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South Africa
Church in South Africa Suspends Holy Week Celebrations amid Dwindling Resources
As South Africa battles to curb the spread of COVID-19, with officials confirming the first cases of local transmission, including four children aged under six years, the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg has announced that little will be done to mark the Holy Week and Easter celebrations, even as Parishes in the Archdiocese run short of financial resources.
South Africa Declares COVID-19 National Disaster, Church Limits Mass to 100
Following the declaration by South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa that COVID-19 is a national disaster in the country, the first declaration of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa with 61 cases confirmed, the Catholic Bishops there have directed clergy, religious and the lay faithful to observe preventive measures including a not-more-than 100-person congregation at Holy Mass.
What Church Leaders in Africa Have Instructed to Prevent Spread of COVID-19
The pandemic of coronavirus that has spread to well over 80 countries across the world including at least 26 in Africa has prompted the taking of precautionary measures aimed at preventing the spread of the deadly virus, with the global death toll having surpassed 5,300.
Bishops in Africa Call for Appropriate Measures as Cases of COVID-19 are Confirmed
As the world steps up efforts in tackling the spread of COVID-19 virus, the disease caused by coronavirus, with the most recent cases in Africa confirmed in South Africa and Cameroon, Catholic Church leaders at the helm of the Bishops’ conferences in Africa have expressed concerns that the virus could rapidly spread on the continent if appropriate measures are not taken to prevent its initial spread.
“We need to get to the root cause of femicide,” South African Prelate Says
As South Africa struggles to curb alarming rates of gender-based killings targeting women and girls, a Bishop in the country has, in an interview with ACI Africa, highlighted the need to identify the root cause of violence targeting women for an appropriate way out of the societal challenge.
Caritas Southern Africa Coordinators Deliberate on Funds, “dealing with natural disasters”
The challenge of natural disasters in the Ecclesiastical territories within Southern Africa and how to deal with them and having financial resources are among the deliberations of the ongoing six-day workshop in Pretoria, South Africa, involving the coordinators of Caritas Southern Africa, with participants having come from Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa, as well as Namibia.
Correct “erroneous ways of worship” in South Africa, Uganda-born Bishop Told at Ordination
At the Episcopal ordination of the Ugandan-born Monsignor Joseph Kizito, as Bishop of South Africa’s diocese of Aliwal North Saturday, February 15, being attentive to “erroneous ways of worship” in modern-day South Africa was a key highlight, the newly ordained Bishop advised to seek ways to address “weak worship” in his new Ecclesiastical territory.
South African Prelate to Represent Pope in Apostolic Visitation of Mariannhill Diocese
In response to the request from the Bishop of South Africa’s Diocese of Mariannhill “for an Apostolic Visitation”, Pope Francis has appointed the Archbishop Emeritus of Pretoria in South Africa, William Slattery to represent him in the visit of the diocese that is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Durban.
Kenyans Mourn Longest Serving President Who Hosted Three Papal Visits
Kenya’s President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi who passed on Tuesday, February 4 will be remembered not only for being the longest serving president of the East African country but also for hosting the highest number of Papal visits in the nation.
Blessed Benedict Daswa “calling us to conversion”: South African Prelate
At the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Benedict Daswa, South Africa’s first potential saint, a Church leader in the country has challenged Christians to heed to the challenge by the Blessed, to convert to Jesus Christ and His Gospel.
Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa Approve “Mini World Youth Day” for December 2020
As youths around the world prepare for the next World Youth Day to be held in Portugal in 2022, Church leaders in Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa have “approved in principle” the plan to have a Mini World Youth Day (MWYD) proposed for December 2020 in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa.
New Pastoral Plan Expected to Restore Lost Glory in Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa
The newly-launched pastoral plan of the Southern Africa Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) is expected to be “a light in darkness” for Botswana, Eswatini and South Africa, to guide the three countries on the path of evangelization in contemporary times, and possibly redeem the people of God there from economic instability, corruption and social evils to become, once again, “the model and envy of the world,” a section of SACBC members have said.
African Clergy, Religious, Laity Pay Tribute to Basketball Superstar Kobe Bryant
A day after the sudden and unexpected death of the basketball superstar Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash alongside his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna and seven others, a section of clergy, religious, and lay Catholic faithful in Africa have, amid shock and disbelief, paid glowing tribute to the 41-year-old retired NBA player, expressing appreciation for his talent, for being a role model to many, and for practicing his Catholic.
Nuncio Encourages Bishops in Southern Africa to “become models of the joy of Christ”
At the ongoing Plenary Assembly of the Bishops in Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland, the Papal representative in the region, Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells outlined, on Wednesday, January 22, five characteristics of missionary episcopate that the Holy Father desires of serving Bishops as explained in Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium and that “the bishop must become a model of the joy of Christ.”
Why the Southern Africa Bishops’ New Pastoral Plan is Important
As the Church leaders in Botswana, South Africa, and Swaziland prepare to officially launch their new Pastoral Plan this Sunday, January 26, the President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) that brings together the three countries, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka has explained why the new pastoral plan, which will replace the one that has guided evangelization activities of the Church in the region for the last 30 years, is important.
Suspected Murderer of Belgian Priest in South Africa “well known to him”
The young man suspected to have murdered a missionary priest who was engaged in parish ministry in South Africa’s diocese of Klerksdorp last week was well known to the late cleric, has already been arraigned in court over the killing and is set to be presented to the court again “to apply for bail,” ACI Africa has been told.
Church in Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland Set to Unveil a New Pastoral Plan
The Church in Southern Africa is set to launch a new pastoral plan that will replace the one that has guided evangelization activities in the countries of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland for the last 30 years.
Pope Francis Condoles with Families of Seminary Formators in South Africa
Pope Francis has expressed his condolences to the families of the two priests, formators at Saint John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa, who died in the December 3 road accident and made known his prayerful solidarity with the two others who survived the Tuesday afternoon tragedy.
South African Appointed to New Vatican-based Youth Advisory Body “surprised, honored”
A year after the Synod of Bishops' special assembly on Young People, Faith and Vocational Discernment proposed the creation of an advisory body that would reinforce the work done by the Vatican-based Youth Office of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, one of the 20 members appointed to the newly established International Youth Advisory Body, South African Dominique Yon, has shared with ACI Africa about her reaction at the news of her appointment announced Sunday, November 24.
Ugandan-Born Cleric Appointed Bishop in South Africa, Says He is “baptized and sent”
One of the recent news from the Holy See related to the Church in Africa has been Pope Francis’ appointment of Ugandan-born Monsignor Joseph Kizito as Bishop of South Africa’s Aliwal North diocese, with his ordination slated to take place on February 15, 2020.
