New St Joseph’s Head Says Students are a Top Priority

by asiel · October 26, 2018

By David Mohanoe – The new president of St Joseph’s Theological Institute (SJTI) in Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal, sees his primary role as ensuring the institute offers students the best opportunity to succeed.

Fr Ewen Swartz, an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, became the fifth and youngest president of SJTI when he was installed this month at a Mass in St Joseph’s chapel.

At the Mass, Fr Swartz was offered the keys and the constitution of SJTI, a sign of leadership and responsibility. His term runs for a period of four years, with the possibility of renewal.

Fr Swartz succeeded Fr Neil Frank who had been in office since 2016. His term was cut short as he was elected to be provincial of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

“I feel honoured and humbled to be regarded as suitable to be appointed to this position,” Fr Swartz said in an interview after the ceremony.

Students and their Religious Organisations

“The first responsibility of the president is to the students and their respective sponsoring organisations,” he said, referring to mainly religious congregations who send their candidates for study at the institute.

“Thus all that is done in the institute will be focused on ensuring that the students are given the best opportunity to succeed.”

Fr Swartz has lectured at SJTI in canon law and pastoral theology. He had been acting as the academic dean of the institute since 2016, while also serving as assisting parish priest at St Mary’s church in Pietermaritzburg.

He is a formator at Cebula House of Formation Prenovitiate, presiding judge at the Inter-diocesan Tribunal in Durban, and SJTI representative in the SACBC Department for Formation, Life and Apostolate of the Laity.

Since Fr Frank’s appointment as Oblate provincial in April, Fr Swartz has been St Joseph’s acting president.