Last Wednesday we had the "Consultors' meeting", a group of priests of the Vicariate with whom I meet every three months (for three hours) to share on important matters of the life of the Vicariate.
From left (after myself, the Bishop), Fr Daniel Nkosi, Fr Wilbert Mkhwanazi (both of them diocesan priests), Fr Declan Doherty OSM (Vicar General), Fr Thulani Ntsele OSM, Fr Mel Loftus OSM (Delegate Superior of the OSM).
It is a very balanced group where:
- half are South Africans born in the Vicariate and half come from other countries (Ireland and Argentina),
- we could even say we come from three continents: Africa, Europe, South America!
- three are Servites and two are diocesans (the Bishop, a Consolata Missionary),
- two are able to offer the experience of serving this area for fifty years...! (while I have been here for just four years)
- and we have been priests from... 7 to 53 years!
The spirit is always good and the sharing intense. It is not just sharing about "news" of the life of the Vicariate but matters we need to discern together. Matters are always regarded as "confidential" which gives us all a good space to share our different point of view. Time is never enough and we hardly ever finish all the matters in the agenda.
