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Vol 16 No 6 July 2005 ONLINE The official gazette of the Diocese of Port Elizabeth: Church of the Province of Southern Africa

Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage PAGE 2  • A touch of East Africa  • tssf  • RIP Henry McGrath  • Letters to the Ed  • New Abp of York  • Mario at EAPPI outreach A touch of East Africa Lyn Bosch of the Parish of Zwartkops River Valley reports that the farewell evening hosted by the Nkesiga's should have been called a 'Taste of East Africa' because of the spread of cultural foods for everyone to taste. Solomon Nkesiga returned to his home diocese in Uganda at the beginning of June after spending 11 years ministering in the CPSA. As a farewell to the members of his parish, and their friends, he and Diana held an evening of entertainment entitled "A touch of East Africa." During the evening they presented a taste of the Nkesiga's life in the form of a slide show; of the attractions Uganda holds for the visitor - another slide show; a taste of the local foods - a spread of matooke and groundnut sauce, cassava cheese, gonja (plantain), kalo (millet pap) and beef stew, mugoyo, chapatti and more; and also a taste of their culture in the form of dancing and traditional dress. The men were in long white robes called kunzas and the women in their brightly coloured full length dresses called gomezi, which have pointed shoulders and seven meters of fabric wrapped around the waist and held together with floor length sashes. Ignatius and Themba follow Solomon at the beginning of July and Diana leaves at the end of the year when she has completed her commitments to Hospice. Picture: Till we meet again - Solomon and Diana Nkesiga at the cathedral a couple of months before Solomon left to take up an appointment in Uganda. tssf Retired priest Roy Snyman has tssf after his name and Iindaba asked him about the religious order that this signature indicated. Roy belongs to the Franciscan Order within the Anglican church and he explained that the tssf signature actually becomes part of one’s surname and is always used, except on legal documents. The Order has three parts, and Roy is a member of the ‘Third Order’. The ‘First Order of Franciscans' These are brothers (friars) or sisters who live in friaries or convents. They are very ‘practical’ monastics, usually working with the poor, deprived, ‘Borstal Boys’, prisoners or the marginalised in society. The ‘Second Order of Franciscans’ These are ‘The Poor Clares’ named after the first female follower of St Francis of Assisi. These sisters are almost totally ‘enclosed’, (never seen in public) but through the media very in touch with the world. St Clare of Assisi saw a need and their great work is to pray for those who have little time to pray for themselves, and/or are in special need. They are great intercessors. The ‘Third Order of Franciscans’ These were called by the saint to live where they are ‘in the world’. Here they live the ideal of Franciscan Christian life, caring and sharing with the poor; living as simply as possible; quietly seeking no honour or recognition; being users of worldly things, but being so ‘detached’ that it matters not if they are taken away. Most ‘Third Order’ members are not clergy. Third Order members (tssf in small letters) are called ‘Tertiaries of the Society of St Francis. All Franciscans should exude joy, love and peace in the happy embrace of their Christian commitment. St Francis was called ‘God’s troubadour’ because he sang people into holiness. RIP Henry McGrath Many were shocked at the sudden death from a heart attack of retired priest, Henry McGrath, reports Christopher Holmes. Peter Henry McGrath was born in Pretoria in 1932, where he attended the Pretoria Primêre Skool and the Pretoria Seuns Hoër Skool, thus grew up speaking Afrikaans, though few would have thought that. He met Avril on the hockey field, a game they both played. Avril said it was only after three months that she knew he grew up speaking Afrikaans! They married in Florida in the Transvaal in 1956, and produced three sons - Charlton (now living in the UK), Quinton (who lives in the USA) and Malcolm who is on the point of returning to South Africa from Malawi. Both Henry and Avril were Anglican ‘pew-sitters’, and then joined a Bible-study group in Florida, before the family moved to Port Elizabeth. Avril was appointed Principal of the Sunridge Park Pre-primary School, where she met Dave and Dot Kirby, who worshipped at St Nicholas’ in Charlo under Brian Bird. At this time Henry felt he had a vocation to the ordained ministry of the Church, and spoke to Ron Taylor, rector of St John the Baptist in Walmer, who said that he also had discerned that Henry should be ordained. Henry then spent a year working in the Diocesan Office - surely a good test for any prospective priest - as assistant to the Diocesan Secretary/Treasurer, Dennis Burkinshaw. In 1982 he went to St Paul’s Theological College in Grahamstown for a year. He served as a deacon under David Scott, rector of All Saints’ in Kabega Park, before being appointed rector of the Zwartkops River Valley Parish. Later he was appointed rector of St Peter’s, Cradock with St James, Michausdal. He remained in Cradock for six years, and in 1999, he and Avril retired to Montego Bay, Marina Martinique. Even though ‘retired’, both Henry and Avril exercised an energetic and productive ministry these past six years. He will be sorely missed by Archdeacon Ronnie Allwright, the ministry team of Jeffreys Bay and Humansdorp, and the many to whom he ministered. Henry’s funeral took place in a packed St Mark’s Church in Humansdorp, where the service was relayed to the Church Hall. Bishop Bethlehem was assisted by Ronnie Allwright and the local Methodist Minister. Tributes to Henry were paid by his three sons, and after the committal, Henry's body was taken for cremation. Letters to the Ed Correcting a mistake Always good to read Iindaba and to pick up little bits of information about a few people I can still remember! I noted that you mention that Pippa Vincent has brought out an abridged version of the book "Bernard Miseki of Zimbabwe" - and I am glad to hear that because the original is very well worth reading. Just to say, though, that the original was not written by her mother but by Jean Farrant, whom I knew well as she lived nearby when I was at Peterhouse. Published in 1966 (by the Cape and Transvaal Printers - for R3.60!!). I don’t think her mother, Margaret Snell, wrote one too. It is very well worth the read, a well-researched and moving account of Bernard Mizeki - but I am sure that Pippa’s book will also be worth having and I hope many will purchase it. The Bruno Family, Burton-in-Lonsdale, UK • Thank you David. Yes, it was Jean Farrant who wrote the original, and not Pippa's mother, Margaret Snell, who wrote the abridged version.. - ed New Abp of York The Church of England has appointed the first black Archbishop of York, the Rt Revd John Sentamu, who is the present Bishop of Birmingham. Bishop John was born in Uganda, where he practised as a barrister, and was an out-spoken critic of Idi Amin, before moving to the UK in 1974. By tradition, the Arch-bishop of York is known as the Archbishop of England. Just to show Canterbury has the edge over York, the Arch-bishop of Canterbury is known as the Archbishop of All England. Mario at EAPPI outreach In the last issue of Iindaba mention was made of the rector of St Mark and St John, Mario Hendricks joining the EAPPI initiative while on sabbatical. Iindaba asked Mario to explain what this initiative is all about. The EAPPI is an initiative of the World Council of	Churches under the Ecumenical Campaign to End the Illegal Occupation of Palestine: Support a Just Peace in the Middle East. Its mission is to accompany Palestinians and Israelis in their non-violent actions and concerted advocacy efforts to end the occupation. Participants of the programme are monitoring and reporting violations of human rights and international humani-tarian law, supporting acts of non-violent resistance alongside local Christian and Muslim Palestinians and Israeli peace activists, offering protection through non-violent presence, engaging in public policy advocacy and, in general, standing in solidarity with the churches and all those struggling against the occupation. Objectives While the programme’s mission is to accompany Palestinians and Israelis in non-violent actions and concerted advocacy efforts to end the occupation, its detailed objectives are to: Expose the violence of the occupation; end the brutality, humiliation and violence against civilians; construct a stronger global advocacy network; ensure the respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law; influence public opinion in their home country and affect foreign policy on Middle East in order to end the occupation and create a viable Palestinian State; express solidarity with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists and empower local Palestinian communities/churches; be an active witness that an alternative, non-violent struggle for justice and peace is possible to end the illegal occupation of Palestine. Principles Based on its agreed framework, the EAPPI is based on principles of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, including resolutions of the UN Security Council, General Assembly and Commission on Human Rights. It is a programme developed as a response to Israels violation of internationally accepted norms and principles of human rights and the rule of law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949; the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights whose Article 1 requires that parties to the Covenant protect the rights of all individuals subject to its jurisdiction, that is individuals under its effective control. Update A new group of 18 “Ecumenical Accompaniers” in late April joined four others staying on in Israel and Palestine from the previous group within the framework of the EAPPI. The new arrivals bring the total number of ecumenical accompaniers now on the ground to 22. The 11 women and seven men in the new group range in age from 25 to 68. Three of the South African accompaniers are pastors, two from the Anglican Church and one from the Salvation Army. Pray for the peace of "Jerusalem." Psalm 122:6 Quick Links: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Top | Homepage