Oratorian Community in Formation: END OF YEAR FUNCTION - VOTE OF THANKS TO FR JOHNSON BY BLOEMFONTEIN ORATORIANS

At the end of this year 2016, as the Bloemfontein Oratory -in formation reaches the end of its second year of existence, the Fathers of the Oratory in Bloemfontein passed a vote of thanks to Fr Johnson for all that he has done for this Community since it was formed. Since he has so rarely appeared on our social media pages, we wish to give an account here of his achievements.

Fr Johnson is superior of the Bloemfontein Oratory-in-formation, the third he has founded in South Africa (including Oudtshoorn and Port Elizabeth). He has an impressive CV in the foundation of the Oratory in South Africa these past 25 years. Indeed, before him, there was no Oratory in South Africa. The first, in Oudtshoorn, was established to serve the Afrikaans Apostolate of the Catholic Church in Southern Africa. The monumental task of translating and publishing the Afrikaans Sacramentary and Lectionaries was completed under his direction.

He then established the Oratory in Port Elizabeth, constructing two major architectural additions, a double-storey residential block for the Fathers and another equally significant aedifice which houses the Collegium of St Philip Neri, an orientation year for students of the priesthood which he founded and of which he was rector for more than fifteen years. He promoted and financed the priestly formation and ordination of most the Port Elizabeth and Oudtshoorn Fathers, a contribution which can hardly be exaggerated. How on earth did he manage to pay for the formation of so many seminarians, including education at overseas institutions? Their education has also included international travel, also financed by him.

In Bloemfontein his work has continued. The Oratory-in-formation here has a busy and active apostolate. We are responsible for both urban parishes – St Joseph’s, a suburban church, was in a seriously neglected state, and has been substantially renovated, though this is still in process. We are responsible for the chaplaincy to Bloemfontein’s seven hospitals and many sodalities and societies, including the Sacred Heart, Knights of Da Gama, Divine Mercy and centring prayer group, as well as the Portuguese Apostolate, to name some of them. One of our Fathers is a Diocesan Consultor. In Fr Stephen Ilechukwu, Bloemfontein has already celebrated its first ordination.

The Oratory is responsible for the Religious Education and liturgy of St Joseph’s CBC, Bloemfontein. At the annual national CBC Conference for RE teachers Fr Johnson was the keynote speaker. He will shortly be addressing a similar conference in Welkom, and travels to Gauteng next year to address the Principals’ conference. He has been invited, by the Afrikaans Department of UFS, to address them on the Catholic Afrikaans Language Apostolate.

Musically, the Cathedral has a link to the UFS’s Odeion School of music. The UFS Allen organ, a massive, 3-manual version, has been installed alongside our existing pipe organ. Prof Beukes, the head of the Organ Department, teaches in the Cathedral, and recitals by lecturers, students and visiting international organists also take place here. The organ students practise here on a daily basis. Two of the music professors have taken up posts as cathedral organists, and have become Catholics.

All this and more has been achieved under his remarkable leadership. He is everywhere active and involved. He has presided over a renewal of liturgy and music at the Cathedral, and a Newman Association which has hosted some of the finest academics from UFS and other educational institutions. In October, at the height of the university protests, student leaders from the Central University of Technology (C.U.T.) invited him to address them, an address which received great acclaim.

Fr Johnson is loved and revered by parishioners and Oratorians alike. He has achieved so much in his brief two years here, and as a result of his apostolic work, the Oratory has become a household name in Bloemfontein. Below we offer a few photographs of him in his various activities here in Bloemfontein.

Rev. Fr Cyriacus Okoro C.O.