Four Men Ordained Permanent Deacons for the Archdiocese of Pretoria on Reconciliation Day

Zwavelpoort – 16 June 2025

Four Christian men were ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Pretoria on Monday, 16 June 2025, at a solemn Eucharistic celebration held at the Church of the Beatitudes in Zwavelpoort. The ordination coincided with South Africa’s Reconciliation Day, adding a profound symbolic dimension to a celebration rooted in service, unity and peace.

Those ordained were Mr Pieter Kroukamp O.F.S. (Presentation Parish, Montana), Dr Patrick Makawa-Mbewe (St Thomas More Parish, Monavoni), Mr Piet Nkgoogo Mashilo (Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Dennilton), and Mr Michael Machalo Tloubatla (St Thomas More Parish, Monavoni).

At the beginning of the ordination rite, each candidate was called by name and, in a moving gesture reflecting the vocation of married deacons, they were accompanied to the sanctuary by their wives. Also present were their children, parents, relatives, friends, colleagues, fellow parishioners, priests, deacons and members of the wider Archdiocesan community. The Archdiocesan Choir led the music and worship, contributing to the prayerful and joyful atmosphere of the celebration.

The ordination Mass was presided over by Archbishop Dabula Mpako, who also delivered the homily. He was joined by Bishop Masilo John Selemela, Auxiliary Bishop of Pretoria, and Bishop Robert Mphiwe of the Diocese of Rustenburg.

In the Catholic Church, the ordination of permanent deacons forms part of the Sacrament of Holy Orders and takes place within the celebration of the Mass. Its essential elements are the laying on of hands by the bishop and the prayer of consecration, through which the candidates are configured to Christ the Servant and sent to serve the Church in charity, the Word and the liturgy.

Reflecting in his homily, Archbishop Mpako noted that the ordination took place during a liturgical season that calls the Church to readiness and openness to God’s action. “The resounding message is: ‘The Lord is coming! Prepare a way for the Lord who is coming!’” he said. Quoting from the Book of Revelation, the Archbishop reminded the faithful that Christ stands at the door and knocks, desiring to enter human lives fully. “We need to make ourselves ready to receive the Lord who desires to come into our lives,” he said, by removing whatever stands as an obstacle between ourselves and God.

The Archbishop emphasised that God not only comes into people’s lives but also chooses to work through them. He described the Kingdom of God as “a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace,” calling the newly ordained deacons to be agents of this Kingdom in the concrete realities of their families, parishes and communities.

Drawing on the spiritual wisdom of St Teresa of Avila and St Francis of Assisi, Archbishop Mpako highlighted the call to become channels of God’s presence in the world — hands that bless, feet that walk to do good, and hearts that bring peace where there is division.

Referring to the commissioning of the first deacons in the Acts of the Apostles, he noted that the diaconate was born in a context of tension and conflict within the early Christian community. “In a way,” he said, “you could say it was in order to ensure unity in the community that deacons were commissioned. It was in order to promote peace through justice that the first deacons came into existence.”

The Gospel, he added, underscores humility as essential to authentic Christian service. Quoting Jesus’ words, Archbishop Mpako reminded the ordinands that true greatness lies not in power, but in service: “Anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant.”

Turning directly to the newly ordained, the Archbishop described them as men who had heard God’s call echoed in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?” Like Isaiah, he said, they had responded, “Here I am, send me.” By their ordination, they were offering themselves to be instruments of God’s love and life-giving presence in the world.

To be ordained a Catholic deacon, a man must be a mature and practising Catholic, typically at least 35 years old, with a clear call to service, good physical and mental health, financial stability and the support of his parish community. The formation process spans several years and includes theological, spiritual and pastoral preparation. Married candidates require the consent and support of their wives, while unmarried candidates commit themselves to a life of celibacy.

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Deacons Called to Be Witnesses of Hope

Speaking on behalf of the fraternity of deacons, Deacon Callum David Scott, leader of deacons in the Archdiocese of Pretoria, expressed gratitude to Archbishop Mpako for his ongoing discernment and support of the diaconate.

“Today the fraternity of deacons of your Archdiocese – once more – gives thanks to the Lord for your discernment of the necessity of the vocation of deacon in this, your Archdiocese,” Deacon Scott said. “As you have said frequently, we are obligated to have the fullness of the Sacrament of Orders in this local church.”

He noted that the Archbishop’s discernment, together with the discernment of the four ordinands, had resulted in a “hope-filled gift” for the Archdiocese. “In this Jubilee of Hope, the deacons and surely our whole Archdiocese rejoice in the vocations of Reverends Pieter Kroukamp, Piet Mashilo, Michael Tloubatla and Reverend Doctor Patrick Makawa-Mbewe,” he said.

“The Lord continues to call, and how grateful we are that they have chosen to give their fiats to the Lord, to serve as heralds of the Gospel in our Archdiocese.”

Welcoming the newly ordained into the fraternity of deacons, Deacon Scott challenged them to place Christ and the Gospel at the centre of their lives. Quoting St Charles de Foucauld, he said:

“Our entire existence,
our whole being must shout the Gospel from the rooftops.
Our whole being
must be a living proclamation,
a reflection of Jesus.”

“I can think of no greater call for the vocation of deacon,” he added, “and I pray, dear brothers, that you may live this vocation well by proclaiming the Lord through your lives.”

Deacon Scott reflected on Archbishop Mpako’s emphasis on deacons as witnesses of hope, peace and unity, noting that this focus on being rather than doing was particularly significant. “There is often a tendency to think of the diaconate only in terms of activity — what deacons can do or cannot do,” he said. “But to highlight the being of the deacon is central to the vocation of these men.”

He described the ordination of the four deacons as a sign of hope for the future of the Church. “God is still calling,” he said. “I believe this is a providential sign of the movement of the Holy Spirit in the Church of our time.”

Deacon Scott observed that while seminaries are experiencing low numbers, the permanent diaconate continues to grow. “In our Archdiocese, we average about ten men in formation for the diaconate each year,” he said. “It begs the question: what is the Lord saying to the Church?”

He noted that the newly ordained are mature, married men — family men who are mostly professionals, with some retirees among them — bringing their life experience, faith and skills into ordained ministry.

Encouraging further vocations, Deacon Scott said: “If a man feels called to the diaconate in our local church, I would encourage him to speak firstly to his parish priest, and perhaps also to seek the listening ear of one of the deacons. In this way, the reality of the diaconate may be brought home to him.”

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Words of Gratitude from the Newly Ordained

Responding on behalf of the newly ordained deacons, Rev. Deacon Michael Machalo Tloubatla offered a deeply personal and heartfelt message of thanksgiving, acknowledging the many people and moments that shaped their five-year journey of formation.

“Firstly, we thank the Triune God for His patience,” he said. “He called many times, and many times we had excuses. At times, we even placed personal demands on Him. Yet He remained resolved that we should join the workers in His field. We thank You, Lord, for Your perseverance.”

Rev. Deacon Tloubatla expressed gratitude to Archbishop Dabula Mpako for accepting their applications five years ago and for journeying closely with them, including individual discernment meetings held three months prior to ordination. “You walked with us, discerned our readiness, and deemed us fit to be ordained to this servant ministry,” he said.

He thanked Bishop Masilo John Selemela for accompanying them throughout their formation and for revealing the richness of the Church’s sacramental life. “Not many can say their formation included a bishop in a way similar to the early Church,” he noted. He also expressed appreciation to Bishop Robert Mphiwe for his consistent encouragement and pastoral presence from the beginning of their journey.

Gratitude was extended to the Episcopal Vicar for Deacons, Rev. Anthony Mdhluli, for receiving them into the diaconate programme and remaining steadfast throughout the process. “You told us the journey would be long but would pass quickly — and indeed it has been both long and short,” he said.

Rev. Deacon Tloubatla also thanked their parish priests — Very Rev. Mabuti Masemola, Rev. Fr. Samuel Gitonga IMC, and Rev. Fr. Patrick Rakeketsi CSS — for their guidance, encouragement and firm insistence on practice and preparation. “I can already see the glint in your eyes,” he added with a smile, “‘Now, chaps, you are going to work.’”

Special appreciation was given to their formators, particularly Rev. Deacon Prof. Callum David Scott, whom he described as “the rock of this programme,” as well as Rev. Frs. Sefiri Daudi Motsepe, Fransiskus Swaartbooi, Joel T.T. Skhosana, Rev. Deacon Tshepiso Matle, Sr. Cathy, Mme Nosiat Mahlangu, and all their spiritual directors. “Your knowledge, passion and love for Christ are infectious,” he said.

He thanked parish pastoral councils, parishioners across the Archdiocese, the parish of St Augustine, Silverton, the Comboni community, religious sisters for their prayers, and the choir for animating the liturgy. “The Spirit of the Lord was truly brought alive,” he said.

In an emotional moment, Rev. Deacon Tloubatla acknowledged parents, families — including those who have passed on — siblings, relatives, friends and neighbours, recognising their prayers and support throughout the journey.

Finally, he paid tribute to the wives and children of the newly ordained deacons: Mme Josephine Makawa and Madalo; Mme Mpila Nkgoko and Bianca; Mme Hannelie Kroukamp and Jo-Mari and JP; Mme Marjorie Menge Tloubatla and Reabetswe, Reamogetse and Reatile.

“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We love you,” he said. “You are our first love and our solid rock of guidance. God chose us in you, and we remain with you.”

Concluding his remarks, Rev. Deacon Tloubatla asked for continued prayers: “Please pray that we may not lose sight of God’s path as we serve His people.”

The ordination of these four permanent deacons on Reconciliation Day stands as a powerful witness to a Church called to serve, to heal and to build unity — within its own life and in South African society at large.