Every year the SCCM (Swaziland Council of Catholic Men) gathers at one of our parishes for the weekend.
The SCCM brings together all the Catholic men in the country, just like the SCCW gathers all Catholic women. It goes beyond any single sodality. In fact, some of the men are also members of St Joseph's sodality and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
This year, their gathering was done at Holy Rosary Parish (Mankayane). Not only was the first time for them to be there, but it was also the first time for the parish to host such a gathering. As Fr Theodomir shared at the end of Mass: "Ours is a parish that needs to develop and your presence helps us grow. Your singing was so good these days that people were wondering what was happening at the Catholic Church!"
With the help of Fr Khuluse (spiritual advisor) they involved Fr Makama (diocesan priest), Fr Onyango (Consolata Missionary) and Fr Shabangu (Salesian) in giving different talks during the weekend.
Most of the parishes were present and it was the biggest and better represented gathering they have ever had.
I presided today's (Sunday's) celebration of the Mass. While sharing on our call to love one another I asked them to reflect on the situation of our country where so many children are orphans. Some because one or both parents died, but others because one of the parents left the family... in most of the case: the father.
We need to think how this affects them today and in the future and how our Catholic men can help them as they grow up and one day start building their own families.
Click on the photo below
for Flickr photos of Holy Rosary Parish
