Bishop Sithembele Sipuka’s Opening Address at August Plenary

by Admin · August 16, 2023

By Sheila Pires, SACBC – In his welcome address during the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) August plenary, the SACBC President highlighted the June 12-17 Ad Limina Visit and called on his confrères to be “prophetic witnesses” amid socio-political challenges facing the Church and the world.

From the 14 to 18 August, SACBC Bishops together with the two Cardinals and the Secretariate are meeting at Mariannhill Retreat House for the second plenary of the year. In his August 15 opening remarks, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka began by congratulating the Cardinal-Elect Stephen Brislin on his appointment and reassured him of the Bishop’s “support” in his new role as Cardinal.

“As you accept this responsibility, Archbishop Brislin, I wish to assure you of our support in your new role as Cardinal and continued solidarity with you as a member of this Conference. We will be accompanying you to Rome for the consistory both as an indication of our support to you and appreciation of the Holy Father’s gesture of confidence in our Conference by nominating a second Cardinal from it,” said Bishop Sipuka.

He added, “Through the two of you, yourself and Cardinal Napier, we are happy as this Conference to assist the Holy Father in his enormous task of leading the universal Church. Congratulations, Archbishop Brislin!”

In his address, the SACBC President also welcomed the new Bishops and new Associate Secretary General Sr Dominica Mkhize following her appointment in February 2023.

He said, “Welcome, bishop Zondi and bishop Mazibuko. The Ad Limina visit gave us the opportunity to meet our new Associate Secretary General, but it is the first time she meets us at a conference meeting. Welcome, Sr. Dominica.”

“The highlight of our Ad Limina visit was the unexpected meeting with the Pope and his famous four points message, closeness to God, to each other, to priests, and to the laity. Almost every bishop interviewed about the Ad Limina noted how this fourfold message of the Pope was touching,” said Bishop Sipuka in his August 15 address.

The SACBC President then went on to address the socio-political challenges facing the Church and the world. Bishop Sipuka called for a prophetic witness in the face of the many challenges facing the Church and the world. He referred to the tensions in the State of Manipur, India, the August 23 Zimbabwean general elections, and the crisis in South Africa especially the high incidence of teenage pregnancies as well as abortions. “There is a sense that South Africa has reached a crisis of the highest magnitude imaginable in civic and political life. Most people feel this country will be doomed if something is not done now.

For that reason, some time will be spent in this plenary session discussing the “Kyros Document” prepared by the Justice and Peace Commission with a focus on how the Church can contribute to finding a solution to avoid calamity,” said Bishop Sipuka in his August 15 welcome address.

Read the entire opening address