The Rt. Reverend James Tengatenga, former Bishop of Southern Malawi to confirm members at St. Francis of Assisi

The Rt. Reverend James Tengatenga, former Bishop of Southern Malawi, now dean of the Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College, in New Hampshire, will celebrate the Eucharist and confirmation of siblings Blessing and Obinna Ezeoka on May 11 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 204 Dooley Street in Prairie View.

Bishop Tengatenga has been heavily involved in public life in Malawi primarily as Bishop of Southern Malawi since 1998 and most recently as Chair of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), a civil society interfaith organisation consisting of Christians and Muslims. PAC was instrumental in leading Malawi’s transition from one-party dictatorship to political pluralism between 1992 and 1994 when the country’s first democratic elections in 30 years were held.

Bishop Tengatenga is also a member of the Malawi National AIDS Commission, which co-ordinates the national response to HIV and AIDS, plus he has chaired the Malawi Council of Churches. 

In the wider Anglican Communion, Bishop Tengatenga has been a long-standing member of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) and of the Standing Committee.  He was elected as ACC Chair in 2009, and therefore is also Chair of the Standing Committee. As the Chair and Vice Chair are elected and serve independently of their respective role as a provincial representative or co-opted member, he is able to see out his term until 2016.

Blessing and Obinna are the children of proud parents Vidah Ifeoma and Johnson Onyekwelu Ezeoka of Cypress, and long time members of St. Francis of Assisi.

The community members are invited to attend the services.

In other happenings, members of the church will join with area Episcopal Parishes on May 15 in hosting the Diocesan Sharing Faith’s Dinner at 6:00 p.m. in the church’s Parish Hall, 204 Dooley Street.  The area churches, St. Bartholomew’s Hempstead, St. Paul’s Navasota and St. Mary’s Bellville, will all converge at St. Francis to participate in the annual event.  Mrs. Helen S. Boyer is the Coordinator, with Mrs. Florine Muse as Moderator and Frederick V. Roberts as the assistant.  The Reverend Dr. Cynthia Engle is the Rector.

On May 17, the Men's Prayer Breakfast will feature Mr. Kkoby Griffin, Regional Disaster Preparedness Manager at American Red Cross, Greater Houston.   The event runs 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and is free to all. The men are asked to confirm attendance by calling 936-857-3272 or email: stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net.

Mr. Griffin will share his community involvement through his personal and professional experiences in the military and community involvement having served in the Air National Guard, the Veteran’s Administration and Disaster Preparedness with the American Red Cross.