Actions of Christians “must be rooted in shared belief system”: Catholic Bishop at Ecumenical Lecture in Eswatini

“Unity will not be achieved through assimilation but through mutual enrichment and collective growth towards Christ, who embodies truth,” he said in his lecture titled, “Why and How Churches in Eswatini Should Work Together.”

Credit: Katy Dijane

Bishop Sipuka added, “Ecumenical engagement positions churches as important agents of peace and reconciliation.”

“In contexts of political tension, social unrest or fractured communities, united Christian leadership can offer faith-rooted frameworks for conflict resolution,” he went on to say, adding, “When churches speak with one voice, grounded in scripture, humility, and justice, they serve as moral anchors for the nation.”

Credit: Katy Dijane

Highlighting common ground between Catholics and Protestants, such as belief in the Triune God, reverence for scripture, and baptism, the South African Catholic Bishop lauded members of Christian churches in Eswatini for “collaborating effectively in education, healthcare, and social outreach.”

He insisted that their combined impact could be even greater “if they spoke and acted with one voice.”

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“Ecumenism is not merely an institutional arrangement but a spiritual journey toward fulfilling Christ's prayer ‘that they may all be one,’” Bishop Sipuka noted.

According to him, “When Catholics appreciate the Protestant emphasis on scriptural immediacy and personal conversion, and when Protestants receive the Catholic sacramental vision and sense of historical continuity, we all grow closer to the fullness of Christ's truth.”

Credit: Katy Dijane

“Bishop Zwane understood this profound truth, and his legacy calls us to continue this sacred work with renewed vigour,” the Local Ordinary of Mthatha Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in May 2008 said.

Reflecting on the purpose of the Memorial Lecture, the Parish Priest of Regina Mundi Parish of Manzini Diocese, Fr. Sakhile Ndwandwe, said that the lecture safeguards the memory and values of Bishop Zwane, the first Swati Catholic Bishop of Manzini, who passed on in August 1980 at the age of 48.

Credit: Katy Dijane

“Bishop Zwane’s episcopal motto ut viam habeant (“that they may have life”) was not merely symbolic; his episcopate was not about himself, but a ministry grounded in the lived realities of the people, one that prioritised human dignity, cultural authenticity and holistic human development,” Fr. Ndwandwe said.

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He noted that the memorial lecture was a forum for intellectual and ecclesial dialogue in that it aimed to bring together diverse voices, including scholars, members of the Clergy, Theologians, and a section of the Laity to engage on issues central to the mission of the Church. 

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“Bishop Zwane did precisely this during his Episcopate. He created and initiated open forums on ecumenism, liberation theology, and public ethics,” the Catholic Priest said about the late Catholic Church leader, who had started his Episcopal Ministry in May 1976. 

On his part, the local Ordinary of Manzini, Bishop José Luis Ponce de León, paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, saying, “Bishop was known and revered for his fight for justice, lay ministry, social development, communication, refugee issues and poverty eradication.”

Bishop José Luis Ponce de León (right) and Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka (left). Credit: Katy Dijane

Bishop Ponce de León said the Memorial Lecture started nine years ago, organized by the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace and Caritas in Eswatini, with Fr. Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, the late Bishop Zwane’s kinsman, as the first guest speaker. 

Credit: Katy Dijane

The Argentine-born member of the Consolata Missionaries (IMC) expressed his appreciation for the initiative, saying it had a positive impact on the lives of the people the late Catholic Bishop served, particularly through his concern for social and ecumenical issues.

Kati Dijane in South Africa contributed to this story