Pioneering braille literacy in Eswatini

Fr Mazibuko OSM - prior (left) and Fr Dlamini OSM (right)

At today's "Braille 50th Anniversary Commemoration" held at St Joseph's (Mzimpofu)

the "National Association of Persons with Visual Impairment in eSwatini" (NAPVIE)

awarded a certificate of appreciation to Fr Angelo Ciccone OSM

"in recognition of your dedication and hard work in pioneering braille literacy in Eswatini"

Below, my speech before receiving the award in his name

In the last few weeks I have been asked to receive awards in the name of two priests who served in our diocese: 

• the first one was Fr Larry McDonnell SDB, a Salesian priest born in Ireland. 
• the second one, today, Fr Angelo Ciccone OSM a member of the Order of the Servants of Mary born in Italy.

At their funerals, in both cases, we were blessed with messages from the Prime Minister as both marked deeply not only our diocese but this country as a whole

It is always beautiful to see the different gifts God blesses us with. These two came from different countries (Ireland and Italy) and were members of different religious communities (Salesians and Servites). At the same time, they were both Catholics, both priests and both of them dealt with “education”. Fr McDonnell with the education of the youth and Fr Ciccone with the education of children with disabilities.

St Joseph's blind children choir

I believe we all have some words in the Bible we particularly like. I certainly do. In the Gospel of Mark there are some words which have become my daily prayer. You find them in the familiar story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar. 

One day, Bartimaeus was sitting at the side of the road when he heard the noise of people passing by. When he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout: "Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me". Those walking with Jesus told him to keep quiet but he shouted all the louder: "Son of David, have pity on me". 

Jesus called him and asked him: "what do you want me to do for you?". Bartimaeus replied: "Let me see again". 

I always treasure Bartimaeus' prayer: Jesus, have mercy on me. I pray these words daily: at home, walking, driving. Like Bartimaeus I want to be able to see!

Fr Angelo Ciccone OSM heard this cry coming from the hearts of children with visual impairments. He had mercy on them. He worked tirelessly so that they would be able to see. Not with their eyes but in new ways that would indeed allow them to see. That is why, as we come together here today, we want to remember him and thank God for the gift of his life and work among us. 

Sr Stephania Ngwenya OSM presented the history of the centre for the blind

In the gospels there is always something very interesting. Particularly in the stories about blind people. It seems that, when meeting Jesus, the blind ones see and those who were able to see look blind to us.

In the story of Bartimaeus from the Gospel of Mark, when Bartimeus starts shouting and begging: "Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me!" it is those walking with Jesus who want him to keep quiet. 

Does it make sense to you? Does it make sense that someone could be walking with Jesus and making someone in need to keep quiet? Does it make sense that someone could be walking with Jesus and silencing the cry of those who suffer?

Who was then the blind one? Bartimaeus or those walking with Jesus? Bartimaeus could see he had a unique opportunity and grabbed it at once. Those walking with Jesus seem to be with him but unable to see.

At Fr Ciccone's funeral I quoted something he used to tell me: “I have been able to do many things for children and people with disabilities but I was never able to change the way society looks at them” 

Indeed, our society remains blind. While we are grateful for all the efforts being made by government and many institutions and business in the country who employ people with visual impairments, society remains blind. 

It does not make sense. We call ourselves a Christian country but our hearts do not seem to have been touched by Jesus. Had it been touched by Jesus, this or other centres like this one would never struggle!

That is why the work of the Church keeps in her heart both the blind, their families and the whole of society.

Fr Ciccone OSM gave them back their dignity, the dignity of a child of God which is denied by many of us. While for some or many, a person with a disability is a problem, a burden, maybe a punishment or a curse... Fr Ciccone OSM worked to help us see in each one of them a brother, a sister, a child of God like you and me. 

Fr Ciccone OSM saw in them, the image of Christ and added a new line to the famous passage from the Gospel of Matthew 25. Where we read: "I was hungry and you gave me to eat, i was thirsty and you gave me to drink... Fr Ciccone added: "I was blind and you helped me see. You lifted me up"

The new line could also have been: "I thought I was not able to do things... and you taught me and helped me see I was!" In fact, I will never forget May 2014 when we came together to celebrate the centenary of this Mission and, for the first time, I heard this blind girl reading the second reading better than many of those who could do it with their eyes. It was an amazing picture of the work being done here.

Receiving the award from the Deputy Prime Minister's representative

As I finish, let me share with you a personal concern. I fear awards. Awards, necessarily, point to the past. No one can, of course, give an award about the future!

I fear awards might just point to the past, to what was done or, like today, to someone who is no longer with us. 

The best award we can all give is to the present and the future building a society that treasures every person as God's child. 

God bless you all,

+ José Luis IMC

Bishop of Manzini

12 July 2019

St Joseph's Blind Choir

Video by N.M.

Photos from Flickr