The newly consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Durban has been urged to foster “unity, to bring the clergy, religious and the laity together without any prejudice.”

In his homily during the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Elias Kwenzakufani Zondi on May 27, Archbishop Siegfried Mandla Jwara urged the new Bishop to help him make the diocese “a peaceful diocese where human rights are being valued and respected.”

“Dear Monsignor Zondi, I just pray that you will help me to make this diocese a peaceful diocese where human rights are being valued and respected.  Remember that the Bishop must always be the centre of unity. Therefore, we have a duty to bring the clergy, religious and the laity together without any prejudice,” said Archbishop Jwara during the Episcopal ordination held at Curries Fountain Sports Development Centre.

He added, “Therefore if we want to make our Lord happy, let us work for peace, unity, and reconciliation.”

Reflecting on the Gospel of the day, Jn 17:11,17-23, Archbishop Jwara said, “In the Gospel today, Jesus prays for the unity of all believers.  The purpose of this unity is for the world to know that Jesus was indeed sent from God because he loves the world that much.”

He continued, “Unity is God’s gift, so we must pray for it because prayer shapes and forms what we believe and think and how we act.  Only God in Christ can reconcile us but, praying for unity shows we desire to be used by God in his work in reconciliation.”

Speaking to the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) communications office, Archbishop Jwara said that together with Bishop Zondi, we can have a plan at least that we fight no xenophobia, racism, and tribalism.”

The Episcopal ordination of Bishop Zondi saw the participation of 18 Bishops including the two Co-Consecrators Most Reverend Graham Rose, Bishop of Dundee and Most Reverend Sylvester David, Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Town, as well as priests, religious sisters and thousands of faithful.