Priestly and Diaconate Ordination in the Diocese of Mthatha

By Sr Margaret Mary SU – “You will be anointed today with Sacred Chrism. You will be marked, sealed, configured to Christ. And with this sealing, God is saying to you, ‘I am giving you everything you need to become a Saint’. Sometimes when we get used to priesthood we don’t realise its Sacredness and become careless about it. What you are going to get today are the instruments for you to become holy so that you may be able to make others holy” said Bishop Sipuka.

Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of the Catholic Diocese of Mthatha ordained two priests; Fr Nhlanhla Bright Ziqubu CMM and Fr Raphael Mubukwanu Chambula CMM; and one deacon, Deacon S’busiso Michael Hlophe CMM. The celebration was held on 1 November 2025 at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Farview under Maloti Deanery.

All three newly ordained men belong to the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill (CMM), the only male religious congregation serving in the Diocese. The CMM has been invaluable to the Diocese, offering their priests to work in Mthatha and support the ongoing faith-building efforts of our local Church.

Sainthood for All

As the ordination fell on the Solemnity of All Saints, Bishop Sipuka reflected on what it means to become a saint. He explained that our daily ability to do what we ought to do and to do it faithfully is what makes us saints.

“If we look at how the saints of the Church lived, we realise that they were like us,” the Bishop said. “They were able to do what they were supposed to do with faithfulness, regardless of their weaknesses as human beings.”

Bishop Sipuka urged the faithful to embrace their weaknesses and trust in God’s mercy. “It is those we judge most harshly who will eventually become saints,” he said. “Sainthood isn’t far from us. To become priests and religious is enough for one to be a saint. If the Lord desires to grant us extraordinary spiritual gifts, that is a bonus. Otherwise, we have been granted everything that can help us become saints.” Bishop Sipuka added

His message on sainthood was particularly relevant and meaningful. It brought awareness that becoming a saint is still possible and it is not something of the past. We are all called to sainthood.

A Call to Hope in Challenging Times

In our Diocese, we face challenges: many people, especially the youth, are losing interest in the faith. The Catholic Church is dwindling in numbers day by day, leading to fewer responses to the vocation to priesthood and religious life. Social issues like imbalances in family life, high rate of unemployment leading to poverty, substance abuse and many other problems. Yet even amidst these difficulties, it is still possible to have saints of our time.

The Bishop mentioned that some cease to do charitable works because of the overwhelming number of people in need. Yet, he reminded us that we are all called “to respond to the immediate need, and that is a way to holiness.”

Taking Up the Diet of Christ

Bishop Sipuka shared a story of an obese man whose doctor prescribed a special diet to replace his unhealthy eating habits. Unfortunately, the man misunderstood the instructions. Instead of replacing his old diet entirely, he thought he could add the new diet before or after his usual meals. As a result, his condition did not improve.

The Bishop urged us to take up fully the “diet of Christ” without wanting to hold on to our usual ways. “It is this ability to let go of our weaknesses, habits, or certain ways of life and embrace Christ fully that enables us to become saints,” he said.

A Charge to the Newly Ordained

To the newly ordained, Bishop Sipuka emphasised the importance of living their vocation truthfully and setting an example for others. “You have been called to be instruments to help other people become saints,” the Bishop said. “But you can only lead others to holiness if you yourselves are striving to live saintly lives.”

“The Prayer of the Church, the Eucharist, meditation and many other forms of prayer are there to help priests live an exemplary life, even when they are weak,” the Bishop said.

He encouraged them to be available to people, walking amongst them and understanding their social lives. However, he also warned the newly ordained to guard against letting people become too familiar with them. “Usually, it is this kind of relationship that makes people not want to come for confession to a priest they know too well, and this will be a blockage to their own way to holiness,” he cautioned.

A Sign of Hope

The ordination of these three young men in this Jubilee Year of Hope comes as an answered prayer amidst the shortage of local vocations in the Diocese. Their presence brings renewed hope to a Church that is praying earnestly for more labourers in the Lord’s vineyard.

Holy Orders is a sacred sacrament, and all of us, both clergy and laity, are called to help ensure that this sacrament remains sacred and respected. The priests cannot fulfil their mission alone, nor can the faithful grow in holiness without their shepherds. When priests and the faithful collaborate in mutual support and shared responsibility, they create the ideal community of Christ, a community where holiness flourishes and God’s Kingdom is built here on earth.

“Go forward with Joy. Do not be afraid of the struggles. Do not be discouraged by your weaknesses. Remember what St Paul say; ‘My Grace is sufficient for you. For My Power is made perfect in weakness’” says Bishop Sipuka

Congratulations to Fr Nhlanhla Michael Ziqubu CMM, Fr Raphael Mubukwanu Chambula and Deacon S’busiso Michael Hlophe.