Ad Laos - to the People of God - August 2019

The text of Archbishop Thabo's June Ad Laos, also to be published in the Cape Town diocesan newsletter, Good Hope:

Dear People of God

I am writing this Ad Laos as soldiers of the South African National Defence Force deploy in our communities to help deal with the emergency precipitated by the spiralling violence in our Church’s – and South Africa’s – beautiful mother city of Cape Town.

Responding to widespread flooding in South Africa

Archbishop Thabo today sent messages of solidarity and condolence to Dioceses affected by flooding in different parts of South Africa: the Diocese of Johannesburg after flooding in Alberton, Mthatha because of the dire situation in Port St Johns, Natal after floods in areas around Durban and Zululand over those in Empangeni.

He writes: "Our hearts go out to those affected and those who have lost loved ones. We send our love and prayers to them, our condolences to the families of those who have died, and wish a speedy recovery to those injured or displaced. We are concerned about the weather patterns in areas where there is not usually as much rain as they have experienced.

"We appeal once again for Anglicans to pray for those affected and and to show practical support and solidarity through food, shelter and other assistance that is needed."

Archbishop to deliver Bishop AH Zulu Memorial Lecture

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town is to deliver a memorial lecture honouring the Right Revd. Alphaeus Zulu, former Bishop of Zululand, in Durban on Monday March 30.

Alphaeus Hamilton Zulu, born in 1905, was a pioneering leader of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. 

Initially a teacher, he was ordained a priest when he was in his 30s and served for many years at St Faith's Mission in Durban. During this time, he became one of the founders of Iviyo lofakazi bakaKristu, a renowned movement in the Anglican Church. 

He was the first black South African to be consecrated an Anglican bishop, becoming Bishop Suffragan of the old St. John's Diocese in 1960. He then became the first black diocesan bishop, serving as Bishop of Zululand from 1966 until his retirement in 1975. During this time, he was also a regional President of the World Council of Churches.

After he retired, he was appointed Speaker of the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly from 1978 to 1987.

Details of the AH Zulu Memorial Lecture

Date:  Monday March 30, 2015

Time:  16h00

Place: St. Faith's Parish

           80 Carlisle Street

           Durban, 4001

To the Laos – An Invitation to Hear the Archbishop of Canterbury - May 2014

To the Laos – To the People of God, May 2014

Dear People of God

In just over a month’s time, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Revd. Justin Welby, will be visiting Johannesburg as one of the stops in a series of visits to Primates across the Anglican Communion.

His initial purpose was to visit Lungi and me as part of a “getting to know you” trip to a number of African archbishops. However, wanting to share our time with Archbishop Justin with our bishops, their spouses and at least some clergy and lay people from around the Province, we asked him also to give the keynote address to the Anglicans Ablaze Conference and to join a dinner with the bishops, and he generously agreed.

Anglicans Ablaze will take place from July 2 to 5, and I warmly encourage you to join the conference. In particular:

• All our clergy are invited to join me and all our bishops;

• You are urged to bring a team along – including young people;

• Parishes, please help with fund-raising; and

• Please announce this invitation from the pulpit.

To help the organizers with their planning, I urge you to book early. For details, go to: www.anglicansablaze.org or call 021 763 1315 / 021 797 9997. If you are from Gauteng, and you simply cannot make it to the whole conference but want to hear Archbishop Welby, please call the organisers to register for a shorter visit. If you are from outside Gauteng, never fear: we will be inviting the Archbishop for a formal visit to the whole Province just as soon as he can accommodate us in his schedule. 

Talking of archiepiscopal visits, by the time you read this I will be on my way to the Diocese of Zululand for a visit during which, among other things, I will be blessing the diocese’s new Mothers’ Union Hall and Skills Centre – a great achievement. We congratulate the MU, Bishop Dino, his Chapter and the whole diocesan family on this milestone.

Then, later in June, I am asking for your prayers as I visit northern Mozambique, where we will consecrate the Ven. Manuel Ernesto as the new Bishop Suffragan of Niassa on Saturday June 14 and commission him at a celebration on Sunday June 15. We congratulate the Diocese at being able to elect their new bishop.

Back in South Africa, please continue to pray for the Diocese of Mthatha and the candidates who offered themselves for election as suffragan bishop in the recent election. Sadly the Diocese was unable to elect and after seven ballots they have used their right to refer the matter to the Synod of Bishops.

Still in South Africa and on an ecumenical note, I ask every parishioner to soak theMarikana area in North-West Province in prayer. A human disaster is unfolding there as a consequence of the crippling strike, and the hardship will continue even after the strike is settled. Together with ecumenical and academic leaders in Gauteng, I have joined an appeal for food donations for the Marikana community. If you are outside Gauteng, you can make donations to the Provincial Disaster Relief Fund. Details of how to donate appear below.

Finally, do join me, the Province and the Diocese of Niassa in praying – as we will pray at the consecration of Bishop Suffragan-Elect Manuel Ernesto – that “by the indwelling of [God’s] spirit he may grow in holiness and serve [God’s] people in wisdom, truth and love.”

God bless you,

+Thabo Cape Town

Marikana appeal:

Food parcels can be donated at:

1. Gift of the Givers (call toll-free 0800 786911 for details)

2. SkyNet courier branches anywhere in South Africa

3. All campuses of the Universities of Johannesburg and the Witwatersrand

4. Khotso House, 62 Marshall Street, Johannesburg

5. St George’s Cathedral and Anglican Church Warehouse, 12 Plantation Road, Wetton, Cape Town

6. Alternative Information and Development Centre, 129 Rochester Road, Observatory, Cape Town

7. St Alban’s Cathedral, Frances Baard Road, Pretoria

Further drop-off points will be announced on the Gift of the Givers website: www.giftofthegivers.org

Monetary donations can be deposited in this account, using "Marikana" as the deposit reference number:

ACSA Disaster Relief Fund

Standard Bank of SA Ltd

Thibault Square

Branch code: 02 0909 00

Account number: 07 007 8394