It was a Sunday of religion and culture at the St Peter’ Catholic Church the past Sunday .The faithful, retired Bishop, Priests and Traditional leaders came together at that Parish in Gabane and celebrated Father’s Day, the day of the African Child, Farwell mass for a Priest who is going on study leave to Rome; as well as blessing and official opening of a kgotla in that Parish.
As part of the celebrations for the Father’s Day, the Parish’s male fraternity (Lekgotla la borre) had invited the Batlokwa Kgosi, Puso Gaborone, to officially open their recently renovated kgotla.
As the great supporter of the male fraternity in the Catholic Church, the retired Bishop Emeritus Boniface Setlalekgosi was invited to give a motivational talk in form of sermon, as well as to bless the kgotla after service.
The inside activities were started by an introduction by the Chairperson of the male fraternity, Dr Patrick Malope, who informed the congregation the Father’s day celebrations started in 1910. This was after a suggestion by a male congregant at an American church just after a service during Mother’s day celebration. One of the six children-all boys- raised by a single father, the man was touched by the day’s sermon, which appreciated motherhood. He felt the same be applied to fatherhood and suggested that there be the same day. He succeeded in convincing the priest and the day has been commemorated every third Sunday of June.
When Bishop Emeritus Setlalekgosi later stood for motivation, he picked from the day’s passage about King David’s adulterous encounter with a soldier’s wife and his command for the murder of the same soldier to try to obliterate his filthy mark. He had impregnated the wife and when she informed him, he tried to trick the man into sleeping with the wife. He refused to do so. He tried to intoxicate him so he would respond positively but he did not. That called for his murder.
“Where are you as a Catholic man? Are you not that wealthy man who entices another man’s wife with money to sin with her or are you a murderer?” he asked the attentive congregation. He gave them an example of an American man who, though a Christian, agreed to his recruitment’s provisos not to mention any Christian words to students he taught in Japan. He nonetheless lived a pure Christian life, which motivated his students to emulate his lifestyle. Many abandoned their denominations for his.
For his part, Kgosi Gaborone, a Catholic, religiously told Balete men that traditionally and religiously they are heads of families. That if it is irresponsible there is no head. That the kgotla he had just officially opened should be a meeting place where men plan to build the community. That talks of domestic violence are a taboo and should not find place in the Catholic men.
“We want men in this kgotla who are no cowards. We want men who will tackle disturbing issues within the Church head-on. We want men who are prepared to help women in the Church. They should be men who will contribute handsomely during offertory and would not contribute money less than that contributed by women. You should come up with plans of how this church which you today filled to capacity can be extended,” he said to loud round of applause.
In appreciation of his unwavering commitment to their needs, and the fact that he was a youthful African priest, the youth committee bought out-going Priest special headphones and watch. Likewise, the whole congregation presented many Pula notes in envelopes. He informed them of how he was going to miss their jokes and everything and how the four years he is going to spend in Italy are going to be sad. He, however, urged them to communicate through Facebook.
The day was spiced with lots of music inside and outside of the church. Like in same previous occasions men had long hours of discussion and chats over some food and traditional beer.
