Beatification of Possible South Africa’s First Saint Slated for September

CANAA || By Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla, Nairobi || 27 August 2015

The beatification of Benedict Daswa, the possible South Africa’s first saint, is set to take place next month, September 13, 2015 as officially announced by Southern Africa Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC).

“God has blessed the Church in Southern Africa in a very special way by the gift of Benedict Daswa as the first Martyr for the faith. On 13 September 2015, he will be officially declared Blessed Benedict Daswa by Cardinal Angelo Amato SDB, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican. Cardinal Amato will be representing Pope Francis,” begins the official message on the beatification signed by the SACBC President Archbishop Stephen Brislin.

The message, which is addressed “to the People of God of Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland” goes on to detail the heroic virtues of Benedict Daswa, describing him as having been “a committed lay Catholic and the loving husband and father of a large family; a dedicated teacher and volunteer catechist, an active and charitable member of the community.”

“Benedict’s great moral courage and his passion for the truth led him to openly and very publicly oppose the belief and practice of witchcraft,” the Bishops’ statement explains Benedict’s courageous witness that contributed to his martyrdom on February 2, 1990.

The beatification is set to place during the celebration of Holy Eucharist at Tshitanini near Thohoyandou in the Province of Limpopo in South Africa, the home and place where Benedict was martyred.

According to a message addressed to members of the media by SACBC Communications Officer, Father S’milo Mngadi availed to CANAA, the ceremony will begin at 7.30 a.m. local time with a youth presentation, followed by the prayer of the Church in honour of Benedict, and then the Holy Eucharist at 10 a.m. presided over by the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Angelo Cardinal Amato.

“We invite as many as possible of the faithful to be present at the beatification ceremony,” the Bishops said in their statement, adding, “It is our wish that those who cannot come to the ceremony be united in spirit and prayer with those present at Tshitanini.”

Benedict Daswa will be commemorated on every first of February.