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| Arch. Brislin (Cape Town), SACBC President |
The plenary session of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) started yesterday evening at Mariannhill (KZN, South Africa). I will be joining them tomorrow afternoon. In the meantime, I have already received the "Presidential address" by Archbishop Stephen Brislin (Archbishop of Cape Town).
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Presidential Address
Plenary Session, August 2018, Mariannhill
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.” [Is 58:6-8].
Welcome to all of you to the August 2018 Plenary Session. The recollection we had, starting last night, on the Holy Father’s Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, Rejoice and be Glad, has set the scene for our discussions. The universal call to holiness, with the Beatitudes as the foundation, reminds us of who we are as Church and what we are called to be.
Apart from our usual business, we will also be dealing with economic transformation during this plenary, as well as land reform in the light of the discussion for a change to the Constitution. And of course the new Troika will be elected.
Click HERE to download the whole text
