Category: Pastoral Letters & Bishop Statements

Praying for healing

Posted on by Diocese of Manzini

 By Bishop José Luis IMC

(On 11 February 2021, I presided Mass for the feast
of Our Lady of Lourdes – live streamed on Facebook and YouTube.
Below is part of the homily)

The virus seems to be everything we can see in this moment. I would like to invite you to look deeper. To me, the virus has been like a magnifying glass revealing an unhealthy society. To avoid being too long, let me just point out a few things to help you understand what I am talking about. You could add your own: Continue reading “Praying for healing” →

Being dressed for action

Posted on by Neliswa Mdluli

by Bishop Jose Luis IMC

On 20 October 2020, the clergy of the diocese came together at Our Lady of the Assumption for the first time in this year marked by COVID19. Below, the first part of my homily.

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The readings we have just heard have not been especially chosen for this celebration but are the readings of the day and, therefore, part of the continuous reading of the letter of Paul to the Ephesians and the Gospel of Luke.

I kept them because I felt they have a message for us today as we come together for the very first time during this 2020 COVID19 year.

I would like to present three images I see in them: Continue reading “Being dressed for action” →

Thanks to you the people are now relying on what is false!

Posted on by Neliswa Mdluli

by Bishop Jose Luis IMC

Our diocese has a number of WhatsApp groups. Many of them added the bishop as soon as the group was created. It is not easy for me to follow them but, every now and then, I do read the messages trying my best not to interfere and allow everyone to freely share on a topic.

Fake news, though, has been one of those cases where I struggle to keep quiet.

Not long ago, a member of the Catholic men’s group shared news with this title: “We are at the end of times”. It then said: “Pope Francis cancels the Bible and proposes to create a new book”. He himself never believed it but felt important to share it and open a dialogue. Someone, in fact, confirmed that members of other churches had shared their sadness and horror at the Pope’s decision.

A question arose regarding what to do about it. Continue reading “Thanks to you the people are now relying on what is false!” →

Let us not live the present waiting to return to the past

Posted on by Neliswa Mdluli

by Bp Jose Luis IMC

Pastoral letter to the diocese of Manzini

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“The Word became flesh”
“Livi laba yinyama”


Ascension of the Lord

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus gathered the apostles and sent them to the whole world to make disciples, baptise, teach… (Mt 28:19). Not sure you noticed but that is all He said. No details. How would they do that? Who would have to do what? The apostles never asked either. They never knew what they would have to face but they trusted in Jesus’ promise: “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20) “You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:8).

Continue reading “Let us not live the present waiting to return to the past” →