Emerging Saints of the Church in Africa

By Bokang Nicholas Tsoanamatsie – Here is a brief overview of three remarkable African candidates for sainthood, all of whom have been officially declared Servants of God.

Tanzania

Julius Nyerere, the inaugural president of Tanzania, was a devoted Catholic whose life exemplified integrity, public service, and a commitment to social justice (Ujamaa). He became a member of the Catholic Church at the age of 20, adopting the name Julius during his baptism on December 23, 1943.  He was recognised for his daily attendance at Mass and for merging Catholic social principles with traditional African values, which shaped his political philosophy of “familyhood” (Ujamaa).

The designation “Servant of God” was conferred by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, acknowledging his esteemed reputation for holiness and virtue. The Diocese of Musoma commenced the formal inquiry into his life for sainthood in 2005, receiving official approval from the Vatican in 2014.

The Church regards him as a paragon of Catholic social teaching, emphasising his humility, modesty, dedication to the common good and recognising his heroic virtues in both leadership and personal conduct, which has led to ongoing initiatives and prayers for his beatification.

Zimbabwe

Currently, the only individual from Zimbabwe holding the official title “Servant of God” is John Bradburne.

John Bradburne (1921–1979) was an English lay member of the Third Order of Saint Francis, a poet, and the warden of the Mutemwa leper colony in Mutoko, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia). He dedicated the last decade of his life to selflessly caring for individuals afflicted with leprosy and was killed during the final days of the country’s liberation war. His death is widely regarded as an act of martyrdom.

The Holy See granted the nihil obstat (no objection) to commence his canonisation process on July 15, 2019, officially bestowing upon him the title “Servant of God.” This marks the initial step in the four-stage canonisation process of the Catholic Church.

The procedure to recognise him as a saint is currently in progress, involving the collection and examination of testimonies and historical records by a commission prior to the submission of the case to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican.

Lesotho

Eulalia Malebaka Mokhosi is lovingly referred to by the Basotho faithful as MaGabriel or Nkhono MaGabriel, which translates to Grandmother. This nickname arose from her extensive journey from her home in Tlokoeng Phamong to attend Holy Mass at St Gabriel Parish in Quthing. It is said that she would traverse the renowned Senqu River, even during times of flooding, without succumbing to its depths, and throughout her journey, she remained untouched by rain.

Her commitment to the Holy Eucharist and the Holy Rosary was truly remarkable. Neighbours accused her of witchcraft due to her use of sacramentals, which safeguarded her fields from severe weather conditions. She played a crucial role in the founding of Bethel Parish in Phamong within the diocese of Mohale’s Hoek. The late Sebastian Cardinal Khoarai OMI initiated her cause for sainthood, and she was honoured with the title “Servant of God”.

Although her date of death was not officially recorded, it is believed to have occurred in 1932. The diocese of Mohale’s Hoek commemorates her feast every March at her home in Tlokoeng, where her remains were interred.