The Daughters of Saint Anne (DOSA), also known as Barwedi or Barwetsana gathered in Materdei Pastoral Centre on September 5-7 for their Annual Conference under the theme “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws” (Psalm 119:7). The conference was directed by the diocesan Youth Chaplain Rev. Father Welcome Maluleka. Fr. Maluleka has been entrusted with this responsibility by the sodality’s spiritual advisor Rev. Father Muila-Muila; the assignment he executed diligently for three consecutive years.
A three-day event featuring spiritual talks, adoration, praise and worship, three years term report presentations, financial reports, competitions, fun & entertainment by showcasing members unleashed talents.
The conference was officially opened by the Diocesan President Ms. Mavis Mokonyane on Friday. On Saturday, Father Maluleka created a space for memorial service; members paid tribute and remembered their fallen heroes by lighting prayer candles.
Conference guest priest Very Rev. Father Andrew Shingange , the Judicial Vicar of our sister diocese of Tzaneen discussed the Marian talk to ensure members have a better understanding / knowledge of their Patron Saint Mother Mary. Father Shingange unpacked the four dogmas, the sorrows she endured on earth, her virtues and the significance of Mary into the universal church.
Our Lady of Fatima received the first prize for the best performed parish in report submission and financial contributions followed by St. Francis of Assisi in position 2 and Our Lady of Good Counsel in position 3. Sts. Peter & Paul Mokopane was awarded for being the most innovative parish in songs composition.
His Lordship Right. Rev. Bishop Jeremiah Masela presided over the conference closing Holy Mass and delivered an impassioned homily, reminding Barwedi about choices of carrying their crosses to be the followers or Disciples of Christ.
The Mass readings drew from the Book of Wisdom: 9:13-18b, St. Paul’s Letter to Philemon b-10:12-17: The responsorial Psalm (Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-1314-17)” O Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation”
The Gospel reading from Luke 14:25-33 was about the challenging requirements of discipleship, including the need to love Jesus above everything and the importance of counting the cost to give up everything to follow Christ.
Introducing his homily, Bishop Masela indicated that “Holy Mass celebration has two tables from which congregants are fed, that is, the table where the word of God is proclaimed and the celebrant share the message through the Homily. The first table leads to the second table which is the altar where the sacrifice takes place, the bread becomes the body of Christ, and the wine becomes the blood of Christ for our nourishment. Therefore, those who come to be fed must familiarize themselves with the readings of next Sunday wherein we will be commemorating the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross to understand that God is talking to us about the centrality of the cross in our Christian life. When we read, we must pay attention and place ourselves on the scene, being in the scene make us understand that we are one of those following Christ. He goes ahead of His sheep as the Shepherd, and the sheep follow him”.
During His Homily Bishop Masela emphasised that “I always insist that you cannot borrow the cross from someone, you carry your own cross. You find the cross at your home, at work or when you interact with other people. All of us have our own crosses, look around you will find yours and always remember that God cannot give us crosses we cannot carry. Jesus said, “I come first, there are times that you have to make a choice between me and them, you cannot be my disciple if you don’t carry your cross and follow me”. We must take the Word of God seriously by making choices; to become followers or Disciples of Christ is not an easy task we need to show commitment.
He concluded by urging the Daughters of St. Anne members to shine brightly as beacons of hope and encouragement to everyone they meet by lifting up those burdened with despair and darkness. “Discipleship is the journey for Christians; however, Christ gave us the power and strength to follow him as his disciples. True discipleship means carrying our cross daily by accepting challenges, forgiving others, praying consistently, and leading an honest and loving life”.
DOSA’s membership grew significantly from 265 in 2023 to a total of 299 in 2025, spanning eleven parishes within the diocese of Polokwane. The sodality was launched in the diocese in 2017.
