PRAYER FOR CANONIZATION of Blesssed Benedict DASWA

Loving God, we thank you for the gift of Blessed Benedict Daswa,

a man of deep faith, fearless courage and generous charity.

We give you praise for his wonderful example as a devoted family man, educator and faithful catechist.

Led by your Holy Spirit, Blessed Benedict remained faithful to your Gospel of truth and goodness in the face of violent opposition and hatred.  May the example of his generous sacrifice inspire us to grow in appreciation of the sacredness of every human life.

Listen favourably, we pray, to the intercessions of Blessed Benedict on behalf of your faithful people who seek healing, strength and courage.  May his prayers obtain for us the miracles needed for your Church to proclaim him a saint of our time and apostle to our present world.

We make this prayer through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

AMEN.

With ecclesiastical  approval, 1 November 2016
+Joao Noe Rodrigues,Bishop of Tzaneen (South Africa)
Please send all information regarding graces and favours received through the intercession of Blessed Benedict Daswa to: bendaswa@mweb.co.za  or write to  the Promoter Sr Claudette at P.O.Box 261 Tzaneen 0850 South Africa

Pope Francis' declaration of the beatification of Benedict Daswa

Apostolic Letter 

WE,

Welcoming the desire of our brother

Joao Noe RODRIGUES, bishop of  Tzaneen, 

 of many other brothers in the Episcopate

and of many faithful Christians,

and after having had the opinion of the  Congregation for the Causes of  Saints, with of our apostolic authority we  grant that

The Venerable Servant of God

Tshimangadzo Samuel  Benedict Daswa

layman and familyman, martyr,

 zealous catechist, coherent educator,

heroic witness of the Gospel, even to the shedding of  blood,

from now on will be called Blessed,

and his feast, in the places according to the rules established by the law, will be celebrated every year, on the 1^st  February.

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

Amen

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on the 08^th August,

of the year of the Lord  two thousand fifteen

The third of our Pontificate.

                                             Francis

IMBISA : 11th Plenary Session Final Statement:Lesotho 2016

DECLARATION OF THE 11th IMBISA PLENARY ASSEMBLY

22 - 26 November 2016

Maseru (Lesotho)

We, the Inter-regional Meeting of Bishops in Southern Africa, (IMBISA) in our 11th plenary meeting held in Maseru, Lesotho, considered thoroughly the theme “Empowering the laity for effective engagement in socio political and environmental issues: ‘Laudato Si’ as a point of reference.” 

Having reflected on the major points of Pope Francis’ Encyclical on environment ‘Laudato Si’, we identified issues in our region relating to it. We analyzed the capacity and limitations of our Church and explored ways and means of implementing ‘Laudato Si’. 

Planet earth, which is God’s gift and common home to all creatures, is gradually being destroyed by us human beings. We therefore welcome the invitation of the Pope to conversion, which means changing attitudes and behaviours that harm the earth, diminish human dignity, impoverish quality of life and create inequality in society. 

We gave attention to those manifestations of environmental destruction that are of immediate concern in our region and conference areas. These include pollution of the environment, harmful byproducts in the production of some sources of energy, water pollution and wastage. The consequences frequently result in diseases, corruption, consumerism, unemployment and inequality.

We identified practical ways and means of informing ourselves and our lay people to adopt a caring and responsible attitude towards the gift of creation which includes a celebration of creation around the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

We mandate the secretariat and the staff of IMBISA to gather and disseminate information informed by ‘Laudato Si’ with suggested specific concrete targets to enhance the awareness and implementation of our goals, keeping in mind that there are presently programmes addressing some of these issues at conference levels. We recommend that each conference continues to address these issues. 

We commit ourselves to with in the care of common home and we appeal to all women and men of goodwill to take the issue of environment seriously.

BEATIFICATION OF TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA

Over 30 000  people celebrate  and worship at the Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict Daswa shrine site

The Catholic Youth of Tzaneen Diocese  praise the Lord and after Cardinal Angelo Amato proclaims Benedict Daswa “Blessed”  the banner of Blessed Tshimangadzo is revealed while Blessed Benedict Daswa’s mother ponders on the mystery of this event in her heart. The 13 September 2015 is a day to be remembered in the history of the Church in Tzaneen Diocese.

EXHUMATION AND TRANSFER OF MORTAL REMAINS

On Monday 24 August 2015, the Church authorities and other authorised personnel with most of the close members of the Daswa Family, gathered in the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption at Nweli. After the welcome and prayer service, the order of proceedings was outlined by the Promoter of Justice, Rev Doctor Edmund O’Neill sdb. All then proceeded to the cemetery in Mbahe Village and assembled at the grave which was clearly marked by the tombstone inscription as belonging to the Venerable Servant of God.With raised hands, three witnesses attested aloud that they were present at the burial of the Venerable Servant of God, Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa, and that this was indeed the place of burial of his remains. After calling each of the grave-diggers by name, Bishop Joao Rodrigues instructed them to proceed with their work.As the coffin had been very securely buried with several layers of thick cement between layers of soil, the process of uncovering the coffin took more than four hours.


The steel coffin which was in good condition, was carefully lifted upright from the grave.

With the consent of the Daswa Family it was then carried very respectfully to the grave of Eveline (Shady) Daswa, the deceased wife of Benedict, and placed on top of her tombstone. After the coffin was opened the skeletal remains of the Venerable Servant of God were seen to be intact within the original wrappings, which were themselves intact.The Family indicated their preference for the remains to be kept undisturbed in the original coffin for re-interment. Following the age-old custom of the Church, some small portions of the cloth in which the deceased was wrapped and a tiny portion of bone were taken for future use as relics.
After the coffin had been brushed down to remove excess soil, an official church document testifying to the date of death and exhumation of the Venerable Servant of God was placed inside the coffin.



It was then covered in white material and draped in colourful traditional Venda cloth. It was next secured with strong bands, bound with red ribbon and sealed with the wax seal of the Diocese of Tzaneen. The adult children of Benedict Daswa carried the dressed and sealed coffin to the hearse which then departed for the Church of the Assumption of Mary at Nweli, followed in convoy by the other cars.

The remains, carried by the children of Benedict Daswa, entered the church from which it departed 25 years previously. Bishop Joao Noe Rodrigues blessed and sprinkled with Holy Water and incensed the newly prepared vault, coffin and remains, as well as the Paschal Candle which was placed alongside the new vault.The coffin was then lowered on to four bricks to its new resting place, after which all were invited to view the coffin before the undertakers began the work of closing the vault with a new tombstone and headstone. The children of Benedict Daswa placed a veil as well as a bouquet of flowers on the newly sealed vault. After a brief prayer service and vote of thanks by a senior family of the Daswa Family and the Chairperson of the Diocese of Tzaneen, everyone departed.The unveiling of the tombstone will take place on the Saturday 12 September 2015, the day before the celebration of the beatification Mass..

Tshimangadzo - The Life of Benedict Daswa (full version)

MONTH OF PRAYER WITH THE SAYINGS OF BENEDICT DASWA

With only one month to go before the beatification of the Venerable Martyr and Servant of God Benedict Daswa,we are all encouraged to ask Benedict Daswa to pray for special needs and favours and for a successful celebration of the beatification. Attached is a booklet of prayers with some sayings of Benedict Daswa  which you may download and use in your family prayer and prayer groups in the parish.

Download the Prayer Booklet at  

MONTH OF PRAYER WITH THE SAYINGS OF BENEDICT DASWA.PDF

Please communicate any favour and blessing which has been received through the intercession of Blessed Benedict Daswa to the promoter of the cause,Sister Claudette at the following email address:  bendaswa@mweb.co.za