Masvingo, Zimbabwe

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From Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd April 2016, the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Masvingo celebrated 140 years of service to families and communities. During the same celebration the Mothers’ Union also observed belated Feast of The Annunciation To The Blessed Virgin Mary [Lady Day].

The Theme was ‘Ebenezer’ meaning ‘stone of help’ as a reminder of God’s leading and guidance ‘Thus far has the Lord helped us.’ The Theme is based on 1 Samuel 7:3-12. The attendance was very good; all in all 1,000 members attended the celebration in Masvingo at the show ground.

The Mothers’ Union produced T/Shirts and material bearing the words:
140 years Celebrating Faith in Action 1876-2016

Throughout the celebration some members put on this special regalia to bring out the 140th Anniversary Celebratory mood. In her opening address in the evening on Friday 02 Friday, the Diocesan Mothers’ Union President; Albertina Tawonezvi encouraged members to continue to reach out to families in the midst of many challenges that are prevalent in the day to day life of ordinary Zimbabweans.

On Saturday 03 April at 5.30 am members of the
Mothers’ Union marched from Masvingo Show
Ground to the City Center. [Masvingo Show Ground
is 2 Kilometers from the City Center]. During the
march the Mothers’ Union members were under
Police escort singing, dancing holding their Mothers’ Union Banners and another Banner specially made for this occasion with the 140th Anniversary Logo. At designated places the M.U. Members would stop and Preach to curious onlookers. The atmosphere was lively and the Members were indeed in a Celebratory mood.

(Makes our celebrations sound a bit staid doesn’t it… 5.30am too! Ed.) More from Masvingo next time

“It’s A Small World”

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Social Policy at work in the diocese

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Here is an example of the clergy and Mothers Union working together to help local people: In my role as Social Policy Contact at Llandaff Diocesan MU, Father Jonathan Durley of St. Theodore’s Church, Kenfig Hill, asked me if Mothers’ Union could help a group he deals with in his work for the Board of Social Responsibility, the Women Seeking Sanctuary Advocacy Group in Cardiff.

Our Diocesan President, Lynne Davies, and I met Father Jonathan to discuss the group and how we could help them. I sent out a plea for goods to all our Deaneries and the result is overwhelming. Last Monday Father Jonathan took a carful of bags from Kenfig Hill Branch, I took a carful from our Cwmavon Branch and Neath Deanery, and Gaynor from Baglan turned up in a big van! We unloaded everything into the hall which Constance – the lady in charge of the WSSAG – is allowed to use. Constance’s face as she gazed around her office strewn with bags of clothes and toiletries was a sight to behold.

Louise Barham

St Matthias and Llanfabon

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The Parish of Treharris, Trelewis, Bedlinog and Llanfabon are fortunate in having two thriving branches of the Mothers’ Union in St. Matthias at Treharris and Llanfabon at Nelson. The picture shows members of Llanfabon.

On Shrove Tuesday St. Matthias hosted a Shrove Party in the church hall with a Quiz and Raffle

The food was amazing and a great time was had by all before we entered the period of Lent on Ash Wednesday
However the evening was tinged with sadness as Father Matthew Gibbon is leaving us. He has always supported the two busy Mothers’ Unions in the Parish. We will miss him and our prayers and good wishes go with him in his new role as Priest in Charge of the Benefice of Aberaman and Cwmaman.