Blessed Benedict Daswa, Tsh*tanini, Thohoyandou (2026)

13/01/2022

What: Feast Day of Blessed Benedict Daswa
When: February 1, 2022
Where: Tsh*tanini, Place of Beatification
Main Celebrant/Homilist: Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Madimetja Masela, Bishop of Polokwane

To be broadcasted live via Radio Veritas 576 AM or DSTV Channel 870

For more information, please contact:
Sr Tshifhiwa Munzhedzi, OP, +27765708843;
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/DaswaBenedict
https://benedictdaswa.org.za/

14/09/2021

Beatification Anniversary - 13 September 2021

On the 13th September 2015, at Tshiṱanini – Limpopo Province, we had the beatification of Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa. tomorrow it will be the sixth anniversary of this day. Our hope is that he will one day become a saint of the church on the day of his canonisation. At the moment we continue to pray and ask him to intercede for our needs.
Below I have included the words of Pope Francis on the day of his Beatification addressing the crowd in Rome. I have also included the actual Beatification letter which was read at Tshiṱanini when Cardinal Amato came to beatify him.

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA’S STORY
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today in South Africa is proclaimed Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa, a father of a family, killed in 1990 - almost 25 years ago - and was killed for his fidelity to the Gospel. In his life, he always showed consistency, courageously taking on Christian attitudes and refusing worldly and pagan customs. May his witness especially help families to spread the truth and charity of Christ, and may his witness, united with the witness of so many of our brothers and sisters - youth, elderly, boys and girls, children - all persecuted, kicked out, and killed for announcing Jesus Christ. To all these martyrs, to Samuel Benedict Daswa and to all of them, let us thank them for their witness and we ask that they intercede for us. I affectionately greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims from different countries: families, parish groups and associations. (13 September 2015, Rome, Pope Francis)

APOSTOLIC LETTER
We, welcoming the desire of our brother, Joao Noe RODRIGUES Bishop of Tzaneen, and many other brothers in the Episcopate, as well as many of the Faithful; after having had the opinion of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, with our apostolic authority, we grant that The Venerable Servant of God TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA layman and family man, martyr, zealous catechist, all-round educator, who gave heroic witness to the Gospel, even to the shedding of blood, from now on will be called Blessed, and his feast will be celebrated every year on the first day of February according to the manner and in the places determined by law.
In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on the eighth day of August, in the year of the Lord
two thousand fifteen.
The third of our Pontificate.
Francis

31/08/2021

DAY THIRTY-ONE

31 August Martyrdom of Stephen

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER TO MARY:
We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed virgin. Amen. (Ancient Prayer of the Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA’S STORY
“When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54 - 60)
I had an interview with a woman who was taught by Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa at Ṅweli primary school. When she was a student at Ṅweli Mr Daswa would come in for religious education. He often quoted the text from Acts, the story of Stephen from the book of Acts, using that as his inspiration to live life. He encouraged students to live their Christian life like Stephen, being prepared to die for their faith. His favourite words were “Remember Stephen”.
According to witnesses his last words were the words he had spoken often in the classrooms with students talking about Stephen “God into your hands receive my spirit.”

REFLECTION:

PRAYER TO IMPLORE FAVOURS:
O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict with great love and zeal in building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and the strength to stand up for his faith without fear and bear witness unto death.
Loving God, like him, may we always proclaim the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the witness of our lives. Keep us away from all deeds of darkness. Protect us from evil spirits and all the powers of evil. Make us a true Apostle of Life in our families and in society.
Father, through his intercession, and according to your will, grant us the grace that we ask of you (……..) we draw strength and courage from the life of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict whom we venerate as an intercessor and model of holiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAIL MARY
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa Pray for us
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us

30/08/2021

DAY THIRTY

30 August A STRICT, HIGHLY-MOTIVATED WORKER

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER TO MARY:
We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed virgin. Amen. (Ancient Prayer of the Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA’S STORY
His sister shared, “One day, I asked my brother Benedict why he chose teaching. He told me that he chose teaching because in the Daswa family, and also in the village there were not many well-educated people. He then added, ‘I also like children and I want to teach them so that they can be responsible people when they grow up”.
Benedict loved his job. He followed the instructions from The Education Department on how to run his school. He would punish the wrongdoers, but in a loving way. He would call the wrong doers to his office, and listen to both parties. If there were two boys fighting, he would listen to both their stories, and then explain to the wrongdoer the reason for the punishment he would receive, adding, ‘I am doing this, not because I dislike you, but because I want to help you’.
Benedict encouraged good manners. He taught the children not to steal, to respect and obey their elders and to respect each other. He led by example and encouraged his teachers to support the less fortunate children in their studies. Benedict encouraged his teachers with Christian sayings such as, “Only God knows how we can help that child.”
In discussions with other principals Benedict would stress the importance of exemplary conduct for both the principal and the teachers. They must be honest in their work, avoid leaving work early as well as any unauthorised absenteeism. He would add, “If we want to maintain discipline with the children, we ourselves must be found to be honest in our work. So, we must not leave school early and, we should not dodge work’.

REFLECTION:

PRAYER TO IMPLORE FAVOURS:
O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict with great love and zeal in building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and the strength to stand up for his faith without fear and bear witness unto death.
Loving God, like him, may we always proclaim the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the witness of our lives. Keep us away from all deeds of darkness. Protect us from evil spirits and all the powers of evil. Make us a true Apostle of Life in our families and in society.
Father, through his intercession, and according to your will, grant us the grace that we ask of you (……..) we draw strength and courage from the life of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict whom we venerate as an intercessor and model of holiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAIL MARY
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa Pray for us
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us

29/08/2021

DAY TWENTY-NINE

29 August A TRUE FAMILY MAN

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER TO MARY:
We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed virgin. Amen. (Ancient Prayer of the Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA’S STORY
One of Benedict’s friends, a principal, spoke about Benedict’s attitude toward family life,
“When men were at a District meeting, Benedict said, ‘Men should help their wives, for example, if there is a baby at home and the Mother is busy, the Father should take care of the baby. The time has come for men to realise that we can do women’s work.’ Another man said, ‘Men should do men’s work, and women women’s work’. Benedict said, ‘No, even men can do women’s work. If the mother is busy washing, for instance, and a baby needs attention, the father should take care of that baby. If something happens to the little one, I can use a nappy to help the baby’.
Some men used to laugh at him, saying that he was overpowered by his wife. Benedict Daswa replied, ‘You will be looked down on if you are the boss in the family, yet do not help your wife, and expect that the women will do everything for you. Biologically, we are meant to help one another. There is nothing wrong if men do women’s work, and nothing wrong if women do men’s work’. We asked him, ‘Is that what you do?’ He replied, ‘Yes’, and gave some examples. The men thought to themselves, ‘Poor Daswa!’ Yet even if people disagreed with him, Benedict never changed his mind because he was convinced, he was right. Even today not every man would believe in sharing 50-50 at home”.

REFLECTION:

PRAYER TO IMPLORE FAVOURS:
O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict with great love and zeal in building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and the strength to stand up for his faith without fear and bear witness unto death.
Loving God, like him, may we always proclaim the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the witness of our lives. Keep us away from all deeds of darkness. Protect us from evil spirits and all the powers of evil. Make us a true Apostle of Life in our families and in society.
Father, through his intercession, and according to your will, grant us the grace that we ask of you (……..) we draw strength and courage from the life of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict whom we venerate as an intercessor and model of holiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAIL MARY
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa Pray for us
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us

28/08/2021

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

28 August BENEDICT AND HIS FRIENDSHIPS

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER TO MARY:
We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed virgin. Amen. (Ancient Prayer of the Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA’S STORY
One of his teacher friends explains that his friendship with Benedict was to last till death. “Was it a premonition of his death when he said one day to Edward Matshili and me, ‘Look, we are friends; if one of us dies, then the other two of us will be keeping watch over the coffin that day”. Looking directly at me he went on, ‘If it is you, then Edward and I will be keeping watch over your coffin, since we are all friends.’ It is a Venda tradition to attend the funeral of our friends”.

A co-member of the Headman’s Committee can still remember Benedict’s words the last time they met. He reminisced, “Samuel Tshimangadzo Benedict was a person who grew up close to me, and was very used to my family. Just before his death, he came to my home one day and said, ‘Well, we no longer see you at funeral services. Does that mean you won’t even be present at my death?’”

REFLECTION:

PRAYER TO IMPLORE FAVOURS:
O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict with great love and zeal in building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and the strength to stand up for his faith without fear and bear witness unto death.
Loving God, like him, may we always proclaim the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the witness of our lives. Keep us away from all deeds of darkness. Protect us from evil spirits and all the powers of evil. Make us a true Apostle of Life in our families and in society.
Father, through his intercession, and according to your will, grant us the grace that we ask of you (……..) we draw strength and courage from the life of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict whom we venerate as an intercessor and model of holiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAIL MARY
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa Pray for us
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us

27/08/2021

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN

27 August

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER TO MARY:
We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed virgin. Amen. (Ancient Prayer of the Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA’S STORY
A catechist friend of Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa said the following about his funeral, “As it is customary the evening daily prayers before the funeral were attended mainly by family members and relatives, the Catholic Community, and friends. From day one the church members attended the prayer until the day of the funeral. These same people attended the funeral. The people of Mbahe village who attended the funeral were risking their own lives as there was a threat of them being watched and there was a potential of them being killed afterwards.”(Tshifura, N., 2020, Feast Day of Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa: 30th Anniversary of his Martyrdom, Magazine, page 1).
Another friend said the following about the burial, “when he was buried, they put several layers of concrete in the grave before finally covering it with soil. There was no trust that the body will be left to rest in peace. This was especially so because of how he had died. The death of Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa left many people’s hearts broken.” (Ramabusha, T.C., 2020, Feast Day of Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa: 30th Anniversary of his Martyrdom, Magazine, page 16)

REFLECTION:

PRAYER TO IMPLORE FAVOURS:
O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict with great love and zeal in building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and the strength to stand up for his faith without fear and bear witness unto death.
Loving God, like him, may we always proclaim the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the witness of our lives. Keep us away from all deeds of darkness. Protect us from evil spirits and all the powers of evil. Make us a true Apostle of Life in our families and in society.
Father, through his intercession, and according to your will, grant us the grace that we ask of you (……..) we draw strength and courage from the life of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict whom we venerate as an intercessor and model of holiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAIL MARY
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa Pray for us
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us

26/08/2021

DAY TWENTY-SIX

26 August FUNERAL AND BURIAL

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER TO MARY:
We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed virgin. Amen. (Ancient Prayer of the Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA’S STORY
Benedict’s Christian funeral was held on Saturday, 10th February 1990. The procession began at his home at Mbahe, then proceeding to the Catholic Church in Ṅweli, which is dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption, and finally when the Requiem Mass ended everybody proceeded to the graveyard of Mbahe.
Father John Finn, MSC & Parish Priest, remembers: “The grave was very simple. They (the family) put a twig on the coffin, which is a part of the Lemba culture. The idea of putting a twig and water in the grave is to assist the person to the other world – it symbolizes the breath and water necessary for the afterlife.”
Each year, on the Sunday nearest to the day on which the Feast of All Saints is celebrated, the Catholic community of Ṅweli District continued to pray at Benedict’s grave. (Bohas, Andre; 2015: “Benedict Daswa: Biography of a servant of God”, page 43).
The priests and deacon all wore red vestments, because they saw his death as a martyr’s death. This was years before the idea of him being put up for canonisation came up. One wonders what was God telling the people about this man who was being buried and his role in the future spreading of the Gospel of Christ to the people of his district and country.

REFLECTION:

PRAYER TO IMPLORE FAVOURS:
O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict with great love and zeal in building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and the strength to stand up for his faith without fear and bear witness unto death.
Loving God, like him, may we always proclaim the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the witness of our lives. Keep us away from all deeds of darkness. Protect us from evil spirits and all the powers of evil. Make us a true Apostle of Life in our families and in society.
Father, through his intercession, and according to your will, grant us the grace that we ask of you (……..) we draw strength and courage from the life of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict whom we venerate as an intercessor and model of holiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAIL MARY
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa Pray for us
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us

25/08/2021

DAY TWENTY-FIVE

25 August MARTYRDOM

In the name of the father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

PRAYER TO MARY:
We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed virgin. Amen. (Ancient Prayer of the Church to the Blessed Virgin Mary.)

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA’S STORY
Then one of the men from the mob came with a knobkerrie. Benedict saw him coming. Realising he could not escape because the mob was surrounding him. Benedict prayed, ‘God, into your hands receive my Spirit’. Everything then went very quickly. Some of the mob said, ‘Listen to him, he is dying calling on his God’. The man hit Benedict on the head with his knobkerrie, which crushed his skull. Benedict fell to the ground. Boiling water was then poured over his head, ears, nostrils and injuries.

REFLECTION:

PRAYER TO IMPLORE FAVOURS:
O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict with great love and zeal in building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and the strength to stand up for his faith without fear and bear witness unto death.
Loving God, like him, may we always proclaim the truth of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ by the witness of our lives. Keep us away from all deeds of darkness. Protect us from evil spirits and all the powers of evil. Make us a true Apostle of Life in our families and in society.
Father, through his intercession, and according to your will, grant us the grace that we ask of you (……..) we draw strength and courage from the life of Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict whom we venerate as an intercessor and model of holiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

HAIL MARY
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa Pray for us
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us

Blessed Benedict Daswa

13/01/2022

14/09/2021

31/08/2021

30/08/2021

29/08/2021

28/08/2021

27/08/2021

26/08/2021

25/08/2021

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Place Of Worship

Shortcuts

Share

Category