The SSoouutthheerrnnCCrroossss January 29 to February 4, 2014 Reg No. 1920/002058/06 No 4859 www.scross.co.za R7,00 (incl VAT RSA)

Rabbi speaks New columnist Daswa & Pfanner: on his friend, on how The making Pope Francis faith grows of local saints Page 5 Page 7 Page 9 South Africa gives Palestinians hope

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON Secretary of State John Kerry was meeting with key players to discuss a peace deal be - OUTH AFRICA’S experience of overcom - tween Israel and Palestine. ing apartheid is giving hope to Palestini - “The way forward has to be around nego - Sans in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, tiation. There needs to be some kind of level many of whom display posters of Nelson playing field between Israel and Palestine,” Mandela in their homes. Fr Pearson told The Southern Cross . Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, The delegation spoke to diplomats and president of the Southern African Catholic key negotiators as well as people on the Bishops’ Conference, and Fr Peter-John Pear - ground and Church leaders working in the son, director of the Catholic Parliamentary Holy Land. Liaison Office, were part of a visit to the re - gion by the Co-ordination of Bishops’ Con - ather Pearson said the journey into ferences in support of the Church in the Gaza—“the world’s biggest open air Holy Land, which also included bishops F prison”—was “extremely moving and chal - from Europe and North America. lenging”. “Gaza is a man-made disaster, a shocking “It’s a desperate situation. There are 1,8 scandal, an injustice that cries out to the human community for a resolution,” the million people living in an entirely blocked bishops said in a statement after their visit off area. There is a small Christian commu - nity of around 2 500 of which around 200 Fr Peter-John Pearson (left) and Archbishop Stephen Brislin in Rafah, Gaza. They were part of a to the Holy Land to pray with and support Church delegation to the Holy Land. the Christian community and the cause of are Catholic. And yet it is this community peace. that is making a contribution to the educa - The delegation has been visiting the trou - tion and social services of those in Gaza,” Fr bled region for more than 12 years. Pearson said. This year it was joined for the first time by The bishops’ statement said that “this is precisely the hope needed at this moment to Diocese uses SMS to Archbishop Brislin, who is also the regional prior of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, bring peace, a peace that can only be built which aids the Christians of the Holy Land on justice and equity for both peoples. Pales - and promotes pilgrimages to the region. tinians and Israelis desperately need this peace.” prepare for its future “It was decided that there should be a South African presence. South Africa features Fr Pearson added the embargo was incred - greatly in the Palestinian discourse and in ibly strict, and movement in and out of the STAFF REPORTER the imagination of locals,” Fr Pearson said. area is nearly impossible. There is a blanket HE new bishop of Kokstad is using cell - “Many Palestinian homes have pictures of ban on those between 16-35 leaving, even to phone technology to prepare his flock Nelson Mandela. There is a rough parallel in visit family in the West Bank, which is under Tfor the first diocesan consultation. history between our country and theirs.” military occupation by Israel. Bishop Zolile Mpambani, who has headed Archbishop Brislin said he felt a “great “That means a huge population is impris - the diocese for five months, is this weekend affinity” with the Palestinians, whose suffer - oned in Gaza. The impact on social life and hosting a diocesan consultation meeting— ing he compared to blacks in South Africa employment is huge,” the priest said. and has laid much of the groundwork by SMS. under apartheid. “In Gaza we witnessed the deep poverty The diocese of Kokstad is almost entirely “I personally would not call [Israel] an of the people, and the courageous presence rural, straddling the border of KwaZulu-Natal apartheid state. I believe there are nuances of the small and vulnerable Christian com - and the Eastern Cape. in the Holy Land which must be recog - munities there,” the bishops said in a state - “We are very scattered: 19 priests serving nised...but it is very similar to apartheid in ment. over 150 Mass centres [which are] separated the sense of the loss of human dignity and “We call upon political leaders to improve by long distances on rural roads,” he said. of the subjection of people to the political the humanitarian situation of the people in Taking the long view, he noted that in 2034 will of others,” said Archbishop Brislin. Gaza, assuring access to the basic necessities the diocese will mark the 150th anniversary Puleng Matseneng and Bishop Zolile Mpam - bani test out the SMS service that is being He said South Africa’s example should for a dignified human life, the possibilities of the foundation of its cathedral. “What kind used to bring together the diocese of Kokstad offer hope to the people of the Holy Land. for economic development, and freedom of of diocese do we want to be building now for “We must never forget that democracy in movement.” the next 20 years?” he asked. stitute explained: “Some will come a day South Africa brought not only liberation to The bishops also voiced their alarm the The bishop is working with the Johannes - early, on January 31, for a day of reflection. black people but also to white people, because planned construction of a security barrier in burg-based Jesuit Institute SA. In October the But for many that is not possible, so instead it freed whites from the burden of oppressing the Cremisan valley which threatens the institute’s director, Raymond Perrier, ran a we will have guided them through ten days people and allowed us to develop normal re - agricultural land held for generations by 58 workshop on leadership and vision with the of personal reflection by sending a daily SMS lationships with our fellow human beings,” Christian families, and would cut through diocesan clergy, and the idea of a big diocesan in isiXhosa or English.” the archbishop said. “The same can be true of two Salesian monasteries. meeting came out of that. Bishop Mpambani welcomed the initiative. the Holy Land, and I believe it will be.” A final court appeal was to be heard in an Almost 150 people will attend, represent - “We may be far from the cities, but that does Fr Pearson has accompanied the delega - Israeli court in late January. ing parishes, sodalities, schools and religious not mean we cannot use modern media. In tion for the past three years. For Fr Pearson, the ideal solution to the congregations. fact, SMS may turn out to be a key way of keep - The delegation was in the region as US Continued on page 3 Puleng Matseneng, also from the Jesuit In - ing the diocese connected in the future.”

For full FATIMA • LOURDES • AVILA itinerary or with Bishop João Rodrigues & Günther Simmermacher to book Join The Southern Cross and the Diocese of Tzaneen on a Pilgrimage of Prayer for the phone Gail at 076 35 2 3809 Sainthood Cause of Benedict Daswa to places of Our Lady in France, Spain & Portugal! or 021 551 3923 25 September to 6 October 2014 [email protected] www.fowlertours.co.za Fatima | Avila & Alba de Tormes (St Teresa) | Madrid | Zaragossa (Our Lady of the Pillar) | Lourdes with torchlight procession | Nevers (St Bernadette) | Tours (Sr Marie of St Peter) | Lisieux (St Thér èse) | Paris with Notre Dame and Rue de Bac (Miraculous Medal) | and more... 2 The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 LOCAL Theologian to hit Cape Town Pilgrims to pray

STAFF REPORTER Fr Alison has developed “Jesus the Forgiving Victim”, a pro - RITISH Catholic teacher- for Daswa cause gramme which offers something preacher, theologian and au - “quite fresh”, said Mr Hill, in the Bthor Fr James Alison will be in field of introductions to faith STAFF REPORTER strong devotion long before it was Cape Town on a working visit from widespread, and St John of the Cross while embracing a straightforward HEN the beatification February 16 to 28, hosted by the An - credited being saved from drowning Christian orthodoxy. He has cause of Benedict Daswa is glican Christ church in Constantia. as a child to the intervention of taught the course to small groups examined by the Vatican According to Fr Terry Lester, the W Mary. around the world over the past 14 in October, it will be boosted by the theologian will be available to the Zaragoza’s basilica is reputed to years. prayers of South African pilgrims at parish, the broader church commu - be the first church ever to be dedi - He is the author of Knowing Jesus, Marian sites in three countries. nity and interested parties in general. cated to Mary. Raising Abel, The Joy of Being Wrong, The Southern Cross and the dio - Fr Alison is noted for his applica - According to tradition, on Janu - Faith Beyond Resentment: Fragments cese of Tzaneen are headlining a ary 2 in the year 40 AD, Mary ap - tion of Rene Girard’s anthropologi - Catholic and Gay, On Being Liked, Un - special Pilgrimage of Prayer in Sep - peared to St James, the apostle of cal theory to systematic theology dergoing God and Broken Hearts and tember and October for the cause of Spain, who at that time found it dif - and also for his work on gay issues. New Creations: Intimations of a Great the man who might become South ficult making converts. “A team at the church has com - Reversal . Africa’s first canonised saint (see page She gave him a small wooden piled a full programme to give maxi - His books have been translated 9) . statue of herself and a column, in - mum opportunity for clergy, trainers, into Spanish, Italian, Dutch, The pilgrimage will be led by congregations and other faiths to in - French, Russian and Portuguese. Bishop João Rodgrigues of Tzaneen, structing him to build a church in teract and debate with this dy - Fr Alison has lived and worked the diocese which is leading the her honour. From there on, the namic,” said organiser David Hill. in Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile cause for Benedict Daswa’s beatifica - Christian faith grew in the region. Apart from preaching and teach - and the United States. Currently tion, and will be accompanied by Our Lady of the Pillars is the pa - ing, Fr Alison will be interviewed by he works as a travelling preacher, Günther Simmermacher, editor of troness of Spain. John Maytham on Cape Talk on Feb - lecturer, and retreat giver, based in The Southern Cross . “For some reason, the Marian ruary 17, and will hold a discussion São Paulo, Brazil. connection to Zaragoza is not well British Catholic teacher, theologian It will visit the great Marian with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond n To view his full schedule while in and author Fr James Alison will be shrines of Fatima in Portugal and known outside the Iberian penin - Tutu in Christ Church hall on Satur - Cape Town go to www.christchurch visiting Cape Town from February Lourdes in France, as well as the sula,” said Mr Simmermacher, “and day morning, February 22. constantia.co.za 16 to 28. chapel of Our Lady of the Miracu - yet the miracle of Our Lady of the lous Medal in Paris. Pillars is the founding moment of The chapel is the final resting the Church in Spain and Portugal. place of St Catherine Labouré, the Having Mass in the basilica in Nazareth House to hold adoption seminar saint who designed the Miraculous Zaragoza will definitely be a high - Medal according to the image she light.” AZARETH House in Cape and similarities and differences be - home also receives abandoned ba - received in an apparition of Our Mr Simmermacher said that The Town will host an informa - tween foster care and adoption, bies which can be placed with Lady in 1830. Southern Cross will run a series of fea - tion session on foster care the screening procedure and legal adoptive parents sooner. N The pilgrimage will also include ture articles on Benedict Daswa, and adoption in an attempt to re - processes involved. The event is limited to people in the n a visit to Nevers, where the incor - who was martyred in 1990 for re - cruit more people into considering “The majority of children in our greater Cape Town area and will be rupt remains of St Bernadette of jecting pagan rituals, and the cause adoption. home are returned to relatives, but held on Wednesday, February, 26 at Lourdes rest, and a visit to Lisieux, for his beatification and eventual The evening will be hosted by from time to time the prognosis is 18:00 at 1 Derry Street, Vredehoek. town of the Little Flower, St Thérèse. sainthood (see page 9). Anne Bruce, a registered adoption poor and there is no family for the RSVP to Jackie or Anne at 021 461 In Spain, the pilgrims will visit Bishop Rodrigues has asked practitioner with over 30 years of child to turn to. We place this 1635 or e-mail socialworker@ Avila, the town of Ss Teresa and South Africa’s Catholics to pray for experience and will include a dis - child in foster care with the view nazhouse.co.za. Light refreshments the cause of Benedict Daswa. cussion around the pros and cons, to adopt,” said Ms Bruce. The will be served. John of the Cross, and Zaragoza, the site of what may be the first-ever The Cape Town-born bishop, an Marian apparition. accomplished musician, became the “The idea of the programme is to head of Tzaneen diocese in 2010, keep the focus on Mary,” said Mr after having served as a priest in the Simmermacher. diocese of Witbank. “Fatima and Lourdes are the ob - The pilgrimage will run from Daughters of the Immaculate Heart vious highlights, but throughout September 25 to October 6. The es - the pilgrimage we will encounter timated cost of the pilgrimage is of Mary Our Lady, and be able to pray for her R3 4 770, including airport taxes. WISH TO SHINE YOUR LIGHT FOR GOD’S intercession in the cause of Benedict n For more information visit Daswa and other intentions.” www.fowlertourssa.co.za/daswa CHILDREN! Then as a Daughter of the Immacualte Heart of Mary this The editor explained that St _pilgrimage or contact Gail at is your chance to rekindle the light of LOVE and of the Teresa of Avila reported apparitions [email protected] or 076 352 GOOD NEWS to the: of Our Lady, to whom she had a 3809. nYouth and Children nSick nAged Feel God’s Call nOutcast and Neglected For more information contact The Vocation Directoress P.O. Box 17204 Witbank, P.O. Box 864, Glen Cowie, 1035; Tel: 013 656 3708; 1061 Cell: 076 923 8319 Cell: 082 838 5428 [email protected] The Catholic Institute of Education seeks to appoint an CONSOLATA MISSIONARIES MICASA TOURS SOUTH AFRICA EDUCATION POLICY Pilgrimage Fatima and Medjugorje led by Father Laszlo Karpati SPECIALIST 10-21 October 2014 “Console, The successful candidate based in Johannesburg will: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land console • be knowledgeable about educational policy issues and led by Fr Andrew Makgetla my have an ability to analyse and comment on education 23 June-03 July 2014 people” policy Pilgrimage to Turkey and Medjugorje Is 40:1 • have excellent research and English writing skills led by Father Andrew Knott • be in possession of an appropriate educational 25 September-10 October 2014 qualification and requisite experience Pilgrimage of Thanksgiving to Italy & We are a Religious International Congregation • be able to liaise with the National and Provincial of Priests, Brothers, Sisters and Lay Medjugorje led by Fr Maselwane missionaries who are consecrated for the Education Departments 7-20 September 2014 Mission, to see to it that all have a chance to • be in possession of a valid driver's license and be willing Pilgrimage to Lourdes,Nevers,Liseux and Ars hear the word of God and encounter Jesus to travel extensively. led by Fr Craigh Laubscher Christ, God’s True Consolation. In addition the candidate will have a clear understanding 14-23 September 2014 God may be calling you to witness His of the vision and values of Catholic education in Pilgrimage to Fatima, Santiago de Consolation with the Consolata Missionaries. South Africa. Compostela and Lourdes, Paris & Nevers Don’t say no, or it is not yet time! Make it led by Fr Cletus Mtshali happen! Come and see! Closing dates for applications 14 February 2014. 28 September-11 October 2014 Our Contacts: Send to: Hilda Chinyowa, [email protected], Fax: 011 680 9628 Vocation Director Pilgrimage to Fatima, Santiago Compostela Consolata Missionaries CIE reserves the right not to proceed with the filling of the post. and Lourdes P. O BOX 31072 Submission of an application will not in itself entitle the led by Fr Emil Blaser 10-23 October 2014 0135 Pretoria applicant to an interview or appointment. Failure to meet the South Africa minimum requirements of the post will result in applicants Contact: Tel: 012 342 0179/072637 0508 (Michelle) Email: [email protected] automatically disqualifying themselves from consideration. E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.consolata.org LOCAL The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 3 Catholics called to register to vote

BY ANTHONY EGAN SJ laxed. Even non-South Africans where you live. If for some reason nearest polling station to get regis - “Responsible citizenship is a virtue, who were permanent residents were you are not going to be there, you tered and you can do that next and participation in political life is OMETIME soon, probably in then allowed to vote. All you may have to make arrangements to weekend (February 8/9). a moral obligation,” ( Evangelii April or May of this year, there needed was some kind of South vote where you will be staying. If you are not a South African cit - Gaudium EG220 ). Swill be a general election in African identity document. It did The way to guarantee to be able izen, you cannot vote here. But you As we move towards another South Africa. Twenty years and four not even have to be up-to- to vote is to follow the IEC’s instruc - can almost certainly vote in your election, make sure you are regis - elections after the coming of full date —folks exiled in the 1960s who tions regarding registration which home country by post or by proxy. tered to vote —especially if you are democracy in 1994, we are once had kept their old passports or ID are already flooding radio, TV, But again you have to make sure a first-time voter! again going to the polls. books were allowed to vote. newspapers, and the IEC’s website you are registered. And then start thinking seriously And for the first time there will Today, voting is not so simple. (www.elections.org.za). The Catholic Church believes about how you will exercise that be “born free” voters, young people Only adult citizens of South Africa If you voted before, you don’t that democracy is the best form of vote. who never lived under apartheid. may vote. need to re-register but you might civil government we have today. n Fr Egan has written a book of Lenten But they —and the rest of us —will You must have valid ID docu - want to make sure that your details Good citizenship —an important meditations to help us prepare for have to be registered voters in order mentation when you go to the are correct. You can do this by send - part of Christian living —includes Easter, for the 20th anniversary of lib - to exercise our hard-won rights. polling station. And you must be ing an SMS with your ID number to involvement in the political process eration and for the 2014 elections. A Back in 1994 voting was rela - registered to vote —you must be on 32810. and a key step in that is registering Revolution of the Spirit will be avail - tively easy. Because we wanted as a list called the voter’s roll. If you are a first-time voter as a voter. able from Catholic bookshops in early many South Africans possible to Normally you are expected to (whether a naturalised citizen or a Pope Francis made this very clear February or via sales@jesuitinsti - vote, many standard rules were re - vote at a polling station nearest to “born free”) you must go to your in his exhortation in November: tute.org.za Bishops comment on visit to Holy Land Continued from page 1 reality of Christians in the Holy “In doing so, we strengthen and region’s conflict is an equitable Land,” he said. encourage these ancient communi - peace where there is justice for both Archbishop Brislin told The ties which are very vulnerable— Israelis and Palestinians. Southern Cross that pilgrims to the they are Palestinian but at the same “We need further advocacy Holy Land should reach out to time not part of the Muslim major - around issues that could break the Palestinian Christians, who are ity and in that way they are caught anger and frustration” among Pales - often called the “Living Stones”. in between. tinians. One easily implemented way “So often Catholics go on pil - “In this way our pilgrimage also is for Israel to provide more work per - grimage to the Holy Land to walk becomes a source of hope to oth - mits for residents of West Bank where Jesus walked and to visit the ers,” he said. towns, such as Bethlehem. holy places. But we do not do this “I trust that our South African Fr Pearson added that there are simply to see old buildings, ruins or tour operators will take up this chal - different ways countries could sup - stones. Our faith is a living faith lenge of providing pilgrims with the port Palestine. Using Palestinian and Jesus formed living communi - opportunity to engage with service providers would help stimu - ties of faith,” he said. Catholics and other Christians in late the economy. “Pilgrims should be encouraged the Holy Land as this will make “On a practical level there is a to experience and encounter some their pilgrimage far more faith-filled need for more pilgrimages. Not Christian communities in the Holy and life-giving,” Archbishop Brislin Holy Cross Sisters and friends in Aliwal North celebrated the diamond ju - only would it be economically ben - Land, perhaps by joining them for said. bilees of Sr Francis de Sales Wreesmann (seated second from left), Sr eficial but it would also allow peo - Sunday Mass and meeting people With additional reporting by Judith Paula Maria Knill (centre), and Sr Clemens Maria Reiners (seated second n ple to come into touch with the afterwards,” the archbishop said. Sudilovsky in Jerusalem. from right), with Bishop Michael Wüstenberg (centre), at Fatima House.

HURLEY 10TH ANNIVERSARY 3-16 FEBRUARY 2014 4 The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 INTERNATIONAL Vatican testifies to UN on abuse

BY CINdY WOOdEN & Benedict XVI. In 2012, the book gation for alleged sexual crimes At the same time, he said, “the said, 67 accused priests voluntarily committed against children outside accusation that the Holy See has CAROL GLATZ left the priesthood and 57 were dis - the territory of Vatican City State.” blocked the carrying out of justice ESTIFYING before the United missed by Pope Benedict. Asked by the committee about seems to be unfounded”. Nations Committee on the Archbishop Tomasi told the com - the case, Archbishop Tomasi de - TRights of the Child, a Vatican mittee that in December Pope Fran - clined to give details because the in - uxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna representative acknowledged the cis approved the establishment of vestigation is still underway, but he Aof Malta, the former sex abuse horror of clerical sexual abuse and an international commission to pro - said it would be handled “with the investigator in the Congregation for insisted the Vatican is serious about mote child protection and prevent severity it deserves”. the Doctrine of the Faith, also ap - protecting children. abuse. He said Vatican City State re - The archbishop was referring to peared before the UN committee Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the cently updated its laws to define and Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, and answered questions, specifically Vatican observer to UN agencies in set out penalties for specific crimes whom the Vatican removed as nun - about canon law and Vatican policy Geneva, said the Church recognises against minors, including the sale of cio to the Dominican Republic in in dealing with allegations of cleri - abuse of children as both a crime children, child prostitution, the mil - August after he was accused of pay - cal sexual abuse. and sin, and the Vatican has been itary recruitment of children, sexual ing for sex with boys in the One of the committee members promoting policies that, “when violence against children and pro - Caribbean country. told him and Archbishop Tomasi properly applied, will help elimi - ducing or possessing child pornog - Archbishop Tomasi acknowl - that Vatican procedures “aren’t very Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vati - nate the occurrence of child sexual raphy. edged that “abusers are found transparent and the victims don’t can observer at UN agencies in abuse by clergy and other Church In late November, the Vatican re - among members of the world’s most take part” in the proceedings. Geneva. (Photo: Paul Haring/CNS) personnel”. sponded in writing to questions respected professions, most regret - The Holy See knows “there are The archbishop spoke in Geneva from the committee about its last re - tably, including members of the things that need to be done differ - ligious superiors to report every case during the committee’s annual ses - port on compliance with the treaty; clergy and other Church personnel”. ently”, Bishop Scicluna said, partic - of suspected abuse to civil authori - sion to review reports from states much of the Vatican response in - Abuse by clergy, he said, is “par - ularly to address concerns about ties whether local law required re - that signed the UN Convention on volved explaining the difference be - ticularly serious since these persons whether a local Church has covered porting or not. the Rights of the Child. The Holy tween the Vatican’s direct legal are in positions of great trust, and up cases of alleged abuse. Bishop Scicluna said he believed See signed the treaty in 1990. jurisdiction over Vatican City State they are called to levels of service “States need to take action against a more effective strategy would be to “There is no excuse for any form and its moral and canonical influ - that are to promote and protect all the obstruction of justice,” no matter educate all Catholics about their of violence or exploitation of chil - ence over Catholics around the elements of the human person, in - who is involved, he said. “Only the rights and responsibilities concern - dren,” the archbishop said. “Such world. cluding physical, emotional and truth will help us move on.” ing abuse. crimes can never be justified, “Priests are not functionaries of spiritual health. This relationship of Religious orders and dioceses are Committee members asked re - whether committed in the home, in the Vatican,” Archbishop Tomasi trust is critical and demands a required to investigate allegations peatedly about the total number of schools, in community and sports told the committee. “They are citi - higher sense of responsibility and and inform the doctrinal congrega - accusations made against Catholic programmes, in religious organisa - zens of their own state and fall respect for the persons served.” tion about suspected abuse, Bishop clergy around the world and about tions and structures.” under the jurisdiction of that state.” In the days before the UN com - Scicluna said, “but it does not sub - the results of investigations on every Within the Church, accusations Vatican spokesman Fr Federico mittee meeting, organisations repre - stitute or override domestic laws” in level. of clerical sexual abuse are investi - Lombardi SJ said in a statement senting victims of clerical sex abuse force where these people are, “where Bishop Scicluna said the Vatican gated by the Congregation for the that questions posed by the com - and others continued to make pub - the sexual abuse of a minor is has “no statistics on how cases de - Doctrine of the Faith and those mittee and others “seem to presup - lic criticisms of the Vatican and to rightly seen as an egregious crime”. veloped. That does not mean it found guilty may be dismissed from pose that bishops and religious claim that it had direct responsibil - “Religious orders and dioceses should be this way. It is in the public the priesthood. According to statis - superiors act as representatives or ity for handling or mishandling have to follow domestic laws about interest to know the outcomes of tics published in the Attivita della delegates of the pope, something cases of abuse around the globe. disclosure,” Bishop Scicluna said, the procedures” and know if a priest Santa Sede (“Activity of the Holy which is without foundation”. Archbishop Tomasi told Vatican and this fact “needs to be pointed or other Church employee was See”), a collection of annual reports Radio: “The criticisms are easy to out and said very clearly.” “found guilty, found innocent or from Vatican offices, 135 priests ac - ince responding in November, make and sometimes have a basis in Bishop Scicluna and Archbishop not proven guilty” although there cused of abuse requested dismissal SArchbishop Tomasi told the com - reality; any crime is an evil, but Tomasi were asked several times was enough evidence to be con - from the priesthood in 2011 and an - mittee, “a citizen of Vatican City when children are involved it be - why the Vatican had not made it cerned about the person’s interac - other 125 were dismissed by Pope State has been placed under investi - comes even more serious.” obligatory for local bishops and re - tion with children.—CNS Investigation into Medjugorje concludes

HE Holy See has announced These apparitions are said to have that the commission charged continued almost daily since their Twith investigating the alleged first occurrence, with three of the Marian apparitions in Medjugorje, original six children—who are now Bosnia-Herzegovina, has completed young adults—reporting to continue its task, and will be submitting its receiving apparitions every afternoon findings to the Vatican's doctrine of - because not all of the “secrets” in - fice. tended for them have been revealed. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Originally said to have occurred Lombardi SJ confirmed that the inter - on a hilltop in the town, the appari - national commission investigating tions are also said to have taken place the supposed apparitions had held its in various other locations, including final meeting the prior day, and was the local parish church and wherever submitting its final report to the Con - the visionaries happen to be located gregation for the Doctrine of the during the time of Mary’s appear - Faith (CDF). ance. Presided over by Cardinal Camillo Since their beginning, the alleged Ruini, emeritus vicar-general of the apparitions have been a source of diocese of Rome, the commission was both controversy and conversion, created by the CDF in 2010, and was with many flocking to the city for pil - composed of an international panel grimage and prayer, and some claim - of bishops, cardinals, theologians, ing to have experienced miracles at and various experts who have under - the site, while many others claim the taken a detailed study of the reports visions are not credible. of the reported Marian apparitions. In April 1991, the bishops of the The commissions were established former Yugoslavia determined that to further investigate “certain doctri - “on the basis of the research that has nal and disciplinary aspects of the been done, it is not possible to state phenomenon of Medjugorje”. that there were apparitions or super - The alleged apparitions originally natural revelations”. began on June 24, 1981, when six On the basis of those findings, children in the town of Medjugorje and because the commission was still began to experience phenomena in the process of its investigation, the which they have claimed to be ap - Congregation for the Doctrine of the paritions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Faith directed last October that cler - According to these six, the appari - ics and the faithful “are not permit - tions contained a message of peace ted to participate in meetings, for the world, a call to conversion, conferences or public celebrations prayer and fasting, as well as certain during which the credibility of such secrets surrounding events to be ful - ‘apparitions’ would be taken for filled in the future. granted”.—CNA Pope Francis to meet with Obama OPE Francis will meet with US “The president looks forward to President Barack Obama at the discussing with Pope Francis their PVatican on March 27. shared commitment to fighting The meeting will be Mr Obama’s poverty and growing inequality,” second visit to the Vatican as presi - said a White House statement. dent, and his first with Pope Francis. Mr Obama met Pope Benedict It will be part of a presidential trip XVI at the Vatican in July 2009.— to the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy. CNS INTERNATIONAL The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 5 Pope will face Holy Land challenges, says rabbi friend

BY CINdY WOOdEN to dialogue seems very limited, we wanted to give a living example of RABBI who has known Pope the meaning of dialogue in the Francis for almost 20 years and broadest sense,” he said. Acounts him as a close personal The rabbi and then-cardinal’s dis - friend has said the pope’s May trip to cussions about the meaning of life the Holy Land will be a challenging and death, about sin, the economy, balancing act because of the high ex - politics, poverty and about the Holo - pectations of Israelis and Palestini - caust show that religions “offer a ans and of Christians, Jews and valid alternative in facing life’s prob - Muslims. lems”. “There are many themes, many Before Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio conflicts that he will have to face was elected Pope Francis in March and there are the expectations of Rabbi Abraham Skorka, the pope’s A woman holding her baby prays at a shrine outside the cathedral in friend and co-author. (Photo: Paul 2013, the two also recorded 31 tele - many people,” said Rabbi Abraham vised discussions about current top - Bangui, Central African Republic. The country’s transitional parliament Skorka, rector of Buenos Aires’ Latin Haring/CNS) has elected the mayor of Bangui, Catherine Samba-Panza, as interim ics of social and religious interest in American Rabbinical Seminary and president, tasked with ending months of bloodshed. The 59-year-old in - “What I expect, ask from God and Argentina. terim president is a former businesswoman and corporate lawyer. Ac - co-author with the pope of the book hope with all my heart is that in a “All we did was offer people the cording to the French Catholic daily La Croix , most Bangui residents On Heaven and Earth . very intelligent way, in a very careful fruit of our relationship,” the rabbi welcomed her appointment. (Photo: Siegfried Modola, Reuters/CNS) The rabbi was in Rome with a way—because the inhabitants of that said. “The Bible offers a clear, simple group of Jewish leaders from Ar - region...have many passions—he is response to the concerns of our age,” gentina. They had a kosher lunch, able to leave a message of peace that which Pope Francis continues “to catered by a Rome restaurant, with will inspire a dimension of peace for show in his daily teachings” through Pope Francis at the Domus Sanctae all,” the rabbi said in a speech at the his morning Mass homilies, general Pope: Mirror Jesus and Marthae, where the pope lives. Rabbi Jesuit-run Pontifical Gregorian Uni - audience talks and Sunday Angelus Skorka went back for a private lunch versity about Catholic-Jewish rela - addresses. with the pope the following day. tions in Argentina. Rabbi Skorka said his public dia - vocations will follow The rabbi told reporters that the “It’s easy to imagine the pope logues with Cardinal Bergoglio and pope’s trip to Jordan, Israel and being dragged by his coattails from “A vocation is a fruit that ripens similar efforts by others in Argentina BY CINdY WOOdEN Palestine “is a very sensitive theme” one place to another because of in a well-cultivated field of mutual over the past 25 years have tried to and that every detail must be han - what he represents and what he VOCATION to the priest - love that becomes mutual service,” show Christians and Jews how much dled very carefully because of the means,” Rabbi Skorka said. However, hood, consecrated life or mar - the pope said, and that takes place in they have in common, how impor - riage is a call to centre one’s “many themes, many conflicts and he said, the pope has the strength tant dialogue is for promoting re - A the context of an authentic Chris - and charisma to resist manipulation, life on Christ and build up his king - the expectations of many people— spect and social harmony, and how tian community. “and leave a very positive sign”. dom, Pope Francis said in his mes - some of which are very radical.” much Christians and Jews can ac - “A vocation flows from the heart “He won’t resolve all the prob - sage for the 2014 World Day of He added: “This is a great chal - complish when they work together of God and blossoms in the good lems—that’s impossible,” the rabbi Prayer for Vocations. soil of faithful people in the experi - lenge for my friend.” to help the poor and bring moral After visits to Jerusalem by Popes said, “but I hope he can leave a sign values to society. “The more we unite ourselves to ence of fraternal love,” he said. that can inspire people to peace.” Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict For him as a believer, “I want to Jesus through prayer, sacred Scrip - Following Christ, the pope said, Rabbi Skorka said the book he XVI, he said, Jews around the world know why Catholics are Catholic ture, the Eucharist, the sacraments means that sometimes a believer will wrote with the pope is a collection are expecting a further gesture of rec - and I want them to know why I am celebrated and lived in the church have to go “against the tide” of the of their dialogues about themes of onciliation and a sign of the Catholic Jewish. Only when we understand and in fraternity, the more there will predominant culture, as well as over - great concern to people today. “In Church’s commitment to moving re - this will there be mutual respect”.— grow in us the joy of cooperating come personal doubts and fears. Argentine society, where the ability with God in the service of the king - When in the Bible Jesus urges his lations of mutual respect forward. CNS dom of mercy and truth, of justice followers to pray that God will send and peace,” the pope said in his mes - out labourers for the harvest—a pas - sage. sage seen as a key support for pray - This year the Church observes ing for vocations—Jesus also tells his Vocations Sunday on May 11. disciples that “the harvest is plenty”. God calls each person individu - “Who did the work to bring ally by name, but “no vocation is about these results?” the pope asked. born of itself or lives for itself”, Pope “There is only one answer: God.”— Francis said. CNS Religion not cause of all wars BY FRANCIS X ROCCA evitably gives rise to religiously in - spired violence. IOLENCE is the “greatest cor - The 55-page document was pre - ruption of religion,” while pared by a 10-member subcommit - Vbelief in a single God is the tee that included Archbishop Savio “principle and source of love be - Hon Tai-Fai, secretary of the Con - tween human beings”, says a new gregation for the Evangelisation of study by a Vatican advisory panel of Peoples. It was approved by Cardi - theologians. nal-designate Gerhard Müller, head “God, the Trinity, and the Unity of Humanity” was released by the of the doctrinal congregation. International Theological Commis - The document responds to argu - sion, a group appointed by the pope ments positing “an intrinsic link be - to advise the Congregation for the tween monotheism and violence” Doctrine of the Faith. and says such arguments reflect a The document argued against “number of misunderstandings” of the idea that monotheism in - Continued on page 11

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SPECIAL DEAL: Buy Moerdyk Files OR The Holy Land Trek PLUS Owen Williams’ Any Given Sunday for only R215 and GET DELIVERY FREE (SA only) 6 The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO The Editor reserves the right to shorten or edit published letters. Letters below 300 words receive pref - erence. Pseudonyms are acceptable only under special circumstances and at the Editor’s discretion. THE EDITOR Name and address of the writer must be supplied. No anonymous letter will be considered.

have to first switch on the power to Editor: Günther Simmermacher that television set. I had failed to SwFTiEtNc pheo polen sa yt: h“tehe gLrored at Ip amo wa regurla ro Sfu nJdaey schuurs ch- switch on the power to God. Ospoke to me” or “the Lord re - goer and meet my Christian obliga - So how is this power switched Africa’s anti-gay laws vealed to me”. And I would think: tions fairly well. on? Going to church gets you in the “What a bunch of attention seek - But then something was revealed presence of God’s message, but the channel is still off. The Lord has re - HERE there is injustice, United States, which are said to ers”. and demonstrated to me. I don’t vealed to me how to read the Bible. we must expect the agitate for anti-gay legislation, Until recently I had never actu - know how. It’s never happened be - Catholic Church to stand and by the proponents of the Is - My power to Jesus has been W ally heard the Lord speak to me. fore. I never heard a voice. switched on by a receptive heart, with the powerless. Therefore the lamic sharia law. People who hear voices? Well! To receive a television picture Church should sound the alarm at Their position is in conflict prayer, daily reading and referenc - Then a friend gave me a book to message, it must be switched on. If ing my Bible as well as daily devo - the advance throughout Africa of with Catholic teachings. The read, Giving Thanks, the Art of not, the message will be in the tele - draconian legislation aimed at Church cannot sponsor the crim - tionals. Now I receive those Tithing by Paula Langguth Ryan. It vision, but you will not hear it. abundant gifts I had denied myself. criminalising homosexuals. inalisation of matters of private is a thought-provoking read which Everyone has a television set, but Recently the Ugandan and morality, and much less the advo - It took 60 years, but finally I am I think infused my spirit with a that fact does not mean that every - Nigerian parliaments both passed cacy of human rights. Prejudice switched on to the power of God! severe anti-gay legislation. and the persecution of homosex - whole new mindset. one will hear its message. People Michael Palmer , Cape Town Uganda’s President Yoweri Musev - uals are in defiance of Catholic eni has vetoed it; Nigeria’s Presi - doctrine. plicit consent of a significant major - trols. Looting, theft and corruption dent Goodluck Jonathan signed it Even as it emphatically rejects ity”. Again this is simply not true. at municipal, provincial and na - into law. Other countries, such as homosexual carnal acts, the Cate - ToH ISb ise an a En gSlis.h -Aspefarkinicg Saoun th Let me remind you that apartheid tional government levels directly Cameroon and Tanzania, are pro - chism of the Catholic Church de - TAfrican’s first response to your was forced on our nation by, at impact on the condition of the posing to pass similar legislation. clares that “every sign of unjust editorial “The white burden” (Janu - most, 40% of the white electorate. poor. These laws are not intended to discrimination in their [homosex - ary 1): Even after a massive exodus of In post-apartheid South Africa, render same-sex acts illegal—they uals’] regard should be avoided”. My suggestions for us English- anti-Nationalist whites that took Crime Stats SA reports R650 billion already are, and punishable, in The Catechism further demands speakers to consider are as follows: place between 1948 and 1960, the lost to corruption since 1994. How most African countries—but to that homosexuals “must be ac - (a) Learn a South African lan - 1960 referendum produced a major - many jobs and how much housing persecute people on the basis of cepted with respect, compassion, guage other than English or ity of 74 580 votes, whereas over would that have provided to elimi - their sexual orientation. and sensitivity” (2358). Afrikaans two million whites had left, and nate the “misery which continues Such laws are not only unjust, Jailing homosexuals for being (b) Do an honest day’s work, as certainly more than 74 000 voters to afflict most of the nation even but they also have the potential gay and insisting on their human worker or manager. Pay your taxes. were absent on election day. It was today”? to tear at the fabric of society if rights, or even for having sex, self- Vote in elections. Do not ask for or the slenderest of majorities indeed. Twenty years ago, the poor had they are misused to facilitate false evidently is a sign of “unjust dis - pay bribes. Form your own cultural This was hardly “the explicit two things, viz the vote and great denunciations for gain, advance - crimination” that lacks in respect association. Fight again where nec - consent of a significant majority”. expectations. This year, they will ment or vengeance, much as what and compassion. essary against fascist/communist Mr Simmermacher, are you pre - vote again. And they will vote for Christians are exposed to in Pak - While the Church’s teachings dictatorship pared to don sackcloth and ashes the very persons responsible for istan under that country’s intoler - prevent her from standing with (c) Promote a common South and march up and down Adderley their condition. And, in their on- able blasphemy law. homosexuals on many issues, es - African identity. Street telling Jacob Zuma how sorry going poverty, they will continue to There is a deep-seated sense of pecially same-sex marriage, she Paul Goller , Johannesburg you are that he had to be so frugal have just those two things —the homophobia running throughout has an obligation, mandated by in his housing thanks to his being vote and great expectations. Africa, and beyond (Russia, for ex - Christ, to be in solidarity with all so previously disadvantaged! Franko Sokolic , Cape Town ample, recently also passed anti- those who are unjustly margin - Rather you should write that we gay laws). African leaders alised and persecuted. ETAdKiEt ostroniag le xnceoptito nt rtou te he are all South Africans now, and we routinely engage in populist ho - Alas, the Church has been Iwhole tenor of your editorial “The do not need to apologise to one an - mophobic rhetoric, often putting silent, in some cases even quietly white burden” (January 1), which is other for being alive, nor do we PoOoURr a rwticlhe “iTthee ws hite burden” forward the fiction that homosex - complicit, in the discourse on new totally out of place in our Catholic need to hope for premature absolu - (January 1) bothers me. uality is “un-African”. homophobic laws. This absence of newspaper. tion from sins we did not commit. Y I am 79 years old, and my father In some cases, such as Nige - intervention for justice may well It seeks to paint a picture of Ted Hinton , Johannesburg ria’s, homophobic sentiments and be interpreted, wrongly or not, as alarming and commonplace violent n After 1948 the National Party won would be 119 now. laws are deployed for political approval of injustice, in line with attacks on blacks being the normal either the highest number of votes or He saw the Depression years and profit by embattled leaders. the maxim Qui tacet, consentire vide - practice of all “white South an outright majority: 49,8% (1953), guarded essential places, such as Even in South Africa, where ho - tur (Silence gives consent). Africans”. It takes no cognisance of 55% (1958), 46% (1961), 58% Steenbras dam, the power station, mosexuality and same-sex mar - Instead, the Church should the fact that instances of white on (1966), 54% (1970), 57% (1974), and so onduring the war. He was riages are legal, homophobic present herself as compassionate black violence are extremely rare, 64% (1977), 57% (1981), 52% eventually dischared and, with no bigotry finds expression in violent and courageous in standing with whereas the converse is (1987), 48% (1989). Add to these the qualifications, joined the railways. attacks on homosexuals and in the those living in fear. endemic —an occurrence so com - votes obtained by even more conserva - My parents battled financially all “corrective” rape, both of men and African bishops especially monplace that it is hardly regarded tive parties, and these numbers suggest their lives. Today, I too battle. I have women. Often these crimes are un - ought to speak out, as loudly as as news any longer. a sustained and explicit consent of the been widowed for 24 years and now reported or ignored by the police. they do on same-sex marriage, What I find most hurtful and white community. —Editor battle on a miserable pension. I The effects of homophobia are against the discriminatory legisla - not acceptable is that you aver that have four children. also seen in the inordinately high tion and violence directed at ho - “whites collectively” have no con - I suggest that the Church re - rate of suicides among homosex - mosexuals, many of whom are trition for apartheid evils. This is search “the poor whites” in our uals, especially teenagers. fellow Catholics. manifestly inflammatory and a IS AAGR EgE oenitinrelgy wditho ywourn edhitiolril al country. We do not get government Homophobia is largely Where is the prophetic voice of vague generalisation as if all white (January 1) that, in overcoming the assistance to feed and clothe our premised on a false notion that the Church in condemning the South Africans are an identifiable burdens of our apartheid past, there families. homosexuality is chosen and cur - general homophobia in society? group of people who are all to is no room for racism in South Martha Schlimmer , Cape Town able. This month, Spanish Cardi - It would require a very peculiar blame for the evils of apartheid. Africa today. nal-elect Fernando Sebastián reading of the Gospel to locate This is simply untrue. South Africa, swept clean of the Opinions expressed in The Southern Aguilar, retired bishop of Pam - Jesus anywhere else but at the side The architects of apartheid were devil of apartheid, is akin to the Cross , especially in Letters to the Editor, plona, made the astonishing of the marginalised and vulnera - a minority of white South Africans, man in Matthew 7:43-45. Seven do not necessarily reflect the views of the claim that homosexuality is a “de - ble. The Church must be seen to who gerrymandered the election of other devils have entered the coun - Editor or staff of the newspaper, or of the Catholic hierarchy. The letters page in par - fect” comparable to his condition be standing with Jesus and those 1948 and cemented themselves into try and the plight of millions of ticular is a forum in which readers may ex - of high blood pressure. who face unjust persecution, even power for 40 years. I, who have con - black people, living in abject change opinions on matters of debate. In Africa, homophobic percep - if— especially if—it does not con - sistently opposed them, am now ex - poverty, as you note, is unchanged. Letters must not be understood to neces - tions are encouraged by funda - done the lifestyles of those at risk. sarily reflect the teachings, disciplines or pected to have authentic contrition The black policy of “affirmative policies of the Church accurately. mentalist Christian groups, That would be true Christian for the evil of apartheid! action” has placed many persons in Letters can be sent to PO Box 2372, generally imported from the witness. You mention that these policies positions where they lack the com - Cape Town 8000 or [email protected] were implemented “with the ex - petency to oversee financial con - or faxed to 021 465-3850

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RESERVATIONS: 082 450 9930 (Trevor) 011 284 2917 Throughout all his poetry, the author's faith and 082 444 7654 (Piero) 082 506 9641 (Anthony) www.casaserena.co.za belief in God are clear, as is the energy he draws or e-mail [email protected] with connection to nature. PERSPECTIVES The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 7 How faith grows NEW MONTHLY COLUMN Sarah-Leah Michael Shackleton HEN life’s knocks threaten to de - pect—that God will reveal himself to us in Open door rail us and leave us feeling lost and some spectacular way, and that will be Pimentel Wvulnerable, the people who care proof of our faith. And then we are disap - about us try to comfort us, speaking words pointed when it doesn’t happen that way. The Mustard Seeds of hope into our confusion. More often than not, God speaks gently The ways of God’s You may have heard these words of en - into the quiet of our hearts. There are no suffering. Faced with so many different pos - couragement from many a well-meaning flashes of lightning, no booming voice from sibilities, our faith often wavers when it friend or family member: don’t lose faith, the heavens. Faith, Jesus tells us, can be the comes to making good choices. forgiveness keep the faith, remain faithful. Sound famil - size of a mustard seed. Rather than being discouraged by this, iar? I bought some mustard seeds the other we can take comfort that even if our faith is I read and reread your response to Pro Veri - And yet, very often, our troubles and the day and was surprised by how tiny they as tiny as a mustard seed, God can work tate’s question, in the issue of October 16, on difficulties we face are the very things that were. Yet, our Lord assures us that even a miracles in our lives if we place every situa - why baptised non-Catholics may not receive put our faith to the test. faith so small is powerful enough to move tion we face before him. the sacrament of penance except under certain Think of how difficult it is to remain mountains (Mt 17:20). Many of those miracles may appear im - circumstances. I could not reconcile this with faithful in a marriage that has lost the ex - Does that not describe each one of us so perceptible to human eyes, but the inner the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collec - citement of its first romance. How hard it is perfectly? We are often very unsure of transformation that takes place in our souls tor (Lk 18:9-14) who beat his breast and said: to keep faith when we watch a debilitating where our lives are headed and struggle to is a manifestation that we are, indeed, a “God, have mercy on me a sinner”. I wonder illness consume the life of our loved ones find meaning in the things that bring us people of faith. if Pro Veritate’s question was put to Jesus, how or even ourselves despite numerous opera - Almost without noticing it, God’s king - he would have responded. Brian Thomas tions and painful treatments. dom begins to take root in our hearts. Our And how can one not lose faith when it faith grows and we become a source of faith HAT you suggest is that God will imme - seems that we are floating directionless on for others, as the Gospel tells us: The king - diately forgive the sins of those who are an open sea and God is nowhere to point dom of heaven “is like a mustard seed, Wsincerely repentant, and there is no us in the right direction? which a man took and planted in his gar - need for a priest to hear confessions and absolve As children we were reared on Bible sto - den. It grew and became a tree, and the the penitent from sin. ries and often heard about the great men birds perched in its branches” (Lk 13:19). Pope Francis very recently addressed your and women of faith—of Moses who en - And this is what this monthly column concern by pointing out that the sinner does not countered God in a burning bush and was hopes to become: a place to share stories of stand alone before God but in union with Christ given a direction for his life and an entire faith, to feed faith in one another and to en - and his Church. nation; of Abraham and Sarah who were courage those mustard seeds to grow into At his public audience on November 20 last, told by angels they would bear a son who blossoming trees that provide shelter for the pope said: “It is a little difficult to under - would become the father of all nations; of others. stand how a man can forgive sins but Jesus gives Mary and Joseph who had God speak to Or, as a friend of mine with a love for this power.” He quoted Christ’s words to his apostles: “Re - them in visions and dreams. cooking would say, let the mustard seeds Mustard seeds, as mentioned in the ceive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of Sometimes we hope for—or even ex - become the spice of life! gospels. (Photo: Scarletina/Morguefile) any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (Jn 20:22,23). He said God him - self willed that those who be - long to Christ and to the Finding spirituality in the psalms Church receive forgiveness by means of the ministers of HIS month we look at spirituality as the community. expressed in some of the psalms. We “Sometimes you hear Texamine psalms that deal at a deeper Emmanuel Ngara someone claiming to confess level with the relationship between the in - directly to God...Yes, as I said dividual believer and God. Christian Leadership before, God is always listen - It can, of course, be argued that there is ing but in the sacrament of nothing in a Christian, or in a human reconciliation he sends a being, that is not spiritual, and that to the brother to bestow his pardon, the certainty of extent that they signify the psalmist’s be - is always before me”. forgiveness, in the name of the Church.” lief in God and recognition of the power This being the case, the psalm opens God forgives every contrite sinner personally, of God, all the psalms are spiritual. with a cry to the merciful God to cleanse but Pope Francis expressed this truth in terms of It can, however, also be argued that him and blot out his sin: our union in Christ: “The Christian is tied to being spiritual is more than being a be - “Have mercy on me, O God, according Christ, and Christ is united to the Church. For liever or being religious, for being spiritual to your unfailing love; according to your us Christians there is a further gift, there is also denotes a deeper relationship with God; a great compassion, blot out my transgres - a further duty: to pass humbly through the ec - consciousness of one’s relationship with sions. Wash away all my iniquity and clesial community. We have to appreciate it; it is God at a level that signifies a real connec - cleanse me from my sin” (1-2). a gift, a cure, a protection as well as the assur - tion between one’s soul and one’s Creator. It is a sobering thought to think that ance that God has forgiven me. I go to my This kind of connection with God can David, who was specially chosen by God, brother priest and I say: ‘Father, I did this...’ And be experienced in special situations, such could have committed such a heinous act. he responds: ‘But I forgive you; God forgives as during meditation and contemplation, However, he speaks for all of us, the chil - you.’ At that moment I am sure that God has for - and in moments when the believer feels from a strong sense of separation from God dren of Adam and Eve, when he recalls given me! And this is beautiful, this is having the truly sorry for his or her sins. as he recalls happier times when he used that he was conceived in sin: surety that God forgives us always, he never tires Some psalms give us some idea of this to lead worshippers to the house of God: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from of forgiving us. And we must never tire of going deep relationship with the Creator. I call “These things I remember as I pour out the time my mother conceived me” (5). to ask for forgiveness. You may feel ashamed to such psalms “spiritual psalms”. my soul: how I used to go with the multi - Despite the enormity of his sin, David tell your sins...We blush once but then our sins Psalm 1 depicts for us some of the char - tude, leading the procession to the house shows that our God is a compassionate are forgiven and we go forward”. acteristics of a spiritual person: “But his de - of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiv - God, who, as Psalm 103:10 explains, “does ing, among the festive throng” (4). not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us light is in the law of the Lord,” and on n Send your queries to Open Door, Box 2372, Cape Town, God’s law “he meditates day and night”. But now his soul is disturbed and down - according to our iniquities”. 8000 ; or e-mail: [email protected] ; or fax (021) What this means is that this person is cast because of his strong sense of the ab - But what does it mean to be repentant? 46 5 3850 . Only published questions will be answered. forever conscious of the presence of God, sence of God. However, he puts his trust in What do we need to do to be forgiven by and of the need to obey God’s law. Because the saving power of God, and conse - God? Do we have to make great sacrifices of this his or her relationship with God quently he comforts his soul: or bring burnt offerings to him? In his flourishes: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? prayer to God David gives us the answer: “He is like a tree planted by streams of Why so disturbed within me? Put your “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I water, which yields its fruit in season and hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my would bring it; you do not take pleasure in do you feel called to the whose leaf does not wither” (verse 3). Saviour and my God” (11). burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a The connectedness between God and broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, Franciscan way of life? the soul of a spiritual believer is given a f Psalm 42 is written from a strong desire O God, you will not despise” (16-17). very powerful metaphorical expression in Ito be united with God, then Psalm 51 is In a subsequent column we can explore Psalm 42 where the believer’s desire for a the cry of a sinner who is acutely aware of further the richness and depth of what I solid relationship with God is expressed in his unworthiness and sinfulness, and is have called “spiritual psalms”. terms of a deer that is thirsty and is yearn - pleading with God to forgive him. What I can say in concluding this arti - ing for streams of water: David wrote this psalm after he had cle is that in a sense St Augustine explained “As the deer pants for streams of water, committed adultery with Bathsheba and something of the depth of these psalms so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul the prophet Nathan had rebuked him for when he cried out to God: “you have made thirsts for God, for the living God. When this sinful act (2 Samuel 11 & 12). The us for yourself, and our hearts are restless can I go and meet with God” (1-2). psalmist is so conscious of his sinfulness until they can find peace in you” ( The Con - The psalmist appears to be suffering against God that he confesses that “my sin fessions of St Augustine , Book 1).

NEW FOR 2014 13 to 26 Sep PILGRIMAGE OF PEACE Visiting the Vatican City, Rome, San Giovanni Rotondo (Tomb of Padre Pio), Loreto, and Medjugorje Organisers Marlene Cillieris and Nomsa Ma - Contact: Brother Evenie Turner O.F.M. lindisa. AccomCopsatn fireodm b R y2 a4 S3p0i0 ritual Director 082 599 7718, 012 345 3732, Tel: (031) 26 6 7702 Fax: (031) 26 6 8982 PO Box 914-1192, Wingate Park, 0153, Contact us: Tel 041 373-0039 / Mobile 074 376-5833 / Email retreat @isat.co.za Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 8The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 COMMUNITY

Children of Holy Spirit parish in Middelburg, de Aar diocese, received a blessing for the new school year. Children came to church in their uniforms with their books and bags to be blessed by parish priest Fr John Strittmatter SCJ.

As part of their Nativity celebrations, Mater dei parish in Parow, Cape Town, held a Christmas play, while a Christmas tree (inset) was decorated by the altar servers with decorations made by the catechism class children, which included their prayers and petitions at the back of the decorations.

Learners at Learn To Live Special School of Skills, one of Salesian Institute Youth Projects programmes, put on their annual Christmas concert.

Fr Thokozani Masina SCP of St Camillus parish in Hammanskraal is pictured with members of the Children of Mary Sodality. The parishioners of St Bernard’s and St Ignatius parish in Newlands/ Claremont, Cape Town collected The Southern Cross in association with Mariannhill Mission Press invites you to send us dried and tinned foods for the Etafeni Centre in Nyanga which caters for vulnerable children and their caregivers with nutrition, edu - WEDDING PHOTOS cation and emotional support. A group of parishioners, including parish priest Fr Christopher Clo - hessy (right), came out to Etafeni St Theresa’s parish in Edenvale, Johannesburg, held a Christmas Pageant in during the course of the year to which the Rowe family—Cat (Mary), Connor (Joseph) and Christopher (baby paint, clean, weed and do repairs at Jesus)—played the part of the Holy Family. the centre.

Send your Frail/assisted care in shared or photos to The COUPLE OF THE YEAR and two runners-up will receive prizes of single rooms. pics@ scross.co.za photographic canvas prints sponsored by MARIANNHILL MISSION PRESS. Independent care in single/double or post to Photos may picture only the bride and the groom, and must be in horizontal format. Digital pictures Community Pics, must have a width of at least 640 pixels. rooms with en-suite bathrooms. Caption must state the bride’s maiden name, the groom’s name, the names of the parents, the date PO Box 2372, Cape Retirement Home, of the wedding, the name and location of the church, and the name of the officiating priest. The name Rates include meals, laundry and Town, 8000 of the photographer (and website, if professional) may be given as well. Please include contact details of the bridal couple. Rivonia, We endeavour to publish all 24-hour nursing. Send your wedding photos to [email protected] or Wedding Pics, The Southern Johannesburg photos of adequate quality, but due to the volume of Cross, PO Box 232, Cape Town, 8000 By sending the photo to The Southern Cross you agree that the couple depicted consents to publication in print and on The Southern Cross ’ web - Tel:011 803 1451 Day Care and short stay facilities contributions we receive, site and/or Facebook page, and to use for promotional purposes related to The Southern Cross and (in reference to the competition) by Mariannhill Mission Press. www.lourdeshouse.org also available. we ask for your patience. WITH TWO BISHOPS TO HOLY LAND, ROME, PADRE PIO Join ARCHBISHOP STEPHEN BRISLIN and BISHOP DABULA MPAKO on a Southern Cross pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Rome and San Giovanni For itinerary Rotondo, PLUS Istanbul. Accompanied by GÜNTHER SIMMERMACHER , or to book editor of The Southern Cross and author of The Holy Land Trek phone Gail at 076 35 2 3809 10 - 23 MAY 2014 or 021 551 3923 [email protected] BOOK NOW! ONLY FEW SEATS STILL AVAILABLE! www.fowlertours.co.za

Jerusalem with Via Dolorosa | Mounts of Olives and Zion | Nazareth | Bethlehem | Sea of Galilee (with boat ride) | Jordan River | St Peter’s in the Vatican | Papal Audience | Sistine Chapel | Historical Rome | Rome’s Major Basilicas | San Giovanni Rotondo | Lanciano | Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia | and much more... FAITH The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 9 Saints for South Africa work that he received from his fam - The investigation was completed The days of South Africa ily and the importance of work in in 2010 and all the official docu - Christianity. He was also a family ments were sent to the Congrega - being without a saint may be man, married to Shadi Eveline tion for the Causes of Saints in numbered as not one but two Monyai, with whom he had eight Rome. causes are currently being children, the last born four months A positio , which is really a book after his death. on the life of Benedict, was written presented to the Congrega - Benedict became a prominent fig - by Fr Lucio Di Stefano, a member of tion for the Causes of Saints ure in his community, the Italian province of in Rome. South African and eventually became the Missionaries of the Catholics could soon cele - principal of Nweli pri - Sacred Heart in Rome and mary school. official postulator of the brate the beatification of He was a respected cause. Benedict Daswa and Abbot member of the commu - After publication, a po - Francis Pfanner. CLAIRE nity, but that changed sitio is very closely exam - when unseasonal heavy ined by a panel set up by MATHIESON explains. rains and lightning the sainthood congrega - struck the areas in 1989 tion, comprising Church Benedict Daswa and early 1990. historians, moral theolo - The community gians and canon lawyers. ENEDICT Daswa is the first saint - leaders decided to pay a hood cause of a South African “Their judgment will B traditional healer to then be presented to the born-Catholic to be proposed for be - deal with the weather Crowds gather in St Peter’s Square last May for the first canonisation cere - atification and eventually canonisa - cardinal prefect and other mony presided over by Pope Francis. (Photo: Stefano Rellandini, Reuters/ which they ascribed to archbishops and bishops tion. witchcraft. CNS) Born on June 16, 1946 as Tshi - of the sacred congrega - Benedict tried explaining that the tion for their approval. If that is re - mangadzo Samuel Daswa in the for - weather was a natural phenomenon. mer Venda homeland, young ceived, it will then be given to the He also argued that his Catholic Holy Father for the seal of his ap - Samuel, a herd boy, was raised in the faith prevented him from taking The cost of sainthood proval and the setting of a date for Lemba tribe, which claims affinity to part in anything connected with the beatification,” Sr Hiosan ex - the Jewish culture. witchcraft, and refused to pay. ago, making it impossible to inter - plained. BY CINdY WOOdEN After finishing school, Samuel Many in the community saw him view eyewitnesses—the normal cost The Daswa cause will be exam - AVING a holy son or daughter joined a group of Catholics who met as belittling their traditional beliefs of bringing the candidate to beatifi - ined in October, shortly after a formally recognised as a saint for instruction in the faith under a and conspired to get rid of him. cation is about R740 000, including planned pilgrimage of prayer for the by the universal church could local fig tree. He was baptised on One a Friday night, February 2, H the cost of the ceremony. April 21, 1963, and confirmed cause, led by Bishop João Rodrigues easily cost a couple of million rand. The congregation charges be - 1990, Benedict was attacked by an of Tzaneen and headlined by The But experts say the Church isn’t sell - shortly after, taking the name Bene - angry mob of youth and adults who tween R 5 000 and R 6 000 for the de - dict after his catechist. Southern Cross to Fatima, Lourdes, ing halos; it’s compensating profes - ambushed his car with sticks and cree opening the cause, the Benedict qualified as a teacher Avila and other places associated sionals doing serious research, so stones. He was hit on the head with postulator’s “mandate,” the assign - and became active in his commu - with Our Lady ( see page 3 ). that a pope can solemnly declare his a knobkerrie, crushing his skull. The ment of a relator (the investigating nity through teachers’ unions, sport, Sr Hiosan said this was “an un - certainty that a person is in heaven. attackers then poured boiling water judge), and the nihil obstat (no objec - local politics and had a particular de - usually short wait for a cause such as The costs involved in moving a tion) permitting a diocesan bishop to over his head. votion to serving through the ours”, adding that the cause for the cause from local fame to universal open a local inquiry into a candi - Sr Claudette Hiosan FDNSC said Church. He helped build the com - martyred teacher from Tzaneen is veneration as a saint depend on a va - date’s sanctity, one official said. The there was a sense almost immedi - munity’s church and was well very strong. “He is indeed a martyr riety of factors, such as whether the cause must pay about R1 0 000 to known for the errands he ran in his ately that Benedict had been mar - and prophetic figure of faith for postulator—the official promoter—is each of the consulting physicians as - bakkie, never asking for petrol tyred for his faith. Africa. I believe this is the reason volunteering his or her time, and signed by the congregation to study money. Martyrdom is grounds for saint - why his cause has reached this crit - how many potential miracles must a potential miracle. Bishop Hugh Slattery, retired of hood and Bishop Slattery decided to ical stage in which it can now be investigated before the pope for - Postulators for religious orders, Tzaneen, the diocese in which Bene - look into the matter. Following the spread through a concerted prayer mally recognises those required for such as the Jesuits, generally do not dict lived, recalled how Benedict initial investigation, the South campaign throughout the SACBC canonisation. draw a salary or stipend, even if the would conduct Sunday services African Catholic Bishops’ Confer - region.” Expenses typically include: collec - candidate is not a member of their when the priest was not there. “He ence (SACBC) was informed, and n For more information contact Sr tion and translation of eyewitness order. But some postulators are would work closely with the priest, their approval for a proper canonical Claudette Hiosan on 015 307 5244 or statements and documents; exhuma - laypeople doing the work as a profes - supporting him financially and investigation was granted, allowing email [email protected] . To tion and reburial of the candidate’s sion and they have to live off what morally, and he would give instruc - the diocese of Tzaneen to proceed contribute to the cause, deposits can be body, if necessary to verify the loca - they make, Fr Lindeijer said. tion for the youth and the elderly.” with a full canonical inquiry. made to account name: Diocese of Tza - tion of the grave; preparation and Waldery Hilgeman, a 33-year-old Bishop Slattery said when Bene - The investigation into Benedict’s neen: Benedict Daswa Cause, Standard publication of the positio , a biogra - layman serving as postulator of the dict became a Catholic he was able life is a formal inquiry and the Bank, account 330911538, branch phy and official position paper doc - cause of the late Vietnamese Cardi - to combine his traditional love of process is lengthy and costly. 052749. umenting the candidate’s holiness; nal Francois Nguyen Van Thuan and fees for theological, historical and others, said he has no set price for his medical consultants; and the beatifi - services. Abbott Francis Pfanner theological studies in Rome. one of the great characters of the cation and canonisation ceremonies “I never refuse a cause, even if it’s themselves. a poor cause, because for me it is a HE Austrian-born founder of the Shortly before Abbot Pfanner’s Church—not only in Africa but for death in 1909, Mariannhill the international Church. “He was The head of the Congregation for pastoral work,” he said. “I try to have TMariannhill Missionaries and the Saints’ Causes has announced that a dialogue about what they can pay Sisters of the Precious Blood is also Monastery was separated from the an incredible monk, an amazing vi - Order of the Trappists, forming a sionary and an extraordinary man his office had established a reference me. I cannot expect people in Africa on the track to sainthood. list of standard charges for the to pay what a European or North Francis Pfanner was born in Vor- new and independent congregation. who took on local authority for the Abbot Pfanner died on May 24 of rights of locals.” process. American can.” alberg, western Austria, in 1825, be - Jesuit Father Marc Lindeijer, vice that year, leaving 49 mission stations To advance to the beatification One of the biggest expenses of a come a priest in 1850 and joined postulator of sainthood causes for his in South Africa. stage, the commission will have to canonisation is the booklet, usually the Trappists in 1864. order, said that if a cause “is not too multilingual and in colour, handed The cause for the beatification of demonstrate that a miracle is attrib - Suffering failing health due to tu - complicated”—for instance, if the out to everyone at the Mass, Mr the Mariannhill founder has been a utable to Abbot Pfanner’s interces - berculosis, he entered the strict order candidate died hundreds of years Hilgeman said.—CNS to prepare himself for death, but the long process, having been approved sion. Trappist way of life agreed with him in 2003. 2009 saw the first of 12 ses - and he lived many more sions of the Historical years. Commission, an inte - He was called to South gral part of the inquiry THE JOURNEYS Africa by a local bishop for the cause for the be - Spiritans–Missionaries who had called for Trap - atification of Servant of OF A LIFETIME! pists to evangelise local God Abbot Francis Worldwide Africans. When all others Pfanner. Holy Redeemer Ctn Parish Pilgrimage had declined the invita - The postulator for Join Holy Spirit tion, Fr Pfanner resolved Abbot Pfanner’s cause, Holy Land • Jordan • Rome • Assisi to relinquish his settled initially the late Fr 8-22 Nov Led by Fr Seàn Wales CSsR Congregation of abbey life and face fresh Georg Lautenschlager difficulties in South CMM and then Fr Yves Rosebank Jhb Parish Pilgrimage Religious Priests and Africa. La Fontaine CMM, has Holy Land • Jordan His first mission site had to document his Brothers was unsuitable, but it subject’s life in detail for 21 - 30 April Led by Fr Lucas Nyathi  served as a stepping stone Founded on Pentecost Sunday 1703 in France. proof of “heroic virtue”, collate all of  to obtain permission to set up a mis - Abbot Pfanner’s writings (and litera - Kokstad Diocesan Pilgrimage Consecrated to the Holy Spirit [Lk. 4:18-21]. sion near Pinetown, on a part of the ture about him), and submit these to Holy Land • Jordan • Cairo  Live in Community with One Heart, One Soul farm Zoekoegat, where the the Vatican for scrutiny. monastery of Mariannhill would be 18 -27 Oct Led by Fr Thabang Letsohla Motto. The commission was tasked to  built in 1882. It was here, in 1884, study and examine the historical Dominican Pilgrimage Serving the Poor and Vulnerable Groups in 68 that the first indigenous locals were profile of the Mariannhill founder. Countries. baptised publically. Holy Land • Rome The final report, together with  Ready to serve the local Church in places most In 1898, the monastery became the report of the Theological Com - 31 Aug to 11 Sept Led by Fr Emil Blaser OP the world’s largest with 285 monks, mission, will be evaluated by the in need of personnel. and in 1885 the first five female mis - Congregation of the Causes of Pilgrimage to Our Lady sion helpers arrived, becoming the Saints, which will determine the Fatima • Lourdes • Paris • Avila Please Contact: foundation of the Congregation of abbot’s heroicity of virtues required the Sisters of the Precious Blood. for beatification. 18 - 28 Sept Led by Fr Modisa Sekao Fr. Nkosinathi Nkabinde, CSSp In 1894 the outstation of Lourdes While the process is still many Pilgrimage of Joy E-mail: [email protected] mission was founded at Emaus—the years off, said secretary for the com - Cell: 072 918 6192, Box 318, Mohlakeng 1760 place where Abbot Pfanner would re - mission Sydney Duval, there is no Holy Land • Jordan • Cairo OR main until his death. doubt that “he left a great legacy 18 -27 Oct Led by Fr Tom Tshabalala OFM The order also opened new mis - that people still admire today. There Fr. Ikechukwu Onoyima, CSSp sion stations in Zimbabwe and into is a prayerful attitude towards him Email: [email protected] German East Africa. In 1898 the first Contact Gail at 076 35 2 3809 or 021 55 1 3923 and he has a big following”. [email protected] fowlertours.co.za Zulu priest returned home from his Mr Duval called Abbot Pfanner • Cell: 071 457 2240, Box 179 Westonaria 1780. 10 The Southern Cross, January 29 to February 4, 2014 BOOK Moerdyk, St Joseph and the traffic jungle

All this got me thinking about how often we allow faith to turn Over the past two weeks into superstition. Take those e- we have published ex - mailed novenas for example. These cerpts from the anthology are a sort of religious chain letter that pitch up on your computer out of Chris Moerdyk’s best of the blue and insist that if you Southern Cross columns, don’t pass it on to ten friends or family within 24 hours, you will be titled Moerdyk Files . Here damned for eternity. we offer our readers a They generally go on to give gory final peek into the book examples of what happens to people who break the chain. Motor acci - with excerpts. dents, falling off mountains, getting scalded by boiling water in kitchen accidents, or getting taken for a ride Why I will not bury by seemingly trustworthy people St Joseph who leave you bankrupt and home - ELLING a house, as my wife and less. I have been doing in prepara - Now, what worries me about tion for our move from Sandton these things is not that religious fa - S natics or the ecumenically insecure in Johannesburg to Simon’s Town in the Cape, is said to be one of life’s might take them seriously, but the more traumatic experiences. dilemma they might pose for St But I don’t believe the actual Peter. packing up and moving is the source Will he take into account, for ex - of trauma. It stems rather from a ample, when one arrives at the phalanx of prospective purchasers, pearly gates and is sentenced to all complete strangers, trooping Hades for eternity for not responding through the private preserve of one’s to some e-mail novena or other, that home and within earshot of a very perhaps this might just have been Among the 17 sections in the Moerdyk Files book is one on the saints (including St Joseph, seen far right), as well as house-proud wife, saying that they when Telkom was working on the family, humour, travelling, marketing, Christmas, several reflections on the Catholic Church and more. don’t like the kitchen. main phone lines in your area, and your computer was off-line? Or that my car I am going to imagine that I umpteenth herd of elephant stand - A secondary source of trauma is Serenity in the am in the Kruger National Park. I am ing in the middle of the road. when after a month of invasive and one of your kids hit the “delete” but - ton by mistake and wiped out three traffic jungle going to drive at a pace sedate I don’t lean out of the window disruptive showdays, no one has enough not to run over (or have my and yell: “What are you waiting for, made any offers. days’ worth of e-mails—including NE of the great sins of the that unsolicited chain letter? modern era surely is road paintwork damaged by) all those you bunch of morons? Do you think Desperate measures start coming crazy guinea fowl that always seem you own the @#*& road or some - into play. Getting the garden to look And what, one wonders, will St Orage. I haven’t gone beyond Peter have in store for those who venial sin territory yet, never quite to wait for an oncoming vehicle be - thing?”, and then start thumping like springtime in mid-winter, for ex - fore scurrying across the road—like the steering wheel with such passion ample, by pumping half the con - prey on ye of little faith and super - having got to the point of hanging fluous superstition? Frankly, I hope out of my car window and waving a all those pedestrians who dice with I can’t hold a golf club for a week. tents of the Vaal Dam on to your death on a daily basis trying to run No, I simply assume that elephants lawn; or baking bread in he condemns them to sawn-off shotgun at errant drivers an eternity of sitting in who get up my nose far enough to across motorways. don’t have the foggiest notion about the oven when potential To me, there are no buses, only the concept of motorised road trans - buyers call round; or front of a computer provoke a mortal sin retaliation. with a thoroughly neu - But giving in to venting my auto - elephants; no big trucks, only rhi - port. testing Eskom’s main cir - nos; no combi taxis, only herds and My lack of road rage in this case rotic hard drive. motive spleen with predictable reg - cuit-breakers to the limit herds of impala mindlessly spring - has nothing to do with the fact that And what about ularity has weighed so heavily on by turning on every light ing hither then thither and rushing when you swear at an elephant it those merchants who my conscience that I have devoted a in the house day in and about desperately looking for some - tends to stomp on you, because are now mercifully considerable amount of time and day out, just in case some where to commit suicide. that’s what buses and trucks do as kept outside of the Irish whiskey to seeking a solution. poor-sighted purchaser There will be no more idiots hog - well. But somehow it hasn’t pre - thinks that everything gates of the convent at My cunning plan is to shift a couple of paradigms. ging the fast lane at two miles a fort - vented me in the past from letting looks a little too dark. Lourdes, which night. Only the odd warthog rip with a string of ripe invective in A Catholic friend, quite houses one of Catholi - The first is to accept that South Africa is not a traffic environment of trotting along in the same direction their direction. obviously influenced by cism’s most holy grot - as I am, oblivious to all but its own This might all look like giving up some distinct Irish an - toes? well-behaved drivers kept in check by rigidly enforced rules and regula - strange little world. There will be no and lowering my standards. I don’t tecedency, suggested quite I think the purvey - more cyclists riding five abreast; believe so. It is simply a compromise seriously that I had no ors of this crude commer - tions. Our traffic environment is motoring mayhem. Not quite as only waterbuck with circular white in a country where the road traffic hope whatsoever of selling my home cialism are in for a bit of heavenly saddlemarks on their bottoms. No authorities harp on endlessly with until I buried a statue of St Joseph in trouble when they all pitch up at the chaotic as Cairo, but getting there fast. A situation where rules are there more delivery motorbikes; only wild “Don’t fool yourself, speed kills”, my garden. pearly gates one day. Because they dogs with their strange but fascinat - and then completely ignore the fact I would, let me say, condemn my - spend their lives convincing gullible to be broken and the big trick is sim - ply not to get caught. ing penchant for snapping at car that unlicensed and untrained driv - self in perpetuity to the smog and pilgrims that if one does not gird tyres. ers, unroadworthy vehicles, bald traffic congestion of Gauteng and one’s loins with Taiwanese under - Of course this doesn’t mean that I am going to start breaking the rules I’ve been trying it for a week now tyres, incorrect following distance, forgo in an instant my dream of the wear featuring a silkscreened illustra - whenever I can. I am not going to and it works a treat. I just go into overtaking in the face of oncoming fairest Cape before allowing myself tion of the Sacred Heart, one will accept that the rules of the road are bush-driving mode. I feel as if I am traffic and a million other things to even contemplate burying St never stand a chance of being cured things that are imposed upon me, on my way back to “camp” after a also kill people on the roads. Joseph in my backyard. of anything. (No, I am not making but rather that they are instruments day of animal spotting and bird Fact is, it is quite literally a jungle After all, this patron saint of this up, I’ve seen them myself.) which I can use to keep myself from watching, and all I want is a cool out there. And like any jungle, it has workers has kept me and my family No, I won’t bury St Joseph in my shower and a whacking great its temptations, not the least of gainfully employed for decades; and being wiped out by other road users. backyard but will rather show a little Because, when you think of it, a lot whiskey. which is an overwhelming desire to there is no way I am going to risk re - faith in things all working out for I get into the kind of mood where move from venial verbal abuse to dundancy and mass unemployment of road rage is caused by watching our big move. It’s a lot more reward - powerlessly as other drivers blatantly I couldn’t care less if I never saw an - full-blown, no-holds-barred, mur - among my kith and kin by burying ing than being superstitious, I’m other rhino with or without its pre - derously mortal stuff. our benefactor in the begonias. break the rules. sure—in fact, I’ll bet my house on it. Secondly, every time I get into hensile lip, nor if I ever spotted n Order Moerdyk Files for R150 another wailing cisticola as long as I (plus R15 p&p in SA) from lived. I’ve been in that kind of mood [email protected] or www.books. MONASTERY RETREAT HOUSE when I’ve come up behind the scross.co.za or call 021 46 5 5007. PO Box 11095, Mariannhill 3624 2014 March 10-31: LENTEN LECTURES THEOLOGY OF DIVINE MERCY according to Bl by Mgr Paul Nadal, 7.30pm, John Paul II, by Fr Urs Fischer, beginning sup - March 10: Jesus Christ-Son of Man, per April 12, concluding lunch Easter Sunday March 17: Jesus Christ-Son of God, April 20. March 24: Mary his Mother Immaculate, November 21 - 23: Weekend retreat by Fr March 31: Mary Queen of Heaven Pierre Lavoipierre: Passion for Faith “...in OUR GIFT TO YOU! HOLY WEEK RETREAT - Commences supper your heart faith...” (Rm 10,9-10) Subscribe now to the digital or print edition, for yourself or for someone you love, April 12, ending lunch Easter Sunday by Fr December 9 - 18: 8-day Directed Retreats by and we will send you a beautiful Christopher Neville OFM. Fr Urs Fischer and Br Crispin Graham. OLIVE-WOOD Personally guided retreats may be arranged at any time HOLY LAND ROSARY throughout the year to suit individual need. made by Christians in the land of Christ and blessed with holy water in Jerusalem. For Bookings: Cellphones: *Offer valid while stocks last Reception: 031 700 2155 083 963 3848 Fr Urs Fischer Fr Urs Fischer 031 700 2890 083 544 1504 Bro Crispin Fax 031 700 2738 082 730 7180 Mrs N Qupa Email: [email protected] CLASSIFIEDS The Southern Cross, January 22 to January 28, 2014 11 Don’t blame religion Births • FirsCt ComLmuAnionS • CoSnfirmIaFtionI • EEngDagemS ent/Marriage • Wedding anniversary • Ordination jubilee • Congratulations • deaths • In memoriam • Thanks • Prayers • Accommodation • Holiday Accommoda - for all mankind’s wars tion • Personal • Services • Employment • Property • Others Please include payment (R1,25 a word) with small advertisements for Continued from page 5 through faith in God. promptest publication. “authentic Christian thought about the one God,” “The event of Jesus Christ, which universally the document said. manifests the love of God, enables the religious jus - The very category of monotheism is “too tification of violence to be neutralised,” the docu - tions. In return I promise self? Prayer of Awe— St generic”, the authors argue, since it does not distin - ment argues. “The death and resurrection of Christ PERSONAL to make your name Catherine of Siena. guish among the different traditions of Judaism, are the key to the reconciliation of human beings.” “PEOPLE OF THE known and publish this Islam and Christianity. The authors draw a link between Trinitarian love CEDARS” a 20th Cen - prayer. Amen.VW The document also objects to what it calls a “cul - and the harmony of society: Through the sacra - tury insight into the THANKS tural simplification that reduces the alternatives to ments, men and women become children of God Lebanese South African GRATEFUL thanks to St a choice between a necessarily violent monotheism and brothers and sisters to each other, achieving a Community. Author: Ken Jude Thaddeus for and a presumptively tolerant polytheism”. spiritual unity that promotes a “human culture of Hanna. Layout, editing prayers answered. GMdC The Bible contains a number of instances of “vi - social ties and the overcoming of enmity among and illustrations: by Fr olence that involve God directly or indirectly”, the peoples”. Charbel Habchi GRATEFUL thanks to the (Lebanese Maronite Mis - authors acknowledge. Examples include God’s de - Violence that appears religiously inspired is often Sacred Heart of Jesus, sionaries) Price R300, Our Mother Mary and Ss struction of the world in the great flood, and of really driven by economic and political interests postage R50. From Ma - Sodom and Gomorrah by fire, as well as several oc - that exploit faith and tend to malign religion in the Joseph, Anthony, Jude ronite Church 011 804 and Martin de Porres for casions when God orders the Israelites to extermi - name of a false humanism, the document argues. 1305. Critique: “This prayers answered. RCP nate armies or conquered cities as sacrifices to him. Yet the authors warn that religion is constantly magnificent opus is a su - While it rejects any interpretations that oppose in need of purification, lest it yield to the “tempta - perb legacy for genera - a “bad God of the Old Testament and a good God tion of trading divine might for temporal power, tions to come.” —I R HOLIDAY of the New Testament”, the document notes that which in the end takes the road of violence”.—CNS Stevenson. ACCOMMODATION the Hebrew Scriptures were written for a tribal cul - CAPE TOWN: Fully www.abortioninstru - equipped self-catering, 2 ture “profoundly intertwined with the ethos—intol - is the HOLY ST JUDE , apostle ments.com bedroom apartment with erably violent for us—of an archaic-sacral graphic truth that will set and martyr, great in virtue parking, in Strandfontein conception of honour and sacrifice, of conflict and you free. and rich in miracles, kins - reprisal, of war and conquest”. 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5th Sunday: February 9 Readings: Isaiah 58:7-10, Psalm 112:4-9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Matthew 5:13-16 Choose God’s light over darkness OD’S intervention in our lives comes in very unexpected ways, but if we can they might have expected. For Paul deliber - of Matthew’s creations, and have finished Gonly listen to where God is directing ately avoided the “spin doctoring” that they those very unexpected beatitudes. us, we shall find ourselves directed gently to - might have been looking for: “excessive rhet - Now we are offered two images for what wards the light instead of the darkness. That Nicholas King SJ oric or cleverness in proclaiming the mystery Christians are like. The first is “salt”, as Jesus is the message of next Sunday’s readings. of God to you”. tells us, “You are the salt of the land (or But it is an unexpected one, as the first Sunday Reflections This comes from a policy decision on his “earth”)”, and then offers an explanation reading suggests. “Share your bread with the part: “I decided to know nothing among you, about the danger of salt losing its sharpness hungry and bring the oppressed and home - except for Jesus Christ —and him crucified.” and becoming useless for anything but stop - less into your home, put clothing on the Paul then alludes to the circumstances in ping the ground from becoming slippery. naked when you see them.” light in darkness; it is a song about “the one which he arrived in Corinth, namely (if Acts We need to remember that in that society, That is the kind of God that we are dealing who fears the Lord”, and of them the psalmist of the Apostles has it right) a mildly disas - a world without refrigeration, salt performed with, and we are promised, if we shall do sings that his (or her) “light shines in the trous speech in Athens, which had his sophis - the indispensable function of stopping food these obvious but challenging acts of love, darkness, a light for the upright: gracious, ticated listeners laughing at him when he from going “off”. “then your light shall break forth like the merciful and just”. talked about resurrection, and so “I reached The second image is that of our old friend dawn, and your wound quickly be healed”. And there is a bit more: what enables them you in weakness and in fear and in much “light”, and there is a bit of a joke here. It Better than that, “your Justice shall walk be - to survive in a changing world is that they trembling”. starts with the obvious point (and here you fore you, and the Glory of the Lord be your “lend generously, conduct their affairs with This may, of course, have been in part be - must imagine the many hillside towns in rear guard”. And, what is more, “you shall call justice” and, in consequence are “unshaken, cause Corinth is not the kind of place that Palestine) that “a city cannot be hidden if it on the Lord, and he will answer you…he will and, in a splendid image, their “horn is ex - you would choose to start a mission; but then is placed on a mountain”, and then, with a say, ‘Here I am’.” alted in honour”. This is something to en - God is unexpected, “so that your faith should touch of humour, which may not have you The price for this great gift is: no more op - courage us, even if it is not what we were not be a matter of human rhetoric, but of rolling in the aisles, but is clearly teasing: pression, slander or malice, feeding the hun - expecting. God’s power”. “they don’t light a lamp and put it under the gry. And then see what happens: “then your The second reading has Paul reminding This discreet and self-effacing, and alto - bucket. No —they put it on a lampstand, and light shall rise in the darkness and your his squabbling Corinthians of how his mis - gether unexpected, power of God is also en - it gives light to those in the house”. gloom shall be like the noonday.” sion started in their city. It was, unexpectedly, countered in the gospel for next Sunday. We Those two images should stay with us this The psalm likewise picks up the idea of quite a success, but not for the reasons that are in the Sermon on the Mount, that greatest week. Christ’s divided followers Southern Cross word #587

OR more than a thousand years, Chris - woman’s anxiety on losing the coin and tians have not had the joy of being one her joy in finding it had little to do with Ffamily around Christ. Although there Fr Ron the value of the coin but with the value of were already tensions within the earliest Rolheiser OMI wholeness. Christian communities, it was not until the Hence the parable might be recast this year 1054 that there was a formal split so as Final Reflection way. A woman had ten children. With nine to, in effect, establish two formal Christian of them, she had a good relationship, but communities, the Orthodox Church and one of her daughters was alienated. Her the Catholic Church in the West. nine other children came regularly to the Then, with the Protestant Reformation seminarians today, I sense a certain indif - family table, but this daughter did not. in the 16th century, there was a further ference to the issue of ecumenism. For The woman could not rest in that situa - split within the Western Church and many this is not an issue of particular con - tion; she needed her alienated daughter to Christianity fragmented still further. cern to them. Sad to say, this holds true for rejoin them. She tried every means to recon - Today there are more than a hundred most Christians in all denominations. cile with her daughter and, one day, miracle Christian denominations, many of them, But this kind of indifference is inher - of miracles, it worked. Her daughter came sadly, not on friendly terms with each other. ently unchristian. Oneness was close to the back to the family. Her family was whole Division and misunderstanding are un - heart of Jesus. He wants all his children at again, everyone was back at the table. derstandable, inevitable, the price of being the same table, as we see in this parable in The woman was overjoyed, withdrew human. There are no communities with - the Gospels. her modest savings from the bank, and out tension and so it’s no great scandal A woman had ten coins and lost one. threw a lavish party to celebrate that ACROSS DOWN that Christians sometimes cannot get She became extremely anxious and agi - wholeness. 4. Ran taps in harsh 1. Pray the treatment along with each other. tated and began to search frantically and Christian faith demands that, like this lifestyle (7) turns out well (7) The scandal is rather that we have be - relentlessly for the lost coin, lighting woman, we need to be anxious, dis-eased, 8. Come to pass (6) 2. I’d press button for come comfortable, even smug, about not lamps, looking under tables, and sweeping lighting lamps and searching, until the 9. Paul wrote him two these creatures (7) getting along with each other. The scandal all the floors in her house. Church is whole again. Nine is not a whole letters (7) 3. Rely (6) is that we no longer hunger for wholeness Eventually she found the coin. She was number. 10. Blush like a new car - 5. She heads the nuns (8) delirious with joy, called together her and that we no longer miss each other in - Neither is the number of those who are dinal (6) 6. Rests that are for the neighbours and threw a party whose cost side our separate churches. normally inside our respective churches. 11. It’s your share in the birds (6) far exceeded the value of the coin she had In virtually all of our churches today Roman Catholicism isn’t a whole number. shortage (6) 7. Place where the ark lost (Luke 15:8-9). there is too little anxiety about those who Protestantism isn’t a whole number. The 12. Jesus would be here was taken (1 Sm 5) (6) are not worshipping with us, whether Why such anxiety and such joy over the Evangelical churches aren’t a whole num - with a thief (Lk 23) (8) 13. Like everlasting life these separated brothers and sisters belong loss and the finding of a coin whose value ber. The Orthodox churches aren’t a whole 18. Latin psalmist’s cry (8) to other denominations or whether they was that of a few cents? The answer lies in number. No one Christian denomination for mercy (8) 14. They are lost in anger belong to our own. the symbolism: In her culture, nine was is a whole number. Together we make up a 20. Pope’s ambassador (7 For instance, teaching Roman Catholic not a whole number; ten was. Both the whole number. (6) 15. Evening prayer (7) Thus we are meant to ask ourselves un - 21. Maintain the pace 16. Tremble at a note Conrad comfortable questions: Who no longer (4,2) from the choir (6) goes to church with us? Who feels uncom - 22. Behaved like a glut - 17. Points for those in ton (7) their twenties (6) He’s never been fortable worshipping with us? Are we com - fortable that so many people can no longer 23. He gazes fixedly (6) 19. Throws out (6) the same since he 24. Angrily (7) join us in our Church? Solutions on page 11 returned from the Sadly, today, too many of us are comfort - Le Mans Thurible able in churches that are far, far from whole. Sometimes, in our less reflective mo - Championship. ments, we even rejoice in it: “Those others aren’t real Christians in any case! We’re better off without their kind! There’s more CHURCH CHUCKLE peace this way! We are a purer, more faith - randpa Jones was celebrating his 100th birth - ful, church because of their absence! We’re day and everybody complimented him on the one true remnant!” Ghow athletic and well-preserved he appeared. But this lack of a healthy solicitude for “Gentlemen, I will tell you the secret of my suc - wholeness compromises both our maturity cess,” he cackled. “I have been out in the open air and our following of Jesus. day after day for some 75 years now.” We are mature loving people and true The celebrants were impressed and asked how he followers of Jesus, only when, like Jesus, we managed to keep up his rigorous fitness regime. remain in tears over those “other sheep “Well, you see my wife and I were married 75 that are not of this fold” and when, like years ago. On our wedding night, we made a solemn the woman who lost one of her coins and pledge. Whenever we had a fight, the one who was would not sleep until every corner of the proved wrong would go outside and take a walk.” house was turned upside down in a frantic search for what was lost, we too set out so - Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to licitously in search of that lost wholeness. The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.