Future partnership with Kinshasa in the DRC being considered

The Partnership Committee of the Diocese — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 13:27:35 +0000

The Partnerships Committee of the Diocese has been very active in spite of the roadblocks put in place by COVID-19. We feel it is important to reach out – even if only in prayer – to the wider community. To that end, we, in Montreal, have managed to maintain strong connections to four dioceses from around the world.
As most of the diocese is aware, we have an ongoing partnership with the Diocese of Jerusalem, where we provide moral and prayerful support. In addition, there are two other dioceses with whom we have been learning and supporting one other through visits and the occasional financial contributions; the Diocese of Masasi in Southern Tanzania and the Territory of the People in Northern British Columbia. These relationships are ongoing and have been in place through multiple bishops.
This year we began discussions on a possible fourth partnership, this one with the Diocese of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It began with a personal relationship between our Bishop Mary and their Bishop Achille. After some correspondence between the Bishops and between Bishop Achille and our committee, we (together) identified an urgent need that we could help with. Their Diocese was being badly hit by COVID-19 and there were very few resources available to help fight it. The Bishop decided to visit all the parishes of his diocese in order to share information on preventive measures, including the preparation and distribution of simple documents teaching good health practices. Though their own efforts they were able to finance approximately one third of the costs of the program and we, the Diocese of Montreal, provided the remaining financial support needed, amounting to $3,850 (Canadian).
The Partnership Committee was particularly pleased to help as Bishop Achille and his diocese were being as self-reliant as they could; we just provided the final resources to get the program under way.

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Committee to Support Divinity Student from Masasi

The Partnership Committee of the Diocese — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 13:24:25 +0000

The Partnership Committee is pleased to provide an update on the support being planned for the Diocese of Masasi in Southern Tanzania. As a reminder, this partnership began under the auspices of Bishop Barry Clarke and Bishop Patrick Mwachka and has continued under Bishop Mary and Bishop James Almasi.
After much discussion between bishops and members of the Partnerships Committee, we decided to sponsor the education of one of their clergy who will attend the Montreal Diocesan Theological College for two years to obtain his Bachelor’s degree in Theology. We felt that this support of one priest would help to upgrade the knowledge skills of many while saving on future costs to study abroad.
The candidate is the Rev. Linus Buriani, a priest who is well known by members of our committee. Following his studies, he will return to teach at St. Cyprian’s Theological College. The Diocese of Masasi has plans for St. Cyprian’s to become a regional centre for theological training. Father Linus has strong English skills.
This is a major financial commitment on the part of the Partnerships Committee and serious fund-raising efforts will be required. They are actually under way:

As the committee will not be making any trips to the partner dioceses due to COVID-19 restrictions, the amount budgeted for such trips is set aside for the project
The parish of All Saints by the Lake has graciously agreed to contribute their Paul Busing Bursary Fund (around $4,500) to support the education of a theology student from the developing world
The corporation of St Stephen’s Chambly has been asked to offer a thousand dollars a year for two school year.

The Partnerships Committee will also receive contributions from the 2021 Bishop’s Action Appeal as the Bishop recently announced. We hope to also receive funds directly from individual parishes, many of whom have benefited from visits by the bishops (Patrick and James) and development officer (Father Geoffrey Monjesa who was ordained deacon in Montreal by Bishop Barry).
We thank all of you in advance for your generosity.

To learn more about the work of the Partnership Committee or if you are interested in joining, please contact the Rev Andy O’Donnell at wryce2024@gmail.com.

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partnership committee Archives - Montreal Anglican

Future partnership with Kinshasa in the DRC being considered

Committee to Support Divinity Student from Masasi