Ascension day is a public holiday in Swaziland. Archbishop Peter Wells (Apostolic Nuncio) presided Mass at the Cathedral. Being also "Africa day" everyone had been invited to come dressed according to his or her own culture. Our community at the Cathedral gathers people from many countries coming from different continents.
Before Mass, though, he met Mr Msibi who wanted to show once again how grateful he is to the Church for being allowed to work in the garden for the last 33 years. He had prepared some plants to give to the Apostolic Nuncio for him to take to the different parishes he would be visiting during his stay in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
Mr Msibi spoke about the different plants found in the country and how each one of them benefits our health. Together with that he also showed him different things he had been able to make with his own hands: from toothpicks to teaspoons in wood.
The archbishop encouraged him to continue reminding him of Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato Sii" on the care of creation.
After Mass the archbishop met part of the group of pilgrims to Fatima (Portugal) and Rome (Italy). They were deeply grateful to him for helping them get the tickets for the audience with Pope Francis in Rome and for their name ("Pilgrims from Swaziland") being mentioned at the beginning of the gathering at St Peter's square.
They also shared with him about the deep spiritual experience they had in Fatima and how happy they were to have been able to witness the canonization of the little shepherds on May 13.
Archbishop Wells reminded them that everything in Mary always points to Jesus, from the Magnificat where she praises the Lord to Cana where she tells the servants: do whatever He tells you...
In the afternoon he visited the parishes of Regina Mundi (Piggs Peak) and St Peregrine's (Bulandzeni).
