Lesotho: Catholic Bishops recommit to renewing the country’s pastoral ministry to family

Lesotho’s Bishop of Qacha’s Nek Diocese and President of the Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Joseph Mopeli Sephamola, has shared with Vatican News plans to renew and reinvigorate Lesotho’s pastoral ministry to family life, especially given the country’s changing realities.

Lesotho’s Bishop of Qacha’s Nek Diocese, Bishop Joseph Sephamola, visiting Rome's Pontifical University recently 

Bishop Sephamola was reflecting on the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation: Amoris Laetitia.

The Church recently marked the tenth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia with Presidents of Bishops’ Conferences from around the world. Using the Synodal method, the Bishops discussed matters pertaining to  Christian family life.

According to Bishop Sephamola, the discussions around the papal document were timely for his country, given that marriage and family life in Lesotho face strain and challenges. The Church’s leadership feels an urgent need for concerted pastoral action.

Lesotho is a Southern African country surrounded by South Africa. This year, 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of its Independence. The country gained independence in 1966.

Young couples forced to live apart

Bishop Sephamola highlighted some prevalent issues around marriage and family life in Lesotho. He spoke particularly of young couples who have to live apart because of work, and whose children end up being raised by grandparents. It is a burden on the elderly, who may not always be in the best of health.

The Lesotho prelate also spoke of the Church’s concern about the trend toward cohabitation rather than sacramental marriage. Another worry is the tendency to go the traditional marriage route first, only to return later for the marriage blessing in Church. All these issues are compounded by a divorce rate that is steadily rising.

Civil divorce among Catholics whose unions were solemnised in Church is also on the rise. Then  there is the matter of the ‘ divorced remarried’ who essentially remain good and faithful parishioners except that they do not receive Holy Communion due to their marital status. Bishop Sephamola emphasised that the Church is working to develop a pastoral programme of accompaniment based on individual couples’ needs.

Marriage and family – Way Forward

According to the President of the Bishops’ Conference, efforts are already underway; for instance, to revive the Family Desk at the Lesotho Catholic Secretariat. The idea is to replicate this initiative throughout the country’s four dioceses. As the Church rethinks its pastoral approach to marriage and family in Lesotho, strengthening pre-marital instruction and formation is also a priority.

Reaffirming the Sacramental nature of marriage, the Bishop-President called for a more synodal approach to handling the country’s pastoral family ministry, as well as related issues concerning sacramental marriages. He also said the Church in Lesotho needs to be a listening church that listens more, “to the stories of couples, their experiences, and then accompany them from there,” he said.

The Bishop of Qacha’s Nek drew parallels between family life and society, maintaining that good societies are borne of good families, adding that good families were also fertile grounds for vocations to the priestly and religious Life.

Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho – Vatican City
Source: vaticannews.va/en