Click HERE to download the original file
"The SACBC plenary session is over" announced Archbishop Stephen Brislin (president of the SACBC) at midmorning.
Yesterday we all went to the Cathedral for a photo that will remember the celebration of the first plenary session in history held in Swaziland. We got all the bishops (or... nearly all of them - two were missing).
Arriving in the Cathedral, bishops took time to pray at the tombs of Bishops Barneschi OSM, Zwane and Ndlovu OSM and Bishop Casalini OSM who died in Italy.
From the very first day the bishops underlined the joyful spirit they found in the diocese and they constantly admired the capacity the diocese had to organise so many events in one week: the plenary session of the bishops (which lasted a week), the launching of the book on HIV/Aids on Saturday, the centenary celebration and installation of a new bishop on Sunday.
I attributed this to the leadership of Bishop Ndlovu OSM who clearly involved everyone in the preparation and celebration of diocesan events.
This plenary session had a different style to the ones we have in South Africa as bishops were staying in three different places, they had to walk in the morning for Mass to our "Little Flower" church, walk to the bishop's house for the meals and to the "Caritas Hall" for the meetings. They found it very good and deeply enjoyed the healthy food (lots of fruit in the morning!) provided.
Every bishop left today deeply grateful to the Swazi people.
From the very first day the bishops underlined the joyful spirit they found in the diocese and they constantly admired the capacity the diocese had to organise so many events in one week: the plenary session of the bishops (which lasted a week), the launching of the book on HIV/Aids on Saturday, the centenary celebration and installation of a new bishop on Sunday.
I attributed this to the leadership of Bishop Ndlovu OSM who clearly involved everyone in the preparation and celebration of diocesan events.
This plenary session had a different style to the ones we have in South Africa as bishops were staying in three different places, they had to walk in the morning for Mass to our "Little Flower" church, walk to the bishop's house for the meals and to the "Caritas Hall" for the meetings. They found it very good and deeply enjoyed the healthy food (lots of fruit in the morning!) provided.
Every bishop left today deeply grateful to the Swazi people.
