Abel Gabuza facts for kids

Abel Gabuza (born 23 March 1955 – died 17 January 2021) was an important leader in the Catholic Church in South Africa. He served as the Archbishop Coadjutor of the Archdiocese of Durban from 2018 until his death in 2021. Before that, he was the Bishop of Kimberley from 2010 to 2018.

Early Life and Path to Priesthood

Abel Gabuza was born on 23 March 1955 in Alexandra, South Africa. He grew up with five brothers and sisters. When he was young, his father passed away. His mother sent him to a boarding school. This was to give him a safer place to learn than the local schools.

Becoming a Priest

Abel Gabuza studied at two seminaries in Hammanskraal: St. Paul Minor Seminary and St. Peter Major Seminary. A seminary is a special school where people train to become priests. He took a break from his studies for one year. During this time, he worked in a factory. Later, he continued his studies at the National Major Seminary of St. John Vianney. He became a priest for the Archdiocese of Pretoria on 15 December 1984.

After becoming a priest, Gabuza worked in local church communities from 1985 to 1987. He then went to the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. There, he earned a master's degree in theology. He returned to teach at St. Paul Preparatory Seminary in Hammanskraal. From 1991 to 1994, he was the head of that seminary. In 1995, he went back to working in local churches. In 1999, he took on a big role as Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Pretoria. This meant he helped lead the archdiocese. In 2009, he became its Apostolic Administrator, which is another important leadership role.

Leading the Church

Bishop of Kimberley

On 23 December 2010, Pope Benedict XVI chose Abel Gabuza to be the Bishop of Kimberley. He officially became a bishop in a special ceremony on 19 March 2011. Jabulani Adatus Nxumalo, who was the Archbishop of Bloemfontein, led this ceremony.

As a bishop, he became the President of the Justice and Peace Commission. This is part of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference. He worked hard to protect money saved by workers for their future. He also spoke up for the health and safety of miners. Bishop Gabuza also called for better conditions for children who work. He wanted to stop the illegal trade of weapons.

Archbishop of Durban

On 9 December 2018, Pope Francis appointed Gabuza as the Archbishop Coadjutor of Durban. This meant he would help lead the Archdiocese of Durban. He was set to take over from Cardinal Wilfrid Napier later on.

Important Work and Beliefs

Archbishop Gabuza was a strong voice for important issues. He believed that protecting young people was very important. He said that any harm to young people should not be ignored. He also supported government rules during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. These rules included limiting public gatherings, even church services. He encouraged priests to find new ways to connect with their communities. He reminded people that the Church started small, in homes. He said, "each family is a domestic Church." This means every family can be a place of faith. He also worked to fight AIDS/HIV and violence against people because of their gender. He did this through a program that worked in local gathering places.

Later Life and Legacy

His Passing

Abel Gabuza passed away on 17 January 2021. He was 65 years old. He died from COVID-19 in Durban's Hillcrest Hospital. This happened during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.