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Lent a “complete change of direction”, Conversion: Catholic Bishop in South Africa

Bishop Vincent Mduduzi Zungu of the Catholic Diocese of Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Credit: SACBC
Agnes Aineah

By Agnes Aineah

Port Elizabeth, 04 March, 2023 / 8:55 pm (ACI Africa).

At the heart of every season of lent, there is a renewed call for conversion, and change of direction of one’s life, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Port Elizabeth in South Africa has said.

In his Wednesday, March 1 Lenten reflection, Bishop Vincent Mduduzi Zungu invites the people of God to experience a total transformation of their lives through faith.

The call to conversion, he says, is directed to everyone, including Bishops, Priests, Deacons, women and men Religious, as well as God’s faithful and people of goodwill. 

“Conversion means the radical change of body, mind, soul, and heart. It is the change of direction; the complete transformation and orientation of one’s whole life,” Bishop Zungu says.

He adds, “In the words of the prophet Joel on Ash Wednesday, the Lord God says this, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning. Tear your hearts and not your garments.”

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“The perfect response to this renewed call to conversion is faith,” the Bishop of Port Elizabeth says, describing faith as “the ascend of the heart and mind to all the truths that have been revealed by Jesus Christ.”

Faith, the South African member of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) notes, is “a long journey from the mind to the heart.”

“Faith is alive, active, and dynamic. It moves us to compassion; opens our eyes to see the needs of others, and puts our hands and feet in motion,” Bishop Zungu says.

He cautions, “Without faith, there can be no true conversion and salvation. We would find ourselves, therefore, looking for God in all the wrong places such as spectacular signs, power, money, pleasure, entertainment, and in all forms of modern gadgets,”. 

“During this period of lent, we pray, like King David, for perfect contrition, faith, and true conversion of heart,” the Catholic Church leader implores in his March 1 Lenten reflection.

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Agnes Aineah

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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