Radio Veritas Marks 25 years of Spreading Good News for a Change

Radio Veritas 25th Year Celebration Our Lady Queen of Peace in Bophelong in the Vaal Deanery

By Kati Dijane – Our Lady Queen of Peace in Bophelong in the Vaal Deanery in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg celebrated the 25^th anniversary of Radio Veritas with a special Mass.

Fr Solomon Mphela, was the main celebrant with Fathers Lucas Bambezela, Tshepo Maseko, Patrick Moholobela, Nkosinathi Mjongo, Diphaphang Ntsala (the director of La Verna) and Patrick Noonan, concelebrating. The rousing voices of the St Cecilia Choir from the Vaal Deanery, led by Theresa Mawela, accompanied the liturgy.

In his homily, Fr Mphela from St Dominic’s in Boksburg commended the silver jubilee of Radio Veritas, a platform that has been assisting the church in transmitting and evangelising God’s message to the ends of the world. “Radio Veritas began in the late Fr Emil Blaser’s bedroom. And today, we are celebrating 25 years of its existence.” He also challenged those present to see things through and create a positive impact in families, the church, communities and the careers where God places them. “What legacy do you want to leave? What is important is not just living, but how we live.”

Before the end of Mass, Kani Mapoko thanked everyone who supported Radio Veritas over the years and presented three birthday cakes that represent the pillars upon which the station stands. “These include catechism, country and community.” The cakes were cut by Ms Snowy Ngcobo who came from Polokwane in Limpopo, Fr Kifle Kirba, the Dean of the Vaal Deanery, and Fr Diphaphang Ntsala, who also celebrated his birthday on Saturday.

The second part of the day included a musical competition where nine choirs, three of whom were youth choirs, belted out great notes and entertained the guests, giving the judges a hard time selecting the winning choir. The choirs included Emmanuel Youth Choir, St Kizito Choir, Our Lady of Fatima Choir, Blessed Joseph Gerard Choir, St Angelus Youth Choir, St Cecilia Sancta Maria, the Vaal Deanery Choir, Our Lady of Assumption Youth Choir and the St Cecilia Choir Vaal Deanery, who took the first prize, which included R5000, a trophy and an appearance in Dumisa TV. The esteemed judges included Lawrence Molepo from Dumisa TV, singer, songwriter and presenter at Radio Veritas Thuso Mojatau, Thato Moatshe and Bongiknosi Sithole, a conductor of the St Cecilians in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.

Nine-year-old Mathapelo Moroe from St Kizito also recited a poem dedicated to Radio Veritas, while Khanya Litabe, who has been at the station for 24 years, thanked everyone who came to celebrate the 25^th-year existence of the only Catholic radio station in Southern Africa. He also appealed to people to continue supporting Radio Veritas financially and through prayers.

To support the radio station financially and become a member of Club Radio Veritas, please visit https://radioveritas.co.za/club-rv/