RT. REVEREND BISHOP SITHEMBELE SIPUKA
Born: Idutywa Eastern Cape, on 27 April 1960.
Primary Education: Mthatha and Butterworth
Matriculated: Butterworth 1979.
Priestly Training: 1982-1988 St. Peters and St. John Vianney Seminaries Ordained a Priest for Queesntown Diocese: 17 December 1988
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT BISHOP SITHEMBELE SIPUKA
PRIESTLY LIFE AND WORK
Curate: Qoqodala Parish Lady Frere 1989-1991
Parish Priest: Zigudu Parish Cofirmvaba 1991-1992.
Seminary: 1994-2008
STUDIES
1989: Bachelor of Theology Urbaniana University Rome
1994: Licentiate (Masters): Dogmatic Theology Urbaniana University Rome.
2001: Doctorate Systematic Theology University of South Africa
2005: Management Certificate for Church Leaders University of South Africa
LECTURING AND FORMATION WORK
St. Peters and St. John Vianney Seminaries and Franciscan Philosophicum
Philosophy of Religion
Dogma
Dean of Students
Vice Rector
Rector
PUBLICATIONS
Doctoral dissertation: The Sacrifice of the Mass and the Concept of Sacrifice among the Xhosa: Towards an inculturated understanding of the Eucharist.
OTHER TASKS
1996-1999– Executive member and treasurer of the South African Council of Priests (SACOP)
2001– Member of the SACBC Theological Advisory commission
2004-2005– Acting chairperson of the SACBC Theological Advisory Commission
2001– Member of the committee for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.
2001– Member of the National committee for Professional conduct of Church Workers.
2003– Academic Board Member of St Augustine’s College.
2008– Appointed Bishop of Mthatha
2009– Chairperson of Xhosa Pastoral Region
2010– Chairperson of the SACBC Seminaries’ Department
2011– Representative of SACBC to Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops
2011– Representative of Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops to the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
2012– Elected 2nd Vice President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference
2015– Elected 1st Vice President of Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference
2016– Elected 2nd Vice President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar
2018– Elected President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference to take effect on February 2019.