The President of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) says the 50th anniversary of the regional body is “a testimony of Collegiality emphasized by the Second Vatican Council, which affirms that Collegial union also appears in the mutual relations of each Bishop with the particular churches and with the universal Church.”
In his address to mark the launching of the year of preparation towards the golden Jubilee in 2025 under the theme “IMBISA Golden Jubilee: A synodal journey, nourished by compassion and blossoming in faith as pilgrims of hope” Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda OMI said the IMBISA family has for fifty years “been a beacon of hope and unity, promoting collaboration and solidarity among” member countries.
“This Jubilee celebration is a testament to our members’ enduring commitment to upholding the values of compassion, faith, and truth in all we do,” said Archbishop Nashenda OMI in his Wednesday, May 8 address.
From May 6 to 10 members of the IMBISA standing committee are in Manzini Diocese to mark the launching of the year of preparation towards the golden Jubilee in 2025 to be held in Eswatini where the IMBISA secretariat was established in 1980.
In the May 8 address, Archbishop Nashenda OMI reflected on the 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality and the challenges faced in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, and Zimbabwe – the 9 member countries that constitute IMBISA.
In his concluding remarks, the Local Ordinary of Windhoek Archdiocese in Namibia called “upon all governments and states” in the IMBISA region to work together in finding lasting solutions to challenges faced in the region.
“Join us in this noble cause, for as the saying goes, “Many hands make light work.” May this jubilee year be a time of renewal, growth, and blessings for us all as we strive to fulfill our mission with love and dedication. With hearts full of gratitude and enthusiasm, let us officially begin IMBISA’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, knowing that with faith as our foundation, there is no limit to what we can achieve together,” said Archbishop Nashenda OMI.
The May 8 celebration coincided with the 63rd birthday of the Local Ordinary of Mazini Diocese Bishop José Luís Gerardo Ponce de León IMC.
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