SACBC’s Khanya House staff celebrate Church’s 200 years

by Caleb SC · May 26, 2018

by Fr Paul Tatu CSS – Staff members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) head office, Khanya House in Pretoria, celebrated 200 years of the Catholic Church in Southern Africa.

Fr Patrick Rakeketsi CSS, the SACBC associate secretary-general, gave a summary of the history of the Catholic Church in the region, emphasising the need to thank all missionaries for their contribution to the local Church.

He pointed out that some of the first congregations that came as missionaries to the region had done great work in raising people’s quality of life.
“The Church for the past 200 years has been producing fine people and it continues to do so. Many such people continue to hold important roles in society today,” he said.

Fr Sakhi Mofokeng, who led the Mass, in his homily noted that Jesus describes himself as the true vine and his Father the vinedresser.

He used the image of branches connected to the vine as the true picture of how the Church is connected to Jesus Christ and depends solely on him to bear fruit.
Fr Mofokeng said without Jesus Christ, the Church can do nothing.

In the concluding address, SACBC secretary-general Sr Hermenegild Makoro CPS said that the missionaries who brought faith to us offered their lives for the service of the Church.
“Most of them never went back home. They sacrificed their lives so that we could have a better life.

“We need to draw this good example from them during the service we give to the People of God,” she told the Khanya House staff.

“Working for the Church is not about money, but service. The Church is different from other institutions. Those who think working for the Church is about the money, are in the wrong place.”
Sr Makoro acknowledged the good work the SACBC staff is doing.