Category: Diocese of Manzini News

Bishop’s statement on Covid-19

by Diocesan Media

Brothers and sisters, the church today is in exile. We live our lives without actively participating in the Eucharistic Sacrifice which is the highest form of our worship. The Christian community has chosen to live its life away from communal prayer in order not to spread this Virus.

This choice does not mean that the Christian community is afraid of sickness or of death. It does not mean that the church is blindly obeying civil authorities. The decision of the church is rooted in the Church’s understanding of the value of human life.

Below is Bishop Jose Luis IMC’s statement, following the “Declaration of national emergency in response to coronavirus” issued by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini, with directives for the Diocese of Manzini. Continue reading “Bishop’s statement on Covid-19” →

Baptised and sent catechists

by Bp Jose Luis IMC

The diocesan commissioning of catechists is celebrated every year at the Cathedral during the month of February. This year was no exception. Even though it was a very hot day in Manzini, when I went into the church I found the place practically full with catechists coming from our 17 parishes.

As I was sharing with them during the homily, in this “extraordinary missionary year”, many might be wondering “where” and “to whom” God is calling them to go. Not them. They know. They have been called to be catechists and that is why they come together to be sent once again.

It is certainly a big challenge to accept to be a catechist as whoever sees them, sees our Church. It is to them that we entrust our children, young people and adults who prepare themselves to celebrate our sacraments. Continue reading “Baptised and sent catechists” →

Why do Catholics venerate relics?

by Fr W. Nkomo

With the relics of St Pope John Paul II on pilgrimage to places that have a link to him, seeing that our diocese in particular is one of them, I found it important to clarify some important elements on the tradition of relics.

What is a relic?

According to the Catholic encyclopedia “a relic is some object, notably part of the body or clothes, remaining as a memorial of a departed saint.” That is, physical objects that have a direct association with the saints or with Our Lord. They are usually broken down into three classes: 
Continue reading “Why do Catholics venerate relics?” →

Relics of St John Paul II to our diocese

by Bishop José Luis IMC

It was nearly 32 years’ ago when Pope John Paul II visited the (now) Kingdom of Eswatini on 16 September 1988. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 1 May 2011 and canonised on 27 April 2014 by Pope Francis.

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the visit of the one who we now call: Saint John Paul II, the Cathedral created a chapel where to pray for his intercession. It was blessed by Fr Dumisani Vilakati in 2018.

On Sunday 26 January 2020, the diocese will host a very special event when relics of St John Paul II will be brought to his chapel at the Cathedral. “Relic” derives from the Latin reliquiae, meaning "remains" (notably part of the body or clothes, remaining as a memorial of a departed saint).
Continue reading “Relics of St John Paul II to our diocese” →

Celebration of lives lost through HIV/AIDS

by Hamilton Khoza

CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES OF ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WE LOST THROUGH THE HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC*

On Sunday 1st December 2019, The St. Joseph Sacred Heart Sodality and Parishioners celebrated the beginning of Advent; a period in our Calendar that ushers in observance of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to our world in the form of a human being.

The liturgy was prepared in a way and manner that included celebrating the lives of our brothers and sisters we lost over the years through the dreaded disease caused by acquiring the HIV Virus. This also included a prayer for all those who were affected by the loss of their loved ones.
Continue reading “Celebration of lives lost through HIV/AIDS” →

Works of Mercy still ongoing at Holy Rosary

by Fr Wiseman Nkomo

The house which the family lived in.

Having arrived at Holy Rosary Mission on the 1st of November 2018, I was informed of an incomplete project of building a house for a needy family in the chiefdom of Velezizweni. This would mean the project would be have been in waiting for 2 years. Through mobilization and appealing for funds to continue and complete the project I got members of the community to donate building materials, money and their skills to complete the project. Continue reading “Works of Mercy still ongoing at Holy Rosary” →

St. Joseph Sodality Pilgrimage to Kevelaer

By Maduduza Zwane

St. Joseph Sodality is an association of Married Catholic Men in the diocese of Manzini. These men are dedicated to becoming spiritual leaders of their families by strengthening their faith and being “real world” examples of Christ. They pray and give themselves new ways to reflect upon their lives and be better servants to God, church, communities and their families.

As they are dedicated to praying and reflecting, these men joined hundreds of other Catholic men from different dioceses in South Africa to collectively pray at Kevelaer in Kwa Zulu Natal (Ixopo).
Continue reading “St. Joseph Sodality Pilgrimage to Kevelaer” →

Priests’ study week

by the Bishop

Arriving in this diocese (as administrator) seven years’ ago, one of the great things I found was the “priests’ study week”. It is organised every year and lasts for three – four days. It is not organised by the bishop but by the priests themselves. They choose the dates, the place, the topics and the speakers. They also distribute responsibilities among themselves leading each day, presiding Mass, taken notes… Being for both diocesan and religious priests they make sure they involve as many of them as possible.

The topics chosen this year were very diverse:

Continue reading “Priests’ study week” →