After two and a half years of accompanying young Catholics across Southern Africa, Fr Motankane Mahlako is returning to parish ministry, bringing to a close his service as the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) Interdiocesan Youth Chaplain and Association of Catholic Tertiary Students (ACTS) National Chaplain.

Reflecting on his ministry from January 2024 to July 2026, Fr Mahlako describes the experience as one of profound grace, learning and growth.

“In fact, the whole three years have been a highlight for me,” he says. “They have been three years of grace, three years of learning and an opportunity to discover a new way of serving the Church.”

Born in Burgersfort, Limpopo, and ordained to the priesthood in 2009, Fr Mahlako is the firstborn of eight children. He began his priestly formation in 2001 at St Francis Xavier Seminary in Welkom, a journey he says helped him discover “the beauty of finding life in the priesthood.”

Serving at the SACBC Youth Office introduced him to a different dimension of priestly ministry. While acknowledging that the Church has always been his home, he says his appointment invited him to embrace a broader mission of accompanying young people across dioceses and strengthening collaboration among youth structures.

“The office required passion, love for young people and openness to learn a new reality,” he explains. “It also called for giving the best of oneself so that others may become better.”

Among the most important lessons of his ministry was witnessing the energy, creativity and faith of young people. He says accompanying them challenged him to grow while helping create spaces where they could feel welcomed, valued and united as members of one Church.

“We were able to build young people for the better, unite dioceses and create an environment where everybody feels they belong,” he says. “We helped make the bishops’ pastoral vision alive in the lives of young people and encouraged them to become true ambassadors of the Gospel.”

As he hands over leadership to a newly elected youth executive, Fr Mahlako leaves a message of encouragement rooted in faith, humility and continual growth.

“Stay focused and continue to do your best,” he urges. “Allow God to guide you. Learn, unlearn and embrace what is new. Let go of what limits you and continue fostering the unity that the Church longs for.”

Although leaving his national responsibilities, Fr Mahlako’s commitment to youth ministry remains unchanged. He now returns to parish ministry at St Michael’s Parish in the Diocese of Witbank, where he looks forward to accompanying families, children and young people more closely in their daily lives.

“I am a servant in the vineyard of the Lord,” he says. “I am open to wherever the Church sends me. I look forward to serving ordinary people in the parish and continuing to mentor young people in a more personal and concrete way.”