“We Are the Church”, Bishop Selemela Tells Pilgrims at Jonathan Pilgrimage

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · August 19, 2024

“I Am The Church. You Are The Church. We Are The Church.” This was the message delivered by the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Pretoria Bishop Masilo John Selemela at the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebration, held on Sunday at Mary Assumed into Heaven Church in Jonathan Village, west of Brits.

The annual pilgrimage was attended by over three thousand pilgrims from across the North-Western deanery of the Archdiocese of Pretoria. It was started by the congregation of the Stigmatine Fathers forty-three years ago, and it is a major drawcard for pilgrims to the Marian shrine at the church, located in the North-West province. The pilgrimage has been held every year since then, except during the covid-19 epidemic years between 2020-2022.

“Today we are gathered here in this rural setting of this beautiful village and at the Marian shrine of our Lady to come and listen to what she is telling us. The Blessed Virgin requires us to be an active Church. She is conveying the message to us that we need to assume ownership of the Church, and everything that comes with it, good or bad.

It is in this respect that I convey gratitude to some other deaneries within the archdiocese for having demonstrated their commitment to ensuring that the affairs of our vast social projects and personnel in the form of our beloved clergy are well taken care of. I therefore urge the North-Western deanery to follow suit in our pursuit of ensuring that our archdiocese not only survives but thrives. We put all this in the hands of our Mother to lend her helping hand to us, and also to realise our own part in making this happen,” he said during his homily during the Mass service.

A major project that the North-Western deanery is currently involved in is the improvement of the Marian shrine at Jonathan. In this respect, a project working committee has been put in place to work towards this goal. At the end of the Mass, a representative of the project committee gave an update on the current developments of the project. He also outlined an upcoming campaign called the “Brick a Brick To Church” campaign geared towards encouraging parishioners across the deanery to buy and donate building bricks towards the improvement of the shrine.

Another project geared towards fundraising for the archdiocese is the upcoming Family Fun Day on Saturday 24 August 2024. It will be held at the Most Holy Redeemer Church in Mmakau. Activities for the day include aerobics, team-building exercises, kiddies’ fun activities, music, a braai and other fun activities. Tickets are R 50 each and are available at the deanery parishes, or by calling Tsietsi on 072 443 3498.