Big Rome job for SA priest

by Admin · Published October 13, 2022 · Updated October 13, 2022

Fr Vukani Masango CMM. The KZN-born priest has been elected second General Councillor of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, and will be based in Rome for the next six years. (Photo courtesy Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill)

By Fr Brian Nonde CMM & Staff Reporter – A South African priest has been elected to a leading position in the worldwide Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill (CMM) in Rome.

Fr Vukani Robert Masango had just recently become provincial superior in South Africa. Now he has been elected second General Councillor of the CMM, a congregation which was founded in KwaZulu-Natal by Abbot Francis Pfanner.

“When I was elected provincial superior at the beginning of this year in Mariannhill, I said to my confreres that I do not see myself as a Zulu or a South African before you, but rather [as] a brother. So I would like to say this again here that at this Chapter [general meeting of the CMM]. I accept this call to serve as a General Councilllor for the sake of the entire congregation.” said Fr Masango.

His election follows that of other office bearers of the CMM at the meeting, which includes delegates from Mariannhill and Mthatha in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia,Colombia, Austria, East Africa, Germany, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Netherlands, United States and Papua New Guinea.. Earlier, the congregation elected German-born Fr Michael Maß as its superior-general, He succeeds Bishop Thulani Mbuyisa CMM, whose term was cut short when Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Kokstad earlier this year. Fr Maß, whose ordination to the diaconate took place in Mariannhill in 2003, had served as acting superior-general since Bishop Mbuyisa’s appointment.

Fr Masango (front) in Sardis, Turkey, during the Southern Cross pilgrimage to Turkey and Medjugorje in March this year. With him are Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, and Frs Peter Whitehead and Christopher Slaters of East London. (Photo: Günther Simmermacher)

Fr Masango will be based at the CMM’s generalate in Rome for the next six years. The province of Mariannhill now has to elect a new provincial superior to replace him.

The priest is rooted in the history of Mariannhill through his personal experiences and contact with its foundations. He was born on August 30, 1977, at St Wendelin in KwaZulu-Natal, which is named after Abbot Pfanner’s first name, Wendelin. He grew up within and around the mission territories that were founded by the CMM.

Fr Masango joined the CMM in 2000 and made his first religious profession in Mariannhill Monastery on February 2, 2002. He studied at St Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara and was ordained a priest on August 23, 2008.

After his ordination he was assigned to Mariathal mission in Ixopo as assistant parish priest. In 2014 he was parish priest of Mariathal, in the same year he was appointed rector of Abbot Francis house of formation in South Africa. After six years of experience in formation, Fr Masango received his appointment to be parish priest of St. Josephs Parish in Richmond.

On March 18 this year, he was elected Provincial Superior of Mariannhill Province in South Africa.