“Synodality does not eliminate conflict. It seeks to discern God’s will faithfully through it,” he said.
Archbishop Mpambani emphasized that Christ must remain at the center of every synodal process.
“Prayer, Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit are indispensable,” he said.
He urged Bishop Phomane to ground every important decision in prayerful discernment rather than personal preference or popular opinion.
“You must ask not simply what we prefer, but what the Lord is asking of His Church,” he said.
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The South African Catholic Archbishop added, “This is the Lord’s Church. It is not my Church or your Church. Therefore, we must constantly consult Him.”
Archbishop Mpambani also reflected on the pastoral responsibilities of a Bishop, saying Episcopal ministry is not about exercising authority for its own sake but making Christ present through preaching, sacramental ministry, and compassionate service.
“The Bishop’s ministry is not simply to administer a Diocese, but to make Christ present by preaching the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments, caring for the poor, defending human dignity, and strengthening the faithful,” he said.
He reminded the faithful that Episcopal authority flows from the grace of the Holy Spirit rather than personal ambition.
“No one applies to become a Bishop, and no one campaigns for the office. The Bishop’s authority comes from the grace of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
Addressing the Priests of the Diocese, Archbishop Mpambani called on them to welcome and support their new shepherd wholeheartedly.
“Prepare yourselves to collaborate with Bishop Phomane, who has been appointed Bishop of Bethlehem by the grace of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
He encouraged Bishop Phomane to imitate Christ by proclaiming the Gospel courageously and pointing people not to himself but to Jesus.
“A Bishop is successful not when people admire him, but when they encounter Jesus through his preaching, leadership, and holiness,” Archbishop Mpambani said.
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Phomane as Local Ordinary of Bethlehem Diocese on April 14, following the retirement of the 78-year-old Bishop Jan de Groef, the Belgium-born member of Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers).
In his remarks after the Ordination, Bishop Phomane described his appointment as “a daunting call to service” that he accepts with humility and complete trust in God.
“The Church has placed upon me a responsibility far greater than myself, yet I accept it with trust in the Lord who calls, strengthens, and sustains,” he said.
The South African Catholic Bishop expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for appointing him to lead the Diocese of Bethlehem.
“I promise the Holy Father and the Universal Church my unwavering loyalty, fidelity, and communion,” Bishop Phomane said.
He also thanked Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka, who ordained him a Deacon in 2011, a Priest in 2012, and now served as Principal Consecrator at his Episcopal Ordination.
“Today, by God’s grace, you have completed what you started in me in 2011,” he said.
The newly ordained Bishop pledged to work closely with the Clergy, Religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Bethlehem.
“I promise to serve you with a shepherd’s heart, not as a master, but as a brother among brothers and sisters, united in the one mission of Christ,” he said.
Addressing the faithful of his new Diocese, Bishop Phomane pledged to accompany them in their joys and struggles.
“Your wounds will be my concern. Your hopes will be my prayer. I come to listen, to learn, and to walk with you as we build a Church rooted in faith, compassion, justice, mercy, and solidarity,” he said.
He asked for prayers as he begins his Episcopal ministry, saying, “Pray that I may be a shepherd after the heart of Christ, courageous in truth and rich in mercy. Pray that together we may renew our commitment to evangelization, to the poor, to families, to young people, and to the healing of our communities.”
Bishop Phomane is the 5th Local Ordinary of the South African Diocese succeeding Bishop Groef who has been at the helm of the Episcopal See since his Episcopal Ordination on 28 March 2009.
The Diocese that has a population of 59,916 Catholics out of the total population of 858,779, representing 7.0 percent, according to 2023 statistics, measures 34,965 square-kilometer.
Erected on 12 February 1948 as Vicariate Apostolic of Bethlehem, before elevation to a diocese on 11 January 1951, the Episcopal See is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bloemfontein.
Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.