Many parishioners of St Rose of Lima will remember the 18th of February for a very long time, as they witnessed the opening, blessing and consecration of their newly built church by the Archbishop of Johannesburg, His Grace, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale. They were joined by visitors, families and friends from various parishes and departments in the Johannesburg archdiocese, including their sister parish St Lewis Bertand in Payneville, Daveyton parishes (Sts Lambert and Nicholas) and St Daniel Comboni parish from the Witbank diocese. The Archbishop was joined by His Lordship, Bishop Teddy Khumalo, of the Witbank diocese, the dean of the far east rand, Father Chaka Motanyane, the former parish priest of St Rose of Lima,
Father Raphael Ntlou, Deacon Vincent Morare (from Daveyton) and other priests from the Johannesburg and Witbank dioceses.
During his homily, His Grace explained that he was present to bless every part of the church, including the altar, walls and tabernacle, to make it a holy place of worship and a source of one’s faith, especially through the holy body and blood of Jesus in the celebration of the Eucharist. He also said that the church was a place that taught and sent Christians to spread the Word of God by how they live with and treat others. He also advised the church, through the leadership of its current PPC, to record the history of the parish and why they dedicated their church to the patronage of St Rose of Lima.
After officially receiving the parish to his diocese, Bishop Khumalo thanked Archbishop Buti Tlhagale for gifting the Witbank diocese with a new parish and blessing it. He also introduced the new parish priest, Father Thabo Mabaso, and presented the church with the diocese’s constitution. He then shared that his motto for the diocese was ‘We serve the Lord with one accord,’ asking the church to be united with the rest of the Witbank diocese.
