Address by Bishop Sylvester David OMI on the transfer of Cardinal Stephen Brislin

The address was given at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council meeting on 9 November 2024.

“There is an appointed time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

On 28 October 2024, we received the news of the transfer of Cardinal Brislin from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Although such transfers are part of Church life, the news left us with heavy hearts and with a visceral discomfort. There was unease. It was difficult to articulate exactly what one felt because in many cases the right words could not be found. And even if someone could articulate it, how does one speak with a lump in the throat?

We now find ourselves in a liminal space i.e. in a state of transition. But liminal spaces are not only negative because an essential dimension of the liminal space is that if affords us an opportunity for transformation. For example, I can selfishly say, and in fact have said, that the Cardinal and I have worked collegially for more than five years and have worked well together. But both His Eminence and I know that this transfer is not about us and our working together. It is about the Church and the opportunities of living the faith in different contexts.

Each one of us in the Archdiocese needs to answer the question: “What can I do to make the transition more meaningful for our local Church, for me personally, for the Cardinal, and also for his successor?” In this regard we will do well to remember that a liminal space is not the same as a vacuum. It is a vibrant space calling us to rise above self and to embrace a new reality. One of the opportunities presented to us at this time is the opportunity to examine our spirituality. Can my spirituality embrace the restlessness that is natural to this time of transition?

Biblically there is a spirituality for the restless. Think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Better still, read the text. It is in Lk 22:39-46 and its parallels. The response to the discomfort is twofold viz. prayer, and surrender to the will of the Father. In Religious and Priestly life this is called obedience. Another text that is relevant here is Jn 12:27. “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say?- Father, save me from this hour: but for this purpose that came I to this hour”. Jesus’ soul is disturbed. That word for “soul” indicates the deepest seat of emotions. This is what is meant by the term “visceral discomfort” used at the start of this reflection. The word translated “troubled” means to be agitated and disturbed. Notice that in this text too, the answer is surrender to the will of God. The Cardinal’s response when the announcement was made was simply: “I am a missionary”.

This is a rather difficult time – we are literally in-between times during this transition. We will experience a restlessness. That is natural. There is after all a season for everything (cf. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). But this also presents us with an opportunity to develop a spirituality of restlessness. We often think of the calm nature of prayer and at times even use calming music during our meditation times but restlessness, helplessness, and even despair ought to be natural to our spirituality simply because these aspects are inescapable and necessary parts of our human existence. Meditate on the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. As we embrace this difficult time let us remember that there is a time for everything under the sun. And right now is a time of uncertainty, restlessness, and even fear.

May God strengthen us all during these difficult days. Let us embrace the virtue of hope and accompany the Cardinal with much prayer during what for him too, is a difficult transition into new surroundings.

Bishop Sylvester David OMI
Vicar General/Auxiliary Bishop