Bishop Edward Risi: The Liturgist
Addressing the January plenary session of the Southern African Bishops’ Conference, outgoing president Bishop Sithembele Sipuka paid tribute to five bishops who are expected to retire soon or have recently retired. In the final instalment of the series, we feature his comments about Bishop Edward Risi OMI, 76, who has headed the diocese of Keimoes-Upington since 2000.
“Bishop Risi has served the Conference with remarkable zeal for nearly 25 years. Under his leadership, we are proud to be among the most up-to-date Conferences regarding liturgical matters.
Even before the New English Roman Missal was published, we proactively introduced it in our area, and we continue to keep up with all revised liturgical texts, always ready to vote on necessary changes.
Our last visit to the Dicastery for Divine Worship during the Ad Limina was one of the most productive dialogues, thanks to Bishop Risi’s diligent efforts in preparing for it.
The Department for Liturgy, Christian Formation, and Culture, under the leadership of Bishop Risi, consistently facilitates workshops and produces books to ensure a sound and comprehensive culturally integrated formation of the laity.
Unfortunately, the department’s guidance appears to be ignored in some instances, particularly in Liturgy, where the mystery of the liturgy is diminished and turned into a social gathering and entertainment platform.
Such peculiar practices include singing and dancing before the homily and, back in the Eastern Cape, the cacophonic ringing of bells, which has led to reduced singing of Catholic Hymns. Sometimes, you find people talking in between the sacred parts of the Mass and, most disturbingly, priests in chasubles doing traditional and amapiano dances in front of the altar.

Bishop Edward Risi (Photo: Sheldon Reddiar)
Such actions betray troubling forgetfulness of duty to lead the faithful in worshipping God and not to indulge in performance and entertainment.
While we appreciate Bishop Risi’s commitment to liturgical formation, it is unfortunate that many fail to implement his teachings fully.
Bishop Risi was essential in drafting the SACBC Pastoral Plan launched in 2020, aiming to foster a vibrant Catholic laity and enhance evangelisation efforts. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these initiatives, and subsequent focus on the Synod process led to less attention being given to the Pastoral Plan.
It would be detrimental for this carefully crafted Pastoral Plan with a lot of work to fade into obscurity; revisiting it would be beneficial, particularly for the bishops who came after it was launched.
When the Pastoral Plan was launched [in January 2020], it was decided that each diocese should create its own Pastoral Plan based on the SACBC model. I am only aware of the Archdiocese of Pretoria and, recently, Mthatha taking this initiative.
A significant challenge remains: the Pastoral Plan lacks a guiding implementation program, reminiscent of the 1988 Pastoral Plan. Although Bishop Risi developed a programme for his diocese, it was not officially adopted.
With the Synod on Synodality concluded, it’s crucial to find a way to connect the Pastoral Plan to these new developments.”
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