Catching up with posts...
On Sunday 30 June, the Parish of St Peter & Paul celebrated the feast of Our Lady Consolata. I guess this already makes clear it was not the Patronal Feast which will be celebrated in two weeks' time. This was a community coming together to celebrate the presence and service of the Consolata Missionaries among them.
St Peter & Paul parish was born two and a half years' ago when it was decided to divide the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Manzini) and create a new parish at Kwaluseni. I believe that from that very first year, the community started coming together for this feast.
Fr James Githinji IMC joined us from Pretoria (South Africa). His term of office as superior of the missionaries serving in South Africa and Eswatini ended last month and will be serving in another country. His presence allowed us to thank him. It was under his leadership, that their presence in this country and diocese started.
The celebration started with a procession around Kwaluseni, singing and praying with biblical texts from the Gospel of Luke remembering Mary's call and presence in our lives.
It was then followed by the celebration of Mass and the confirmation of 18 men and women.
As I shared during the homily, the feast of Our Lady Consolata is about a God who sees the suffering of his people, who hears their cry and wants to console them. That is why he calls Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Mary and so many others. He calls them and sends them in his name to touch their lives with his love. That is why he calls us too today.
During the previous week I came across this statement on Instagram: "when there is a will, there is a way. When there is no will, there is an excuse".
We could write a long list of excuses not to be sent. The truth is that looking at those called before us no reason would be enough to say no. When being called:
- "I have never been eloquent... I am slow and hesitant of speech" (Ex 4: 10) said Moses
- "Ah Lord you see, I do not know how to speak: I am only a child" (Jer 1: 6) replied Jeremiah
- "Leave me Lord I am a sinful man" (Lk 5: 8) asked Peter
We are no different. It is only the gift of the Holy Spirit that counts. The same Spirit we asked the Father in Jesus' name to come upon those who were going to be confirmed.
It was a joyful celebration from beginning to end. The community of St Peter & Paul is never shy at showing their happiness. I believe the videos below testify to that.
