BY PHOLILE SHAKANTU
ROME, ITALY – The historic meeting between His Majesty King Mswati III and His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday emphasized the lasting friendship and collaboration between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Catholic Church, a relationship that has thrived for over a century.
The Catholic church was received and granted permission to establish a mission in Eswatini by the Queen Regent Gwamile Mdluli in 1914 and from then on the church has maintained a cordial and supportive relationship with the leadership of the country.
A few months before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, four missionary priests from the Servite Order arrived in Eswatini. Father P. Belleze and Father G. Rosseto hailed from Italy, while Father A. Gratl and Father F. Mayr were from Austria.
The Italian priests established a church and a school, Mater Dolorosa, in Mbabane, which became the heart of all mission stations in the region. On 11 February 1914, they paid a respectful visit to Queen Mother Gwamile Mdluli, who welcomed them with open arms.
The Austrian priests subsequently opened St. Joseph’s Mission. Father Belleze was appointed as the First Apostolic Prefect in 1923 when the Eswatini Mission was designated as an Apostolic Prefecture by Pope Pius XI.
During this period, the Servite Fathers recognized that their mission would be incomplete without the nurturing presence of Sisters. In 1922, they invited the Mantellate Sisters to join their efforts. These Sisters journeyed from Florence, Italy, on 5 November 1922.
Their travels took them through France and across the British Channel to England, ultimately reaching Durban instead of Lorenzo Marques (now Maputo), where they had intended to arrive. From Durban, they traveled by train to Goba in Mozambique and, with God’s grace, finally made their way to Eswatini despite the challenges they faced. On the 10 December 2022, the Mantellate Sisters celebrated 100 years since their arrival in Eswatini.
The catholic church has played a significant role in developing the education and health sector in the Kingdom. His Majest’s Government appreciates the work done by the Catholic Church in the past 110 years though the following Missions;
• St. Joseph Mission – Mzimpofu established 6th December 1922.
• St Annunziata Mission – Mbelebeleni, established 17th May 1926.
• Mater Dolorosa Mission – Mbabane. Established 3rd September 1926.
• St Peregrine Mission Ebulandzeni, established 13th November 1927
• St Phillips Mission – Mhlatuze, established 31st August 1929.
• St Juliana Sisters ( Novitiate) – Mahlabane, established 1st February 1932.
• Our Lady of Sorrows Mission – Hluti, established 28th September 1934.
• Christ the King Mission – Hlathikulu, established 23rd October 1939.
• Good Sheperd Mission – Siteki, established 20th February 1943.
• Good Shepherd Hospital – Siteki, established 20th September 1949.
• Regina Mundi Mission – Piggs Peak, established 5th June 1971
Pholile Shakantu is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Executive Producer of the Film Baka Ngwane amongst her many titles.
