Vicariate
Apostolic of Ingwavuma
PO
Box 23 – Mtubatuba 3935
South Africa
South Africa
06
December 2013
To:
The
priests, religious
and
all God's people
in
the Vicariate of Ingwavuma
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“IZwi
laba yinyama”
Soon
after I arrived in the Vicariate, these words became our usual
greeting. It started even before I was ordained bishop, on the day of
the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral (Hlabisa) in April 2009 when Fr
Mkhwanazi greeted the community with them.
As
you all know by now, a week ago, Pope Francis appointed me Bishop of
the Diocese of Manzini (Swaziland) where I have been Apostolic
Administrator after the death
of Bp Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu OSM (27 August 2012).
It
was nearly five years’ ago when I arrived in the Vicariate having
been appointed Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Ingwavuma (November
2008).
These
five years have been an intense time for us all. I am always touched
by the faith you showed welcoming me, a complete stranger, as your
Bishop and by accepting with open hearts someone who was arriving
without any experience as Bishop or the area.
I
still remember the day when at the end of a Mass at Our Lady of
Ingwavuma someone wished that, like Bp O'Shea arrived a young priest
and grew old in the Vicariate, me too could grow old among you.
In
these five years I never managed to establish a permanent
residence. Just a few weeks' ago
our priests commented that: “We
do not know where the Bishop lives...”.
Visiting the communities
as much as possible was my priority. Looking back I now realize there
is a “bishop's room”
in every parish! I want to thank all the priests for the way they
welcomed me and for our morning or evening sharing on the joys and
struggles of our pastoral service. Every place seems to have been
home for me.
When
I was being told I might be appointed to Manzini I always replied
saying Bishops are married to
a diocese (or Vicariate) and there is no divorce in the Catholic
Church… Then the Lord calls
and one is asked to be available …
You
too are asked to be available, to show your faith once again and to
give with joy to the Church in Manzini, remembering Jesus words that
“There is more happiness in
giving than in receiving.”
(Acts 20:35)
The
Vicariate of Ingwavuma and the Diocese of Manzini have a long history
of supporting each other. Hope this will continue even more in the
coming future.
Pope
Francis has appointed me apostolic
administrator
of the Vicariate. I will therefore remain among you until a new
bishop is appointed.
I will be installed as bishop of the
Diocese of Manzini on 26 January 2014 during the Bishops' plenary
session and the centenary celebrations of the arrival of the first
Catholic missionaries in Swaziland.
May
God bless you all and let us start praying together for the one that
will be appointed Shepherd of this Vicariate.
Yours
in Christ and Our Lady “Consolata”,
+
José Luis
Bishop
José Luis Ponce de León IMC
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