Darkness Confronted by Light: Feast of St Josephine Bakhita and Confirmations at St Mark’s Catholic Church, Mabopane
By Sr Mary Otsanya Orinya and Fr Mathibela Sebothoma
Photos: Sr Mary Otsanya Mary Orinya
Sunday, 8 February 2026, marked a deeply moving and spiritually rich twin celebration for the Christian community of St Mark’s Catholic Church, Mabopane, as the Office for Migrants, Refugees and Human Trafficking commemorated the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita, while seven candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation during the Eucharistic celebration of the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A).
The Holy Mass began with a solemn and symbolic procession from outside the church, organised in honour of St Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of victims and survivors of human trafficking.
Parishioners, young and old, processed prayerfully into the church carrying placards, banners and flyers calling for an end to human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery. In a powerful symbolic act, some children walked with their hands, eyes and mouths tied, representing the painful reality of people who are enslaved, silenced and held captive by traffickers.
As the procession reached the sanctuary, the Archbishop untied the children, an act that deeply touched the congregation and visually proclaimed the Church’s mission to restore freedom, dignity and hope to all who are oppressed.
Before the Liturgy of the Word, Sr Mary Otsanya Orinya offered a brief but poignant reflection on the life of St Josephine Bakhita, recalling her journey from slavery to sanctity. She encouraged the faithful to join hands as Church and society in confronting and stopping the scourge of human trafficking, reminding them that silence and indifference allow darkness to flourish.
In his homily, the Archbishop drew from the Scripture readings of the day, centring his reflection on the profound biblical theme of darkness and light. He explained that darkness in the Scriptures does not simply refer to the absence of physical light, but rather to everything that is opposed to God, who is Life and the source of all goodness. Darkness, he said, therefore represents all that is opposed to life, dignity and goodness.
He named some of the forms of darkness that continue to envelop our world and our daily lives:
the darkness of selfishness, which erodes care and concern for others;
the darkness of unhealthy competition, where people trample on one another for personal gain;
the darkness of dishonesty, deceit and lying, which destroys trust and integrity;
the darkness of injustice, corruption and cheating, present in both public and private spaces;
and, in the context of the day’s celebration, the darkness of human trafficking, a grave evil and a serious wound in society.
Against this background, the Archbishop reminded the faithful of their Christian calling, echoing the words of Jesus in the Gospel: “You are the light of the world… You are the salt of the earth.” He noted that the responsorial psalm captures the same vocation: “The good person is a light in the darkness.”
He explained that both light and salt are images of transformation. Salt enhances flavour and preserves; light reveals, guides and gives life. To be salt, he said, is to deliberately choose to be a positive influence in the lives of others. To be light is to become a living witness of God’s presence, a channel of God’s love in the world.
Drawing from the readings, he outlined what this calling looks like in practical terms:
to replace selfishness with generosity, mercy and justice;
to replace dishonesty with integrity and honour;
to replace injustice and corruption with a sincere commitment to the common good.
“Then,” he said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “your light will rise in the darkness.”
The Archbishop invited the entire assembly to honest self-introspection, asking each person to reflect on how much light or darkness they bring into the world through their words, attitudes and actions. Turning to the confirmation candidates, he encouraged them in a special way to walk in the light of Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to strengthen them to be courageous witnesses of faith in their families, schools and communities.
At the end of the Mass, a session of awareness creation and sensitisation was led by Mr Ephraim Charles from Fuller Africa. He opened the eyes of the faithful to the subtle and often hidden ways in which human trafficking takes place within communities, urging vigilance, compassion and responsible action to protect the most vulnerable.
The celebration concluded with the joyful presentation of certificates to the seven candidates who received the Sacrament of Confirmation, marking an important milestone in their journey of faith.
The twin celebration at St Mark’s Catholic Church, Mabopane, stood as a powerful witness to the Church’s mission: to proclaim the Gospel, to stand with the oppressed, and to be salt and light in a world still yearning for justice, freedom and hope, inspired by the enduring witness of St Josephine Bakhita.
