The first-ever Vocations Day was hosted at St Francis Xavier, Small Farm by the Vaal Deanery on 5 May. Mass was said by Bishop Duncan Tsoke with Frs Malesela Dikgale, Simphiwe Kheswa, Emmanuel Dim, Emmanuel Kaloma, Jorge Guerra, Thabo Mabaso, Fr Tlaile Lingoane, Henri Gonson, Kifle Kentamo Kirba and parish priest, Fr Sergio Lorenzini concelebrating.
They were assisted by Revs Simon Mokoena, Vincent Booysen, Boshom Mpetsheni, Dennis Machaba, Raymond Matseke.
Bishop Duncan commended the vocations department and everybody who was involved in organising the day. He expressed the hope that, even if it is once a quarter, every deanery gets to host a Vocations Day.
In his homily, he exhorted young people to be courageous, live their own lives and to explore what their gifts and talents are.
One way of finding out what your talents is, is by keeping the company of positive people. They are likely to affirm the good you do, he added.
The Bishop managed to recruit at least 22 ladies and 28 gentlemen to partake in a journey of discernment to religious life or priesthood.
This does not mean this is their vocation, they are just going to discern, he said. On sharing about his vocation journey, Bishop Duncan said: “Like Jesus asked Peter, God kept asking him, Duncan, son of Tsoke do you love me?” Fr Malesela said the church needed young people. He implored them to respond positively and generously to God’s call.
Dean of Vaal, Fr Simphiwe Kheswa said he hoped the Bishop enjoyed celebrating Mass and his episcopal motto especially since the Gospel was about the good shepherd. When he was ordained, he implored God to assist him be a good shepherd, he said.
He shared that the bishop’s crosier faces backwards, whilst Archbishop Buti Tlhagale’s OMI one faces forward. This means whilst the Archbishop ensures he leads the flock, his auxiliary takes care of the flock from the back.
A young man, Tshekedi Moiloa from the deanery who died tragically in a car accident was prayed for.
