SACBC Virtual Plenary 2021

Report from the SACBC – The SACBC Virtual Plenary Session was supposed to have taken placed from the 19^th to 22^nd January 2021, but due to the untimely death of Archbishop Abel Gabuza, who was buried on the 22^nd January, the Plenary was postponed. Now the Plenary runs from the 26^th to 29^th January.

On the opening day of the Plenary, there was a welcome address by the President of the Conference, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, who congratulated the bishops who have been appointed to the vacant dioceses also thanking the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Peter Wells for his hard work in facilitating the appointment of bishops. Bishop Sipuka also welcomed the new staff members of Khanya House, SACBC Offices in Pretoria.

He conveyed his thoughts and prayers for the country of Mozambique who had to face the weather storms and the ongoing war in the North. He spoke about the impact Covid-19 has had in the life of the Church and life in the country in general. The bishop extended his condolences to President Cyril Ramaphosa for the untimely departure of Mr Jackson Mthembu.

The address by Bishop Sipuka was followed by an address from the Apostolic Nuncio. The Nuncio spoke about various things including the significance of the Encyclicals Fratelli Tutti and Laudato Si. Archbishop Wells reminded the bishops that they are meant to be bridge builders “reaching out to others creating opportunities for fruitful and engaging encounters.” He emphasised themes touched on by Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti. At the end of his address, the nuncio assured the bishops that the process is still underway to fill the dioceses without bishops.

He stated that it is important for the people of God to know that something is being done about the dioceses without bishops. He then said in the next few months an announcement will be made on the appointment of the Bishop of Kimberly. In the same breath, having conveyed his condolences to the Archdiocese of Durban on the passing away of Archbishop Gabuza, he said the process has already begun to find an Archbishop for the Diocese of Durban.

The Associate Secretary-General of the Conference also gave his address touching on the concept of the “New Normal” which obviously affected the plans of the church, among those being the Year of the Eucharist and the Year of St Joseph.

He spoke further about the state of Khanya House and the projects that are underway and those to come in the future. He also touched on the issue of the pastoral plan stating the need to “not belabour the point that the Pastoral plan was launched and then its implementation was cast adrift by the pandemic.” He wanted to know what needs to be done to adapt the Pastoral Plan to our current situation.

The second day of the Plenary dealt with Finance and Seminaries in the morning and in the afternoon the situation in Zimbabwe, Botswana and eSwatini.

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