Isizathu Esenza Ukuba Ngishiye Ubupristi Ngenxa Yenkonzo Engcono

NGAMISWA njengompristi wamaKatolika ngo-July 31, 1955, ngineminyaka engu-24. Kwakusekupheleni kweminyaka engu-12 yokufundiswa eyachithwa ekolishi eliphethwe umbhishobhi omkhulu, eRachol, eGoa, eNdiya. Yini eyayakhe kimina isifiso sokuba umpristi?

Ngazalelwa eBombay, eNdiya, ngo-September 3, 1930. Ngonyaka olandelayo, ubaba wathatha umhlala-phansi, futhi umkhaya wazinza eSalvador do Mundo, eBardez, eGoa, ogwini lwaseNdiya oluseningizimu-ntshonalanga. Ngangiwuthunjana ezinganeni ezine. Kusukela ebuntwaneni ngakhuliswa ngempucuko nesiko lamaKatolika angamaPutukezi, obekukhona eGoa kusukela ngo-1510, lapho iba ikoloni lasePortugal.

Abazali bami, beqotho ezinkolelweni zabo, babengamaKatolika ashisekayo ayegubha uKhisimusi unyaka ngamunye, i-Lent, i-Ista, nemikhosi ehlonipha iNcasakazi uMariya ‘nosanta’ abambalwa. Abapristi ababehlanganyela kulemikhosi ngokuvamile babelala ekhaya, ngezinye izikhathi izinsuku ezingaphezu kweziyishumi isikhathi ngasinye. Ngakho, sasixhumana nabo njalo, futhi njengomntwana babengihlaba umxhwele.

Inkonzo Yami EGoa, ESalamanca, NaseRoma

Ngaqalisa inkonzo yobupristi ngentshiseko enkulu, futhi ngangingabusoli nakancane ubuqiniso bezimfundiso nemikhuba yeSonto LamaKatolika. Phakathi neminyaka yami yokuqala eyisikhombisa yenkonzo eGoa, ngangenza imisebenzi yezenhlalo nobufundisi eSontweni iSt. Thomas ePanaji, inhloko-dolobha yaseGoa. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, kulokho ngalesosikhathi okwakuyi-Polytechnic Institute kahulumeni wasePortugal, nganginesabelo sokusebenzelana eduze nomphakathi esasinendima ekabili—ukuba uprofesa kanye nomqondisi wezakhiwo zalenhlangano.

Ngo-1962, ngathunyelwa eYunivesithi yaseSalamanca, eSpain, lapho ngathola khona iziqu zami ze-PhD kuyi-Philosophy of Law ne-Canon Law. Phakathi nokuqeqeshwa kwami kwezomthetho, ezinye zezifundo engangizenza, ikakhulukazi i-Roman Law ne-History of Canon Law, zangishukumisela ukuba ngithungathe indlela ukwakheka kweSonto LamaKatolika okwakusunguleke futhi kwafika ngayo eqophelweni lokubiza upapa njengomlandeli kaPetru ‘onesikhundla esiphambili sokuqondisa isonto.’

Ngajabula ngokuthi kwakuhlelwa ukuba izifundo zami zokuba umfundisi womthetho wesonto zibe seRoma, e-Italy, lapho ngangizoba khona nethuba lokufunda okwengeziwe ngesigungu sesonto sababhishobhi. Ngathuthela eRoma ehlobo lika-1965.

Ngalesikhathi umkhandlu wamasonto i-Vatican II wawufinyelele emvuthwandaba wawo. Lapho ngiphishekela izifundo zami ezingokwenkolo, ngaba nezingxoxo ezithakazelisayo nezazi zenkolo “noBaba BoMkhandlu” abambalwa ababemelene nabagcini bamasiko abeqisayo emkhandlwini. Upapa owayephethe kwakunguPaul VI, engangixhumana naye ngokomuntu siqu esikhundleni sami njengephini likamongameli we-Indian Priests’ Association eRoma.

Ukuqala Kokushayisana Nokungabaza

Phakathi naso sonke lesikhathi salokhu kuxhumana kanye nezifundo zami nokucwaninga ngezifundo zami zobufundisi, ngaba nethuba lokuthola ukuqonda okwengeziwe ngomlando nentuthuko yokwakheka okuyisisekelo kweSonto LamaKatolika.a Ngokuphambene nemibono yabagcini bamasiko emkhandlwini, ababezijwayeze umbono kaPius XII (1939-58) wombhishobhi oyedwa kuphela ophethe, ekugcineni abashisekeli boshintsho bakwazi ukuthola imvume yomkhandlu ye-Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (isihloko sesiLatini sithi Lumen Gentium, Ukukhanya Kwezizwe). Phakathi kwezinye izindaba, esahlukweni 3 yayikhuluma ngelungelo lababhishobhi lokuhlanganyela njengeqembu egunyeni eligcwele neliphakeme likapapa phezu kwesonto. Lemfundiso yayigxile ngokujulile esikweni kodwa abagcini bamasiko babeyibheka njengokuhlubuka nokuvukela.

Ngathola ukuthi yomibili lemibono ayamukeleki, njengoba yayintula iqiniso leVangeli. Iwukuphendukezelwa kukaMathewu 16:18, 19 futhi inikeza imvume kuzo zonke izimfundiso nemithetho yesonto engekho ngokombhalo yangesikhathi esidlule nesizayo.b Ngaphawula ukuthi amagama esiGreki asetshenziswe kulombhalo, elithi peʹtra (lesimo sesifazane), elisho ukuthi “idwala,” nelithi peʹtros (lesimo sesilisa), elisho ukuthi “ucezu lwedwala,” awazange asetshenziswe uJesu njengamagama amqondo-fana. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ukube uPetru wayenikezwe isikhundla esiphambili njengedwala, njengetshe legumbi, zazingeke zibe khona izimpikiswano phakathi kwabaphostoli kamuva ngokuthi ubani owayemkhulu phakathi kwabo. (Qhathanisa noMarku 9:33-35; Luka 22:24-26.) Futhi, uPawulu wayengeke azame ukusola uPetru obala ngenxa ‘yokungahambi ngokweqiniso levangeli.’ (Galathiya 2:11-14) Ngafinyelela esiphethweni sokuthi bonke abalandeli bakaKristu abagcotshwe ngomoya banjengetshe ngendlela efanayo, kuyilapho uJesu eyitshe labo legumbi eliyisisekelo.—1 Korinte 10:4; Efesu 2:19-22; IsAmbulo 21:2, 9-14.

Lapho ngifinyelela izinga eliphakeme ngokwengeziwe lesikhundla semfundo nobufundisi futhi ngiba nemibono eminingi ngokwengeziwe, ngaqhela ngokwengeziwe ngengqondo nangenhliziyo emithethweni ehlukene yeSonto LamaKatolika, ikakhulukazi leyo ehlobene nokumiswa kwabapristi ngombono “woMhlatshelo Ongcwele weMisa” kanye “neSiko Elingcwele Kakhulu Lesidlo”—okuthiwa ukuguquka kwesinkwa sibe umzimba kaJesu.

Ngokwenkulumo yamaKatolika, “uMhlatshelo Ongcwele weMisa” uyisikhumbuzo esiqhubekayo nokuvuselelwa ngaphandle kwegazi komhlatshelo kaJesu “esiphambanweni.” Kodwa imiBhalo YamaKristu YesiGreki iyonke futhi ikakhulukazi nencwadi kaPawulu eya kumaHeberu kwakucace ngokwanele kimi ukuba ngibone ukuthi umhlatshelo kaJesu wawuwumhlatshelo ophelele. Umsebenzi wakhe wawuphelele. Wawungakudingi futhi ungenakukwamukela noma yikuphi ukwenezelwa, ukuphindaphindwa, noma ukuthuthukiswa. Lomhlatshelo wanikelwa “kanye.”—Heberu 7:27, 28.

Ukufuna Kwami Iqiniso Kuyaqhubeka

Ukuze ngihlole, ngaqhubeka ngisebenzela izifunda ezimbalwa zababhishobhi nababhishobhi abakhulu eNtshonalanga Yurophu, isifunda sombhishobhi omkhulu eNew York, nesifunda sombhishobhi eFairbanks, e-Alaska. Kwakuwukuhlola okubuhlungu kweminyaka eyisishiyagalolunye ekufuneni kwami iqiniso. Ngokuyinhloko ngangihileleke ezindabeni zokuqondisa, izinqumo zemithetho yobufundisi, nemikhuba yokwahlulela. Ngaqhela ngokwezinga engangingase ngikwazi ngalo emicikilishweni nasemikhosini yokukhulekela. Inselele enkulu kunazo zonke kwakungeyokusho iMisa lansuku zonke. Yadala ukushayisana okungathi sína kwemizwa nemizwelo ephikisanayo ngoba ngangingakholelwa emhlatshelweni kaKristu ophindaphindwa ngaphandle kwegazi noma ekuguqukeni kwesinkwa sibe umzimba wakhe noma ebupristini basemhlabeni obungcwele obabudingeka ukuze benze “umlingo” wokuguquka kwesinkwa sibe umzimba kaJesu ngokoqobo nangokomthetho.

Phakathi noMkhandlu Wesibili WaseVatican, kwaba khona ukushayisana ngokuphathelene ‘nalomlingo.’ Abashisekeli boshintsho beholwa isigungu sababhishobhi bamaKatolika saseHolland babesekela kuphela i-“transignification,” okungukuthi, isinkwa newayini kumane nje kusho noma kumelela umzimba negazi likaKristu. Ngakolunye uhlangothi, abagcini bamasiko abeqisayo, beholwa isigungu sababhishobhi bamaKatolika sase-Italy, ngokungaguquki babelwela i-“transubstantiation,” okungukuthi, ukuguquka kwesinkwa newayini kube umzimba negazi likaKristu kwangempela nokungokoqobo “ngamazwi okungcwelisa” ashiwo phakathi neMisa. Ngakho, okwakwenzeka yilokhu: ‘EHolland zonke izinto ziyashintsha ngaphandle kwesinkwa newayini, kuyilapho e-Italy akukho lutho olushintshayo ngaphandle kwesinkwa newayini.’

Ngiyazehlukanisa

Ngibona ukuvezwa kabi okunjalo kukaKristu nevangeli lakhe, ngazizwa ngidumele futhi ngikhungatheke kabi kakhulu ngokuthi umgomo wami wokukhazimulisa uNkulunkulu nokusindisa imiphefumulo wawululazwa izimfundiso zamanga. Ngakho, ekugcineni ngo-July 1974, ngasula enkonzweni ematasa ngesicelo sokungabibikho emsebenzini esinganqamuki. Kwakungenangqondo futhi kungamukeleki kimi ukucela ukuba ngikhululwe ezifungweni zobupristi ezazingasekelwe eBhayibhelini. Ngenxa yalokho, kusukela ngo-July 1974 kuya ku-December 1984, ngahlala ngizehlukanise ngokuphelele nenkolo. Angizange ngizihlanganise nanoma iyiphi enye inkolo yeLobukholwa ngenxa yokuthi ayikho neyodwa kuzo eyayivumelana neziphetho zami ngokumelene noZiqu-zintathu, ukungafi komphefumulo, umbono wokuthi bonke abantu abalungile bazozuza ukuphila okuphakade ezulwini, nesijeziso esingapheli somlilo wasesihogweni. Ngangibheka lezimfundiso njengemikhiqizo yobuqaba.

Ukuthula Kwangaphakathi Nenjabulo

Ukuzehlukanisa kwami okungokwenkolo kwaphela ngo-December 1984. Esikhundleni sami njengomphathi we-Credit and Accounts Receivables Department webhizinisi elithile lase-Anchorage, e-Alaska, kwadingeka ukuba ngixoxe ngama-invoice ambalwa nekhasimende elithile, uBarbara Lerma. Wayejahile futhi wathi kumelwe aye ‘esifundweni seBhayibheli.’ Amazwi athi “isifundo seBhayibheli” adonsa ukunakekela kwami, futhi ngambuza imibuzo embalwa yeBhayibheli. Wanginikeza izimpendulo zemiBhalo ngokushesha nangokuphumelelayo ezazicishe zivumelane neziphetho zami zezimfundiso. Lapho ethola ukuthi nganginemibuzo eyengeziwe, uBarbara wangixhumanisa noGerald Ronco, owayesehhovisi legatsha loFakazi BakaJehova e-Alaska.

Izingxoxo ezihlobene neBhayibheli ezakhayo ezalandela zangilethela ukuthula kwangaphakathi nenjabulo. Lolu kwakuwuhlobo lwabantu engangibafuna—abantu bakaNkulunkulu. Ngathandaza kuNkulunkulu ngicela isiqondiso futhi ngesikhathi esifanele ngaqala ukuzihlanganisa noFakazi BakaJehova njengomshumayeli ongabhapathiziwe wezindaba ezinhle. Ngamangala ngempela lapho ngithola ukuthi indlunkulu yalenhlangano yayiseBrooklyn, eNew York, emakhilomitheni ambalwa nje ukusuka eSontweni i-Holy Family eManhattan, lapho ngangikhonze khona (ngo-1969, 1971, nango-1974) njengomfundisi ongumsizi we-Parish Church yeZizwe Ezihlangene.

Ukusiza Umkhaya Wakithi Ukuba Ubone Iqiniso

Ngemva kwezinyanga eziyisithupha zokuhlanganyela noFakazi BakaJehova e-Anchorage, ngathuthela ePennsylvania ngo-July 31, 1985. Lapha ngaba nelungelo lokuhlanganyela izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaJehova nomshana wami uMylene Mendanha, owayefundela iziqu ze-biochemistry eYunivesithi yaseScranton. Lapho uMylene ethola ukuthi ngangifuna oFakazi BakaJehova, wamangala, njengoba ekuqaleni wayekhohlisiwe ngokuthi leliqembu laliyihlelo. Ekuqaleni akazange asho lutho kimi ngoba wayengihlonipha njengomalume wakhe nompristi futhi wayekwazisa kakhulu engangikufinyelele ngokwemfundo nobufundisi.

NgeSonto elilandelayo, uMylene waya eMiseni eSontweni LamaKatolika, futhi mina ngaya eHholo LoMbuso enkulumweni yeBhayibheli neSifundo se-Nqabayokulinda. Ngalo kanye lolosuku kusihlwa sahlala ndawonye, yena ephethe i-Jerusalem Bible yamaKatolika futhi mina ngiphethe i-New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Ngambonisa igama elithi Yahweh eBhayibhelini lakhe nelifana nalo, elithi Jehova, kuyi-New World Translation. Wamangala lapho efunda ukuthi uNkulunkulu unegama nokuthi ufuna ukuba simbize ngegama lakhe. Ngamtshela nangendlela izimfundiso zikaZiqu-zintathu, ukuguquka kwesinkwa sibe umzimba kaJesu, nokungafi komphefumulo ezazingavumelani ngayo nemibhalo futhi ngambonisa imibhalo efanele. Wamane nje wamangala!

Isithakazelo sikaMylene sashukunyiswa ngokwengeziwe lapho ngimtshela ngethemba lokuphila okuphakade ePharadesi emhlabeni. Ngaphambi kwalokho wayekhathazekile ngokuthi kwakuzokwenzekani kuye lapho efa. Wayecabanga ukuthi akangcwele ngokwanele ukuba angene ngokuqondile ezulwini, kodwa wayengacabangi ukuthi wayemubi kangangokuthi kufanele aqalekiselwe esijezisweni saphakade somlilo wesihogo. Ngakho, okuwukuphela kwendawo ayeyicabanga kwakuyisihlanzo, lapho kwakuyodingeka ukuba alinde khona ngesineke imithandazo yabantu namaMisa ukuba imdlulisele ezulwini. Nokho, ngemva kokuba ngimbonise futhi ngamchazela imibhalo embalwa ngokuphathelene nethemba lokuphila okuphakade ePharadesi emhlabeni, wayezimisele ukufunda okwengeziwe ngalezindaba ezinhle ezimangalisayo. UMylene waba khona emihlanganweni eHholo LoMbuso kanye nami. Saqalisa isifundo seBhayibheli esifanele noFakazi bendawo. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, sazinikezela kuJehova uNkulunkulu futhi sabhapathizwa ngo-May 31, 1986.

Umkhaya wakithi, ikakhulukazi umfowethu omdala, u-Orlando, wayengajabule ngenxa yokushiya kwami ubupristi. Wathintana nodadewethu uMyra Lobo Mendanha, owamehlisa umoya, ethi: “Makungasikhathazi lokhu, njengoba u-Alinio ubengeke alahle yonke iminyaka yakhe engu-43 yokuzikhandla ngaphandle kwesizathu esihle kakhulu.” Ngo-September 1987, uMyra nomkhaya wakhe bazihlanganisa nami eWisconsin, e-U.S.A. Angizange ngibe nobunzima ekubenzeni babone ukushayisana nemibhalo kwezimfundiso nemikhuba eminingi yobuKatolika. Babezimisele ukufunda iqiniso leBhayibheli. Ngokushesha, mina noMylene saqalisa isifundo seBhayibheli nabo. Lapho bethuthela e-Orlando, eFlorida, baqhubeka nesifundo sabo.

Ukuthula nenjabulo sonke esasikujabulela kwenza ukuba sihlanganyele izindaba ezinhle zoMbuso kaJehova nodadewethu omdala, uJessie Lobo, ohlala eToronto, eCanada. Wayeshunyayeziwe ngo-1983. Nokho, njengoba ayenomfowabo ongumpristi, wayekholelwa ukuthi akukho okwakuzomenza ashintshe inkolo yakhe. Eminyakeni emine ngemva kwaleyongxoxo yokuqala noFakazi BakaJehova, lapho ethola ukuthi ngase ngiwuFakazi kaJehova nokuthi uMyra nomkhaya wakhe babengabashumayeli bezindaba ezinhle, wathintana noFakazi othile owahlela isifundo seBhayibheli ngokushesha. UJessie wabhapathizwa ngo-April 14, 1990; uMyra, usibali u-Oswald, nomshana wami uGlynis babhapathizwa ngo-February 2, 1991. Bayajabula kakhulu ngokukhonza uJehova, oPhezukonke.

Abagcini bamasiko abeqisayo nabashisekeli boshintsho eSontweni LamaKatolika ngokuqinisekile bangabantu abahlakaniphile. Bakholelwa ukuthi benza intando kaNkulunkulu. Nokho, akufanele singalinaki iqiniso lokuthi “unkulunkulu walelizwe uphuphuthekisile ingqondo [yabangakholwa], ukuze kungasi kubo ukukhanya kwevangeli lenkazimulo kaKristu ongumfanekiso kaNkulunkulu.” (2 Korinte 4:4) Khona-ke, kusobala ukuthi ukuhlakanipha kwalesimiso sezinto kuwubuwula kuNkulunkulu. (1 Korinte 3:18, 19) Yeka indlela engibonga nengijabula ngayo ngokuthi uJehova wenza ‘oyisiwula ahlakaniphe’ ngolwazi oluqondile lweZwi lakhe.—IHubo 19:7.

Iminyaka yami engu-19 njengompristi ongumKatolika iyinto yesikhathi esidlule. Manje sengiwuFakazi kaJehova. Kuyisifiso sami ukuhamba ezindleleni zikaJehova nokulandela iNdodana yakhe, uJesu Kristu, iNkosi noMsindisi wethu. Ngingathanda ukusiza abanye ukuba bamazi uJehova ukuze nabo bakwazi ukufanelekela umvuzo wokuphila okuphakade emhlabeni oyipharadesi, kube inkazimulo kuNkulunkulu weqiniso, uJehova.—Njengoba ilandiswa u-Alinio de Santa Rita Lobo.

[Imibhalo yaphans]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 23]

Izihluthulelo ZoMbuso

Ngokuphathelene namazwi athi “izihluthulelo zombuso,” incazelo yawo iba sobala uma sicabangela ukusola kukaJesu abaholi benkolo: “Nisisusile isihluthulelo sokwazi! Nina uqobo lwenu aningenanga, nabangenayo nabavimbela.” (Luka 11:52) Ngokuqhubekayo, uMathewu 23:13 uveza amazwi athi “ukungena” njengabonisa ukungena ‘embusweni wezulu.’

Izihluthulelo uJesu azithembisa uPetru zazakha indima eyingqayizivele yokufundisa eyayiyovulela abantu amathuba akhethekile okuba bangene eMbusweni wasezulwini. UPetru wasebenzisa lelilungelo ezenzakalweni ezintathu, esiza amaJuda, amaSamariya, nabeZizwe.—IzEnzo 2:1-41; 8:14-17; 10:1-48; 15:7-9.

Injongo yalesithembiso yayingekhona ukutshela kukaPetru izulu ukuthi yikuphi okufanele kuboshwe noma kukhululwe, kodwa ukusetshenziswa kukaPetru njengethuluzi lezulu ukuze afeze lezabelo ezintathu ezikhethekile. Lokhu kuyiqiniso ngoba uJesu wahlala eyiNhloko yangempela yebandla.—Qhathanisa neyoku-1 Korinte 11:3; Efesu 4:15, 16; 5:23; Kolose 2:8-10; Heberu 8:6-13.

[Isithombe ekhasini 24]

U-Alinio de Santa Rita Lobo manje onguFakazi