Johannesburg, 12 October, 2025 / 9:02 PM
Stephen Cardinal Brislin of the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg has encouraged members of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL) in South Africa to remain steadfast in their mission and cautioned against “the temptation to give up” amid life’s challenges.
In his homily during the Jubilee of the Consecrated as part of the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, Cardinal Brislin underscored the importance of perseverance and renewed commitment to the Gospel in times of uncertainty and change.
“Understanding hope as a choice enables us to have agency, to commit ourselves to action, and to have a mindset that knows improvement is possible despite current circumstances. It is a remedy to despair, and it helps us to find meaning in life,” the South African Cardinal said during the October 9 Eucharistic celebration at Christ the King Cathedral of his Metropolitan See.
He added, “Rather than passively wait for circumstances to change, hope ensures that we make a conscious decision to work for a desired future.”
Cardinal Brislin continued, “Even when things are difficult and the outlook is gloomy, hope means that we will continue to engage with the world even if it involves a struggle.”
“This is so important for Consecrated Persons and Priests because we must fight against the temptation to give up,” he emphasized at the Eucharistic celebration that brought together 85 women and men Religious and Novices from over 30 ICLSAL in Johannesburg Archdiocese.
The Local Ordinary of Johannesburg Archdiocese, who doubles as the president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC), said that hope is not mere optimism, but “a deliberate choice and a gift from God.”
“Pope Francis framed hope as a deliberate choice and a gift from God. It involves cultivating a mindset of love and kindness, acting with empathy, and working for change by supporting the vulnerable and excluded,” he said.
Hope, the Cardinal went on to say, enables believers “to find meaning in life” and “to make a conscious decision to work for a desired future, even when the outlook is gloomy.”
The South African Cardinal acknowledged that many members of ICLSAL feel discouraged due to dwindling numbers and changing roles yet their witness remains essential.
“We may not be able to solve people’s problems, but we can be close to them, to listen, to encourage them so that they know they are not alone. This is solidarity; this is giving people hope,” he said.
According to him, “There is an enormously important role for Religious to play in the world. We need to hear the cry of the poor – the poor who are poor for different reasons, through economic poverty, powerlessness, emotional or spiritual poverty.”
“People are crying out; they are searching for meaning and purpose, very often in the wrong places. We need to hear the cry of the poor, the cry of the earth, and respond to that cry,” he said.
Cardinal Brislin continued, “How wonderful it would be to hear people say, we were struggling, we were facing enormous problems without knowing how to solve them, and the Church was with us all the way. It is about cultivating kindness and giving support to the vulnerable and this is in the reach of all of us.”
In a note to ACI Africa, the Provincial Superior of the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) in South Africa, Fr. Vaclav Klement, described the Jubilee of the Consecrated as “a moment of grace and renewal” for women and men Religious serving within the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.
“Since the last August 13, the Religious of the Johannesburg Archdiocese embarked on a common journey to strengthen their journey together,” Fr. Klement said in the October 10 note, adding, “The Jubilee of Consecrated Life celebrations became the first stepping stone.”
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Reflecting on the significance of the October 9 gathering at Christ the King Cathedral, the SDB Provincial, who is a member of the Communications Team of the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (COMSAM) noted that the celebration offered “a visible sign of unity in diversity,” bringing together over 80 participants from more than 30 ICLSAL.
“It was inspiring to see Novices, Sisters, and Brothers from so many countries and cultures praying, sharing, and celebrating together,” he told ACI Africa, and added, “The joy and family spirit we experienced reminded us that Consecrated Life is a gift meant to be lived in communion, not isolation.”
Fr. Klement also highlighted the practical outcomes of the October 9 celebration, emphasizing a long-term commitment to collaboration and mutual accompaniment.
“This Jubilee is not an end but a beginning,” he said, and recalled, “We agreed to continue meeting twice a year as a family of Consecrated Persons, rotating venues and sharing responsibilities, so that this spirit of fraternity becomes a living reality in our pastoral and community life.”
The Indian-born Salesian Provincial in South Africa expressed gratitude to Cardinal Brislin for presiding over the Eucharistic celebration and to the leadership of the Leadership Conference of Consecrated Life Southern Africa (LCCL-SA) for their coordination.
“We are deeply grateful for the Archbishop’s encouragement and the guidance of LCCL-SA,” Fr. Klement told ACI Africa, adding, “Their presence reminds us that hope, service, and communion are central to our vocation as consecrated persons in South Africa today.”
In his October 9 homily, Cardinal Brislin urged ICLSAL members to stay rooted in prayer and communion with God if they have to remain effective in the mission.
“God is transcendent – the creator of the cosmos – but He is also immanent, close to us, among us, and in our hearts giving us strength, comfort, and consolation,” he said.
He warned against despair and self-centeredness, saying Religious Life must remain outward-looking and mission-driven.
“We must fight against the temptation of self-referentiality, of existing only for our own good. We have to move outside of ourselves, to reach out and respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,” he said.
Cardinal Brislin reminded ICLSAL members of their prophetic witness. He said, “As Consecrated Persons, you are witnesses of God’s Kingdom, its truth, justice, and love. The world is longing and thirsting for goodness and kindness. We must be the sign, the best sign we can be, of God’s boundless love and mercy for his people.”
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