By: Innocent Maziya
Living a Christian life is not easy. We can all attest to that. It comes with challenges. Probably because there always seems to be someone ready to recruit us for the other side. The metaphor presented by Christ of sending us like sheep among wolves and that of St. Paul of a lion roaring looking for someone to devour is very apt. It would therefore be a mistake to believe that being a Christian is an easy journey on this earth.
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”
By Bishop José Luis IMC
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Livi laba yinyama!
The Word became flesh!
Our diocese celebrates once again having received the news that Dr Rosemary Khosi Mthethwa has been elected International President of CICIAMS (International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants – Vatican City). This is a very important recognition of the faith, dedication and capabilities that Dr Mthethwa has shown all her life.
Continue reading “Called to lead during trying times”
As we go through the coronavirus pandemic, the diocese of Manzini will be offering different digital services in order to help everyone spiritually.
One of them is the Sunday celebration of Mass. On this fourth Sunday of Lent, Bishop José Luis IMC presided Mass at Little Flower chapel. Members of the sodality of St Cecilia joined him and led the hymns.
The Mass was pre-recorded due to the uncertainly of having a proper internet connection for a live streaming. Continue reading “Holy Mass on our social media”
by Bishop José Luis IMC
“Working for peace seems to be a common goal of many but the challenge is to agree on what the foundations for peace are. Having a look at the Popes’ messages for peace makes it easier to understand what we are talking about.”
Closing the diocesan week of prayer for peace I reflected during the homily on the challenges of working for peace and the way we understand peace.
On that Sunday’s gospel we read about John telling Jesus they had stopped someone casting out devils in His name because he was not following them. I believe Jesus’ reply (“You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me”) goes beyond not stopping someone from doing good but is also an invitation to work with others with whom we share the same goals and the same ways to achieve them.
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by Fr Dumisani Mazibuko OSM
This Sunday we celebrate the Revelation of Jesus to ALL Nations of the world as their King. It is a Sunday as St Paul says, ‘the mystery has now been revealed’. Today’s Feast therefore is a cause for great joy for all peoples including ourselves in this part of the world. This is our Feast too. It is our Feast because the new born King is not just for the Jews or a select few but for All God’s people. And so we begin our celebration with hearts full of joy and thanksgiving to God our loving Father. Continue reading “Epiphany of the Lord”
Topic for January: Catechists
Saint to contemplate: Blessed Benedict Daswa (16 June 1946 – 2 February 1990)
Benedict Daswa lived his Christian vocation with contentment and enthusiasm, but at the same time with modesty and humility, as shown by his Christian witness in various areas of his life. Benedict became a guide for the young and spent many hours and weekends with them to catechise and teach them. He helped teach catechism to children and adults, leading the Sunday celebration in the absence of a priest, visiting the sick and the non-practicing, and helping the poor and needy. In church, he helped start a nursery school. Continue reading “EMY – January: Praying for Catechists”
Address to the clergy by Archbishop Peter Wells during the Diocesan Missionary Congress (21 – 23 November 2019)
Missionary priesthood (identikit)
according to Evangelii Gaudium
and Pope Francis
As we draw nearer to the beginning of the Advent Season, we will soon pray those “Great O Antiphons” – the Magnificat Antiphons – of the last eight evenings of that beautiful season of expectant longing. Among the many ancient titles given to Jesus there is: “O Radix Jesse” – “O Root of Jesse” (Is 11:1). The Prophet Isaiah uses the image of the tree stump – the root – the source of the branches that emanate from the root, to illustrate a return to dynastic origins (Jensen & Irwin, 1990:237). Jesus is “The Root”. In places like eSwatini this image rings particularly true. Anyone who has grown up in a rural area knows that without strong roots the plant will never flourish.
This is especially true in drought stricken areas, where at times the life giving rains come at rare intervals. Our roots, therefore, must be strong, firm, and lasting.
Click HERE to download the talk