Umzimkulu: 10 years, and still no new shepherd

Umzimkulu means palace or mansion. If names mean anything, Umzimkulu is supposed to refer to decor, royalty and style combined.

The place of that name, in KwaZulu-Natal, seems arid, barren, raped and skewed. Its grass looked starved, livestock malnourished, soil seriously disorganised, and the roads unfriendly to vehicles. Poverty characterises the generality of this diocese. Who would like to live in such a place?

“A re tsamaye rona, re robala mo.” We are not moving, even an inch: we are here to stay.

If statistics are anything to go by, Umzimkulu is the most Catholic diocese in the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference area (Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland). Of a population of 84830, 82761 (97%) are Catholic.

Umzimkulu has come of age. The diocese was erected on February 21, 1954. Last month, almost all the hierarchy of the SACBC joined the people and priests of Umzimkulu to celebrate the golden jubilee of this diocese at Lourdes mission. It is the first South African diocese to have had a black African bishop (Bishop Pius Bonaventura Dlamini).

Since the retirement of Bishop Sithunywa Gerard Ndlovu in August 1994, it has had no resident bishop. Its apostolic administrator is Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, archbishop of Durban.

“Please, Archbishop Collao, as representative of the pope, we ask you give us our own bishop. It has been ten years since we have been orphans. Please! Please! Please!” These desperate sentiments were expressed during the anniversary Mass presided over by Cardinal Napier in the presence of the apostolic nuncio. They acknowledged the contributions and sacrifices made by the archbishop of Durban, yet they feel like “sheep without a shepherd”.

Normally when a diocese falls vacant, the process for appointing a new bishop begins. The nuncio inquires for names, seeking opinions from bishops, priests of the diocese, and anyone else he thinks appropriate. He compiles a ternus�a list of three names of candidates, and presents it, with his own opinions, to the Holy See. The pope may accept one of the candidates or consult further. The whole process is secret. No other diocese in Southern Africa has spent so many years without a bishop. Is Umzimkulu forgotten, or forsaken?

Church law (Canon #378) states that a suitable candidate must be “outstanding in strong faith, good morals, piety, zeal for souls, wisdom, prudence and human virtues, and possess those other gifts which equip him to fulfil the office in question”; he must “be held in good esteem”; be at least 35 years of age; a priest ordained for at least five years; hold a doctorate or a licentiate or at least “be well versed in sacred scripture, theology or canon law.”

Is there no such a person in Umzimkulu or neighbouring dioceses? Can anything good come from Umzimkulu?

When Jesus looked at the multitude, he was moved by compassion and empathy. He saw “sheep without a shepherd” (Mk 6:34).

“There were questions but no answers, distress but no relief, anguish of conscience but no deliverance, tears but no consolation, sin but no forgiveness” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).

“They were spiritually starved, materially impoverished, and, worst of all, nobody seemed to care” (Louis Bartet).

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

Let us join the people of Bloemfontein, Kroonstad, Aliwal North and also Keetmanshoop in Namibia in prayer, that they do not wait a decade before the Good Shepherd sends them a pastor.