BLESSED DASWA FEAST DAY CELEBRATION ON 1 FEBRUARY 2024

 

Bishop Joao Rodrigues met the late Pope Benedict XVI in September 2010

 

Prayer for the repose of the soul of Pope emeritus Benedict XVI

 

Statement on the passing away of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

 

Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference

 

We learnt with sadness from the Apostolic Nuncio in Southern Africa this morning about the passing on of Pope Benedict the XVI. While he was inactive as Pope by the time of his death, his silent and prayerful support for the Church was a source of strength for Pope Francis and the Church as a whole. It was always heart-warming to see him on significant ecclesial events like the canonisation of saints and the creation of new Cardinals. We will miss his fatherly presence and his companionship in the life of the Church as a fellow pilgrim. 

We remember him with a fondness for his humility. We recall his first words in Italian when he was elected Pope. “The Revs. Cardinals have elected me, humble servant of God”. Throughout his leadership as Pope, he lived according to this sentiment, always wanting to be obedient to the truth that he believed was above him and to which he must submit. In a gentle voice, he always extended the invitation to the truth that beckons us to higher levels of being and knowledge that come from the Revelation of God through Christ and the tradition of the Church. When he realised that he was no longer effective as a leader, he was humble enough to tender his resignation instead of staying on for his own status. 

We also remember him for his clarity of thought in articulating the message of revelation and relating it to the situations of our time. Pope Benedict was a significant point of reference in understanding the major doctrines of the Church and how they link with the modern world. As a true Patristic, (expert on Church Fathers), he was able to decipher the teachings of the Fathers of the Church and to make them relevant for our time. While he is regarded as an intellectual, his writings and teachings had practical implications for spirituality and daily life. 

The most relevant of his encyclicals for our time is Deus Caritas Est, in which he explains the nature of God as love, and how charity forms the basis of justice and which in turn addresses contemporary social problems. In this way, Pope Benedict reclaimed the relevance of faith for our time. 

In Africa, we remember him for pursuing the idea of the second Synod for Africa conceived by his predecessor, St. John Paul II. In his Encyclical (Africae Munus), Pope Benedict invited Africans to embark on the mission of reconciliation, justice, and peace, the lack of which accounts for the ills that pervade the continent. He further proposed practical suggestions of what needs to be done towards this end. Like Pope Francis’ inclusive invitation to engage in the journey of synodality, Pope Benedict invited all members of the Church at all levels to contribute to communion and peace in the Church and in society. 

This lack of peace is not something that is true for the African continent only but also for the whole world if the present global instability is anything to go by. Benedict was truly the Pope of our time, and we are poorer without his live continued inspiration. Nevertheless, we thank God for the person of Pope Benedict for the example of his faith and commitment to the practical application of the truths of faith for the common good. As he viewed himself as a simple servant of God, now that this side of his life has reached its end, we pray that he may enjoy eternal happiness with his Master and may his soul rest in peace. 

+Sithembele Sipuka 

SACBC President 

31 December 2022 

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR 2023

 

“And going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped Him”  Matthew 2:11 

On this Golden Jubilee Year 2022 of the Diocese of Tzaneen, 

we wish you the blessing of peace this Christmas and health for the new year 2023

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mary the Dawn, Christ the Perfect Day; 

Mary the Gate, Christ the Heavenly Way! 

Mary the Root, Christ the Mystic Vine; 

Mary the Grape, Christ the Sacred Wine! 

Mary the Wheat-Sheaf, Christ the Living Bread;

 Mary the Rose-Tree, Christ the Rose blood-red! 

Mary the Font, Christ the Cleansing Flood; 

Mary the Chalice, Christ the Saving Blood! 

Mary the Temple; Christ the Temple's Lord; 

Mary the Shrine, Christ the God adored! 

Mary the Beacon, Christ the Haven's Rest; 

Mary the Mirror, Christ the Vision Blest! 

Mary the Mother, Christ the Mother's Son. 

Both ever blest while endless ages run. 

Amen. 

PRAYER CAMPAIGN FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA

We, your Bishops, invite you, Brothers and Sisters, to join with us in reciting this prayer daily in your homes, schools, at gatherings and at the end of Mass especially on Sundays. We ask that this prayer campaign be launched on the solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady – 21 August – until further notice.

 

Merciful Father,

send forth your Spirit upon us the people of Southern Africa.

May we hear anew the voice of Jesus Christ,

inviting us to walk with him across the turbulent waters of our time:

“Courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.”  (Matthew 14,27).

 

By the grace of the Holy Spirit empower us

to bring comfort to the restless,

hope to those who despair,

healing to victims of violence,

and reconciliation where there is division.

 

May the Holy Spirit heal our families and communities.

Grant us ethical and courageous leaders

who put the good of the people before their own interest.

 

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

we commit ourselves to speak the truth with courage,

to act justly in all we do,

to share with those in need

and always and everywhere to respect your gift of life

as we strive to proclaim the values of the Kingdom

in solidarity with all people of goodwill.

Amen.

 

 

SACBC STATEMENT ON THE ECONOMY IN SOUTH AFRICA

 

STATEMENT ON THE ECONOMY, HIGH LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND COST OF LIVING

We are deeply concerned about the current high levels of unemployment and the rising cost of living, and how they disproportionately impact the lives of those at the margins of the economy.  Both the high levels of unemployment and the cost of living are pushing more people into higher levels of household debt and deep poverty. 

We denounce the continued preoccupation of our leaders with self-enrichment, party politics and factional battles

Amid this national crisis, it is sad that the focus of our political leaders remains fixed on narrow vested interests, and not on issues important to ordinary citizens, particularly the homeless, the unemployed, and the hungry.  In the strongest terms possible, we denounce the continued preoccupation of our leaders with self-enrichment, party politics and factional battles at a time when the majority in this country are struggling to make ends meet.We make an urgent appeal to the government to initiate stronger measures to address the fuel and food price hike.  

The need to regularly review the adverse impact of structural reforms on the poor

Another area of concern for us is how the most vulnerable in our country are the ones disproportionately bearing the social impacts of structural reforms and fiscal consolidation.  While acknowledging the country’s need to urgently tackle the structural barriers to growth, we appeal to the government to introduce stronger social review mechanism so as to ensure that the austerity measures and other structural reforms are regularly reviewed not solely in terms of economic efficiency, but also in terms of their adverse impact on the poor.   We ask that the social review of austerity measures be undertaken particularly with respect to basic education sector and health sector, having due regard to how budget cuts in such sectors re-enforce the two-tiered system of education and health services, with the poor condemned to sub-standard services while the rich continue to access a high standard of education and health services.We are scandalised by the government’s decision to increase the salaries of ministers, premiers, MECs and Members of Parliament by 3 per cent. This decision on salary increases for politicians shows that the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers and the government are insensitive to the plight of the poor and the financial hardships that many ordinary citizens are going through during this time.  

The persistent gap between the rich and the poor

We are concerned about the persistent gap between the rich and the poor in our country and how it continues to impose great risk to the country’s economic growth and national security, creating conditions that could fuel violent unrest and social instability.   Structural reforms to address the barriers to growth will not result in integral human development if there is an increased indifference to the country’s economic inequalities and the need for economic transformation, particularly with respect to land inequalities, mining and agriculture.

 

The vast disparities between the rural and urban economies

Of particular concern to us is the huge disparities between the rural and urban economies, which have resulted into the exclusion of the rural poor from equal and significant participation in the country’s economy. Our rural economies continue to suffer from serious neglect in terms of educational opportunities, viable municipalities, as well as public and private investments.   Our rural youth find it hard to find jobs when the building of rural economies is grounded solely on mining, manufacturing and agricultural sectors which are themselves characterised by increased automation and exploitative labour system.   We therefore call on the government to invest more in building thriving and self-sustaining rural economies, including self-sustaining village economies, that generate massive job creation for the rural youth, including those classified as skilled labour. 

The Eskom Crisis, as well as Transnet’s failing rail infrastructure

We remind the government of the urgent need to address the load shedding and the Eskom Crisis, as well as Transnet’s failing rail infrastructure, both of which impact negatively on the lives of the poor and the prospects of economic recovery.  In the interest of inclusion, the much talked about decentralisation of energy production into private business must include viable models of community-private partnerships that ensure significant economic benefits to the people in the rural areas, particularly with respect to large-scale solar and wind projects.  

Parties need to work together in fixing failed municipalities

Considering that municipalities provide most of the services important for lifting people out of poverty, we make a strong call on all political parties in our country, particularly those deeply involved in unhealthy coalition politics, to set aside their political differences and work together in fixing failed municipalities.  The fixing of financial and capacity issues in municipalities should include finding ways of building self-sustaining township economies and village-based economies grounded on small-scale producers and small business development. 

All implicated in state capture and other forms of corruption must be held to account

It is clear to us that the benefits of growth are not adequately reaching the poor largely because of corruption, wasteful expenditure, incompetence, and mismanagement of government funds.   We find this to be morally unacceptable.  At a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet, we strongly denounce the failure of the government to address accountability issues and consequence management in such matters.   The fight against corruption should be guided by the good of the nation, and not by blind loyalty to political parties and factional interests.   We ask the government to make sure that those implicated in state capture and other forms of corruption are held to account irrespective of their affiliation to a particular political party and faction.   

Stop the culture of cable theft, non-payment of municipal rates, vandalism, and damage to infrastructure

We remind all South Africans that each one of us has a responsibility to rebuild our country’s economy, including the municipalities and state-owned enterprises.  This includes working together as communities to stop the culture of cable theft, non-payment of municipal rates, vandalism, and damage to infrastructure. We also call on the citizens to use whatever opportunity and means available to grow their own food and earn some income instead expecting everything from the government.

We ask God to continue healing our economy

We promise our prayers for families struggling with current economic hardships and call on those who can to be moved to do something about the plight of their brothers and sisters “so that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may abound in hope” (Romans 15:23).   Sustained by the Risen Christ, our hope (1 Corinthians 15:12), we ask God to continue healing our economy so that it becomes a just economy that works for the benefit of all.