Synod 2019 has now concluded. Thanks be to God for good meetings!
Synod 2019
All posts by Sue Babbs
DEAN OF ST PATRICK’S BIBLE COLLEGE
We are very pleased to announce the arrival of Rev. Adam Boulter and his family ( wife Beth, Joseph (11), Hannah (7) and Benjamin (3)) in Toliara.
Bishop Todd has appointed Rev. Adam as Dean and Principal of St Patrick’s Bible College, which is training up both lay evangelists, and preparing candidates for ordination training.
The plan with the candidates for priesthood is that Adam will arrange the initial training, and then after a year or two, when they are ready, the diocese will send them for three years of theological study at the University in the capital. That study is being sponsored, but their educational level is too low to get in the University without pre-training, which the Bible college will give. The college is very basic at the moment, with hardly any books, commentaries or text books, but we are blessed with a number of people who can help deliver the courses. The language barrier is also a problem so we are looking at hiring an interpreter.
Rev. Adam was formerly priest in charge of Poitou Charente, France, and prior to that he was the Mission to Seafarers Chaplain to the port of Aqaba in Jordan. He is also a noted painter of landscapes and religious art.
Insights from Rev Lisa Senuta’s visit to the Diocese of Toliara:
The idea of culture shock sounds negative. However what I have experienced is life giving. While it is such a huge challenge to begin to understand the culture of the Malagasy. Honestly, it is truly overwhelming to be immersed in such a different daily existence. At the same time it is a breath of fresh air.
For example, during my visit I participated in the third synod of the Diocese of Toliara. Watching Bishop Todd in action is amazing. For over twenty years he and his wife Rev. Patsy have shown such commitment to the Malagasy to learn their language, live with them as them, and share Christ’s love. The diocesan synod is a living example of the best of missionary work which respects the culture while empowering them to live as Christ in their own place and time.
This synod looks like nothing I have ever witnessed before in a diocesan convention. Over a hundred people moved onto the diocesan compound for two weeks including many children. Mattresses cover the floors of education building and women’s center. Clothes lay out in the sun to dry, outdoor bathrooms kept clean, fires stoked with big pots of rice and stewed meat, and daily fresh baked cookies and cakes to delight the children.
The synod is spiritually focused. Prayer, Eucharist, Bible study and constant breaks in meetings to sing hold them to their goal to grow together in Christ.
The meetings display their effort to organize themselves. Their challenges are significant. This small team of clergy and trained lay leaders are so dedicated to their mission that they are willing to run parishes with as many as 24 small churches that cover a distance of 100 kl. On top of that the Malagasy speak 18 different dialects which challenges the church leaders in their communication and their acceptance by parishioners.
As I recall all my new acquaintances and our shared experiences of God, I am swollen with joy. The mystical union of God’s Spirit is real and it breathes new life in me as I prepare to return to our parish in Northfield. I return home today sometime if all the flights run on time!
With you on the journey, Lisa
108 Churches!
Reports given at the Diocesan Synod in Toliara today tell that there are now 108 Churches in the Diocese. Thanks be to God for this growth and pray for continued discipleship of all these new Christians.
Great day for the Diocese of Toliara, Madagascar, today!
God be praised for the willing hearts of 6 Evangelists, 2 Deacons, 1 Transitional Deacon and the first woman Priest ordained in the Episcopal Church of Madagascar!!
Those ordained were:
Rev Remamy Arisoa Nolavy Osoro (priest)
Rev Tsiavandeza Gaston (Transitional Deacon),
Lahitody Jean Florent (Permanent Deacon), and
Rafanomezantsoa Ferdinand Benjamin (Permanent Deacon).
Those commissioned Evangelist were:
Bon Coeur,
Rahavavy,
Jean Michel,
Crise,
Alfredino,
Jean Frederic.
Please hold them all in your prayers as they take this next step in the service of God.
Upcoming Ordinations and Commissioning at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Please pray for the 4 people to be ordained on August 25, 2019 at the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick in Toliara:
- Deacon Remamy Arisoa Nolavy Osoro to be ordained Priest,
- Evangelist Tsiavandeza Gaston to be ordained Transitional Deacon,
- Evangelist Lahitody Jean Florent to be ordained Permanent Deacon, and
- Evangelist Rafanomezantsoa Ferdinand Benjamin to be ordained Permanent Deacon.
We have been praying for years for more priests in the Diocese. At last we will have a priest in each Parish, where they are responsible for many Churches.
Evangelists to be commissioned:
- Bon Coeur,
- Rahavavy,
- Jean Michel,
- Crise,
- Aldredino,
- Jean Frederic.
Latest Newsletter from Jacky Lowe, SAMS Missionary in Toliara:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28: 19
Sunday July 28, Rev. Patsy was leading the service at Ankilibe, where Esterline is the evangelist. Patsy and I travelled to Ankilibe in a Tuc Tuc a three wheeled vehicle with open sides, faster than a rickshaw (pousse pousse) but very breezy. Though much quicker than walking which is the mode of travel for many Malagasy people.
We walked the last half a mile as the dirt road was to soft and the tuc tuc could not move. The people from the village came to greet us it was a beautiful morning full of the glory of God. The church was a one room, the structure was wood with aluminum sides, and a few rice bags where they ran out of aluminum sheets. The roof was long grasses woven together and held in place with thick pieces of wood. There was one door and no windows but plenty of light through spaces.
Inside the church there was an altar, 5 chairs and the pews were long pieces of wood on concrete blocks eight inches from the floor. I did not attempt to sit in the pews I asked if I may use a chair, as I would not be able to get up.
The altar table was covered with a white cloth decorated with a green cross. The candle holders were unique, recycled yogurt containers containing sand to give weight and they worked very well. The host was safely placed in a used coffee jar and the wine in a red ketchup container. Rev. Patsy brought a chalice and a plate for the host.
The people were so humble at the church and they were so grateful that we came to visit. One felt so welcome. We were truly on holy ground and the service was very special.
One requires lots of patience in Madagascar as time passes very slowly. I know God is teaching us all patience and the real meaning of, ‘in God’s time.’ Recently, I had a weekend of problems. My phone decided to stop working on Friday morning at 5am it made a strange noise and the screen went black. I sat on my cracked toilet seat and it broke completely. Ouch! Saturday, the water to the kitchen and bathroom stopped running but everyone else on the compound had water. I solved the water problem by going to the faucet outside and filling several buckets with water and carried them into the Women’s Center. Monday, Fiavy found a blockage in the pipe and the water started to flow.
The toilet seat was a job for Fiavy (he lives on the compound as one of our security men). He came and made a cardboard cut-out of the seat and went off to buy a new one which he replaced the following Monday.
The phone took a few days longer and a trip into town with Patsy and I now have a working phone. I am very grateful but it takes patience and endurance to wait for repairs to take place.
The women are baking I demonstrated how to make cookies on Thursday and Friday 6 women in pairs made the cookie dough. We froze the cookie dough and will bake the cookies and sell them at the Synod at the end of August.
The women are also learning about Centering Prayer. On the days we cooked we sat for 10 minutes in silence and then they talked about their experience. Andre the young man in the picture is an interpreter when I am teaching.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16
I would love to hear comments or notes of how you are doing. You can send them to jacquelinelowe51@gmail.com. Thank you
Tidying the Cathedral Grounds!
Saturday 27th July saw a work day in the Cathedral complex, where the parishioners were busy cleaning the inside of the Cathedral and the grounds around it. All worked hard including Rev Patsy, Assistant Bishop Sami, his wife Holy down to the littlest child! (Bishop Todd was away visiting Churches elsewhere or we know he’d have helped too!)
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Everybody brought one cup of rice and the Miaraka Community provided the meat and vegetables to go with it.
Thanks to all those who put their time and energies into caring for the property so that it looks welcoming to all who visit
The Kingdom of heaven is like a couple who make a garden in a dry and salty land
Latest newsletter from Derek and Jane Waller:
It all began after Easter. We were having a more settled period in Toliara after much travelling and the weather was cooling down in our Southern Hemisphere winter. What better time to plant some young trees and even try some vegetables and flowers – so we explored the local nurseries, found a supply of “muck” and our garden began. Every evening sees us out with buckets, watering with the help of our young neighbours, Katerinah and Marinah.
As well as being fun and good exercise, there is something profoundly gospel about creating a garden in a dry place – “the wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus” (Isaiah 35:1). We love the idea of future generations enjoying the beauty and shade from “our trees” and who knows – others may copy us and plant their own good news! Click here to read more
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Rev. Nolavy
Rev. Nolavy went to England, with the help of an educational scholarship. She receiving
training for newly ordained clergy at the Anglican Center at Canterbury Cathedral.