1. Provincial/ Aliwal North Community:

On the 19th of December 2007, Fr. Michael Wustenberg was announced as the new bishop of Aliwal Diocese. His ordination will take place on Sunday the 24th of February, 2008 in Aliwal North.

Br. Dominique from the Madagascar Province, presently member of the PMB Community arrived in Aliwal in December last year. During the past month and a half, he not only enjoyed being with the Aliwal Community, but is also working very hard to obtain his driving license. This seems not to be very easy in the Eastern Cape for foreigners, so we wish him all the luck he needs to be successful. Hopefully, he will soon be legally on our roads!

Br. Bambatha Ntsikelelo is a member of the Aliwal Community since the 1st of January 2008. He has completed his studies at Cedara SJTI at the end of last year after which he enjoyed a well-earned holiday with family and friends in Venterstad. This year he will follow the preparation program for final vows and he will also gain pastoral experience.

On the 6th of January, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart celebrated joyfully the golden jubilee of Sr. Bridget and final vows of Sr. Constance. The celebration took place in the Aliwal Cathedral.

On the 7th of January, sixteen Sisters of the Holy Cross celebrated jubilees (golden, diamond and platinum) and renewed their vows. During the liturgy, Bp. Lobinger underlined their faithfulness and how the Good News is spread through the lives of the jubilarians.

On the 2nd of February, Brs.: Bambatha Ntsikelelo, Mpiti Joshua, Matsoso Justin and Metusi Kabelo of the AM Province renewed their religious vows.

On the 18th of February, Deacon Michael Benedict from the IND District arrived in South Africa. He will be with us for two years. For a few months he will study Xhosa while living in the Aliwal Community. He will then join Fr. Strittmatter to gain pastoral experience and to prepare himself for ordination to the priesthood.

Also on the 18th of February, Fr. Edwin Rombach, Mission Procurator from Germany, came to Aliwal North and will represent the German Province on the day of the ordination of the new Bishop of Aliwal. He will stay with us till 10 March. While he is here in South Africa, Fr. Rombach will visit our SCJ Communities, especially the Community of PMB.

Rt. Rev. Michael Wuestenberg was ordained as the new Bishop of Aliwal Diocese on the 24th of February 2008 at Sauer Park Stadium succeeding Bishop Fritz Lobinger. The Consecrating Bishop was Most Reverend Archbishop James Patrick Green, the Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa. The co-consecrators were Archbishop Jabulani Adatus Nxumalo of Bloemfontein and Bishop Fritz Lobinger the Bishop Emeritus of Aliwal Diocese. About 20 other Bishops attended from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Germany and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many Priests too attended the Episcopal Ordination Mass from Aliwal Diocese, neighbouring Dioceses and from Germany and Switzerland. The AM Province was represented by the confreres residing in Aliwal North as well as the representative of the GE Province, namely Fr. Edwin Rombach. About 2000 people attended the joyful and colourful liturgy of this occasion from near and far. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban was the preacher.

On the 14th of March 1843 Leo John Dehon was born at La Capelle in France. Let us remember this day in our prayers as we venerate our founder. Let this day also be marked by our prayers for vocations on the community or the individual level. The concern for vocations in our province is not only the task of the vocation director, but also ours. We can support his work by our prayer and by promoting our spirituality according to our possibilities.

During the time of the Holy Triduum and Easter Sunday, Fr. Peter Surdel was helping out in Petrusville nad Hopetown.

On the 25th of March, there was a financial meeting in Aliwal North. The actual expenses were evaluated and new budgets were red. The financial committee gathering was followed by the Provincial Council meeting.

2. Pietermaritzburg International Students House (Dehon House):

Br. Dominique is busy with his final year of theology. His pastoral experience he will gain at St. Pius X parish in Hilton, Aliwal North under the tutorship of Fr. Benno Hansel. Br. Dominique will stay in the Aliwal Community until the end of March.

Two new SCJ students from Congo arrived in South Africa on the 26th of December 2007. From Cameroon Province, three students arrived on the 15th of January 2008. They have joined the PBM Community and already started Philosophy at Cedara at the beginning of February. We welcome them and wish them all the best in the transition time and with their studies.

Fr. Innocent Mabeka finished his Masters studies. On the 9th of January, he submitted his thesis: HUMAN VALUES IN RELIGIOUS LIFE. Congratulations and best wishes to you on this achievement and also as full-time formator of PMB formation house.

On the 2nd of February 2008 the scj community of Dehon International  House of Formation met in Merlville at the Capuchin convent. Merville is 12 kilometers away from Port Shepstone situated on the South coast of Durban. The community met to have its first meeting of the year focusing mainly on the revision of its house guideline.

Two of our brothers, Br. Carlitos from Mozambique and Br. Dominique from Madagascar, were ordained to the ministry of deaconate on the 16th of February by Bishop Barry Wood of Durban. The ordination took place at St. Vincent parish in Pietermaritzburg.

On the 21-22nd of January Provincial and his Council had a meeting in PMB. During this period of time the Provincial and provincial Treasurer had a meeting with the team of the PMB Community. The finances of the Community were discussed.Community members of Dehon House of Formation: the Community is composed of 18 members, 4 priests namely Frs, Zolile Mpambani (the house superior),  Sandro Capoferri, the main formator, Innocent Mabheka, the assistant formator and Joseph Mukuna who is studying at the University of Pietermaritzburg and also at St Joseph’s Theological Institute. Fr. Mukuna is a new community member from Congo-CO province. At the present moment Fr. Mukuna is busy studying English in preparation of Scriptural studies. Scholastics from CO: There are two scholastics from Congo Br. Boniface  Twaibu who is now in the third year of theology and Br. Jean Pierre Mokonzi is a new community member who is doing first  year theology. Scholastics from CM: Currently there are five scholastics in Pietermaritzburg-Dehon House of Formation. The first two Brs Joseph Tchatchoueng  and Michael Fuh are   second year students in philosophy. Three brothers Esson Zachee, Vermont Bengunon and Foteu Benjamin are new members in the community and are all in the first year of philosophy. The AM province is grateful to the CM province for its generosity in sending scholastics to the Dehon International House of Formation. Scholastics from MZ: The three scholastics from the MZ province are all doing theology in different stages. Br.  Virgilio  Francesco is in the second year of theology, Br. Basilio Wahica is now in the third year theology and Br. Carlitos Joaquim is in the final year of his studies. Scholastics from AM: The AM province has three scholastics in the Dehon House of Formation namely: Br Joshua Mpiti, Br. Justin Matsoso and Br. Kabelo Metusi. These three scholastics are in different stages of studies. Br. Matsoso is in the 1st year  of philosophical studies and Br. Metusi is doing his second of studies in philosophy. Br. Joshua Mpiti is now in the third year of theological studies and will be completing his studies next year. Scholastic from MAD: The one and only brother  from the MAD province , Br. Dominic Andrianarinosy is now in the final of his studies. The AM province is more than willing to have some more scholastics from the MAD province.

On the 23rd of March, Easter Sunday, the PBM Community organized common activities. After the Holy Mass there was a time for playing soccer and other games such as cards, billiards, table tennis, etc. Sunday evening was linked by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by supper (braai).

3. De Aar Community:

Eight youth from De Aar, Noupoort, Middelburg and Graaff Reinet took part in the Youth Leadership workshop organised by the diocesan youth chaplains of the Eastern Cape region, in the Palloti Farm, Queenstown, from 7 to 11 January 2008. The workshop had 52 participants and dealt with matters of leadership, Christian identity and AIDS. Fr. Marek Przybys SCJ, the youth chaplain of the Diocese of De Aar, was part of the team that prepared and ran the workshop. The event was financed by the “Siyababa Trust” which is the South African equivalent of the “Caritas” in other countries.