The Bible Course "Exploring Scripture Together" concluded on Sunday 13 June 2021

The Bible Course "Exploring Scripture Together" concluded on Sunday 13 June 2021 with the distribution of the certificates and a thanksgiving Mass for the participants presided by Bishop Emeritus Hugh Slattery MSC in the chapel of Ave Maria Pastoral Centre. The two-year course took three years to complete because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Blessed Benedict Daswa - Tzaneen Diocesan inquiry on miracle sent to Rome

 

On the 13^th September 2015, we celebrated the beatification of the Servant of God Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa at Tshiṱanini. When he was beatified, he was recognised as a Saint for the local church. This was a culmination of the long process that began in early 2000. As the cause for his beatification was that of martyrdom, there was no need for a miracle to be recognised by the Church for this first phase of the process.

 Since 2015, the devotion to Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa has been growing among the Catholic faithful and even among some non-Catholics who are encouraged by Catholic members to ask him to intercede for their needs. We have also seen a steady increase in the number of pilgrims each year. The 1^st of February feast-day celebration has been growing steadily among the Catholic faithful. Some people have also made it a point to diarise the date so that they would not miss it. We have also seen an increase in the SACBC organised Men’s and Women’s pilgrimages. Sadly, this had to stop in 2020 & 2021 because of COVID19 pandemic.

Some of these faithful people have received favours that are remarkable and they have shared their experiences with us.  These people came from all over South Africa and even beyond the borders of South Africa. Of the many people who were willing to share their stories, some favours were selected and presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome to see if any of them could be considered to be a possible miracle. The Diocese of Tzaneen was fortunate to have received a go-ahead to formally investigate one of these favours.

 Now, we are at the next phase in the process of seeking to get him canonised and thus be recognised as a Saint for the whole universal church. Since then, under the guidance of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints,we have been doing a follow-up with this particular favour that Rome had selected. We are now happy to announce that the results of this phase of the investigation have been sent to Rome for evaluation. We confidently yet patiently wait in prayer like the apostles and disciples waited in prayer and fasting in the upper room for the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2,1).

 Please pray to God in the holy name of Jesus, and also ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and indeed, Blessed Daswa himself, that we may get a favourable response from Rome. We pray that when the members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints study, scrutinize and evaluate all the documents and testimonies which we sent them, Pope Francis will then be able to discern and respond if Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa can be canonized and proclaimed as a Saint for the universal Church.

 May God bless you all and may Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa intercede for your needs and the needs of your family and community.

+Rt. Reverend Bishop Joao Rodrigues                          Sr Tshifhiwa Munzhedzi, OP.

                   Bishop of Tzaneen                                               Promotor of the Cause

                  bishopjoao@mweb.co.za                                     bendaswa@mweb.co.za

 Pentecost Sunday, 23 May 2021