Category: Extraordinary Mission Year

Topic for February: Children
Saint to contemplate: St Philomena (291 AD- 304 AD)

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:19-20

Little is known about the life of St. Philomena. However, it is believed she was a Greek princess who became a virgin martyr and died at the age of 13. She was the daughter of a Greek king who converted to Christianity. When Philomena was 13-years-old, she took a vow of consecrated virginity. After her father took his family to Rome to make peace, Emperor Diocletian fell in love with Philomena. When she refused to marry him, she was subjected to torture. Continue reading “EMY – February: Praying for children” →

Topic for January: Catechists
Saint to contemplate: Blessed Benedict Daswa (16 June 1946 – 2 February 1990)

Benedict Daswa lived his Christian vocation with contentment and enthusiasm, but at the same time with modesty and humility, as shown by his Christian witness in various areas of his life. Benedict became a guide for the young and spent many hours and weekends with them to catechise and teach them. He helped teach catechism to children and adults, leading the Sunday celebration in the absence of a priest, visiting the sick and the non-practicing, and helping the poor and needy. In church, he helped start a nursery school. Continue reading “EMY – January: Praying for Catechists” →

Address to the clergy by Archbishop Peter Wells during the Diocesan Missionary Congress (21 – 23 November 2019)

Missionary priesthood (identikit)
according to Evangelii Gaudium
and Pope Francis

As we draw nearer to the beginning of the Advent Season, we will soon pray those “Great O Antiphons” – the Magnificat Antiphons – of the last eight evenings of that beautiful season of expectant longing. Among the many ancient titles given to Jesus there is: “O Radix Jesse” – “O Root of Jesse” (Is 11:1). The Prophet Isaiah uses the image of the tree stump – the root – the source of the branches that emanate from the root, to illustrate a return to dynastic origins (Jensen & Irwin, 1990:237). Jesus is “The Root”. In places like eSwatini this image rings particularly true. Anyone who has grown up in a rural area knows that without strong roots the plant will never flourish.

This is especially true in drought stricken areas, where at times the life giving rains come at rare intervals. Our roots, therefore, must be strong, firm, and lasting.

Click HERE to download the talk

by “Extraordinary Misssion Year” Team
Topic for December: Family
Saint to contemplate: St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941)

St. Maximilian Kolbe was a Catholic Priest from Poland.

The boy Kolbe was naughty kid. At 12, he had a vision of Mother Mary in 1906 that changed his life. He later described this incident:
“That night I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.”

In 1941, the Nazis imprisoned Father Maximilian in the Auschwitz death camp. He offered his life for another prisoner (a young husband and father) and was condemned to death. He was the last to die, enduring two weeks of starvation, thirst and neglect. This is why St Maximilian Kolbe is the patron saint of families, pro-life and prisoners. His feast day is August 14th. Continue reading “EMY – December: Praying for Families” →

by Ntombikayise H Dlamini

Jesus Christ was clear, His ministry would change the lives of the captive and oppressed. While He certainly meant this on a spiritual level (meaning that every person is in desperate need of freedom from sin and death) Jesus also cared about oppression in a physical and relational sense.

Spiritual oppression and captivity are conditions that all of us are born into, but we must not forget that these things are experienced by many at a relational level as well. The “captive and oppressed,” in our day must also include those who live in fear of abuse (physical and otherwise) in their homes or churches, those who are raped, assaulted, preyed upon as minors, widows and others like them. Continue reading “Justice and Peace in the context of Baptised and Sent” →

By Maduduza Zwane

According to St. Luke the evangelist, Jesus appointed 72 others. This means these 72 were in addition to the 12 apostles that had been sent by Jesus to the whole world to spread the God News.

Jesus always called people and sent them to preach by word of mouth and through good example.

As Catholics we are baptised, this means are with Jesus and have a relationship with the Lord. Once baptised we must bring light on earth. Jesus was the first apostle. We are also his apostles because we are his followers. As his followers we are sent. We are sent to share the Word of God. We are sent to be exemplary in our families, communities and the church. Continue reading “Our takeaway home from the vigil of the EMY launch” →