Mater Dolorosa Parish in Mbabane elevated to co-cathedral, hosts annual Bishop Zwane Memorial Lecture

by Kati Dijane · Published May 12, 2025 · Updated May 12, 2025

Mater Dolorosa parish in Mbabane, elevated to co-cathedral

By Kati Dijane – More than 170 people gathered at Mater Dolorosa parish in Mbabane, in the Diocese of Manzini, to witness the historic elevation of the parish to the dignity of a co-Cathedral and the blessing of the bishop’s chair on May 10.

Various guest speakers were present, including Bishop Zwanini Tshabalala from the Council of Swaziland Churches and Bishop Sithembele Sipuka from the Diocese of Mthatha, who is also the newly elected president of the South African Council of Churches.

Father Sandile Mswane, parish priest of Mater Dolorosa and vicar-general of the Diocese of Manzini, read the decree of elevation, while Bishop Sithembele and the Bishop José Luis Gerardo Ponce de León IMC, of Manzini, blessed the bishop’s chair.

Purpose and function of the Memorial Lecture

Father Sakhile Ndwandwe then introduced the Memorial Lecture, themed “Why and How Churches in eSwatini Should Work Together”, and shared its significance. He explained that the annual Bishop Mandlenkosi Zwane Memorial Lecture honours the late bishop’s profound contribution to the Diocese of Manzini, “whose ministry integrated pastoral care, cultural insight, and social justice”. The lecture safeguards the memory and values of Bishop Zwane, the first Swati Catholic bishop of Manzini: “Bishop Zwane’s episcopal motto ut viam habeant (“that they may have life”) was not merely symbolic, his episcopate was not about himself, but a ministry grounded in the lived realities of the people, one that prioritised human dignity, cultural authenticity and holistic human development.”

The memorial lecture was a forum for intellectual and ecclesial dialogue in that it aimed to bring together diverse voices, scholars, clergy, theologians, and lay people to engage on issues central to the mission of the church. “Bishop Zwane did precisely this during his episcopate,” he continued, “He created and initiated open forums on ecumenism, liberation theology and public ethics,” Father Ndwandwe said.

Like Pope Francis, Bishop Zwane believed in ecumenism and ecumenical engagement, collaborating extensively with leaders of other denominations, especially in response to refugee displacement and moral governance. One of the ways the late bishop’s legacy and memory is kept alive is by naming the headquarters of the Eswatini Council of Churches after him, as one of the founders of the council of churches.

Bishop Sipuka honours the legacy of Bishop Mandlenkozi Zwane

Bishop Sipuka began by sharing how Bishop Zwane’s life and ministry are a powerful reminder of what vision and courage can achieve in the pursuit of Christian unity. In reflecting on the importance of ecumenism in memory of Bishop Zwane, Bishop Sipuka first acknowledged that one of the major hurdles in ecumenism is a lack of understanding of its comprehensive nature. “Many churches comfortably engage in charitable works, thinking service unites us while doctrine divides. However, we need to be aware that our actions must be rooted in a shared belief system, or at least a willingness to seek common understanding,” he said.

The essence of Bishop Sipuka’s lecture was unity among Christians. He noted that Bishop Zwane didn’t just talk about Christian unity, but lived it. To help answer the question of why churches should work together, the bishop said that this call was not just a nice idea, but a biblical mandate rooted in Jesus’ own prayer, found in John 17:21: “That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me”

Vatican II’s perspective

The Catholic Church’s thinking around unity changed dramatically during the Second Vatican Council, Bishop Sipuka explained. Instead of demanding that other Christians return to the Catholic Church, the Vatican Council recognised that truth and holiness can also be found in other Christian communities. “Before Vatican II, the prevailing Catholic view on Christian unity centred around “return ecumenism”—the belief that unity would be achieved when separated Christians rejoined the fold of the “one true Church,”” he said, adding that instead of viewing other Christian communities as lacking, the Council recognised them as possessing authentic, albeit incomplete, ecclesial reality. “The decree affirmed that “the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation.”

The bishop warned that not participating in ecumenism or opposing it goes against Catholic teaching about God’s desire to save everyone and God’s presence in all people. He added: “God’s Church extends beyond Catholic walls, which is why Jesus said in John 10:16, ‘But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

Ways to work together

Bishop Sipuka suggests that some of the steps to being ecumenical are to appreciate what is common among different churches and understand what each denomination says about itself before making conclusions based on misunderstanding and prejudice. He adds, “Unity will not be achieved through assimilation but through mutual enrichment and collective growth towards Christ, who embodies truth. Moreover, ecumenical engagement positions churches as important agents of peace and reconciliation. In contexts of political tension, social unrest or fractured communities, united Christian leadership can offer faith-rooted frameworks for conflict resolution. When churches speak with one voice, grounded in scripture, humility and justice, they serve as moral anchors for the nation.”

Bishop Sipuka concluded his lecture by stating: “Let us remember that ecumenism is not merely an institutional arrangement but a spiritual journey toward fulfilling Christ’s prayer, ‘That they may all be one’. Bishop Zwane understood this profound truth, and his legacy calls us to continue this sacred work with renewed vigour.

Bishop José Luis honours Bishop Mandlenkosi Zwane, Eswatini’s first diocesan bishop

Bishop Mandlenkhosi Zwane was born in 1932 in Eswatini and passed away in 1980, four years into his episcopal leadership as the first local Bishop of Manzini. He was known and revered for his fight for justice, lay ministry, social development, communication, refugee issues and poverty eradication.

He, along with members of the Lutheran and Anglican churches, co-founded the Council of Swaziland Churches on 13 November 1976. In response to why he wanted to keep Bishop Zwane’s memory alive after the lecture, Bishop Jose said that it was an initiative that started nine years ago by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and Caritas in Eswatini, with Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa – a relative of Bishop Zwane – as the first guest speaker.

Bishop Jose said he loved the initiative because of the impact the late bishop had on the lives of the people he served, being concerned about social and ecumenical issues. “The first memorial lecture was about Bishop Zwane, with the following topics being about issues he would have loved to have talked about,” said Bishop Jose.