Great Celebration as Inkamana Abbey turns 100
By Emmanuel Suntheni OSB – With ululation and overwhelming joy, the monks of Inkamana Abbey celebrated 100 years of their existence in South Africa on 5 November. Led by the Prior Administrator Fr Boniface Kamushishi OSB, the community welcomed the people of God from Eshowe diocese, Southern African archdioceses and dioceses, and European and African Benedictines Confreres.
(left) Fr Prior Boniface (Prior-Administrator of Inkamana Abbey)and Fr Prior Richard (Germany). Right Cardinal Wilfrid Napier preached the Homily at the celebratory Mass.
Notable figures were his eminence Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM, the Apostolic Administrator of Eshowe Diocese, His grace Archbishop Mandla Siegfried Jwara, CMM, the Metropolitan archbishop of Durban, Rev Fr Prior Richard Muterer OSB from Germany, Abbot emeritus Godfrey OSB, Abbot emeritus Dennis OSB, the Mayor of Vryheid, and Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi.
The Main celebrant and concelebrants: (from left) Deacon Adrian Bisika (speaking), Archbishop Sigfried Mandla Jwara, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, Fr Prior Richard, Emmanuel Suntheni OSB
The highlight of the jubilee celebration was undoubtedly the Pontifical High Mass celebrated by Cardinal Napier, concelebrated by Archbishop Jwara, Frs Prior Richard, Prior Boniface and more than 50 priests.
Cardinal Napier began his homily with the words of Pope John Paul II: Remember the Past with gratitude, Live Present with enthusiasm and Be Open to the Future with confidence! This attracted the attention of the congregants as he continued reminding everyone’s baptismal and confirmation mandate in his homily. As we celebrated 100 years, he invited the congregants and in a special way the monks of Inkamana to consider the to live the words of Pope Paul VI of becoming missionaries ourselves as we have clocked 100 years: “You Africans must be Missionaries to yourselves!”.
Unveiling ceremony and blessing of two plaques for deceased brothers and the names of Inkamana monks who were present during the centenary celebration by Archbishop Jwara and Cardinal Napier.
This was a calling to everybody to be a missionary and look to the future with confidence as it will flow from the love of God, openness and sincerity which we have as we walk with Jesus. The more open we are, the more confident we will become! He concluded his homily by saying, ‘What else is there to say: If God is for us, who can be against us!’
In the course of the celebration, the community welcomed Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who arrived a little late for the celebration and was given a heroic welcome as the leader and traditional head of the Zulu people. A little bent over and leaning on his walking stick, the 94-year-old old man walked along the aisle to the first row of benches, and later he gave a thanksgiving appraisal speech for the presence of Benedictines in Zululand.
Abbot emeritus Dennis with Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi
Chief Buthelezi also expressed his family’s close ties with the Benedictines. He pointed out that the Benedictines, through their Ora et Labora, have brought “hope, help and light” to his people at a dark and difficult time. With his eloquent tongue, he said he is close to the Pope, as he has seen and shaken hands with three Popes and is also a recipient of the Pope’s achiever medal.
After the Pontifical Mass, the meal was served in two large tents. As usual on such occasions, Zulu dances were performed by our high school students and by a professional Zulu dance group which our Br Clement Sithole had organised.
Inkamana students dressed in Zulu attire and they performed Zulu dance after Mass. Some Choir members of the Inkama Deanery Choir
Fr Prior Boniface and the community erected small plaques in front of the Abbey Church with the names of the 115 Zululand missionaries who have died and the names of all Inkamana monks who celebrated 100 years. It was unveiled by Archbishop Mandla Jwara, who reminded the monks and the congregants to always remember the good deeds of our missionaries and that there is a need to now rejuvenate our faith by doing acts of mercy in love for others.
Unveiling ceremony and blessing of two plaques for deceased brothers and the names of Inkamana monks who were present during centenary celebration by Archbishop Jwara and Cardinal Napier
At the end of the celebration in the evening, Fr Prior Boniface thanked all people from all walks of the world who came to witness this auspicious function. As a gift to the people of God, one of the Monks launched a spiritual prayer book where he combined the Holy Rosary and the life of St Benedict with the Holy Scriptures, it is called “MEDITATING THE HOLY ROSARY WITH OUR HOLY FATHER BENEDICT.” You can order a copy by emailing . Many thanks to Fr Prior Richard who sponsored the publication of the prayer book. Soon it will be available in Zulu, Swahili, Chichewa and German languages.
Left: Cover of the new prayer book “Meditating the Holy Rosary with our Holy Father Benedict, using Scriptures”. Right: Dr Zakithi Mazibuko an Oblate of Inkamana (lay associate of Inkamana) holding the spiritual prayer book
If any person is interested in becoming a Benedictine monk or a lay associate of Benedictine life like an oblate, please email Rev Deacon Francis: .
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