THE outgoing priest of Parish Of The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pinetown, west of Durban, Fr Sifiso Ndlovu, who is serving his last days at the parish after a reshuffling placed him in an involuntary sabbatical. The move has caused tensions among the faithful who see it as punishment for syncretism and are planning to meet the Archbishop of the Durban Diocese.
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Members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pinetown, west of Durban, plan to take their grievances over the latest reshuffling of parish priests directly to Archbishop Mandla Jwara, head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Durban.
The parishioners are unhappy about what they describe as the sidelining of their parish priest, Fr Sifiso Ndlovu, who has been linked to syncretism — the blending of Catholic beliefs with African traditions and customs — and is also known as a traditional healer.
While several priests were reassigned to new parishes three weeks ago, Fr Ndlovu and another priest associated with syncretism, Fr Thembelani Ngcobo of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Montclair, south of Durban, were placed on involuntary sabbatical.
Thokozani “Tzozo” Zulu, a member of the Immaculate Conception parish who is well known in music circles, said a sombre mood descended on the congregation when a letter announcing Fr Ndlovu’s impending departure was read to the faithful three weeks ago.
Zulu was previously part of the now-defunct kwaito duo T’zozo en Professor.
"The parish members didn't take the news well. We are saddened because we have come a long way with Fr Ndlovu. When he arrived here five years ago the congregation was a handful of faithful who'd fill only two rows of benches. Today, the church is fully packed because of him," said Zulu.
He described Fr Ndlovu as a spiritual leader who connects deeply with his congregation and provides guidance to those seeking help.
SACRED Heart Parish priest in Montclair, south of Durban, Fr Thembelani Ngcobo who will from next month be without a parish after being frogmarched to a sabbatical. Parish members who are sympathetic to him allege his sabbatical is a purge against priests who practise syncretism.
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"If a person needed someone to talk to, he would listen. That's what has made him to be so close to people's hearts and why they are so concerned about his summary removal," said Zulu.
Zulu said emotions ran high last weekend, with some women congregants openly weeping when told that there was little the parish could do to overturn the archbishop’s decision.
According to Zulu, parish members have submitted their grievances to the parish council, hoping they would be forwarded to the archdiocese.
"Up until now we have not received any response. That is why we are planning to go to the Archbishop's office as members of the church," he said.
The group plans to visit the archbishop on Wednesday. Zulu acknowledged that the archbishop’s decision is final but said congregants were hopeful that an extension for Fr Ndlovu might still be considered, as has happened in other parishes.
He added that some parishioners had indicated they might stop attending services at Immaculate Conception if Fr Ndlovu leaves, while others had even suggested they could leave the Catholic Church entirely.
According to Zulu, some members have also threatened to withhold their monthly offerings, estimated at total of around R63,000.
Zulu insisted that congregants had never objected to the priest’s traditional healing practices, arguing that these activities were separate from church functions and were never conducted on parish premises.
"When we are at the house of worship, there is no telling that he dabbles in traditional practices. He delivers his homilies in the manner familiar to Catholics. That is why were are saying we have no problem with his traditional practices," he said.
He claimed the priest’s traditional healing work only came to the attention of church authorities after he assisted a parishioner with certain rituals.
"We heard that someone called him to assist, took a photo of him and sent it to the church's powers that be," said Zulu.
The Archbishop Mandla Jwara, the head of the Durban Diocese with whom the members of The Parish Of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church are requesting an audience with ahead of the parish priests' reshuffling next month.
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Since then, he said, concerns have circulated within church structures.
Zulu argued that African cultural traditions should not be seen as incompatible with Christianity.
"If observing African rituals is wrong, why do we have a Mass for the departed?" he asked, drawing a comparison with the Mass celebrated on All Souls' Day.
During Sunday’s Mass, Fr Ndlovu reflected on perseverance in difficult times. Quoting Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, he urged congregants not to give up when faced with challenges.
Referencing the slogan of a well-known whisky brand, he encouraged parishioners to “keep walking” as he demonstrated the phrase while moving across the altar.
"Whenever you meet me, you should tell me that keep walking, Fr.," he said.
Magasela Mthembu, chairperson of the Immaculate Conception parish council, confirmed that the congregation’s grievances had been forwarded to the archdiocese but said church protocol prevented him from speaking to the media.