Diocese of Bethlehem

29/10/2024

Pope Francis Transfers South Africa’s Newest Cardinal from Cape Town to Johannesburg Catholic Archdiocese

Pope Francis has transferred Stephen Cardinal Brislin, who has been at the helm of Cape Town Catholic Archdiocese in South Africa to the country’s Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg.

In the latest administrative changes in the Southern African nation that the Holy See press office made public on Monday, October 28, the Holy Father also accepted the retirement of Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale.

Archbishop Buti, who turned 75 in December 2022 has shepherded the people of God in Johannesburg Archdiocese since his installation in June 2003 following his transfer from South Africa’s Catholic Archdiocese of Bloemfontein, where he started his Episcopal Ministry in April 1999.

In a letter addressed to the people of God in Johannesburg Archdiocese, Archbishop Buti “warmly” welcomes his successor “with open arms”.

In the letter dated October 28, the South African Catholic Archbishop says that Cardinal Brislin is to set the date for his installation and that the date he sets “will be duly communicated to the entire Archdiocese.”

The member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) recognizes his new temporary role in Johannesburg Archdiocese as Apostolic Administrator “until the new Archbishop takes complete control of the Archdiocese after his installation.”

The South African Catholic Archbishop implores blessings upon his successor, Cardinal Brislin, saying, “May God bless the new Archbishop.”

Born in Welkom in September 1956, Cardinal Brislin was ordained a Priest in November 1983.

In October 2006, he was appointed Bishop of South Africa’s Kroonstad Catholic Diocese and Consecrated Bishop in January 2007. Three years later, he was transferred to the Archdiocese of Cape Town.

When installed as Local Ordinary of Johannesburg, Cardinal Brislin will shepherd the people of God in the South African Metropolitan See with some 1.1 million Catholics, according to 2022 statistics.

23/09/2024

This is what we Catholics believe about intercession🙏🏿

We do not worship Mary👰‍♂. – We love ❤️ Mary. We honor🙏🏿 Mary. We respect 🙏🏿 Mary. We learn 💡from Mary. We take joy 😊 in Mary. And we ask for her powerful 💪🏿 intercession.

We do not worship 🙏🏿 the saints. - We love ❤️, honour, respect, learn, and take joy in saints. And we ask for their powerful intercession.

Just as other Christians believes ask for the intercession of their friends on earth 🌎 – we ask for the intercession of our friends in Heaven. Simple as that.

So next time, instead of saying, “Catholics worship Mary” try saying “I don’t understand Catholic theology.” We are one body in Christ, the Saints on Earth and in Heaven.

May we do all things for the greater glory of God and the good of His people. ❤️ Carry on.

Let us all bring our separated brethren back to the Catholic fold.

Thanks for Learning with me
God bless you all.

16/08/2024

𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 ❤️

𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬… 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞. 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞. 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡. 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞.

𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 - 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐭? 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬.
𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐦, 𝐮𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐩.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐨𝐝.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭 - 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐘𝐎𝐔!
𝐘𝐨𝐮 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐲.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭.
𝐘𝐨𝐮 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭.
𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭.
𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤!

"𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐈𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐖𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦."
~ 𝐒𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐚.

𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐨 '𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒔' 𝐠𝐨 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲.

17/05/2024

Let us have a quick lesson ...

If a priest was expected to be the Celebrant - for example, the funeral for a parent or other relative; an anniversary of ordination, etc. - the Bishop would simply attend “in choir.” (https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/when-a-bishop-doesnt-concelebrate-at-a-mass-4711)

So in that manner, there is no sacramental or canonical prohibition against a Bishop being the concelebrant with a priest as Celebrant; the relationship between the episcopacy and the presbyterate would make such a situation undesirable.

Usually, a bishop would be given the role of the main celebrant, by the priest himself, as a gesture of respect and other priests would concelebrate with him, giving them all the roles in the Liturgical celebration.

Understanding 👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿that

His Episcopal ordination confers the fullness of the sacrament of (Priesthood) Holy Orders that makes him a legitimate successor of the apostles and integrates him into the episcopal college to share with the Pope and the other bishops care for all the churches. It confers on him the offices of teaching, sanctifying, and ruling his Local Church as the Local juristic Ordinary.

👏🏿 Siyabonga, sifundile!

03/05/2024

29/03/2024

dear beloved Catholics from the Diocese of Bethlehem and friends of the Diocese. below are the Chrism Mass pictures

23/12/2023

SACBC Response to Fiducia Supplicans: Marriage Remains exclusive between a man and a woman

“Marriage remains exclusive between a man and a woman,” said the Catholic Bishops of Southern Africa in their response to the December 18 Fiducia Supplicans, a document concerning the blessing of people in irregular situations issued by the Vatican Dicastery of Doctrine and Faith with the approval of Pope Francis.

In the Thursday, December 21 statement signed by the president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops (SACBC), Bishop Sithembele Sipuka said, “The document makes it clear that it is not putting forward a change of doctrine about marriage to include people of the same sex.”

“It reaffirms marriage as an “exclusive, stable, and indissoluble union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children,” he added.

Since its publication on December 18, the Vatican’s declaration on the blessing of people in irregular situations has sparked different views. In their collective statement, the SACBC Bishops said, “Nobody is outside God’s grace, and couples living in same-sex unions may not be denied a blessing when they spontaneously request it.”

They go on to say that “such a blessing is seen as an opportunity to avail oneself of God’s mercy with a potential for conversion and openness to God’s will and direction.”

The Catholic Bishops of South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini further say in their December 21 statement that “the suggestions offered by the declaration may be taken as a guide with prudence,” and that the SACBC “will guide further on how such a blessing may be requested and granted to avoid the confusion the document warns against.”

Statement-on-Fiducia-Supplicans.1

04/12/2023

THE SACRIFICE OF CRYING...

Do the priests cry?
- They are crying...

And why does a priest cry?
- Priests cry for many reasons...

But are priests not men of God? Why would they have to cry?

- Yes priests are men of God it's true but they are not super heroes nor stones.
They are human beings.

But why does a priest cry?
- Priests cry in solitude. Surrounded by people but alone.

They cry of nostalgia for their families, for being away from the ones they love, for not being able to be with them in the good times and in the bad times, for not being close to the friends who watched us grow up.

They also cry for misunderstanding. A priest cannot get sick, feel tired, have friends or be sad, the people demand him to be perfect and no matter how many good things he does, sow there will be a mistake to criticize him.

They cry over frustration that sometimes even if they try and give their best, people don't respond. It's like they're fighting alone.

They cry for powerlessness when they witness pain, problems, diseases, poverty and suffering of their sheep and they can do nothing but pray, accompany, understand and feel compassion.

They also cry of happiness when they live their vocation, when they serve their neighbor, when they perceive the fruit of the mission.

They cry of love when they receive the true and selfless affection from some good people, when they feel the love of God in their lives.

Priests cry yes, alone and in silence. Refugees in the heart of God.

Also the priests weep in agony for their sins and miseries, because in spite of everything, they are also sinners.

That's why we pray for priests!
And more than criticizing a priest, let's bow our knees and pray for him.

02/08/2023

LEARN MORE ABOUT LITURGICAL COLORS

Liturgical colors within Christian liturgy signify different seasons and times of the year. Each season has its own mood, meaning, and type of prayer. Each color has its own meaning and feeling, and can be seen worn or hung throughout the church during specific times of year

For more content like this kindly like and follow our page!

29/06/2023

Let us support this Conference... this is where we get inspired, equipped, challenged and refreshed for the future. I truly believe that something significant happens when the men gather and we believe in seeing men grow in all areas of their lives to be all that God has called them to be.
Let this fly 👏

09/04/2023

Dear beloved, here are the Chrism Mass pictures...
We would like to thank Rev.Fr Leuta Lengoabala and his parishioners (especially the community of St Martin) for hosting, catering and blessing us with the beautiful celebration.

22/02/2023

Beloved in the Diocese of Bethlehem probably you might also be wondering, why do we celebrate Ash Wednesday in the first place?

Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of lent, a time when we remember that Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting and resisting temptation.

The day before Ash Wednesday, known by many as “Shrove Tuesday” or “Fat Tuesday”, is a chance to feast and indulge – maybe even eat a full at meal or two. We do this in preparation of our own fasting on Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent.

As Jesus grew hungry from fasting in the desert 🏜 where He was faced with the first of three temptations. The devil 👹 appeared before him and told Him to turn stones into bread 🍞. But Jesus resisted, knowing that He was being tempted to do something God did not want. He knew the word of God was just as important as bread to survival.

He was then brought to the top of a building 🏰 in Jerusalem and told that, if He truly was the Son of God, he should jump from the building and angels would carry Him to safety. Jesus once again resisted, knowing not to challenge God.

On the third temptation, Jesus was brought to the top of a mountain ⛰ and told that all the kingdoms He saw would be His if he knelt before the devil. But Jesus resisted again, proclaiming that it is only right to give worship to God.

So my best beloved, Ash Wednesday should be treated as a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season. It is commonly observed with ashes, giving alms and fasting. It is a significant religious observance for Christians worldwide, as it serves as a time for spiritual introspection and a way to connect with God through communal prayer and fasting. It is observed about six weeks before Easter Sunday, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, so let us all go to Mass and receive our ashes and start our solemn Lenten season with all our prayerful hearts ready to fast and give alms.

05/01/2023

Dear beloved in the diocese of Bethlehem and friends of the diocese... a lot (watching the Pope emeritus Benedict's funeral Mass DSTV 400/402/404) is asking why Red vestments at the funeral of the Pope while here at home it's either purple or white...
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=683408966789754&id=496909843653958

So below (image 1) is an image of Pope John XXIII after his death in 1963, dressed in red vestments for burial. An ancient Byzantine custom, red is the color of mourning for deceased Popes. Indeed, the origin of red vestments for papal obsequies very likely stems from ancient Eastern funeral practice, with red customarily used at funerals, a historical and pragmatic use that was preserved within papal Rome. Red is also associated with the Apostles and the Feast of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, with the Roman Pontiff being the first among the apostles.

While some Popes have been buried in a white miter, the historical tradition has been for Popes to be buried in the orphreyed miter (mitra auriphrygiata), made of brilliant gold cloth with a band of gold trim for the border. Bishops wear this same gold cloth miter on many occasions including less solemn functions, for example during Advent and Lent.
Below (image 2) is how Pius XII looked in 1958 atop the crimson bier in the Sala degli Svizzeri at Castel Gandolfo before the solemn procession of his co**se to Rome. Notice he was not buried in "la falda" (the white watered silk train attached to the back of the papal soutane that henceforth disappeared from papal funeral vestments). Pius XII was also the first deceased Pope not laid out in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of St. Peter's. Instead, for the first time, his bier was placed in front of the main altar of St. Peter's to accommodate the massive crowds who came each day to see his mortal remains.



Below is how Pius IX looked when he was exhumed in 1956, found incorrupt, buried holding a crucifix, as was Pius XII and John XXIII. Images abound of recent popes being buried in red. The last pope to be buried was John Paul II in 2005, in red vestments, a white miter, and instead of holding a crucifix, a rosary was placed in his hands. The author of this article was privileged to have been there, and saw him lying in state in the Vatican Basilica every day before his final funeral Mass.