The following report highlights the happenings in the life of the Capuchin Custody of South Africa over the last three years. The main agenda from the time of our 12th Ordinary Chapter in 2021 included: Prioritising fraternity; developing our Formation Programme; the way of development for our Formation House; the Promotion of Vocations, and sustaining of Fraternal Economy.These issues presented to the platform for our more recent Chapter in 2024, at which occasion the following brothers were elected: (see below, left to right) Br Albert Gonsalves (Custos), Br Ewald Nangay (1st Councillor), Br Anstey Kay (2nd Councillor), Br Vicent Kinabo (3rd Councillor), Br Nilesh Vaz (4th Councillor).
We are proud to share about our Custody’s small but steady progress, in living out our distinctive Capuchin charism in this very special part of Africa. At present, we are 20 perpetually professed brothers (19 priests), serving variedly in three different dioceses in the country. We have 3 temporary professed brothers along with 3 other temporary professed brothers from the Capuchin Province of Madagascar. All are studying at St Joseph’s Theological Institute, Pietermaritzburg. We are also happy to have received at least 2 men into the postulancy programme at the beginning of this year; they reside at our founding parish/friary of St Mary of the Angels, Athlone (built in 1933). (See below Rite of Reception for Postulants Feb. 2025).
THE RECENTLY DEPARTED
It was with unexpected sadness that we experienced the death of two of our most beloved brothers over the last three years. On 30 April 2023, the then guardian of St Padre Pio Centre, Br Andrew Kiyanga, died in a Pretoria hospital. His body was repatriated to the country of his birth, Tanzania soon after. Then on 15 September 2024, Br Seán Cahill, a missionary from Ireland, who served in South Africa for 51 years, passed away after concelebrating the 10am Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Parow, Cape Town.
Both friars are still sorely missed and we give thanks to God for their lives, and to their Capuchin home provinces of Tanzania and Ireland, for bringing them into the life of our Custody in South Africa.
NEW ARRIVALS
Our Custody is still privileged to be part of a healthy collaboration with several other circumscriptions. Notably in the last few years, we were happy to welcome Br. Erasmus Veneti, who arrived in South Africa on 10th May, is from the Capuchin Province of Tanzania. We also welcomed Br Rolan Koli on 18 October 2024, from the St Bonaventure Capuchin Province in Maharashtra, India.
CELEBRATIONS
In November 2022 we completed an uplifting Custody Retreat with Archbishop emeritus William Slattery OFM. This was the first occasion since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions that all the friars could meet once more for retreat as a Custody.
In early July 2023, South Africa celebrated the news that the Archbishop of Cape Town, Stephen Brislin, had been elevated to the rank of Cardinal. The archbishop received the red hat at the Consistory in Rome on 30 September 2023.
2024 began confidently, after our Custody’s fraternal gathering at the end of 2023 (19-24 November), the gathering incorporated the theme of the Franciscan Centenary celebrations (marking the 800th anniversary of the Rule of 1223). Many Capuchin parish communities, together with the OFS, took up the initiative of beginning the Centenary celebration by promoting the special Plenary Indulgence on the Occasion of the Eighth Centenary of Christmas at Greccio.
On 19 January 2024, the Fraternity of St Lawrence of Brindisi Formation House, Howick officially welcomed the safe arrival of three Capuchin Students from Madagascar: Br Wanald Reginaldhino Tombozafy, Br Heriniaina Eugene Andrianarintsoa and Br Bemaharavo Daniel. A month later the community at Howick happily also received a new 9-seater vehicle to accommodate the transport needs of the friars there.
The 28th of January 2024 marked the 90th birthday of our most senior friar, Br Rufino Ferris (who is still in good health and active in the ministry of deliverance and healing).
General government elections were held in South Africa on 29 May 2024 to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each of our nine provinces. This was the 7th general election, held after the end of the apartheid era, celebrating 30 years of democracy! The election resulted in the formulation of a Government of National Unity (whereby the ANC party lost its longstanding majority vote).
On 22 November 2024, we officially concluded our 13th Ordinary Chapter of the Custody, presided over by Br Adrian Curran (rep. of Irish Provincial), at St Padre Pio Centre, Pretoria. (See group photograph at Custody Chapter 2024).
ONGOING FORMATION
- Br Vicent Kinabo arrived in Ireland in September 2022 to begin the religious formation ministry programme at Loreto House. The course runs for about 10 months. Custody, once more, thank the Irish Province for the invitation to participate in the course and for all the kind hospitality shown to Br Vicent during his entire stay in Ireland.
- Br Ewald Nangay earned a Master’s degree in philosophy on 10 May 2019, from St Augustine’s College, Johannesburg.
- Br Anstey Kay earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching (Honours) on 28 November 2023, from the South African College of Applied Psychology.
Our Lady, Mother of Africa, pray for us!
20 July 2025
By Br Anstey Kay
Custody Secretary, South Africa