Tzaneen Catholic
Friday, October 11, 2024
Important moments in the journey of life of Bishop Hugh Slattery MSC
The late Bishop
Emeritus of Tzaneen Hugh Patrick Slattery, MSC,was
born on the 10th of March 1934 in Nenagh in Co Tipperary, Ireland.
Thursday, October 10, 2024
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Bishop Emeritus Hugh Patrick Slattery MSC:1934-2024
Bishop Hugh SLattery MSC passed away peacefully at Holy Cross Home, Pretoria on Sunday afternoon 6th of October 2024. May the Lord in his mercy grant him eternal peace in the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Bishop Emeritus Hugh Parrick Slattery was born on the 10th of March 1934 in Nenagh in Co Tipperary, Ireland.
Feeling the call to
the priesthood he joined the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSCs) and
was ordained a priest in 1958.
In 1984 he was appointed and ordained the Bishop of
Louis-Trichardt- Tzaneen.
On the 28th of January 2010 he retired and went to live in a
small community to continue pastoral work at Musina and later was based at Ave
Maria Pastoral Centre.
He moved to Pretoria in December 2023 and passed away peacefully
at Holy Cross Home, Pretoria on Sunday afternoon 6th of October 2024.
His missionary life was full and varied.
When the Lumko Missiological Institute was set up the MSCs were approached to provide qualified staff and Fr Hugh Slattery was missioned there. The Institute developed and provided courses in local languages and social anthropology for new missionaries. Training was also provided for catechists, and other departments were added to deliver training in pastoral and biblical studies. The Institute produced many practical training materials for various lay ministries which have been widely used around the world. In 1978, Fr Hugh Slattery co-edited Pastoral Orientation in a Changing World.
Bishop Hugh was also instrumental in the writing of the book
HIV/AIDS A Call to Action – Responding as Christians, was inspired by
the positive response he received to a Pastoral Letter he wrote on the issue.
The Pastoral Letter received praise from the then Archbishop of Durban, Wilfrid
Napier. In the foreword to the book, he writes: “The Pastoral Letter by Bishop Hugh
Slattery is a most valuable instrument in the battle not only to contain the
spread of HIV/AIDS, but especially to ensure that the followers of Jesus reach
out in love and compassion to those who are suffering from AIDS … Bishop
Slattery’s approach will make it possible for many more Catholics to know the
Church’s teaching and live it. In that way they will not only make a telling
impact on the spread of HIV/AIDS, but also rebuild their marriages and family
life on the values of the Gospel.”
He also played an important role in having other materials
published but his crowning glory was the promotion of the cause resulting in
the eventual beatification of Blessed Benedict Daswa on 13 September 2015. The
now Bishop Emeritus, Hugh Slattery MSC, in his book on Benedict Daswa –
South Africa’s First Martyr, writes “Nourished by prayer, the Word of God
and the regular reception of the Sacraments, Benedict was deeply involved in
the life of the parish. He was full of enthusiasm for the spread of the gospel
through building up strong, local Catholic communities.”
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual
light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Like the seed buried in the ground, you have produced the
harvest of eternal life for us; make us always dead to sin and alive to God.
Benedict Daswa Pray for us. Amen.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
William Banda (1986-2024)
William Banda was born on 31st May,
1986 in Lusaka, Zambia.He was baptised and confirmed at St Peter’s Parish in
Garden Township in Lusaka, where St Patrick’s priests ministered. He was the
firstborn in a family of seven. After completing primary and secondary school,
young William applied to join St Patrick’s Missionary Society. After initial
formation he continued to the society formation house Kwa Patrick in South
Africa and studied philosophy at St Joseph’s Theological Institute, Cedara. Following
his philosophical studies he undertook his First Missionary Assignment (FMA) in
the Diocese of Tzaneen in South Africa. He moved to Kenya to pursue his
theological studies at Tangaza College in Nairobi, William was ordained as a
priest at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka, Zambia by Emeritus
Archbishop George Telesphore Mpundu on 28 May 2016.
Thereafter he was appointed to work in
South Africa in the Diocese of Tzaneen.
From 2016 to the time of his death
William ministered with prayerful humility, diligence, wisdom and courage. He
was a loving priest, approachable and friendly.
William was shot by an unknown man who
entered the church during morning prayer and his wounds caused his death. He
met his death in the line of duty, praying and about to celebrate the Holy
Eucharist; indeed, his life was a sacrifice to others to the end.
May William rest in peace.