Vicariate Apostolic of Ingwavuma

We share this text with you as we have added our name to it.
If you'd like to add yours, please email: Rev Edwin Arrison This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

THEOLOGICAL AND ETHICAL REFLECTIONS
ON THE 2012 CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS OF THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

A WORD TO THE ANC, IN THESE   TIMES

As we continue to celebrate the coming of the Word into the world (John 1: 1) and God made human, we, fellow South Africans and Christian theologians, now wish to pass these words on to the African National Congress, as it prepares to celebrate its centenary during 2012…

We do so in a spirit of appreciation and gratitude for you and in a spirit of true friendship, where we can both congratulate you and raise some concerns as friends, and pray that these celebrations will be appropriate and not lavish, especially given the levels of poverty and inequality in our country.

We do so, knowing that many members of the ANC are also part of the Christian community, and this document is therefore written for our collective reflection.

We also do so, knowing that many Christian leaders were involved in the formation and nurturing of the ANC over the years, and we therefore continue to feel a sense of responsibility for its existence and what it does. In 1912, the founders of the African National Congress dreamed of a different future for all the people of South Africa, where there would be no more coloniser and colonised, but where we would all be one: One people, one nation, one country!

They dreamed that the injustice that was being meted out to black South Africans by the colonisers would come to an end. We thank God that the colonial and apartheid systems have come to an end and a great effort has been made to better the lives of all South Africans, especially the poor.

Although there has been much progress in this regard, certain tensions and contradictions continue to militate against us fully achieving this dream. The effect of the 1913 Land Act, is largely still with us; the economic disparities are stuck with us; deep levels of poverty are staring at us.

In this year, we once again dream of a future of being one, united in our diversity. This unity needs to be based on justice, peace and righteousness. Let us use this year to once again dream this dream together.

To continue reading the text, click HERE

Click HERE for more photos

On Monday 21^st November the Cyclists coming all the way from Musina passed by Hlabisa on their way to Durban.

Riding for climate justice is an initiative from the Department of Justice and Peace of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference. They intend to raise, awareness about global warming and climate change to all the towns where they pass by. They will arrive in Durban on the 25^th November just before the Conference of Parties start (COP 17).

They carry messages saying: “Don't get washed away”. “Don't get burnt”. "Act now for climate justice".

We wanted to be part of the climate justice journey so together with the Municipality we organized the Roadshow at the Hlabisa Sport Ground where we welcomed all the cyclists.

Cllr Hlabisa, Mayor of Hlabisa, and our Bishop Jose Luis Ponce de Leon went by bicycle to meet and welcome the cyclists at Majikeni Area, few kilometres away from the place where the ROADSHOW would be held. It was a great moment when they entered the show ground as people welcomed with great joy all the cyclists..