parish activities and met with many parishioners and townspeople. Kajiado Diocese has a significant Masai population and Bishop Gaddiel in his Sunday sermon touched on some of the cultural challenges which this brings. His Diocese has had links with Bray for many years and a parish team plans to make a trip in 2015.
Photo captions:
Top – Bishop Gaddiel takes on flower arranging with Bray Mothers’ Union.
Bottom – In a session with Boulders, Christ Church Bray’s Youth Q&A group.