The Pontifical Council for the Laity is organising a Congress of Catholic laity in Africa

Africa is close to the heart of Benedict XVI. The pope has demonstrated this fact by visiting the continent twice, by calling for a second special assembly for Africa by the Synod of Bishops, and by delivering the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Africae Munus to the lay faithful of Africa on the occasion of his visit to Benin on 19 November last.

The pope does not look on Africa as simply a place of suffering for its people. Of course he does not close his eyes to the extreme poverty of large numbers of the population, to the wars being fought on their territory or to the pandemics that often take even more lives than armed conflict. The Holy Father maintains that the African continent is “a spiritual lung for humanity”. He believes that the African view of life predisposes people “to hear and to receive Christ’s message and to appreciate the mystery of the Church” (Africae Munus, n. 69).

The message that Benedict XVI conveys is demanding, but at the same time it is energising. It asks the Christians of Africa to be committed to the service of reconciliation, justice and peace on their continent as well as throughout the universal Church. Many of the priorities that we see in the apostolic exhortation Africae Munus pertain to the secular sphere. This means that they concern the lay faithful in a special way and that they extend an invitation for renewal in ecclesial and civil commitment.

It is against this background that the Pontifical Council for the Laity is organising a second Pan-african congress of Catholic laity. It will be held in Yaoundé in Cameroon from 4 to 9 September 2012. In line with other continental congresses that have been held, the theme will be “Witnessing to Jesus Christ in Africa today”.

The main objective is to sustain the lay faithful at a time when Africa is being asked “to explore its Christian vocation more deeply”. The pope says at the beginning that “Africa’s commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ is a precious treasure” (ibid., no. 1).

With the Congress less than a year away, the Pontifical Council for the Laity is involved in studying the magisterium and looking at the ecclesial and civil challenges facing the African lay faithful at this time in history. An ad hoc group of experts have been invited to help the dicastery in the preparation of the event. Since December 2010, representatives of ecclesial associations and movements present in Africa have been involved in the preparations.

The Congress is expected to have about three hundred delegates from bishops’ conferences and associations and movements from all over Africa. After an initial study of the geopolitical situation and the Church priorities on the continent, there will be discussion on the vocation and mission of the lay faithful. Reference will be made to the apostolic exhortation Christifideles Laici in discussions on the special features of the lay vocation in Africa. Emphasis will be given to the need for adequate faith education.

“The Church as God’s Family” (ibid., no. 7) is the ecclesial context in which the congress will take place. The co-responsibility of the lay faithful in building up communion will be an important point for discussion. This will include the subject of the new ecclesial movements and communities that are present on the continent.

Special attention will be given to the commitment of the lay faithful in the many areas of public life and in the efforts being made to achieve justice, peace and reconciliation. This topic will take up the whole of the last day of the Congress.

Ref: http://www.laici.va/content/laici/en/media/notizie/congresso-panafricano-dei-laici-cattolici.html

New Apostolic Nuncio for South Africa

On 10 March 2012 H.E. Archbishop Mario Roberto Cassari, was appointed by

Pope Benedict XVI as Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and

Swaziland.

LENT 2012

Bishop’s Message for LENT 2012:Diocese of Tzaneen

Christ must grow greater, I must grow smaller (John 3,30).

The Christian life can be described as a continual spiritual struggle in which we try to become less and less self-centred and more and more God-centred in everything;a struggle which is initiated and continually maintained by the Holy Spirit given to us through our baptism and faith in Christ. This struggle is described in the words of John the Baptist: “Christ must grow greater, I must grow smaller.” (John 3,30).

The season of Lent is a period of 40 days before Easter which encourages us to return to this basic spiritual struggle and challenges each one of us to face this fundamental question of faith:  Am I honestly trying to be less self-centred and more God-centred in my life?

Less self-centred means we need to fast and abstain where necessary

Lent is identified with the practice of fasting. There are many dimensions of fasting.Fasting means that we cut down on activities that are merely self-indulgent which do not help us to grow in the likeness of Christ. Fasting means eating and drinking only what is necessary for our nourishment and health; it also means spending less time on superfluous activities such as excessive TV watching and internet browsing. Fasting is also spiritual such as refraining from the pleasure of gossiping and from indulging in an immoral imagination and other sins described by St Paul in Romans 13,13-14. The practice of fasting cultivates an awareness of our sacred dignity and opens our hearts to recognise this same sacred dignity in others where God is present.

More God-centred means we need to love and give more.

Lent is also identified with neighbourly love. We do not fast for its own sake but for God’s purposes to be achieved in us. Fasting makes it possible for more spiritual and material resources to be available and shared with whom these ought to be shared according to God’s will. Disciplining our use of water and electricity makes it possible for more people to use the available water and electricity which they need.

By eating and drinking less we are able to share more with those who are less fortunate than us. Lent is a season whereby we give more – more of our time and talent in the love of Christ. The Lenten Appeal collection is fundamental in this regard and complements our fasting. Cutting down on the excessive hours wasted on TV watching every night gives more time to worship and love God – in family prayer and community Lenten devotions.It also makes more time available for you to be alone with God in your own need for quiet prayer and reflection. Less time in self-indulgence means we have more time to reach out to those who need our loving presence especially people who are confined to hospitals or their homes because of illness. If we are to share in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy in any meaningful way then it means sacrificing time for these loving services.

I pray that as we reflect on the saving sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ,God may stir within us a deep desire to share more fully in the fruits of that sacrifice during this Lenten season. May the Holy Spirit help us. May our Blessed Mother Mary pray for us. May Christ grow greater.May we become smaller.

Bishop Joao Rodrigues

Diocese of Tzaneen

 

Bishop's 2012 Programme

Year: 2012	First Week	Second Week	Third Week	Fourth Week
January	On leave:1-7 Cape Town	On leave:8-14 Cape Town	In Office:15-23 Tzaneen	SACBC meet:24 -31 Pretoria
February	Youth leaders:4 Ave Maria Past.Centre Finance Committee:7 Tzaneen	Retreat:12-17 Ave Maria Past.C. Youth Animators:18	Diocesan Pastoral Council: 25 Ave Maria Past.C.	Priests Meeting:28-29 Ave Maria Past.Centre
March	In office:6-8 Makhado:9 St Brendan’s:10	Lenyenye:10-11 St Scholastica:14 In office:15-17	Olifants Riv:20 St Patrick Feast:21 Ave Maria Past. C.	Dep.for Seminaries, Pretoria:25-28 Siyabhabha JHB:29-31
April	Holy Week:Tzaneen Mass of the Oils:3 Cathedral Tzaneen	Easter Sunday:8 In Office: 9 - 13	Sibasa Parish: 15 Dioc. Priests:16 In office:17-20	Modjadjiskloof:22 Dio. Fin.Com:24 Consultors:25 Musina:29
May	Pretoria:1-4 St Scholastica: 6 Priests Meeting:8-9 Ave Maria Past.Centre	Ofcolaco: 13 In office:14-18 Diocesan Finance Council meeting:19 Ave Maria Past.C.	Olifants River:20 AMPC:22 In office:23-25	In office:29 -1 June
June	St Brendan’s:3 Confirmations In office:5-8	Cathedral:10 Conf. Dioc.Priests:11 catechesis :13 In office:12-15	Ordain deacon:17 CIE meet:19 In office:19-22 Tzaneen	JHB:24   -27 J&P meet 27 Meet CWA 30
July	Tzaneen:1 On leave:3-9 Cape Town	On leave:10 -17 Cape Town	Return to Tzaneen Finance:19 In office:19-20	Malamulele:22 Consultors:24-25 In office:26-27 Priests meet:31
August	SACBC:1-8 Mariannhill Tzaneen:12 Conf.	Retreat   Sisters:13 -20 Pilgrimage:18-19 Ave Maria PC	In office:21-24 SGB St Brendan 25	Giyani:26 Dioc.Priests:27 Pretoria metro28-29 priests-sisters:30
Sept	Makhado:2 In office:4-7	IMusina:9 n office:11-14 Sacred Hrt:15	In office:18-21 LaityForum:22	Ngwabitsi:23 Consultors:25 In office:26-28
October	Priests Meeting:2-3 Ave Maria Past.Centre In office:4-5	Dioc.Priests:8 In office:9-12	Phalaborwa:14 In office:16-19	Nhzelele:21 In office:23-26 SGB:27 Dwars River:28
November	In office:1-10 St Brendans:4	Emalahleni:11 In office:12-17 Vision 2020:18	In office:20-23 Dioc Finance Council:24	In office:27-30 Tzaneen
December	Thanksgiving Mass for end of year: 6 AMPC	Dioc.Priests:10 In office:11-14	In office:18-21 Tzaneen	Christmas:25 End of year break.