The Catholic Church in Sibongile celebrated the role academia plays in society by hosting a programme at the church last Sunday. This included a colourful drum majorette parade and a procession of men and women wearing regalia that represented various academic institutions around the country.
Reverend Dr Nhlanhla Mchunu, from Maria Consolata, presided over the holy Mass which was celebrated by Father Zakhele Ziqubu (Parish Priest) and Musa Mncwango, Professor at St John Vianney Seminary Pretoria).
According to Nduduzo Shandu, there were also two deacons from the Congregation of Sacred Heart, Pietermaritzburg.
He added that “Dr Mchunu’s aim was to use the scriptures to clearly define the role graduates play in the church and in society in general.

Mayor, Richard Mbatha, also attended the service and was given a chance to speak where he encouraged everyone to ‘use education to move their lives forward’.

Dr Mchunu also reminded the congregation that the church has stayed faithful to ‘her mission of emancipating the society and adding creatively to the human civilization right from the earliest times’.
Mayor, Richard Mbatha, also attended the service and was given a chance to speak where he encouraged everyone to ‘use education to move their lives forward’.
Dr Sibahle Zwane, the keynote speaker, is a young optometrist born in Nquthu but now working in Gauteng.
Sibahle gave a powerful speech and challenged the youth to go beyond formal education and look at sport and other areas of life.
Sibahle said there is more to life than simply working to ‘pay for rates and not enjoying life.’
“There is more to life than minimal living… live life to the fullest.”