Bringing the whole diocese together

Earlier this summer, for the first time in over 5 years, all the clergy from across the diocese were together in the cathedral. The service was to celebrate the retirement of the Archdeacon of Goma, Venerable Canon John Mujuna, who had completed 49 years of pastoral ministry (below photos). We were able to honour him and say with the Apostle Paul that he had fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7). Last year he celebrated 50 years of marriage to Maman Providence. I temporarily take on the role of Archdeacon of Goma, before appointing someone else.

We then hosted all our 60 clergy for a week’s retreat, where everyone ate and rested well, after a very difficult few months. Each of us took the time to reset and re-envision our ministries as we were encouraged to focus on the transformation of relationships, between us and God, with each other, with ourselves and with creation.

The week ended with a gift of a motorbike to each of our archdeacons courtesy of the Diocese of Nairobi and a generous parish in Jersey. These are the first Anglican pastors in the Diocese of Goma to have motorbikes. The Archdeacon of Nyamitaba told us that one of his parishes is 2 days walk each way, and the hope is that these motorbikes are going to transform the pastoral ministry of our archdeacons, (above photo)

Catechism roll-out across the diocese

We are almost finished training 300 catechism teachers across the whole diocese, at least one in every parish. From this week we will start to teach it in every church each Sunday. The idea is that, through the catechism, over the next two years, each Anglican believer will learn or be refreshed on the basics of the Christian faith. We will use it as our main discipleship tool, in church, in small groups and at home.

The catechism has 250 questions over 45 sessions. It was originally written in French and has been translated into Swahili and Lingala with Kinyarwanda and Chiluba next in line. Thank you to everyone who donated so that we can print a copy for every Anglican believer in the diocese. 7,000 copies are being printed in Uganda and should arrive in the next few days. We will then send them by motorbike to the archdeaconries.

Buying Land

Thank you to all those who have prayed about the land opposite the cathedral. And to those who have given generously so that we can buy it. Shortly after the last update, the price went up to $200,000 and so we walked away. Everything went quiet for a few weeks, and then a couple of weeks ago we were approached again with a price that we can afford and is reasonable, and we now have an agreement in principle. Please pray that the deal gets over the line!

How can you pray?

• That the re-envisioning of our clergy would least to lasting fruit.

• For the teaching of the catechism across the whole of the diocese

• For the purchase of land opposite the cathedral 

• For peace in the region