It was a joke until it hit home

by Vusizwe Motsa

When the outbreak of an unknown disease was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, nobody really paid much attention and we all thought it was ‘’their disease’’. I remember someone making a joke that China wasted an opportunity to name the virus with a name that recognises its genesis easily, like ‘’Kung-Fu virus’’. A plethora of jokes were made and those ludicrous jokes were funny until the pandemic hit Italy, spreading across the World and eventually our African continent. Suddenly, we woke up and paid attention. It was a joke until it hit home. The same virus that people were naive about was suddenly among us, affecting our own people and rearing its hideous head.

Nowadays, the coronavirus disease 2019, popularly known as COVID-19 and declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020, is causing unfathomable havoc in the whole World. The Kingdom of eSwatini was not spared. Cases are skyrocketing daily and we have surpassed the thousand mark of positive cases, with death cases increasing as well. Since March 2020, when the lockdown was first put into effect, it seemed the right thing to do to combat the spread of the virus. But that also brought new challenges: people lost their jobs, businesses were closed, poverty levels took a dive for the worst, schools and churches were shut down, the economy was abruptly affected, etc. Continue reading “It was a joke until it hit home”

OLOA Youth and Deaf football match

by Fr Mark James OP

On Saturday 6 July 2019, a football match between the Youth of Our Lady of the Assumption parish and the Deaf community was held on St Theresa’s football ground at 3.00pm. This was the first time that the two teams met. It was also the first time that the hearing and the deaf members of the parish played a game against each other. The refereeing was unique because the referee used a red flag to catch the attention of the players, and not a whistle. Despite having to get used to this new way of refereeing a game for the hearing, the two sides quickly adjusted to each other.

It was a hard-fought match where neither team gave the other side any easy chances. By half-time the score was 2-2. The second half continued where the first half left off. Again, it was a tight game and goals were kept being scored at regular intervals. With five minutes left, the score was an evenly matched 4-4.
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Saint Aloysius lends a helping hand

by Hloniphile Bhiya

They received new school shirts

Makadvunyiswe Jesu Kristo

Young members of the church (M.D.C) have established the Saint Aloysius for the church. It’s main objectives is the well being of the students in the outstations.

The Foundation is named after the patron Saint of young students, Saint Aloysius. It was created after identifying challenges faced by students in the outstations.

The foundation is currently helping the students with school uniforms and is asking for donations in the form of school shoes, school bags, or monetary donations. For more information pertaining the donations please contact Hloniphile on 78894481. Other donations can also be left with the church secretary. Continue reading “Saint Aloysius lends a helping hand”

“St. Joseph Mission Youth surprised us all”

by Hamilton Khoza

On Sunday 25th March, our Youth from St. Joseph Mission surprised us all, when after Holy Mass, they made an announcement that transformed us to an unimaginable state of emotion.

The Chairperson of the Youth, announced that as part of their activities, they decided to make a thorough assessment of the Church members and eventually concluded that Mrs Zamekile Shabangu is the one who should benefit from their “secret plan”… They presented her (in Church) with a wide and complete range of groceries that amounted to the tune of E879.00.  Our Parish has been encouraging us to actively engage in activities of charity to the struggling and needy people irrespective of religious affiliation, colour or creed. Our Youth made a wise decision of starting their campaign at ‘home’; as the adage that says – Charity begins at home. Continue reading ““St. Joseph Mission Youth surprised us all””

A Pilgrimage of Prayer

by Khonzumenzi Dlamini

When I arrived for my pastoral internship in Mater Dolorosa Parish, some members of the youth informed me about pilgrimage of the Cross they have every Lenten season. They invited me to journey with them this year, which I accepted without any hesitation. All the outstations and schools have the privilege of contemplating the cross, praying the rosary and the Stations of the Cross. The Priests and the Mantellate sisters also join the pilgrims. Thursdays and Saturdays are set apart for the pilgrimage. This year we began at Maryward Primary school on the Thursday after Ash Wednesday where the students and teachers received the ashes and we prayed the way of the cross together.
 

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Join the Pope in Prayer with ‘Click to Pray’

Official Prayer Platform for World Youth Day 2019

If you would like to join Pope Francis in prayer every day, now there is an app to make it easy: ‘Click to Pray.’

Pope Francis launched the app January 20, 2019, after praying the noonday Angelus with the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. He was assisted by Father Frédéric Fornos, SJ, International Director of the Apostleship of Prayer.

“This week the Message for the World Day of Social Communications will be published, which this year contains a reflection on the network community and the human community,” the Holy Father explained. “The Internet and social media are a resource of our time, an occasion to be in contact with others, to share values and plans, and to express the desire to be a community. The network can also help us to pray in community, to pray together.

Continue reading “Join the Pope in Prayer with ‘Click to Pray’”

Youth Apostles of Christ at Sigcineni

by Sr Susan Soren

The Youth Apostles of Christ (YAC) members who took part in the program with Srs Mary Clara Topno and Susan Soren.

On the 6 th May 2018 Sr. Mary Clara Topno the Youth Apostles of Christ (YAC) animator conducted one day program for the YAC in collaboration with the community. She went to Sigcineni with Sr. Susan Soren. The YAC from Gebeni, Ntondozi, Malkerns and Sigcineni took part in the program. Sr. Mary Clara spoke to the youth about: Continue reading “Youth Apostles of Christ at Sigcineni”