Archbishop James Wong to be enthroned in thanksgiving service on September 17 |01 September 2017

Newly elected Archbishop of the Anglican in the Indian Ocean, Bishop James Wong of the Anglican Diocese of Seychelles, will be formally enthroned during a thanksgiving service at the St Paul’s Cathedral on September 17 at 3pm.

Outgoing Archbishop of Mauritius Ian Ernest will travel to Seychelles to do the hand over, Archbishop Wong himself told the local press on Thursday afternoon in the presence of Reverend Christine Benoit and  Archdeacon Danny Elizabeth.

Archbishop Wong said with this new appointment comes new responsibilities which he is ready to take on.

He added that through the Anglican community in the region, the African continent and beyond his work will also bring more visibility for the Anglican Diocese of Seychelles as he exercises his new responsibilities which will include presiding several meetings, consultations and pastoral visits to other dioceses which will benefit the local community.

“The responsibilities of an Archbishop include convening meetings of the House of Bishops, pastoral care of all the Anglican communities in the different dioceses as well as that of fellow bishops. As the Archbishop I also have the responsibility to intervene and resolve any possible conflict situation that may arise within any diocese as well as preside over important events like episcopal ordinations,” Archbishop Wong explained.

“It is a ministry of service and not one that you give orders, an archbishop is a facilitator, a convenor who provides pastoral care,” Archbishop Wong said, noting that he will focus primarily on continuing the work of his predecessor Archbishop Ernest.

This, he said, includes further evangelisation within the region, carrying out decisions and way forward in different missions. Above that Archbishop Wong said he himself has proposed the need to explore the possibility of creating within the Anglican Church of the Indian Ocean two internal provinces with two archbishops instead of one province as is presently the case.

“If all goes well there would be a province of Madagascar and a province regrouping the other islands including Seychelles,” he said, adding that the reason is because the church in Madagascar is already an entity through the Federation of the Episcopal Anglican Church of Madagascar and the proposal would recognise and empower it.

Archbishop Wong said it would be important for him to learn more about the church there as archbishop through several pastoral visits he plans to have there.

Archbishop Wong said his mandate will be for five years and renewable afterwards.    

He has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the people of the Anglican Diocese of Seychelles and to all the Seychellois for their support and asks for their continued encouragement and to accompany him in his mission through their prayers.

“It is not going to be easy but with the help and support of everyone I think everything will work out,” Archbishop Wong said, inviting everyone to attend the transfer of responsibility ceremony on September 17.