The Diocese of Matlosane
The Diocese of Matlosane covers over half the North West Province of South Africa, an area of 24,432 sq. mls., is 165 miles from north to south as the crow flies and 145 miles from west to east.
The Diocese is organised into 4 Archdeaconries, North, Central, Cathedral, and South. The Church of the Resurrection at Ikageng (Ika-heng) was inaugurated as the Cathedral in 2004, the first Cathedral to be established in a township in South Africa.
In October 2009 there were 41 clergy in the Diocese: Bishop Stephen, Bishop Sigisbeth (ret’d), 36 priests and 3 Deacons.
Of the priests, 2 are retired, 3 others over retirement age, and 21 are Self Supporting. There are only two white clergy, one of whom is over retirement age.
The clergy serve 20 parish churches, most of which have daughter churches and a very large number of outstations. The majority of the congregations are black, and there are over 80,000 communicants in the Diocese, some of whom receive the sacrament very infrequently due to lack of transport.
There are also 2 ordinands in full time training at the College of the Transfiguration, one paid for by Lichfield Diocese.
Day 2: Dubai to Ikageng
Saturday
When we arrived at the airport having endured 15 hours on a plane and 4 hours in Dubai airport we were greeted with an extremely warm welcome from the Dean, Sithole, and four young people from the youth group including, Kentse, Miles, Serame and Boitumelo.
We were then ferried to our final destination (passing Soweto, some amazing scenery and wildlife), of the Cathedral of the Resurrection, Ikageng, after 27 long hours of travelling. We were welcomed by further members of the youth group and the Cathedral congregation with lunch after a beautiful and spontaneous rendition of the Grace by members of the Youth Group.
We were then taken to our respective accommodation and were welcomed into comfortable homes.
This all sounds amazing, seems you're all being well looked after. Good to see the hard work going on and hope the rest of the trip goes just as well. The swimming pool brings back some good memories back in SA :)
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