Episcopal Ordination of Auxiliary Bishop of Pretoria, Masilo John Selemela

by Admin · September 4, 2022

By SACBC – The episcopal ordination of the Auxiliary Bishop of Pretoria, Bishop Masilo John Selemela took place on 3 September 2022 at Moreletapark, Pretoria, presided over by the Archbishop of Pretoria, Archbishop Dabula Mpako as the main consecrator, and Bishops Joao Rodrigues of Tzaneen and Vincent Zungu of Port Elizabeth as the co-consecrating bishops.

In his opening remarks at the beginning of Mass Archbishop Dabula Mpako said the prayers at the mass are raised up to God, especially for the Bishop-Elect Masilo John Selemela, asking that God will shower his blessings abundantly upon him as he takes on this very important responsibility in the local church of the Archdiocese of Pretoria. He said the prayer is also for the local church that through the presence and ministering of Bishop Selemela it may become the kind of Church that God would have it be.

Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Peter Wells, read the mandate from His Holiness, Pope Francis, regarding the appointment and ordination of the Bishop-Elect Selemela. In the letter, the Roman Pontiff said the church is urgently called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, to save and renew every creature in the present order of things from which the new condition of humanity arises. He stated that it was the Archbishop of Pretoria who requested from the Apostolic See an auxiliary bishop.

The Pope said of Bishop Selemele: “You are known to have a good spiritual life, skilful in the affairs of administration, and most given with other human and priestly virtues. These gifts were especially visible in your ministry at the seminary where you wisely served as rector. From the fullness of our apostolic authority and having obtained the opinion of the Dicastery for Evangelisation we appoint you auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Pretoria.” Pope Francis said while he entrusts the beloved son to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel he also encourages him to serve the flock, especially on Sundays by fraternally holding fast to the teaching of the Catholic Church and to charity.

The homily for the Holy Mass was given by the presiding bishop, Archbishop Dabula Mpako. “The motto he has chosen for his coat of arms and through the scripture readings he has selected for this episcopal ordination ceremony invites us to remind ourselves again of who we are and what we exist for as the church,” said the Archbishop, adding that all should engage with this invitation with open hearts, reflectively and prayerfully, and everyone’s participation in this momentous liturgical event will be for everyone a grace-filled moment of renewal.

The Archbishop of Pretoria said the motto the bishop-elect has chosen for his coat of arms, “Called to Discipleship” echoes the great commissioning of the gospel of Matthew 28:1, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Archbishop Mpako said this great commissioning reminds everyone that the church by its very nature is missionary, that is, the Church by its very nature is sent out. Referring toa quote by Pope St Paul VI, Archbishop Mpako reminded the faithful that “the church exists to evangelise, to proclaim Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit so that people can open their hearts to God and find salvation and a path to authentic holiness. Thus evengelisation is the church’s deepest identity and mission.”

“May we completely outgrow the approach of seeing the Church as some kind of spiritual supermarket where we shop for spiritual good, but for which we assume no responsibility, and of which we have no sense of ownership. May we cease to view the Church as some sort of a spiritual bus in which we are passively carried from one destination to another. A spiritual bus in which you are carried from earth to heaven,” said Archbishop Mpako. “Let our approach not be about what I can get from the Church but about what I can contribute as a living and active member of the Church.”

Bishop Mpako said a bishop’s shepherding should not be about being a dictator over the flock entrusted to them but rather an example that the whole flock can follow. “Todays’ gospel saying feed my lambs, look after my sheep, feed my sheep, must, in addition, being about shepherding with care and concern for those most in need be also about gently, as sometimes brother Masilo, ‘firmly.’” Emphasising his brotherly advice, Archbishop Mpako said “And I used the adjective ‘firmly’ Masilo, advisedly, for experience has taught me that sometimes you have to practice tough love for people to become all that they can become. For their beauty to come out. And when you that sometimes they don’t like you, but after a while they thank you and they love you”.

At the end of Mass, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Pretoria, Fr Amos Mabuti said they are delighted to welcome Bishop Selemela to the Archdiocese of Pretoria and they have no doubt that together with Archbishop Mpako they will form a formidable team and together fulfil a good work he has done. “It is a great honour and privilege that you were chosen for us.” Fr Masemola also thanked Archbishop Mpako for having made a special request for the auxiliary bishop. “We are privileged to have both of you leading the archdiocese of Pretoria. We will rally behind you as priests, religious and faithful of Pretoria to make this archdiocese become what God desired it to be. He also thanked the Diocese of Tzaneen.

The newly ordained Bishop Selemela in his acknowledgement speech thanked God and the Holy Father for the confidence shown in him. The auxiliary bishop of Pretoria said it took him two full days to have proper sleep after he was told he has been appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Pretoria, “I have accepted to work in the Archbishop of Pretoria and I am ready to do so. He thanked his family as well, also acknowledging the presence with thanks of Archbishop Thabo Makhoba of the Anglican Communion and Bishop Sidwell Mokgothu of the Methodist Communion.

A note of gratitude also went to the formation stuff of the seminary and seminarians for the support and prayers and Bishop Vincent Zungu, Bishop Rodrigues, and the Secretariat of the SACBC. Bishop Emeritus of Tzaneen Hugh Slattery was acknowledged for empowering Bishop Selemela so that he could contribute meaningfully to the Church. The priests, religious and faithful were not forgotten for the support they have shown.

“To the people of the Archdiocese, I have only one prayer that all of us can know Jesus Christ and want to serve him truly.”