This year, both communities of Hilton and Pietermaritzburg celebrated Holy Triduum in our parish St. Francis of Assisi. During the Easter Vigil a number of catechumens were baptized and candidates were received to the Church. On the Easter Sunday numerous children received the sacrament of baptism. We wish everyone Blessed Easter Season. The Lord has risen, alleluia!

On the 6th of April, the De Aar community organized farewell for Fr. Bojar SCJ who worked for several years in Petrusville, Hopetown and Strydenburg and soon will go back to Poland.

On the 10th of April, in Durban (Holy Family Pastoral Center) Youth Spiritual Renewal took place. Around 800 young people attended the gathering from Friday evening to Sunday morning. After the final blessing all, who gathered there, went home and the Youth Cross was transported to another place, this time to Eastwood, Pietermaritzburg. The Youth Cross arrived at St. Francis of Assisi Parish at 7:00am on Sunday and will remain there until Saturday morning.

On the 15th of April, Fr. Bojar SCJ left South Africa for Poland. We thank him for his work and dedication.

On the 16th of April, Fr. Gabryel SCJ came to South Africa to support our province.

On the 17th of April, Fr. Maslowski SCJ presided over the Eucharist for the Polish community, at St. Anthony’s Church in Durban. The aim of this Eucharist celebration was to commemorate the late President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczynski, the First Lady Maria Kaczynska and ninety four others who tragically died in a plane crash near Smolensk. May all of them rest in peace!

On the 21st of April, Fr. Grzelak SCJ took his long awaited holiday overseas. We wish him a good time and an excellent weather to refresh himself, gain energy and spiritual strength.

On the 24-25th of April, on the 47th International Day of Prayer for Vocations, Fr. Maslowski SCJ presided over the Eucharist, at St. Francis of Assisi, in Eastwood, Pietermaritzburg. The Eucharist celebration was followed by the adoration and prayers for vocations!

On the 27-28th of April, the first in this year Provincial Assembly was held at the SCJ Monastery in Aliwal North.

After a kidney stone operation Fr. Strittmatter SCJ is again in good shape, nonetheless when our Provincial Assembly was over he decided to remain for a while with the Aliwal Community, and to regain his strength there. For a time being, retired Bp. Potocnak SCJ took over the pastoral work in Middelburg.

On the last days of April, Fr. Peels SCJ the Provincial of the FL-HL Province visited the South African SCJ Communities.

At the beginning of May, Bp. Musialek SCJ paid a short visit to Malawi in connection with Br. Montfort (Malawian)  who desires to become  a priest in the Diocese of De Aar. On return, Bp. Musialek SCJ shared his experiences from that trip at the Senate meeting held on the 10th of May in Colesberg.

On the 8th - 9th of May, Frs.: Ntsikelelo SCJ and Mpiti SCJ conducted vocation workshop in St. Teresa Mission.

On the 11th of May, Fr. Gabryel SCJ went to Graaff-Reinet to start his pastoral assignment there. In the mean time, when Fr. Przybys SCJ is still in charge as the parish priest, Fr. Gabryel (nickname "Angel") will learn Afrikaans and study the realities of the country. We wish him God's many blessings!

On the 15th of May, Fr. Maslowski SCJ attended the 6th Diocesan Youth Fiesta Day at St. Anthony's School in Durban. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM, Bp. Barry Wood OMI, diocesan and religious priests were present among 300 young people chatting and sharing some important topics with them. One of them chosen for this special day was on "vocations." At midday, Cardinal Wilfrid presided over the Eucharist at St. Anthony's Church. During the homily he encouraged young people to be the Christians of action. The afternoon session dealt with the topic of "Human Trafficking" bringing to the youth the necessary awareness of the problem.

In the second half of May Fr. Ofenloch SCJ left South Africa for his holiday in Germany.

On the 28th and 29th May, Fr. Maslowski SCJ led two vocation workshops for the high school boys of St. Thomas High School and Motsekuoa High School in Lesotho. The boys asked many relevant questions showing their interest in Jesus’ calling “follow me.”

On the 27th of May, Mary Gorski a staff member of the SCJ US Province arrived in South Africa. She took an active part in the Comrades Marathon starting in Pietermritzburg and ending in Durban. After this event she visited several places where the SA Province’s Communities are based: Pietermaritzburg, Aliwal North, De Aar, and several other towns as: Porth Elizabeth, Graaff-Reinet and Colesberg. She left South Africa on the 8th of June.

This year the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (11th June) was organized by each of our four Communities in their respective places.

Another semester of studies is over for our scholastics and now it is the time for them to refresh their energy and gain some pastoral experience.

On the 19th of June, Fr. Maslowski SCJ attended celebration of Youth Day as a sporting day held in Elandskop. Every year, the Deanery of Pietermaritzburg and Vulindlela organize sporting event for the youth of all the parishes in this Deanery so that the young people can come out and verse each other in all the sports that have been chosen for that day. It was also a great opportunity for the youth to meet each other. Frs.: Falkiner OP and  Maslowski SCJ were there to promote vocations.