Inkamana NEWSLETTER: 3/2016 23 August 2016
Dear confreres, benefactors and friends,
Greetings and prayers from the monks of Inkamana Abbey, Vryheid, South Africa ….
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." (Albert Schweitzer). Gratitude is one of the fundamental traits of being human. First of all, what we are and what we own are gifts and blessings from God. Secondly we are grateful to our benefactors and friends for their great help through their donations and prayers. I would like to mention that we give thanks for our benefactors - from Sunday to Saturday during evening prayer (Vespers) we pray for our benefactors and also every Monday we celebrate Holy Mass for our benefactors. So once more many thanks to benefactors and friends.
At the beginning of May, we had a financial visitation and at the end of May we had a canonical visitation. On the 2 of June Abbot Anastasius Reiser of Peramiho and Brother Bakanja Mkenda of Ndanda Abbey concluded the visitation with some corrections, advice and, most of all, encouragement. We are grateful for their hard work and suggestions. We learned a lot from these visitators both financial (Fr. Alfons Holela of Ndanda Abbey & Mr. Marcus Ballhausen of St.Ottilien) and canonical (Abbot Anastasius Reiser of Peramiho and Bro. Bakanja Mkenda of Ndanda Abbey). You are in our prayers.
Let us start with the confreres who had to undertake major and minor journeys. On 2 June our two junior professed monks, Bro. Francis Kuutondokwa and Bro. Emmanuel Suntheni, arrived from Nairobi for their holidays. Bro. Emmanuel is doing his second-year theological studies and Bro. Francis is doing his second year philosophical studies. Both are at our Benedictine study house in Langata under the guidance of Fr. Boniface Tiguila OSB. On 5 June, after Holy Mass, Abbot Emeritus Godfrey left to Elukwatini, some 247 kilometers from Inkamana Abbey to give a retreat to the Benedictine Sisters of St. Alban. On the 12th of June Abbot Emeritus Godfrey returned from Elukwatini after having given his retreat. After lunch on the 12th of June our Novice master Brother Anselm Sayer and Assistant Novice master Brother Edward Namwiri and our novice Antony together with our postulant Keketso left for Mariannhill Monastery to attend a formation workshop. On the 15th of June our Brother Bernard flew to Germany for his holidays. Brother Bernard is our ‘all rounder ’, as such he is the one in charge of the abbey vehicles, the monastery watersupply not to mention the garden. We wish him a very happy holiday with his friends and family and we look forward to his return to our community on 26 August. On 25 June Father Gerard Lagleder finished his fund-raising tour in Europe and returned to the Blessed Gerard Care Centre in Mandeni. On 3 July Fr. Dominic Onasseryil OSB traveled to Pietermaritzburg to celebrate St. Thomas day with the Indian communities resident there - St. Thomas is the Apostle of India and for Syro-Malabar Catholics His feast day is a Solemnity. Also on 3 July Brother Michael Stevens visited his mother in Howick - she is in her old age and he stayed a few days with the Redemptorist community in Merrivale and was able to visit his mother every day. On 4 July Abbot Emeritus Godfrey flew to Germany for holidays and on the same day Brother Leonard arrived from Stellenbosch where he is doing the final year of his Masters in Philosophy.He went back to Stellenbosch on 29 July to complete his studies – we wish him all the best for his final year exams. On 5 July Fr. Raphael Chonde, currently parish priest of Nkandla, flew to Malawi for his holidays and came back 19 of August. The 6th of July saw Father. Leo Eireiner OSB returns from Germany after his medical checkup. On 17 July Fr. Boniface Kamushishi travelled to Merrivale near Pietermaritzburg to conduct a retreat for the KwaPatrick Community and he came back on 24 July. On 23 and 24 July Father Prior-Administrator John Paul Mwaniki attended the Inkamana High School Alumni Gala in Johannesburg. Inkamana High School Alumni support our school and our community with various projects. Thanks Alumni for your support and love for Inkamana Abbey and our school. On 13 & 14 August Fr. Boniface Kamushishi was invited by the Twsana Benedictine sisters to conduct a weekend recollection for their boarding students.
Events: On 18 June Sister Thobekile Thoma Mzizi OSB (a Twasana Benedictine sister) made her final vows at Twasana Convent. Father Dominic Onasseryil and brothers, Isidore, Damian and Emmanuel participated and supported our Benedictine sister. On 1 July Inkamana was filled with members of the Sacred Heart of Jesus from Eshowe Diocese - they had a 3 day program, during which they made use of both hostels and the abbey Church. They come every year to celebrate the Feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus. Day and night they were singing, praising and dancing. Those three days saw the monks use the abbey chapel for their daily prayers and Holy Eucharist. On 11 July, on the Solemnity of our Holy Father Benedict, our Brother Isidore Mabaso made his final vows and it was a big celebration. The abbey church was filled with 30 priests, 40 sisters, 25 brothers from different congregations and Dioceses and hundreds of faithful. Fr. Prior-Administrator was the main celebrant and was assisted by Fr. Boniface (who acted as Master of Ceremonies) and Fr. Nicodemus Ntshangase (Vicar General of Eshowe Diocese). Fr. Ambrose Mshengu was commentator. Holy mass was in English but the majority of the songs were sung in Zulu with drums and other traditional instruments, a celebration almost 4 hours long. After the liturgical celebration there was a Zulu traditional dance conducted by our Bro. Clement Sithole and his children. All these was concluded with a delicious meal prepared by our Sub-Prior Brother Kevin, Brother Vincent and their staff. Thanks to each and everyone who made 11 July a memorable day in the history of Inkamana. On 20 July we had a farewell party for Mr John Gregory at Inkamana School….Mr Gregory had decided to retire after many years teaching at Inkamana and the staff joined hands in giving him a good send off. On 20 August Sr. Perpetua Modise FNS, a member of the Franciscan Nardini Sisters, made her first profession at St. Thomas More Parish, Vryheid. Fr. Prior Administrator John Paul Mwaniki, and brothers Isidore, Damian, Vincent and Antony participated in the celebration.
Visitors: from the beginning of February till the end of August Fr. Emmanuel Nkunyane from the Diocese of Aliwal North was with us for his sabbatical and he enjoyed his stay- he was guided by Father Pius Paul and during his time with us he helped in our vegetable garden. From the end of June until the middle of July Brother Konrad Diethei CMM spend his holiday with us and the monks were inspired by his simplicity and hard work. We learned many things from Bro. Konrard CMM. He played the organ in the church every day for Holy Mass and for Vespers and he helped in the carpentry workshop. Most of our monks commented on his greeting - whenever he met any brother whether old or young, he greeted them with a smile….thanks brother for your time with us. From 10th of August to 17th of August Prioress General of Dominican Sisters of Montebello Sr. Lethiwe Mazibuko held her retreat with us, the retreat being led by Fr. Dominic Michael OSB.
Vryheid critically low on water: According to the South African Weather Service, between January and December 2015 South Africareceived the lowest rainfall since the recording of rainfall began in 1904. Since 1904, rainfall in all nine provinces has averaged 608 mm per year, while in 2015 South Africa received only an average of 403 mm (66% of the annual average). Previously, the lowest rainfall received in a year was in 1945 when South Africa received 437 mm (72%). Because drought is experienced as a continuous period of low rainfall, it is important to measure it accordingly. It’s important to keep in mind that these averages were calculated for South Africa as a whole. Some areas could have been very dry while others were not. Vryheid, where Inkamana Abbey issituated, is one of the very dry places in South Africa.
Tankers are supplying water to the residents of Vryheid after the town's two dams reached critically low levels. Residents in many urban areas are facing tough water restrictions, while scores of rural communities have watched their water pipes run dry and hundreds of farmers have seen their crops wither or livestock die in the extreme heat. Thanks to our priests who pray for rain everyday at Mass we have seen the miracle of a few showers up to this day.
Forthcoming General Chapter and Abbots Congress: Inkamana is well prepared for the forthcoming General Chapter. It will start on 3 October and will run until 16 October. Father Prior-Administrator John-Paul will leave Inkamana on 2 September 2016 to attend the Abbots Congress in Rome where, inter alia, the abbots will elect a New Abbot Primate. He will then go on to St. Ottilien to attend the aforementioned General Chapter and visit our confreres in different communities in Germany and hopefully Switzerland as well. Fr. Boniface Kamushishi, our Cellarer and Council member of the Congregation, and Bro. Kevin Thumbalabwazi, the Sub-Prior will also attend the General Chapter and they will leave Inkamana 29 September.
From Inkamana Sacred Heart Abbey we wish and pray for the success of the forthcoming General Chapter and Abbot’s Congress.
With kind regards and wishes from Inkamana Abbey, Fr. Dominic Michael Onasseyil OSB
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