BLESSED DASWA FEAST DAY ON 1 FEBRUARY 2023

 

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 

The retreat of the sisters at Ave Maria Pastoral Centre

The retreat of the sisters serving in Tzaneen Diocese took place from 15 to 22 December. 2020. This was the first retreat at Ave Maria Pastoral Centre since the priests' retreat in March after the national lockdown came into effect because of the Covid-19 pandemic. We thank the Lord that all went well under the direction of Fr James. 

                          Fr. James is giving a talk and leading the sisters into prayer.

The group photo in the church after the Holy Mass

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come spiritually into my heart. I embrace You and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen

We worship the Lord who is present in the Most Holy Sacrament of His Body and Blood

Heavenly Father, source of all life!  Send us your Holy Spirit, that we may recognize and grow in the love of Christ present in the Eucharist, who handed himself over for us! He is our Lord and our Master, our friend and our food, our healer and our peace.Give us the courage to take his strength and his joy to every person! Grant us, that this month of the Eucharist would serve the spiritual renewal of our community, cities, nations and the world.  Amen

Blessed Benedict Daswa - Celebrating 30th Anniversary of Martyrdom

FEAST DAY on SATURDAY 1 February 2020

CELEBRATIONS FOR THE FEAST DAY IN THE PARISH OF ṰHOHOYANḒOU at TSHITANINI Village at the site of the future Shrine

EVE OF THE FEAST ON FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2020

From 16:00 to 21:00 on Friday 31 January people will be invited to spend a period of silent adoration, prayer and reflection in the TENT AT TSHIṰANINI. This period of immediate preparation for the Feast on 1 February will be a time of grace, reconciliation and healing.
On entering the area, people will be encouraged to spend time in silent adoration and prayerful reflection for examination of their conscience. Then the Most Blessed Sacrament will be exposed. During this quiet time, they can ponder in their hearts and ask Jesus how he wants them to be his disciples as Blessed T. S. Benedict Daswa was and how to live better that call in their daily lives.
Throughout this quiet time, priests will be available for those wishing to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This graced invitation is a precious opportunity to receive from Jesus’ Sacred Heart the forgiving and healing touch of His loving kindness and mercy. Jesus’ Heart will be there longing to pour out on all who come to Him, the grace of becoming his disciples.
After receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation, all will be encouraged to spend some quiet time in thanksgiving in front of the Most Blessed Sacrament, thanking Blessed Benedict Daswa for the example of his holy life and asking for his prayers and help in living more faithfully as Jesus’ disciples. Exposition will close with Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
The conclusion of the nine days of prayers will also be prayed at the end of the evening celebration.

 THE FEAST DAY – SATURDAY 1^st FEBRUARY 2020

On the actual day of the Feast of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict Daswa, on 1^st  February 2020, celebrations will be held at Tshiṱanini Village, where the Beatification took place on 13 September 2015, and where the future Shrine and Pilgrimage Centre will be situated. The Road has been tarred from Dzingahe Village until the site.

From 6:30 am to 8:45 am – will be the Veneration of the Relics of Blessed T. S. Benedict Daswa

At 7:30 am the nine life stations of Blessed Daswa will be observed  followed by the Prayer of the Rosary lead by lay people and the Prayer of the Litany of Blessed T. S. Benedict Daswa – Martyr of Jesus Christ

9.00 am to 11.00  Eucharistic Celebration of the Feast of Blessed Benedict Daswa presided by His Eminence Archbishop Wilfrid Napier OFM, Archbishop of Durban Archdiocese.
This will be followed by the veneration of the relics of Blessed Benedict Daswa in procession.

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NOVENA: 9 DAYS OF PRAYER BEFORE THE FEAST DAY OF BLESSED BENEDICT DASWA

The Feast of Blessed Benedict Daswa has been approved by Rome for 01 February. This feast may be celebrated in all SACBC Dioceses and Parishes as a Memorial. The liturgical colour is Red as Blessed Benedict died a Martyr. 
The Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has officially approved proper Liturgical texts for the Celebration of the Eucharist and for the Liturgy of the Hours. These texts are available on the official Benedict Daswa Website.
People throughout the SACBC Dioceses are encouraged to pray for the favours and graces they need during nine days prior to the Feast on 1 February.
This novena will commence on 23 January and conclude on 31 January.
People are invited to perform three acts of kindness each day of the Novena in remembrance of the three acts of charity which Blessed Benedict performed the day he was martyred.
The Blessed Daswa Novena Booklet can be used during these nine days and is available for downloading in various languages from this official Benedict Daswa Website at 

http://benedictdaswa.org.za/praying-through-intercession/