12 Sep
General

Better protecting children, vulnerable persons and the earth

12th Plenary held in Maputo

IMBISA held its 12th plenary session in Maputo from 13-17 November 2019 at the Mumemo Pastoral Centre, guided by the theme, Reinforcing communion in IMBISA for effective collegiality to respond better to the protection of children and vulnerable persons, as well as the earth, our common home.

The workshop was divided into three sessions:

  • The rights of children and the vulnerable
  • A case study on Laudato Si’ implementation, and
  • The coordinated leadership plan.

Mike Greef during a presentation on the Coordinated Leadership Plan

The one and a half day workshops were facilitated by Mike Greeff, director of the Marist Schools Councils, Br. Fortune Chakasara FMS and Mantopi Martin-a de Porres Lebofa, with Fr. Kienna Ikechi SJ of the Holy See Section on Migrants and Refugees giving a presentation on human trafficking.

Mantopi Martin-a de Porres Lebofa presenting a Laudato Si’ case study

A national mass was held to officially close the 12th plenary assembly at Pavilhão da Estrela Vermelha, with Mozambique president Filipe Nyusi who addressed the gathering at the end of mass.

IMBISA on xenophobia in South Africa

The Standing Committee released a statement dated 11 September 2019 in response to recent incidents of xenophobia that have rocked South Africa, resulting in several deaths and countless injured. The bishops said, among others:

The deplorable actions that we have witnessed cannot be condoned in any way nor can they be hidden behind words that hide the real terror of xenophobia.

We implore the home nations of those affected, not to raise the stakes by responding in revenge with violence.

May every Catholic, Christian, people of other faiths and all people of good will join hands to fight this scourge which can only harm the future of our region.

IMBISA and SADC

President Bishop Lúcio Muandula mentioned in his report that IMBISA was able to meet the Southern African Development Community through the Executive Secretary and her team in Gaborone. Archbishop Gerard Lerotholi OMI, Vice President led the IMBISA delegation, accompanied among others by General Secretary Archbishop Robert Ndlovu, meeting Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax and her team. A number of possibilities were raised for collaboration between the two regional bodies.

Vice-President Archbishop Gerard Lerotholi OMI leading the visit to SADC Executive Secretary Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax in Gaborone

Media and Communications

The plenary assembly endorsed the request of the Standing Committee that a bishop be in charge of Media and Communications and that such a bishop be a member of the Standing Committee. Bishop José-Luis Gerardo Ponce de León IMC of Manzini was appointed to this position for the next three years.

Elections

  • President: Bishop Lucio Andrice Muandula of Xai-Xai, CEM
  • Vice-President: Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda OMI of Windhoek, NCBC
  • Secretary General: Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu of Harare, ZCBC

57 IMBISA bishops attended the plenary with the following numbers from member conferences:

  • CEAST: 18
  • CEM: 12
  • LCBC: 4
  • NCBC: 2
  • SACBC: 17
  • ZCBC: 4

Saints of the IMBISA region

Secretariat Director, Fr. Claudio dos Reis, mentioned the achievements of IMBISA and its six episcopal conferences as well as the socio-political challenges of the nine member countries over the last three years.

Blessed Benedict Daswa

In reporting on the theological reflection work Fr. dos Reis referred to the ‘saint-making’ processes in the region:

Since 1988, when the Church in Southern Africa was blessed with the beatification of Joseph Gerard and subsequently Benedict Daswa in 2015, there seems to be some improvement in identifying exemplary persons … for beatification and canonisation. Just recently, the cause for the beatification of John Bradburn has been opened in Zimbabwe. In Angola the process of Fr. Sikufinde is gaining some traction, and South Africa has Sr. Reynolda of Ngome. This is good news for the Church in the region and manifests that the work of evangelisation has not been in vain.

Sources

IMBISA. 2020. IMBISA 12th Plenary Assembly Report. Harare: IMBISA.

On synodal journey for 50 years
In celebration of the golden jubilee of IMBISA, formed in 1975, we publish snippets of history once a week.