Address at the sod turning, launching the building of a new hostel for boys
at St Joseph's Mission
Your Excellency,
Welcome once again to St Joseph. No matter how busy you might be, you always make time to be here and we are grateful for that.
There are familiar words in the Gospel that I find myself quoting regularly: the parable of the Good Samaritan.
I believe that every Christian - in one way or another - is familiar with this parable that talks about the man who meets robbers on his way.
The parable tells us that three people travel that road and see the man by the road but only one, a Samaritan, had compassion.
To have compassion is something deep as we see in the parable, because this man, out of compassion: "went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him onto his own mount and took him to an inn and looked after him"
Your Excellency, you and all those who are here present and those who have worked to make this project possible, are today's good Samaritans.
When the new highway from Manzini was built, a clear indication saying: “St Joseph Mission” was added. The name is linked not just to the Catholic Church but to this project started by Fr Angelo Ciccone. Many are aware of it but few come in.Like the man in the parable who met the robbers, people with disabilities remain by the side of the road hoping that someone would notice them and recognize their dignity.
This is what you – and those who are joining us here – are doing today; because your presence not only points to this new building but also brings the eyes of the nation to St Joseph and to the people living with disabilities.
Last year, Pope Francis called the Catholic Church to celebrate a special jubilee year of hope under the motto: “Hope does not disappoint”. As we prepared for it, we asked ourselves: “who feels without hope today in Eswatini?” People with disabilities was listed among the answers. Your presence brings new hope to our children and watching this building grow will be a reminder that hope does not disappoint.
The Catholic Church continues to be committed to these projects in support of people living with disabilities. We no longer receive financial help from abroad to support the Boarding House. Every year the Catholic Church in the Kingdom of Eswatini puts aside no less than E 250.000 to keep it running (and this just one out of many we run in the country). Our commitment is clear but it is not enough and it is not easy. I take this opportunity to call others to become Good Samaritans at St Joseph.
We celebrate the continuous partnership between His Majesty’s Government and the Catholic Church at the service of the poorest in the country. May Jesus, our good shepherd, continue to open our eyes to those who suffer in silence and continue to bring us together to transform their lives bringing them new hope and new life.
+ José Luis Ponce de León IMC
Bishop
of Manzini
