Blessed Benedict Daswa Feast Day!
The theme for this year’s feast of Bl Benedict Daswa is “Called to be Jesus’ disciples like Bl Benedict Daswa”. The celebrations of the feast day will take place on February 1 at Tshitanini Village near Ṱhohoyandou, the site where the 2015 beatification took place and where the future shrine and pilgrimage centre will be located.
Prior to the feast day, a novena is running from January 23-31. The novena booklet is available online in various languages from the official Benedict Daswa website (www.benedictdaswa.org.za).
The Vatican’s Congregation for Worship and Sacraments has officially approved proper liturgical texts for the feast’s Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
The celebrations will begin on January 31 from 16:00 to 18:00 with a period of silent adoration, prayer, and reflection in the church of Our Lady of Fatima at Shayandima, an outstation of Thohoyandou parish.
This period of immediate preparation is intended as a time of grace, reconciliation, and healing. In the church, people will be encouraged to spend time in silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and prayerful reflection for examination of their conscience. Priests will be available for confession.
After confession, participants will be encouraged to spend some quiet time in thanksgiving in front of the Blessed Sacrament, thanking Bl Benedict for the example of his holy life and asking for his prayers and help in living more faithfully as Jesus’ disciples. The exposition will close with Benediction.
On the feast day at Tshitanini Village, there is opportunity for the veneration of Bl Benedict’s relics from 7:00 to 9:00. During those two hours, priests will be available for confession. At 8:15 laity will lead the Rosary (The Luminous Mysteries). From 9:00 to 11:00 Bishop Joao Rodrigues of Tzaneen will preside over the feast day Mass, followed by the veneration of the relics of Bl Benedict in procession.
Those who are unable to attend the celebrations are encouraged to celebrate the feast in their parishes.
- 6 Christmas Myths You May Have Fallen For - December 16, 2020
- How a Heresy Almost Won the Church - November 24, 2020
- What We Catholics Believe – And Why - November 24, 2020
