Former councilor reflects on needs of the Church in Africa

Priests of the Sacred Heart quickly saw the need to go beyond their European roots to serve people throughout the world. Though they sought no particular ministry, they have always tried to go to areas most in need.

One of those areas was South Africa. In the dioceses of De Aar and Aliwal North, SCJs still make up just about the entire clergy population. The bishop of De Aar, Bishop Joseph Potocnak, is an SCJ, as was his predecessor, Bishop Joseph DePalma, SCJ (now retired).

The South African Province is few in number, but for many there, the Priests of the Sacred Heart continue to be their primary contact with the Catholic Church. It's no wonder then that when a young boy growing up in Aliwal North decided he wanted to be a priest he also decided to be an SCJ.

"I didn't know that there were different kinds of priests," said Fr. Zolile Mpambani, SCJ. "When my pastor asked me what kind of priest I wanted to be I told him that 'I want to be like you!'" The German missionary was an SCJ who had ministered at Fr. Zolile's home parish for many years.

The South African was the first in his family to pursue a religious vocation. And since what he knew of the priesthood and SCJ religious life was from what he saw in his parish pastor, he assumed that he would be a parish priest as well.

But as his knowledge of the SCJs grew, so too did his awareness of the many facets -- and needs -- of religious life. His first years as a priest were spent in parish ministry; he even spent several years back at the home parish where his vocation took root.

However, the young province needed help with its formation program and so Fr. Zolile went back to school to prepare to join the formation staff. He worked with the postulancy program and as novice master.

In 1997, there were no novices for South Africa, so Fr. Zolile went back into parish ministry, filling in for a priest on sabbatical. And that's where he was when the South African Provincial Council received a request from the Generalate in Rome. General Councilor Tomé Makhwéliha, SCJ, had been named as a bishop for the Church in Mozambique and the African provinces and regions were asked to suggest a replacement for him on the General Council in Rome.

"I was on the Provincial Council then and when we discussed it, we agreed that either a missionary who had been in Africa for a long time, or an African SCJ, would be the logical replacement," said Fr. Zolile. "I never considered myself for the role."

But others did. His provincial superior, as well as provincial councilors, said that his name should be submitted. "I told them not to waste their time," he said. "I had no experience; I had never even been a superior. I didn't know other languages." But they needed to make a suggestion, so finally the council wrote down Fr. Zolile's name and sent it back to Rome.

"And then I forgot about it," he said. "Until the provincial told me that there was a call from Rome. I remember it well -- November 17. Fr. Tom Cassidy, SCJ, called, since he knew English well. He told me that they wanted me to come to the General Council. I tried to give him every excuse that I could think of but he was persistent."

Fr. Zolile said that it was important for an African to remain on the formation team in South Africa, but Fr. Tom made the point that the experience Fr. Zolile would gain in Rome would make him a greater help to his South African Province in years ahead. Fr. Virginio Bressanelli, SCJ, superior general, got on the line and extended his personal invitation, adding that he thought that it was important to have an African on the council.

"They gave me a few days to decide and I finally said yes," said Fr. Zolile. "I didn't know what it would involve, I didn't know how I would represent the needs and views of Africa... I didn't know how to actually be a general councilor. You know, there isn't a rule book or guide. I was very grateful to Fr. Tom, who served as my tutor in many ways. And I was grateful to Fr. Virginio. He understood that many things the council discussed were things I was not familiar with, especially since I had joined the council after it had been together for over a year."

He said that Fr. Virginio always took the time to make sure Fr. Zolile knew about topics being discussed and gave him background when he didn't. For just about anyone, the move to Rome to serve on the council is a difficult one. Not only does the new councilor leave friends, family and ministries behind, but generally, he also leaves behind a cultural familiarity. Many, like Fr. Zolile, don't know Italian. A day after he arrived in Rome, he was off for a month to language school. "Then I came back to Rome and felt like a stranger in what was supposed to be my home," he said.

He joined an informal group of Africans who were also serving their communities in Rome. Many felt as Fr. Zolile did -- that they would rather be back in Africa than doing administrative work in Rome. "But we finally agreed that we were there to serve our congregations and that as long as our hearts were in Africa we would never be effective in Rome," he said. "Once I accepted that I was there in service to the congregation, it was much easier for me."

Although he often felt like a fish out of water, Fr. Zolile was very appreciative for his years with the council. "I'm not much for pushing papers around Rome, but I am grateful for my time on the council because it opened my eyes to the congregation. All I really knew was South Africa. I knew that there were SCJs in Mozambique -- okay, but how did they affect what I was doing? Now, they are my confreres, now I see a connection that I did not see before."

The connection is one that he sees many in the congregation now making. He believes that the six-year-plan that the council developed has brought a greater sense of unity to the congregation. "While I was on the council, I saw provinces and regions beginning to open their eyes just as I had. Many SCJs worked in isolation for so many years. Provinces were primarily concerned with what was going on at home. Now, there seems to be greater collaboration and sharing. In Africa, the provinces are working together in formation, and talking about other possibilities." He sees the same thing in other areas as well. "We are beginning to see ourselves as one."

When elections were held at the 2003 General Chapter, Fr. Zolile asked that his name not be considered. He does think that it was significant to have an African on the council, but right now, he believes that he is better needed at home. It is important to have an African perspective on the council, but, he says, it is just as important to better develop African leadership. "Right now, we have missionaries serving as provincial superiors, missionaries in the formation programs," said Fr. Zolile. "Once we have Africans serving in these roles, then it is time to have Africans serving on the General Council. We need to prepare young Africans for taking over when the missionaries leave. This has to be a priority in all of the African provinces."

Fr. Zolile completed his term in June and after a year's sabbatical, studying in Montréal and visiting SCJ apostolates throughout North America, he is headed back to South Africa this summer, and back to formation.

Is he excited about finally going home? The answer was simple: "Very!"

Fr. Zolile, SCJ, former general councilor, talks about his work with the General Council in Rome.

He later laughs when asked what his first reaction was when asked by Fr. General to work in Rome. "Who me? Zolile? I could not believe it," he said.

Father Zolile at General Chapter in Rome.