Chai Brady
Archbishop Liam Slattery
Photo: Bishop Stanislaw Dziuba An Irish missionary prelate has taken over the administration of a South African diocese after an apostolic visitation, meaning the current bishop will just be the diocese’s “spiritual head”.
Archbishop Liam Slattery OFM, the retired bishop of Pretoria archdiocese who has spent almost half a century ministering in South Africa, was appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Mariannhill after a decision by the Holy See.
A brief statement released by Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) president Bishop Sithembele Sipuka stated: “What this means is that while Bishop Mlungisi Pius Dlungwane remains the spiritual head of the diocese and continues to be a member of the [bishops’] conference, the actual administration of the diocese, which includes organisation of pastoral life and work in the diocese, discipline of the clergy, financial administration and other related administrative matters are now the task of the apostolic administrator.”
Bishop Dlungwane was appointed auxiliary bishop of Mariannhill in 2000, and succeeded Bishop Paul Themba Mngoma, who died in 2005.
Visitation
The apostolic visitation in February and March was mandated by the Holy See and conducted by Archbishop Slattery. According to an SACBC note announcing the visitation, the request for it was made by Bishop Dlungwane himself, “to assist him in enriching the life and pastoral activity of the local Church”.
Archbishop Slattery’s report on the state of the diocese has not been made public.
The Vatican defines an apostolic visitation as “an exceptional initiative of the Holy See which involves sending a visitor or visitors to evaluate an ecclesiastical institute such as a seminary, diocese, or religious institute.
Apostolic visitations are intended to assist the institute in question to improve the way in which it carries out its function in the life of the Church”.
Born in Portlaoise Archbishop Slattery, who ministered in South Africa through apartheid and political unrest, had returned to Ireland last year after his resignation was accepted by Pope Francis in April 2019.