INSTALLATION OF
ARCHBISHOP SITHEMBELE SIPUKA
CAPE TOWN, 14 MARCH 2026
HOMILY
Archbishop Sipuka, on the 3 May 2008, some 18 years ago, you were ordained a bishop in Mthatha. Now, as you accept the pastoral leadership of the Archdiocese of Cape Town, you do so having acquired vast experience as a bishop and as a leader of the Church. I would like to make two points by way of introduction. Firstly, you know that, as a shepherd, you are called to pasture the flock of the Lord. It is the flock that defines the shepherd for, without the flock, the shepherd would walk alone and aimlessly in the green fields. Today, the flock gains a new shepherd and you gain a new flock, a new part of the Body of Christ. Secondly, a bishop is a successor of the Apostles. Let’s just think about that for a moment. Peter, the first among the Apostles was a simple working man. He was impetuous – think of how he threw himself into the Sea of Galilee when the Risen Lord appeared. He was slow to understand at times and, of course, he denied the Lord three times, after which he was repentant. Even after the Ascension of the Lord he had to be rebuked by St Paul for being “two-faced” in the way in which he treated the gentiles and, in a sense, denied them too. James and John were ambitious wanting to grasp high positions in the Kingdom of God. Thomas doubted and he was called “the twin” perhaps because he could seem like two different people. Philip was sceptical. Matthew had been in a despised profession and had presumably crooked a number of people. These are the men, Archbishop Sithembele, to whom you are a successor. It is perhaps well to remind ourselves, as their successors, that we are no different from them.
Let me now go back and say a few words about these two points. A bishop is entrusted with caring for the flock of God, he is a pastor and is meant to nourish the flock. Without the people entrusted to a bishop, the episcopacy has no meaning and therefore the focus and the use of the energy of a bishop must always be the well being of the people. As St Peter wrote in his First Letter and which we heard in the Second Reading, “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercise oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly…; not for shameful gain, but eagerly, not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock”. The Church defines three aspects of episcopal ministry – to teach, to sanctify and to govern and it is appropriate to be aware – not only for bishops, but for all the faithful – of the arduous nature of each of these. To teach is to teach the truth, the truth about God’s love, about repentance and about salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection. In a superficial understanding these truths of our faith may seem to be a personal assent of content. Yet it is the extrapolation of the meaning of these truths into a lived way of life and into the nature of relationships with God and neighbour, that makes them contentious in a society which places intense pressure on political correctness and conformity to prevailing culture. The challenge of the Gospel, the challenge to conform one’s life to Christ and not to be blown by the changing winds of prevailing opinions, is often regarded as being archaic and out of date. Yet, we have to remain true to what we believe and true to what has been handed down to us through the Gospel and Tradition. Central to our faith in God is the sanctity of life, for all life comes from God. Of necessity we cannot remain silent in the face of the destruction of life in the womb, through wars and conflicts, through the systems and structures that subject people to poverty, to the destruction of the environment on which life depends. Silence is not an option in a world in which deceit abounds, when political leaders lie without shame seeing not to care whether they are believed or not, when resources are used for the benefit of some at the expense of others, and wars are fought to protect the pride of individuals. Indeed, to teach is an arduous task which needs courage.
Sanctification is the core of our relationship with God. The apostles went to Jesus and said , “teach us to pray”. Every day, through the celebration of the Eucharist, we are faithful to Jesus’ injunction “Do this in memory of me”. The Sacraments lead the faithful into an encounter with God, an experience of his love and closeness to all of us. We are expected, at the end of time as pastors, to deliver to the Lord a holy people, a people sanctified. The sacraments are a gift so wonderful that they are beyond are ability to fully fathom them. Yet sadly many abuses and aberrations take place in the celebration of the sacraments. The general loss of belief in, and appreciation of, the eucharist as the Body and Blood of Christ can, in my opinion, be related to the way in which the Eucharist is celebrated by some in a way that distracts from the focus of what Eucharist is by the inclusion of anomalies and abnormalities. Revival of Catholic worship to be what the Church intends and asks, while always sensitive to the language and culture of people, is a present-day need that is necessary to restore reverence and a sense of mystery and wonderment at these great gifts that have been given to us.
The governance of the Church is unlike that of the political sphere. It is to be gentle, humble, understanding of human weakness, inclusive not only of those whose voices are easily heard, but also to the quiet voices. Governance is to ensure order in Church so that the roles that make up the life of the Church can be respected in obedience to Christ’s priestly prayer for unity among his followers, “may they all be one”. The Church is a symbol of the Kingdom of God, the gathering of people from every nation, language and culture. This vast diversity is brought into unity by our faith and belief in one God. Amid the controversies that are all around us, the growing polarisation of people and the categorisation of people, it is the responsibility of every member of the Church to preserve the unity of the Body of Christ, and most importantly for the bishop. Governance is not the promotion of ideologies but fidelity to the Gospel and, in recognition that the leaders of the Church – the bishops – are similar to those to whom they are successors, with the same flaws and failings. Synodality corrects the lopsidedness the weaknesses of the human individual for it provides the experience, knowledge and wisdom of others in a way that is complementary and directed towards fidelity to the Gospel and Tradition, the unity of the Church and compassionate care for every member of Christ’s Body.
Speaking of the flaws of the Apostles and their successors it is necessary for all of us, most especially the leaders of the Church community to have a sense of weakness, for it is when we acknowledge and accept our shortcomings that we are able to serve humbly. Having said that we should never give into the temptation of becoming paralysed by our human frailty and afraid to act because weakness is also a happy fault that makes us appreciate our total dependence on God, his strength and his grace. As St Paul teaches us, God has chosen the weak to shame the strong (1Cor 1:27). St Paul also says of himself “it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me” (Rom 8:12-14). Without the strength of Christ the shepherd cannot stand fast when the wolf arrives – like the hireling he will run away. It is only through the strength and grace of Christ working through us that we can stand firm in the face of immense power with fortitude. And that fortitude is necessary, for the evil that exists around us that strives to dominate and enslave, is powerful. We must stand for the truth – in season and out of season, stand for the dignity of human life, the sanctity of God’s creation, and the preservation of virtue. Like the prophet Jeremiah we have many self-doubts, anxieties and an inclination to the uncertainty he expressed, when he said that he could not do what the Lord asked for he was but a youth. Our dependence on God assures us that it is not we who do it, but it is God who does it through us. Time and time again, in the Old Testament, the leaders of Israel were urged to “stand firm and be strong” for the battle was not theirs but the Lord’s.
I have spoken of some of the challenges that face the world and the Church and that, indeed, the wolf roves around. But that is not the whole picture. Life is a mixture of weakness and strength, good and evil, truth and lies. Today, as we celebrate your installation in this community, Archbishop Sipuka, I can honestly say, having being archbishop here for 15 years, that I am able to introduce you to a Church community that is filled with goodness and good-will. This archdiocese is made up of approximately 270 000 Catholics who love God and love the Church, who are supportive and who witness to the faith on a daily basis. Their faith has always inspired me and enriched me. On numerous occasions I have said that, while it is we priests who are meant to nourish the faith of those we serve, in fact we gain far more from the people we serve than we actually give. I have no doubt that they will give you every support that they can, that together – in a synodal way which has been embraced by all in the archdiocese – you will journey together in the path of faith. You are all in good hands. Archbishop Sipuka, you are in the good hands of the faithful, the priests, deacons and Religious of the Archdiocese of Cape Town. And you, the people of God, the priests, deacons and Religious are in the good hands of Archbishop Sipuka. Furthermore, Cape Town is blessed with faith leaders who are supportive and who embark on cooperative works for the common good of the citizens of this beautiful city and province, and who have a deep sense of fraternity and commitment. All in all this is a joyful day on which we celebrate God’s favour and his presence.
May God bless you, and may God bless us all.