The Liaison Bishop for the Dennis Hurley Peace Institute (DHPI) has called on social action commissions of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) to “journey together” in assisting the social works of the Catholic church in the region.
In an interview with the SACBC communications office on the sidelines of the SACBC Social Action Department meeting underway at Lumko Conference and Retreat Centre, in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, Bishop José Luís Ponce de León said that one of the topics raised during the meeting is collaboration on issues of common interest as some commissions offer similar assistance.
He said Catholic commissions should look at “how to coordinate everything in such a way,” that the SACBC Social Action Departments “journeys together,” to avoid multiple “human resources,” as outsourcing funds can be a challenge.
Liaison Bishops for the SACBC commissions involved in crisis relief, welfare, development, and advocacy together with representatives of the respective commissions and the Secretariate are attending a four-day Social Action Department meeting to evaluate works carried out by the department through the commissions for Justice and Peace, Catholic Health Care Association, DHPI, Rural Development Support Programme (RSDP), Rural Education Access Programme (REAP), Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO), AIDS Office, Counter Trafficking in Persons Office, Migrants and Refugees and Caritas.
In the Tuesday, July 18 interview, the Local Ordinary of Manzini Diocese went on to highlight the establishment of Catholic institutions in the SACBC region, especially in the healthcare and education sectors.
Bishop Ponce de León said that through donations from the Papal Foundation, the Catholic Church in partnership with the government has built healthcare facilities in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
“The health presence of the Catholic Church in Eswatini has been there for decades and this is also to a great partnership with His Majesty’s Government. In fact, we have the only Catholic hospital in the SA CBC region. It is a Catholic hospital subsidized by the government with whom we work in partnership,” said Bishop Ponce de León.
He further said that Catholic healthcare facilities “are deeply trusted by the people,” as many travel from different parts of the country to receive treatment at the “Good Shepherd hospital, or to St Theresa’s clinic because they trust the institution and they see that special care offered by the caregivers.”
The Liaison Bishop for DHPI also highlighted the recent establishment of CPLO in Manzini Diocese, Eswatini, which according to the Prelate “is to be able to link with the government from the experience of the Catholic social teaching,” and to contribute to debates on issues of public policy.
