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“GO AND INVITE EVERYONE TO THE BANQUET”
The image represents the feet of the Risen Jesus, in motion, showing the wounds of his Passion, yet ready to reach out and invite all to the banquet of his mercy. Likewise, Jesus invites to us to his mission in co-responsibility to bear witness to the power of his resurrection and to bring Jesus’ message of peace and fraternity to the whole world.
| Dates To Remember |
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October 1 – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Patroness of the Missions 2 – International Day of Non-Violence 4 – St Francis of Assisi, closure of the Season of Creation 5 – World Teachers’ Day 7 – World Habitat Day 9 – World Post Day 10 – St Daniel Comboni 10 – World Mental Health Day 11 – International Day of the Girl Child 15 – International Day of Rural Women 16 – World Food Day 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 20 – World Mission Sunday 31 – World Cities Day November 2 – Commemoration of the Faithful Departed 2 – International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists 6 – All Saints of Africa 6 – International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict 14 – World Diabetes Day 15 – International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime 17 – World Day of the Poor 17 – World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 18 – World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence 19 – World Toilet Day 20 – Africa Industrialization Day 20 – World Children’s Day 25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 26 – World Sustainable Transport Day 29 – International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People 30 – Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare |
THE JOY OF THE BANQUET
Every year, on the third Sunday of October, the Church celebrates World Mission Day (WMD). For this occasion, Pope Francis has written a message, based on the parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22: 1-14), entitled: “Go and invite everyone to the banquet.”
A CALL TO LOVE AND EVANGELIZATION AMIDST WEALTH AND DIVERSITY
On his recent visit to Singapore, Pope Francis stated that anything good that exists and endures in this world does so because “in innumerable situations, love has prevailed over hate, solidarity over indifference, generosity over selfishness.”
WITBANK CELEBRATES THE ORDINATION OF NEW DEACONS
On Sunday, 22 September 2024, the Bishop of Witbank, Rt. Rev. Bishop Xolelo Kumalo, ordained ten men into the Diaconate Ministry at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Witbank-Emalahleni, Mpumalanga.
“PEOPLE ARE DYING WHILE THE WORLD REMAINS INDIFFERENT”
In Sudan, the African country devastated by an endless war, tens of thousands of people have died and some ten million people have been displaced. What follows is the dramatic account of a religious: “Lay people, priests and nuns are also fleeing from here. Those who can, try to make it to South Sudan, Chad and Egypt.” The Church continues to help.
SYNODAL PATH OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
The synodal path of the Southern African Catholic community is marked every three years by a so-called ‘Joint Witness’—three days of mutual sharing, prayer and discernment by the SACBC (Bishops Conference of South Africa, Botswana and eSwatini) and the LCCL (Leadership Conference of Consecrated life) in the three respective countries.
THIRTY YEARS – LONG ENOUGH?
Interestingly, in our recent national elections a majority of voters finally turned their backs, after 30 years, on the party that brought about their liberation—the party of Nelson Mandela and other heroes of the struggle, the ANC.
THE UNIVERSAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH: AN INVITATION TO THE EUCHARIST AND TO SYNODALITY
Pope Francis’ message for the 2024 World Mission Sunday is written in a context marked by the Church’s synodal journey as well as the preparations for the 2025 Jubilee. Pope Francis invites the Church to rediscover her missionary vocation through a reflection on the parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22:1-14), which symbolises God’s universal call.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CELEBRATIONS
The celebration of the centenary of the Comboni presence and service in South Africa is more than a matter of simply evoking the past. It is indeed an opportunity to revisit the charism in the light of the present context. It is a call to respond to new pastoral and missionary challenges in the country.
MISSION FROM AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE
This short reflection will briefly sketch how Christian mission is not only compatible with an evolutionary perspective, but how it can be greatly enhanced by evolutionary theory, even provide a more exciting commitment for Christians to make in today’s world.
KENOSIS AS FOUNDATION FOR THE PROPHETIC MISSION IN AFRICA
Kenotic humility and transformation of the reality are two pillars on which missionary activity should focus in an African context. The author sees them as integral in witnessing to the Gospel on the continent today.
WITNESSING FAITH TOGETHER
The contemporary world is witnessing a strong growth in conversions to the Christian faith, particularly in Africa, where Evangelical and Pentecostal Protestantism is expanding.
SPECIAL CARE FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEGED
One of the biggest difficulties in the lives of migrants and refugees is access to health care systems, especially when they lack regular stay permits for the country. The Scalabrinian Fathers try to address this challenge.
CO-RESPONSIBILITY, THE CALL OF THE SYNOD
Sheila Leocádia Pires is the SACBC Communications Officer and Secretary for the Synod Commission for Information. She shares her impressions with Worldwide, shortly before leaving for Rome to attend the Synod’s second session.
(RE)EMBRACING MYSTERY
The world remains a seemingly polarized space. Some are on the left and others on the right: pro-life verses pro-choice; capitalism vs socialism and so on. According to the author, these polarities are often a result of an exclusively binary understanding of faith and of the world. Aspects of the Church’s mission need to reclaim mystery and undo a dualistic thinking by continuously adopting a radical form of contemplation.
BRINGING HOME SCRIPTURE
To enable congregations of any missionary endeavour to read and hear the Word of God in their own tongue is absolutely essential. Jacqueline Huggins became the first African American woman to translate the New Testament. She chose as her beneficiaries a minority group, the Kagayanen people of the Philippines.
PRAYING WITH YOUR FINGERTIPS THROUGH VISIO DIVINA
As a way of reviving the use of art in prayer, the author, a Comboni Missionary from the Philippines, explores the method of Visio Divina and invites the reader to enter into a contemplative experience through it.
“GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF THE NATIONS”
Reaching out to evangelise, especially the youth, requires creativity and the use of digital platforms where they are present. The author presents some examples of new ways of bringing the gospel to all.
COME ALL TO THE BANQUET! (MT 22: 1-14)
The guests are called, bidden to the wedding. All that are within hearing of the joyful sound of the gospel, to them is the word of this invitation sent. The servants that bring the invitation do not set down their names on paper; there is no occasion for that, since none are excluded but those that exclude themselves.
I JUST HAD TO LEARN FROM THEM
Every Saturday, after breakfast, I would take my backpack and go to the Alto de Cazuca, located at the southwest outskirts of the capital Bogota, to carry out some activities which I had organized for the children of that area.
A NEW DEACON FOR THE COMBONI MISSIONARIES
Emmanuel Likonye MCCJ, a Comboni missionary from Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Malawi, was ordained deacon by the Right Reverend Bishop of Witbank, Xolelo Kumalo on the 18th of August this year, on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, feast day of the Parish served by the Comboni Missionaries at Acornhoek, Mpumalanga.