It is becoming a tradition in the Vicariate of Ingwavuma. Since 2013, the members of the Sodality of the Sacred Heart come together once a year at the Cathedral of the Vicariate for a day of prayer.
There are no many talks during the day. In fact, both last year and this year, there was only one. The rest of the day was dedicated to the praying of the rosary, adoration and the celebration of the Mass.
As I am now based in the diocese of Manzini, I was asked when I would be available as they wanted (like last year) to be with the bishop during this special day.
Arriving in Hlabisa from Swaziland I could see them walking from far. While last year most of the prayers were done in the Cathedral, this year they chose to gather "in town" and walk all their way to the Cathedral while praying the different mysteries of the rosary. It must have taken them at least two hours on a very hot day.
Delegates from the other sodalities in the Vicariate had been invited: St Anne's, St John's, youth... Fr Mkhwanazi was asked to address them all on the importance and service of the sodalities in the church.
This was followed by some time of adoration, led by Fr Msweli and then the celebration of the Mass. I somehow repeated something I had said ... in 2010! I invited the sodalities not only to think of helping the sodality grow but helping the church grow and asked them to make sure that at every meeting they would have some time to reflect on that.
At the end of the Mass they presented two "gifts" to the bishop. The first one was a generous contribution of R 25.000 towards the expenses of the formation of our seminarians. This is something they have been doing every year for a long time.
The second one was "a deposit slip" for R 40.000 towards the building of the new "Retreat and Training Centre" at St Lucia. Deeply grateful...!
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