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Comboni celebrations in South Africa

Comboni celebrations in South Africa

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News from the Comboni North American Province

Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Gratitude is the feeling that was present in all the Comboni Missionaries and the priests and sisters of the diocese of Witbank gathered in Maria Trost, Lydenburg, on the 16 of May. Maria Trost is the place where the Comboni Missionaries first settled in the RSA on the 11th of February 1924. At the end of the provincial assembly (12-16 May) the Comboni missionaries launched the Comboni Year, to celebrate the 150 years of Comboni’s Plan and 90 years of their presence in South Africa. In the picture: Sch. Kgomotso Ronnie Sebopela and Fr. Jeremias dos Santos, provincial superior of South Africa.

 

The perpetual vows
of Kgomotso R. Sebopela.

 

Besides these two celebrations, we celebrated also the 50 years of priesthood of Fr. Konrad Nefzger and the perpetual vows of a South African confrere, Sch. Kgomotso Ronnie Sebopela.

Fr. Konrad is one of the oldest Comboni missionaries in South Africa, together with Fr. Anton Graf and Fr. Benno Singer. Kgomotso is the fruit of many years of hard work in formation. At present, the South African confreres are only eight. We believe that others will join our family.

The bishop of the diocese, Mgr. Joseph Sandri, presided over the Eucharist in which we remembered the first missionaries who arrived in South Africa in 1924 and all the confreres who came before us. Many of them are now buried in the graveyard of Maria Trost. Many diocesan priests and practically all the priests and brothers of the province were present at the celebration.


Deacon Kgomotso R. Sebopela
and Mgr. Joseph Sandri.

Sch. Kgomotso was ordained deacon on the 18th of May in the Comboni Mission of Waterval, where he had been doing his missionary service. The celebration was very well prepared and the people taking part were filled with joy and thanksgiving. The main celebrant was again Mgr. Joseph Sandri. Deacon Kgomotso will be ordained priest on 22 November, in his home parish of Mabopane, Pretoria.

Graduation at St. Augustine’s College
At St. Augustine’s College on 9 May 2014 the degree of Master of Philosophy in Culture and Education was conferred on Fr. Melese Tumato Shulla. Fr. Melese wrote his Master’s thesis on “Principals’ understanding and practices of servant-leadership in selected Christian primary schools of South Africa”.

Fr. Melese’s research paper was acknowledged as solid work and a great contribution towards educational policy makers in the South African context by his supervisor at the College and the external examiner from Kwazulu Natal University. Fr. John Maneschg represented the Comboni missionary family at the graduation ceremony.


Sch. Kgomotso was ordained deacon on the 18th of May
in the Comboni Mission of Waterval,
where he had been doing his missionary service.