St Joseph Sodality visits tomb of Servant of God Nkhono Magabriel

St Joseph Sodality Lesotho recently completed its spiritual retreat at Bethel Parish in the Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek. The retreat concluded with a pilgrimage to the tomb of Servant of God Nkhono Magabriel, also known as Eulalia Malebaka Magabriel Mokhosi. The pilgrimage was guided by Fr Vincent Rasemese, the diocesan Postulator in the cause for the canonisation of Nkhono Magabriel, and Mr Pheane Nkola, a catechist at Bethel Parish.

The pilgrimage began with members disembarking from buses and proceeding on foot to the tomb, reciting the Holy Rosary along the way. During the pilgrimage, Mr Nkola shared historical accounts of Nkhono Magabriel’s life, extraordinary faith, and devotion to prayer. He also recounted miracles attributed to her during her lifetime and after her death, including stories of her perseverance in faith and steadfastness in the face of adversity.

One of the accounts shared was the story of how Nkhono Magabriel reportedly crossed the Senqu River to attend Mass at St Gabriel on the other side. Mr Nkola also recounted that she was never affected by rain during her journeys to attend Holy Mass. Additionally, Nkhono Magabriel used sacramentals to protect her agricultural fields, which were reportedly never affected by pests, destructive hailstorms, or drought.

However, some villagers suspected her of witchcraft due to these extraordinary occurrences, and she was reportedly punished and taken before the Principal Chief of Phamong to answer accusations of practising witchcraft. Despite this, Nkhono Magabriel remained devoted to her faith. The pilgrims were given an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about her spiritual journey.

The pilgrimage also included the administration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation by priests, including Fr Gregory Lelimo CSS and Fr Molatelle. The pilgrimage culminated in the celebration of Holy Mass, presided over by the Bishop of Mohale’s Hoek, His Lordship John Joale Tlhomola SCP. In his homily, Bishop Tlhomola challenged the pilgrims to examine their faithfulness in their daily lives.

Bishop Tlhomola encouraged the pilgrims to ensure that their brotherhood is not merely expressed in words but is reflected in their actions, relationships, and service to others. Following the celebration, pilgrims were given an opportunity to place candles at the tomb of the Servant of God and draw water from Nkhono Magabriel’s Well. The retreat concluded on Sunday with Holy Mass at Bethel Parish, presided over by Fr Vincent Rasemese CSS.

A significant highlight of the closing celebration was the welcoming of approximately 90 new aspirants into St Joseph Sodality. Their admission marked the beginning of their formation journey towards confirmation as full members of the Sodality. The retreat provided members with an opportunity to deepen their devotion to St Joseph, strengthen their brotherhood, and reflect on the importance of prayer, reconciliation, and faithfulness in Christian life.

Key points

• The pilgrimage to the tomb of Nkhono Magabriel was a significant part of the St Joseph Sodality Lesotho's spiritual retreat.
• The retreat included the administration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the celebration of Holy Mass.
• Approximately 90 new aspirants were welcomed into St Joseph Sodality during the closing celebration.