A Tale of a Man

It was on the day of the Lord, 1977 April 17, at 6 am that I Lubabalo Mguda, son of Thakane Mary Nobantu Mguda and Mthuthuzeli Barnabas Mguda was born in Livingstone Hospital.  I was born again in the Holy Spirit in the saving waters in the womb of the Church (baptismal font) of St Don Bosco Catholic Church, KwaZakhele, two months later, June 19th.   My godfather was Leonard Singithwa, a great friend of my father.

Ten years later on the Solemnity of Christ the King, 1987, Fr Thomas Mkhwambi gave me my first holy communion.  On the sixteenth year of my birth, I was confirmed by Bishop Coleman in the Church of the Resurrection, my sponsor was Mr Biyela. 

In 1997 I started formation for the diocesan priesthood for the Diocese of Port Elizabeth in St Francis Xavier Seminary in Cape Town.  After the completion of that Orientation year, the Philosophical Seminary of St Peter’s Garsfontein, Pretoria, was my home away from home for two years.  The next place of residence was St John Vianney Seminary, Waterkloof, Pretoria.  After completing two years of theological formation, I spent six months of internship with Fr Ted Molyneaux in St Peter’s Swartkops and Pawulos Ongcwele, Motherwell.

I completed my theological studies in 2004 May and returned to the Port Elizabeth.  I found myself with Fr Ted again and was ordained to the diaconate on 10 August 2004, which was the 10th anniversary of Pawulos Ongcwele.  I was ordained a priest on the day of the Lord, 17 April 2005.

I began my priestly ministry with the small communities of Sacred Heart, Alexandria, St Anthony’s Bushman’s River, St Peter Claver, Makanda and St Joseph, Joza, Makanda.  I served them for the year and half.  ‘It was the best of times and it was the worst of times’ to quote the English writer Charles Dickens.

I was appointed to Holy Name, New Brighton while living in Pawulos Ongcwele, Motherwell.  This allowed me to focus on one community and it had the desired effect.  It shaped my ministry and I allowed me to grow as a pastor.  In a matter of a year, Pawulos Ongcwele was added to my pastoral responsibilities.

After three years in Port Elizabeth, I was appointed to St Peter Claver, Duncan Village, East London, with two communities in Mdantsane, St Aidans and Christ the King in the mix.  Three years later, Holy Spirit, Stirling, East London was added to my responsibilities.  But after one year, I had relinquished pastoral leadership of Christ the King and St Aidan’s, Mdantsane. After celebrating my tenth anniversary as a priest, it was time to change direction again.  ‘It was an age of wisdom and it was an age of foolishness’ says Charles Dickens.  I had six month in St John Vianney Seminary as a temporary staff member before taking up a new assignment on Ash Wednesday, March 1, 2017 in Sacred Heart, Kabega.