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| Members of the Executive of the Laity Council representing all the Metropolitan areas |
Like every year, the first plenary session of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) is being held in Pretoria during the month of January. What makes this one different is that, at the opening Mass this afternoon, we witnessed the launching of the "Laity Council". This is an initiative which started to develop four or five years' ago when the Bishops wondered how to make sure the laity will have a voice in the Catholic Church in Southern Africa.
In the words of Mr Malatsi Leonard Kope (Chairperson of the Laity Council):
"Today the Church in our region is celebrating a historic moment which should be embraced by all as the mission of the Church is brought more and more closer to all of us"
The Laity Council
- wants to give a platform to the Laity to have their voice heard
- should be a channel to bring the Church's teaching into the life of the Laity
- should be a means to bring the challenges met in their engagement both in the Church and in society to the attention of the SACBC
At the same time
- will remind us all that all the members of the Church are called to take part in the mission of the Church;
- can be a vehicle to enhance their missionary mandate which is to be the Salt, Light and Leaven of society in the ordinary life situation and various relationships
Bishop T. Kumalo (Diocese of Eshowe) was asked to give the homily which can be listened by clicking on the link below.
He was very passionate regarding the place of the laity in the Catholic Church.
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| Bishop T. Kumalo Diocese of Eshowe |
Click below to listen to Bp Kumalo's homily at the launching of the Laity Council
(You might need earphones if the sound is low)
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