Getting to know Cardinal Stephen Brislin: JHB’s Archbishop and President of the SACBC
Kati Dijane and Cardinal Stephen Brislin. Inset: The Cover of Far East Rand Catholic News, June 2025
By Kati Dijane, Pictures: Sheldon Reddiar
The first time I met Cardinal Stephen Brislin was in the Diocese of Witbank in October 2024. I was among the hundreds of people who attended the centenary celebration of that diocese. He was still the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cape Town. Struck with awe and excitement at being in the presence of another red hat, I gathered the courage to approach him, introduce myself and ask him to make a video greeting to my viewers on social media. I then asked for a sit-down interview with him at his earliest convenience. He gently agreed, introducing me to Father Manuel Fernandes SAC, his former PA, to make further arrangements.
It wasn’t long before Pope Francis announced that the cardinal would be transferred to my home Archdiocese of Johannesburg as its archbishop. I was very excited to welcome him to the archdiocese along with the community of Johannesburg. He’s been booked and busy with meetings, events and confirmations since taking his official seat as the archbishop. Yet, earlier this year, he managed to make the time to finally sit down with the Far East Rand Catholic News for this interview. Welcome, Southern Africa, to Cardinal Stephen Brislin’s world:
Roots in the Catholic faith and family values
Born on 24 September 1956, in the mining town of Welkom in the Free State, South Africa, Cardinal Brislin was raised in a deeply Catholic home. His parents, both converts to Catholicism, nurtured a strong foundation of faith and moral values. Cardinal Brislin is the youngest of five children – two brothers and two sisters who are still alive. The family lived modestly, and his mother became the bedrock of the household after his father passed away when he was nine years old. His elder brothers stepped up to become his role models during his teenage years.
From a young age, Brislin demonstrated a strong sense of spirituality. He attended St Agnes Convent School and later Christian Brothers College, where he was exposed to the richness of Catholic education. It was during these formative years that the calling to priesthood began to take shape in his heart.
After matriculating, he decided not to join the seminary immediately and furthered his studies at the University of Cape Town, where he was involved in Kolbe House, the chaplaincy of the university. It was there that he continued to feel drawn to the priestly vocation and so with the blessing of the vicar apostolate, he pursued his studies in philosophy at St John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria. After his studies, he took a two-year break from the seminary and went back to Cape Town to complete his BA degree. He then continued with theology at the Missionary Institute in London and on 19 November 1983, he was ordained a priest, beginning a lifetime of dedicated pastoral service.
Motlalepula – He comes with rain
The cardinal is known by another name, Motlalepula (he comes with rain in Sesotho) among many in his home diocese in the Free State and even Lesotho, where he went to learn Sesotho. He shares about how the name was given to and stuck with him, “There are many people in the past who didn’t even know my real name, Stephen. When I was ordained a deacon, my bishop then said it was necessary for me to go learn the language. So, I was sent to Lesotho, to the diocese of Leribe, for a week before heading to a small mission station in the mountains called St Charles Mission. It was upon my arrival there that it began to rain. The sister there came out to greet me and gave me that name. It also rained during my priestly ordination as well.”
A pastoral heart for the people
Cardinal Brislin’s early years as a priest were spent working in parishes in townships, including St Barbara’s and Mofumahali Oa Rosari, which were diverse and vibrant. “I am a parish priest at heart. I loved parish work, the busyness and liveliness of parishes. Looking back over the years as a bishop and now a cardinal, I found that I gained far more from the faith of parishioners and the faith of the people that I serve. I met inspiring, deeply committed people who are in love with and serve God and families who are close together and bound together by our Catholic faith. They continue to inspire me. That has been an enormous amount of strength for me in my priesthood, knowing that I am not doing this alone, I have people around me who are more than willing to help and build the church,” he says.
Shepherd of Southern Africa
The Archdiocese of Johannesburg is the third diocese Cardinal Brislin is shepherding, while leading the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) as its current president is not new to him.
In 2006, he was appointed Bishop of Kroonstad by Pope Benedict XVI and was named Archbishop of Cape Town in 2009. He served that archdiocese faithfully for over a decade before being transferred to Johannesburg. While the first two appointments as a bishop were formal, how he heard of his elevation to the College of Cardinals in 2023 was interesting and in true Pope Francis style, took him by surprise: “I didn’t see it coming at all! I got a text message from someone in Thailand saying it’s lovely to have another red hat in South Africa, which I didn’t understand. The communications officer of the SACBC, Sheila Pires, also called to ask whether it was true that I was elected, to which I answered I had no idea… Then the news broke,” he says.
Embracing and empowering the youth
Young people have always held a special place in Cardinal Brislin’s heart. He understands the pressures that young South Africans face—unemployment, poverty and social instability—and sees the Church as a crucial partner in offering hope and purpose.
He says, “It’s always a joy to see the exuberance of the youth in parishes and in the liturgy. Throughout my priesthood and as a bishop, I have met extraordinary young people who are inspirational and love the church and want to make a difference in the church and society. As a church, we must be careful not to block the gift of young people. Sometimes, we don’t want to see change and we risk closing ourselves to new ideas and suggestions. Also, young people sometimes feel they can’t participate in the church for various reasons. We must make space for young people and let them play their role.”
His message of hope to the young people this Youth Month and during this Jubilee Year of Hope: “Many young people don’t grow up in an environment where they are supported, which makes it difficult for them to face various challenges head-on. Often when I go for confirmations, I do tell young people that life is filled with challenges, and one has to have the inner strength to face them and persevere. It’s important to understand that things don’t always go the way we plan or hope, but we mustn’t give up because God has a plan for us. Things, however, do improve. I also advocate for the church to support the youth through the youth ministry.”
A leader in the digital age
Cardinal Brislin is also aware of the transformative power of technology and digital media. In an era where social platforms often shape public opinion and identity, he calls on the faithful to be intentional about their digital presence.
“Social media is a new continent that must be evangelised,” he says. “We have to be the evangelisers who put Christ into social media, promote the values of our faith, unity, peace and justice, and make a difference to the world.”
He encourages young people to become “digital missionaries,” using their platforms to share stories of hope and avoid adding to negativity.
Personal reflections
Outside his many titles and responsibilities, Cardinal Brislin:
-Has two dogs that he loves walking with.
-He loves reading and occasionally watches a bit of TV.
-Some of his favourite Sotho hymns include Kabelo Ya Ka, Ase Le Thabo and Ke Tshepile Ho Wena
-His favourite prayers include Sitting quietly with God, as well as Marian prayers, such as Regina Caeli and Memorae. “I also love the Stations of the Cross.”
-Would like to be remembered as someone who has made people feel better in their lives.
If you are based in the Far East Rand Deanery, in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, you can get the print issue at R15 per copy.
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