IMBISA Delegates “deeply impressed” by Manzini Diocese’s Hosting of Plenary, Golden Jubilee Celebrations: Local Ordinary

“I am also grateful to all those who joined the celebration of the Mass at Mavuso Trade Centre. Our celebration would not have been the same without you!” Bishop Ponce de León says in the statement dated October 9.

He continues, “I would like to thank those who, unable to be present, chose to pray that these events would be a blessing to our guests and to our diocese. God blessed us with a wonderful sunny day and that could only be the fruit of our common prayer.”

In his statement, Bishop Ponce de León goes on to challenge the people of God under his pastoral care to cherish in their hearts and carry along with them what they experienced during the closing Mass on September 28 because “this is who we are as a Diocese.”

During the closing Mass of the six-day event, the Bishop says, “we offered our time, our personal gifts and resources at the service of all; we came together to complement each other without feeling the need to compete or to show off; we rejoiced in each other's gifts.”

“We saw the commitment of men and women, young people and adults. We showed we are one body where everyone is needed and appreciated,” he says, and adds, “This is who we are, and this is who we could be if the same is done at every parish and outstation and among sodalities.”

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The Bishop of Manzini since his installation in January 2014 implores, “May our journeying together be the main fruit of the IMBISA Golden Jubilee celebrated in our Diocese.”

Eswatini hosted the September 24 – 29 double celebration of the 14th Plenary Assembly and the Golden Jubilee, which was realized under the theme, “IMBISA Golden Jubilee: A Synodal Journey, nourished by compassion and blossoming in faith as pilgrims of hope.” 

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Communication Officer of Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), Sheila Pires, Bishop Victor Hlolo Phalana of Klerksdorp Diocese in South Africa also reflected on the six-day celebrations.

Bishop Phalana hailed IMBISA members for their unity, adding that he is personally “taking home the importance of our fraternity and collegiality as Bishops.”

“Now and then it’s important for us to come together and to share friendship, share ideas, pray together and also just be there to listen to one another,” he said.

The South African Catholic Bishop explained that the coming together of IMBISA members transcended an administrative meeting. It was a spiritual celebration of unity and history, he said. 

“Everything was done in the context of the jubilee — IMBISA having now completed 50 years. So, it was worth coming together to celebrate that milestone,” the Bishop of Klerksdorp Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in January 2015 said.

Despite their diverse perspectives and contexts, Bishop Phalana said, the Bishops from the nine IMBISA member countries reaffirmed their commitment to walk together in unity and fraternity, strengthening collaboration in the service of the Gospel. 

“It was very good for us to talk about it again, and I could hear the Bishops recommitting themselves to this path of synodality, aware of the fact that there could be some in the Church who are not happy with it,” he said referring to the Synod on Synodality, the multi-year XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which concluded with a 52-page Final Document of the XVI Assembly following the 2-27 October 2024 second session.

Bishop Phalana added, “IMBISA has given synodality their thumbs up, and they are saying no, we will adhere to the call of both Pope Francis of good memory and also our present Pope Leo; they all support and encourage synodality. That’s the path the Church will take.”

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Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.