Benedict Moila - Rest in Peace

 Benedict Moila - passed away on Wednesday 15 December 2021 at Elim hospital

He lived at Muwaweni Village in St Scholastica’s Parish. 

It is sad news indeed for us in the Diocese of Tzaneen. Benedict Moila served in the diocese in many different ways.

He was a Catechist and Pastoral Worker for many years in the Diocese. He spent many years on the team at Ave Maria Pastoral Centre.

He also served with the Jesuit Refugee Service established in Makhado in 2008 before the Jesuits closed the office in 2015. This was a very humble service of love in providing food, clothing, shelter and spiritual support for the refugees who came from different African nations.

A prayerful man of deep faith and commitment to Christ, he even organised a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2012 which was greatly appreciated and inspiring to all the 25 pilgrims.

There are many stories and good memories of Benedict Moila and his ministry in the Docese of Tzaneen and in St Scholastica parish as long serving Catechist.

He will be deeply missed by all.

Requiem mass is on Tuesday 21 December 2021 at 3:30 pm at St Urban Catholic church and the burial takes place the following day at 6:00 at his family home.

We pray especially for his family that the Lord may bring consolation to all who are grieving.

May the Lord grant the soul of Benedict Moila eternal peace and the grace of heavenly joy and light.

Obituary of the late Ngwako Gilbert Selotole - fulltime Catechist in the Parish of Modjadjiskloof.

 

Date of Birth: 1964/01/01
Date of Death: 2021/08/02
Date of Burial: 2021/08/08
Place of Burial: Matipane Village Cemetery

Ngwako Gilbert Selotole was born on 1964/01/01 at Matipane village. He was the fourth child of the late Johannes Tshwaresa and Masutane Mamotsatsi (nee Makadikwa) Selotole. He began his primary studies at Senopelwa Primary school and continued his high school studies at Masopina High School.

 He did his pastoral studies at Lumko Institute under the Diocese of Tzaneen. He worked as a fulltime Catechist in the Parish of Modjadjiskloof. He did further studies with UNISA and  completed a Higher Certificate in Adult Basic Education and Training, Higher Diploma in Adult Education, Adult Assessment Certificate of Attendance and SACE. He also did his pastoral work in the parish of Modjadjiskloof in the following programs of Education for Life and Frail Care Home Based Care.

He was married to Mokgadi Annastacia Selotole and they were blessed with five children (4 Daughters & 1 Son)  Mosibudi, Thabang, Bridget, Bohlale and Rebothile. He had one grandchild, Mahlatse. He also leaves behind his siblings Motsatsi, Mapula, Sekedi and Mathate. 

He died after a short illness. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchild. 

May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.AMEN

Burial of the late Fr Matsobane Sehlapelo at Ave Maria Pastoral Centre 7 August 2021

 

Fr Matsobane 'Tsubi' Sehlapelo - Rest in Peace

 

By Selby Makgotho – The news of the death of Fr Matsobane Sehlapelo of Modjadjiskloof parish in Tzaneen, in a car accident on August 1, sent shockwaves through the Catholic community in Limpopo and beyond.

Fr Tsubi, as he was affectionately known, was a larger-than-life person. True to his calling he was always available to assist families, especially in his communities of Vaalkop and Doornspruit, where his passion for the priesthood was discovered soon after matriculating at Pax College at GaMashashane in 2004.

His love for the priesthood was largely inspired by his Catholic family and specifically his late grandfather, Deacon Christopher Sehlapelo, who served at Doornspruit parish for more than 40 years. Fr Tsubi had a deep interest and love for reading. My last interaction with him was a fortnight ago when he asked me to get him two copies of books by Adv Thembeka Ngcukaitobi SC and Themba Maseko in Johannesburg.

 

Soon after his priestly ordination, Fr Tsubi was assigned to Modjadjiskloof parish. It was there that his spark grew even brighter. He is largely credited with the introduction of the Knights of Da Gama in Tzaneen diocese. He further went around the diocese recruiting Catholic men into the order and took part in its activities in both Polokwane and Tzaneen. The news of his passing was received with shock and disbelief as he had big plans for the Catholic Church ahead of him.

Born on May 15, 1985, in Doornspruit’s St Joseph Hospital, Fr Sehlapelo was the third child and second son of  Motshilo Evelyn Sehlapelo (née Mokwatlo) and Nape David Sehlapelo. His father died in January this year.

Matsobane Sehlapelo started schooling at Paxanyana Pre- and Primary School, and later Pax High School where he matriculated in 2004. After matric, he joined the seminary under the tutelage of the late Bishop Mogale Paul Nkhumishe of Polokwane. He graduated from St John Vianney Seminary in October 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Theology.

He moved to the diocese of Tzaneen following an induced sabbatical and was ushered into his diaconate on December 20, 2015. He was ordained a priest by Bishop João Noé Rodrigues of Tzaneen on January 21, 2017. He served the Catholic Church with great passion until he met his untimely death on August 1.

He will be dearly missed by his family and the Church at large, and will forever be remembered for his unwavering faith.

( Source acknowledgment:The Southern Cross : https://www.scross.co.za)

The funeral will take place on Saturday 7 August 2021 at AMPC. Mass begins at 8:00am. This will be by invitation only. There will be a time for tributes after the Funeral Mass followed by the Burial Rites. We are humbly requesting a minimum donation of R5 000 from each parish to assist with the cost of the funeral. Kindly deposit these contributions if you are able into the diocesan account.

The funeral will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook. The following is the link for the live streaming of Fr. Matsobane's Funeral https://www.facebook.com/AveMariaMooketsi

Thank you and God bless you.

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with deep sadness that I write these few words on the occasion of the funeral of the late Fr Matsobane Sehlapelo. The end of his journey of faith and service in the Diocese of Tzaneen came so unexpectedly on 1 August with the tragic accident.

I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the mother of Fr Matsobane and the Sehlapelo family and I pray asking the Lord to console them with his Holy Spirit during this time of sorrow.

I am very aware of the shock that his death has caused among the priests and religious missionaries of the diocese and in particular the faithful people of the Parish of Modjadjiskloof whom he served so diligently in the past few years. May the Lord bring healing to our grief.

Fr Matsobane was a gentle and dedicated young priest who was always willing to serve where needed. He had a particular passion for the catechetical apostolate as well as for supporting the Catholic men in the parish. More recently he had begun doing the Spiritual Direction Training course with the Jesuit Institute in order to improve his knowledge and skills in spiritual direction. He was very close to his family. In January this year, the death of his father, David Nape Sehlapelo, who succumbed to Covid-19, was particularly difficult for him but his faith in Christ and priestly vocation was the source of his comfort and strength.

Revelation 14:13 Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds will follow them.”

 

May the Lord have mercy on the soul of Fr Matsobane and grant him eternal peace. And may the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.

<![if !vml]><![endif]>Sincerely in Christ,

 

 

……………………………….

Bishop Joao Rodrigues

Bishop of Tzaneen Diocese

 

 

 

 

 

Virus-free. www.avg.com

The Catholic Bishops call for an end to violence and looting:13 July 2021

As we join other Religious Leaders in calling for calm, we wish to draw attention to the caution by Pope Francis during his visit to Mozambique in 2019 that, sometimes, it takes small steps of violence for a nation to descend into full-fledged anarchy, an endless spiral of violence and massive bloodshed. The Pope said: “No family, no group of neighbours or ethnic group and even less - no country has a future if the motor that unites them, brings them together and resolves their differences is composed of violence and vengeance.” (Pope Francis, 2 September 2019).

Presently, certain parts of our country, namely, Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng are engulfed by violence and looting that started off as protest against the incarceration of former president Jacob Zuma, with fear that this might spread wider. Let us not allow the difference of opinion on political matters to be hijacked by criminal intentions to create anarchy in our country that will result in worse social and economic situation than we presently find ourselves in.

We condemn in strong terms the glaring criminal elements that are taking advantage of this situation. We call upon individuals who are involved in vandalism and thuggery to give a thought to the livelihood of many people that they are jeopardising by destroying their places of employment. We must also remember that we are in the height of Covid-19 pandemic that thrives in the conditions of disorder that we see, and that the longer these conditions prevail, the more we put ourselves and others in danger of infection that will be difficult to deal with.

To those who incite this violence and looting for political ends, we call upon them to rise above political interests, to protect life and to preserve the common good. Eventually, it was dialogue and not violence that brought us to the present democratic dispensation. As we navigate some difficult routes of this democratic journey let us continue to choose the path of dialogue to settle our differences as brothers and sisters united by the love of our country and the desire for its prosperity for the good of all who reside and work in it. The path of dialogue is long and arduous, but it is the only one that can help us to “keep our attention focused, to penetrate to the heart of matters, and to recognize what is essential” (FT50).

We also realize that the current crisis is due in no small measure to extreme economic inequalities as well as economic hardships suffered by the poor during the pandemic. These are issues that our government, business and the corporate sector over the years have failed to address in a comprehensive manner. What started off as difference of opinion has sparked off a wildfire of violence and looting because the “dry grass” of poverty has been left to “overgrow” over decades. A big contributing factor to this “dry grass” of poverty is the lack of efficient leadership in government and unethical practices in business. We call for a return to efficient leadership at all levels of government that will see service being delivered to the people and business enabling all to participate meaningfully in the economic system.

Our society has normalized the use of violence and vandalism to get the government to listen and be serious in addressing economic concerns of the poor. We need a shift in mind-set, a collective conversion of heart and mind, which affirms that violent protests and destruction of property can never be a just response to the current economic hardships and economic injustice. We reiterate Pope Francis’ call in Fratelli Tutti, reminding all that: in face of political and economic problems there is always a possibility of choosing constructive engagement over violence.

As many people in our country continue to suffer because of business collapse, job losses and other impacts of the pandemic, may the Lord grant our nation “politicians (and businesspeople) who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, (and) the lives of the poor” (Pope Francis, 01 May 2013). In these tempting times for violence, we invite all to make a choice for life which will manifest in a desire to “cooperate, build and dialogue, pardon, grow, respect sacredness of life, the dignity and freedom of others, and loving commitment to the welfare of all” (FT 285).

 

+Sithembele Sipuka

Bishop of Mthatha and SACBC President.

 

Blessed Benedict Daswa - Tzaneen Diocesan inquiry on miracle sent to Rome

 

On the 13^th September 2015, we celebrated the beatification of the Servant of God Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa at Tshiṱanini. When he was beatified, he was recognised as a Saint for the local church. This was a culmination of the long process that began in early 2000. As the cause for his beatification was that of martyrdom, there was no need for a miracle to be recognised by the Church for this first phase of the process.

 

Since 2015, the devotion to Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa has been growing among the Catholic faithful and even among some non-Catholics who are encouraged by Catholic members to ask him to intercede for their needs. We have also seen a steady increase in the number of pilgrims each year. The 1^st of February feast-day celebration has been growing steadily among the Catholic faithful. Some people have also made it a point to diarise the date so that they would not miss it. We have also seen an increase in the SACBC organised Men’s and Women’s pilgrimages. Sadly, this had to stop in 2020 & 2021 because of COVID19 pandemic.

 

Some of these faithful people have received favours that are remarkable and they have shared their experiences with us.  These people came from all over South Africa and even beyond the borders of South Africa. Of the many people who were willing to share their stories, some favours were selected and presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome to see if any of them could be considered to be a possible miracle. The Diocese of Tzaneen was fortunate to have received a go-ahead to formally investigate one of these favours.

 

Now, we are at the next phase in the process of seeking to get him canonised and thus be recognised as a Saint for the whole universal church. Since then, under the guidance of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints,we have been doing a follow-up with this particular favour that Rome had selected. We are now happy to announce that the results of this phase of the investigation have been sent to Rome for evaluation. We confidently yet patiently wait in prayer like the apostles and disciples waited in prayer and fasting in the upper room for the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2,1).

 

Please pray to God in the holy name of Jesus, and also ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and indeed, Blessed Daswa himself, that we may get a favourable response from Rome. We pray that when the members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints study, scrutinize and evaluate all the documents and testimonies which we sent them, Pope Francis will then be able to discern and respond if Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa can be canonized and proclaimed as a Saint for the universal Church.

 

May God bless you all and may Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa intercede for your needs and the needs of your family and community.

 

+Rt. Reverend Bishop Joao Rodrigues                          Sr Tshifhiwa Munzhedzi, OP.

                   Bishop of Tzaneen                                               Promotor of the Cause

                  bishopjoao@mweb.co.za                                     bendaswa@mweb.co.za

 

2021 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Jesus - a reflection

 

THE SEASON OF LENT 2021 DURING THE PANDEMIC

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On Ash Wednesday 17 February, the Church all over the world will begin 6 weeks of Lent in preparation for the Easter celebrations. Our faith in God is being tested by this pandemic which continues to threaten our health and daily lives. The mass vaccination plan for this year is a medical intervention which is aimed at stopping the infection from spreading and hopefully will help bring it to an end. Since the pandemic began last year, we had to isolate ourselves, businesses and churches closed, many lost their jobs, and our health services at times were overwhelmed by the sick and dying.
 Lent is always understood by the Church to be a season of repentance and contrition for our own sins in order to enjoy a deeper and more faithful relationship with God and with one another. The pandemic has forced us to examine and to sift out what is selfish and unimportant in our lives and to strengthen the values of faithfulness in marriage, of cultivating healthy family relationships and personal unfeigned prayer and of obeying the commandments of God in good conscience. The pandemic is not a meaningless mistake in our lives but a remarkable unexpected crisis calling us to repentance of our sins and to renew our Christian faith and life in line with our vocation made possible through the grace of Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is a burning hope of God for his Church that after the pandemic has come to an end, we will prove to be a more faithful and honest people in Christ and help restore our nation anew which our sins and greed and violence have been pulling apart before the pandemic. This Season of Lent gives meaning and purpose to our lives as we struggle in this pandemic.
 Because of the Covid-19 restrictions, the Bishops’ Lenten Appeal Office has tried to explore some options to promote the 2021 Lenten Appeal collection. One such way will be to use our available digital platforms to the fullest of our ability. We are therefore asking for the fullest cooperation from our brother priests and people in the different parishes, to make everyone aware of the different options to support the Bishops Lenten Appeal. As you know, the importance of the Bishops Lenten Appeal is to support the works of the church, the poor and the needy and to build a self-reliant local church. This need has grown as a result of the pandemic and most certainly there will be a greater need this year. Let us not just depend on the usual methods of promotion but let us speak about it to the fullest of our ability in parishes and in our small Christian communities, during these next 6 weeks. We are all going through difficult financial times, but let us remember that as a diocese we have agreed that apart from the normal Sunday collection, the only other special collection during the six weeks of Lent is this Lenten Appeal. Let us kindly remain committed to this practice and entrust ourselves to the providential care and guidance of God our Father who will never abandon us in our needs.
May God’s blessing remove all anxiety from your lives and bring healing to the sick through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Blessed Joseph.
Bishop Joao Rodrigues

LET US CELEBRATE THE FEAST DAY OF BLESSED BENEDICT DASWA ONLINE ON MONDAY 1 FEBRUARY 2021