IMBISA

INTER-REGIONAL MEETING OF THE BISHOPS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA ASSOCIAO INTER-REGIONAL DOS BISHOPS DA AFRICA AUSTRAL

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

29th May 2013 Ref 007/2013

2nd Annual IMBISA Day celebrations.

Picture: Bishop Mvemve, Father Riberio and Bishop Floro in the midst of the Kadoma Choir

What is IMBISA? 1 wild animal? 2 brand name of margarine? 3 - association of Bishops? Put a tick to what you think it is. - No 3 is correct: IMBISA stands for Inter-regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome e Principe, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe). About 80 Bishops of nine countries belong to it. Their secretariat is in Harare: 88 Broadlands Avenue, Emerald Hill, Avondale. That is where Catholics came together on Sunday, 26 May, for an Open Day to get to know IMBISA, what it is doing and the people actually doing it. Several church choirs (Inner City, Kadoma and Kambzuma) came to sing at the Solemn Mass presided over by (retired) Bishop Zithulele Patrick Mvemve
Communications Department: communications@imbisa.com Also find IMBISA on Facebook and Twitter Website: www.imbisa.org

(Klerksdorp, SA) and assisted by Bishop Angel Floro of Gokwe (Secretary General of IMBISA), Fr Richard Menatsi (Director of IMBISA Secretariat, Mthatha Diocese, SA) , Fr Claudio dos Reis (Social Justice Department, IMBISA, Maputo Archdiocese , Mozambique), Fr Oskar Wermter SJ (Pastoral Dept, IMBISA), Fr Emmanuel Ribeiro (Archd Harare, composer) and Fr Anesu Manyere SJ (Arrupe College, St Johns sub-parish, Avondale). A large army tent had been erected on the lawn to accommodate a congregation of several hundred guests. Sr Gregor Dakudzwa LCBL (treasurer IMBISA) had worked hard preparing for everything. Fr Menatsi welcomed the visitors and explained what IMBISA is all about. The Bishops have to meet and come up with solutions for the whole region. At the moment the Bishops are working together to ensure that elections held in Zimbabwe and elsewhere will be free and fair, peaceful and non-violent, so a number of Bishops from all nine countries will be election observers. They are visiting heads of government to express their concern about the proper conduct of democratic elections so that peace may prevail. Fr Claudio dos Reis welcomed the Angolan Ambassador who was a guest of honour and other Portuguese speaking visitors one of whom read the first reading. (English and Portuguese are the two official IMBISA languages). Bishop Floro addressed the visitors in Shona. Fr Menatsi in his homily linked the unity of the Church, as represented by IMBISA, with the love of the Triune God, Father , Son and Holy Spirit, whom the congregation was celebrating on this Trinity Sunday. Fr Wermter used the opportunity to explain (in Shona) that IMBISA is at present conducting a survey on the FAMILY in preparation of the Bishops Plenary Assembly in November in Gaberone. He invited parents present to answer the questionnaire prepared by Prof Ranga Zinymeba and Mrs Alice Zinyemba. The visitors enjoyed the rest of the day in the large beautiful garden surrounding IBISA House. The choirs impressed at a competition with their almost professional musical skills. Fr Emmanuel Ribeiro, composer and grand master of Shona liturgical music, sat on the panel of adjudicators. More photographs from the event can be found on the IMBISA facebook page please click on the following link for access IMBISA Facebook IMBISA Communications

Communications Department: communications@imbisa.com Also find IMBISA on Facebook and Twitter

Website: www.imbisa.org