We couldn't wait to be back!

By now most of our parishes have resumed the celebration of Mass with a congregation. In some cases, a small one of up to 20 people. In other cases, after getting permission from Home Affairs, a bigger one. St Constantine (Tshaneni) was one of the last ones to do it as there is no resident priest at present.

During a visit not long ago, I shared with members of the Parish Council my intention to be with them on a Sunday. I asked them to let me know "when" it could be as there are a number of protocols to be implemented (sanitizers, social distance, register of people attending...). 

They were more than happy to hear that and they immediately started working. My visit was announced in their "WhatsApp" group (where I have been included). I could sense their joy. "I cannot wait to be back at Mass" wrote one of them.

Then, they phoned me saying they would be ready to welcome me on Sunday 20 September for Mass at 10.30.

Tshaneni is just over 100 km from Manzini and about 10 km from the border with Mozambique. There was no traffic on Sunday morning. It did not take me long to arrive and I was there by 9.30. Not that I wanted to arrive that early! They had let me know they would like to have a chance to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation and would be grateful if I could arrive there one hour earlier.

There is a beautiful grotto outside the Church and that is where I found some of the people praying before Mass (and many more after Mass!). I believe people find it an ideal place to pray in silence and entrust to the intercession of Mary whatever they are going through.

An A3 page (big one!) had been prepared to work as a register for the day: name, surname, ID number, cellphone number... everything! That is why people had been asked to arrive early enough. 

Confessions were done "standing" in order to keep social distance and avoid sanitizing the chairs every time.

By 10.30 we started Mass. Hymns were "played" two or three times ... singing was done only in our hearts!

The parish council had done a very good work preparing all the details and, as requested, they addressed the people for a few minutes at the end of Mass about the importance of wearing masks.

From now on, they will be having Mass every Sunday with the help of the different priests of the diocese, until the end of October when Fr Sandile Mswane will start residing among them. He is, in fact, the one who is working "behind the scenes" supporting the work of the parish council.