Category: Diocese of Manzini News

Called to lead during trying times

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” →

Men’s prayer meeting

by Bishop Jose Luis IMC

COVID19 has certainly affected the way we used to do things. In a number of cases we have just been completely unable to do “as we used to”.

At the same time it has also challenged us to find new ways to continue our being “baptised and sent”. Far from feeling there was nothing we could do and sitting down waiting for this to pass and go back to what should be normal, I am always amazed at the different initiatives being developed in our diocese.

One of them has been taken by the men.

Continue reading “Men’s prayer meeting” →

Our Lady of Hope (Lavumisa)

by Fr Massa IMC

On Sunday  October 11 after Holy Mass for the Christian community of Lavumisa, Mrs. Grace Mdluli and Ellen Maphalala asked me to wait a minute because the children had a surprise for me. A group of 14 /15 of them came forward and gracefully and joyfully danced the “Jerusalema.”

Mrs.G Mdluli briefly told me that these children from the 13  of May had come together on the 13 of each month to  pray the rosary together.

On the 13 of October I joined them for the prayer of the rosary. It was a moving experience !The bigger ones took it in turn to lead the rosary and most of them were holding the rosary in their hands . I thanked them and invited them to join the children of the world on the 18 , Mission Sunday ,to pray together a decade of the rosary for the end of Covid-19 and they did so .

Continue reading “Our Lady of Hope (Lavumisa)” →

Being dressed for action

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” →

Witnesses to God’s love

by Bishop Jose Luis IMC

When – a year ago – Pope Francis called the Church to celebrate an Extraordinary Missionary Month we welcomed it joyfully in the Kingdom of Eswatini and decided to extend it for the whole year.

That decision was indeed Providential as “the Church called to go forth” suddenly found herself preaching: “stay home”.

Soon, though, we became aware that COVID19 could have changed the context in which we were living but not our call. We remain “baptised and sent” and therefore we all stood up once again saying: “Here I am Lord, send me” in new creative ways: Continue reading “Witnesses to God’s love” →

A Nation overflowing with blood and tears

by Vusizwe Motsa

(Pic: sourced from the internet-UN Women)

Think of that female neighbour, a victim of her alcoholic boyfriend/husband who has turned her into a punching bag. Think of the thousands of women trafficked, lured into believing in a better life then forced to do things against their will. The lady you read about in the newspaper, killed by a jealous boyfriend or husband. The girl-child sexually abused by her own father or relative and has nowhere to go. The only person who should be protecting her is the very same perpetrator. The young woman forced by her greedy family to marry someone she does not love because of wealth and the benefits the family will gain.

How about the one who was raped, got pregnant or infected and became a laughing stock because ‘’she wanted it’’ because of her dress code. Remember the lady you heard about, made to abort her baby because she was bringing shame to the family and ended up committing suicide. Those many women, married to one man…sexually starved, financially unsupported and deprived of many things. Society standards falsely tell you it is right to abuse women to show superiority. Disgusting! Atrocious!
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St Anne’s Sodality donates to Parish Caritas

by Swabsile Twala

On the second Sunday of August 2020: St Anne’s sodality made a presentation of a donation to Caritas in conjunction with the Daughter’s of St Anne’s.

The short service opened with a word of prayer by Fr F. Onyango who thanked God for the wonderful donation of food parcels and blessing of the participants who contributed.

Nomsa Khumalo who was the MC of the short service also expressed gratitude towards the heartfelt donation for the elderly and needy and appreciated the compassion displayed by the sodalities. Continue reading “St Anne’s Sodality donates to Parish Caritas” →

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

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!” →