DOCSLIB.ORG

OMI NATAL Update VOL 6 No 4 July-Sept 2009

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
OMI NATAL Update VOL 6 No 4 July-Sept 2009 OBLATES OF MARY IMMACULATE Natal Province The Mother Province of the Oblates in Africa www.omi.org.za/natal OMI NATAL Update VOL 6 No 4 July-Sept 2009 Good News about Oblate Mission 6. Education Ministry 1. Provincial Assembly 2009 St Josephs Theological Institute participated in the About eighty Oblates Second Meeting of from KwaZulu-Natal the Association of and Zimbabwe took Oblate Institutes of part in the 2009 Higher Learning in Provincial Assembly San Antonio USA. at Albini Hall Collaboration was Congella. (Page 2) on the agenda. (See Page 8) 2. Natal Response to Chapter 2010 (See Page 4) 7. A Saint for Southern Africa St Eugene de Mazenod is truly a saint for 3. Mission Development Programme Begins Southern Africa. As the direct Two workshops founder of the Natal Vicariate, his about project vision and charism has been carried motivation and into this part of the world by his development followers who today as Bishops, marked the start Priests and Brothers are by far the of the Mission largest group of male religious Development ministering in the Churches of this Programme in part of the world. (See Page 11 ) the Province ( Page 5 ). 4. Plans for Inchanga Good News about Oblates After many years spent dealing 1. Hurley biography published with land problems at Cedara The biography of Archbishop we are now ready to begin a Denis HURLEY was launched response to concerns about our in centres in the South Africa, property and mission at United States and Europe during Inchanga ( See Page 6) August and September (Page 8 ) 2. Ordinations 5. Mission Preaching in Northern Ireland Ewen SWARTZ ordained Three Oblates Priest (page 9 ) spent a month in Northern Pamidzai MUDZUDZA Ireland Ordained Deacon preaching in Page 9 ) parishes to help raise awareness of the Oblate mission here. (See Page 7) health. However by the end of July he had 3. Fr Duffy turns 90 recovered and requested to go home to Ireland to 90 year old Fr Frank DUFFY is visit his family and friends. After celebrating his now the oldest Oblate in the jubilee with his family and friends he was ready to Province. His September return to South Africa in September when he birthday was celebrated at suddenly took ill and was hospitalised. He died in Sabon House. Hospital on the 18 th of September 2009. On the 11 th of September the Provincial of the Oblates in Ireland wrote “he is in bed all the time but he is Transition: Death of Fr Mc Mahon really determined to go back. The doctor saw him Fr Patrick MCMAHON passed away in Ireland on yesterday, he is thinking of putting him into th the 18 of September this hospital to build him up and then see if he can year whilst on holiday and travel”. preparing to return to South Africa. He was born However his condition worsened. The nurse that rd on the 23 of April 1912 was attending him was from South Africa and in County Meath in Ireland spoke about how happy she was to be caring for and in September 1938 he someone who had spent most of his life caring for entered the Oblate people in South Africa. Just before his death he novitiate in Cahermoyle was visited by Fr Jean Baptiste MPUNI who said Ireland. He made his first that Fr McMahon had been very happy to see him vows in 1939 and this year and was speaking Zulu to him. Fr Jean Baptiste he celebrated 70 years of reported: he told me so many times that he would th his vows. He was ordained on the 29 of June like to go back home, when I asked him where is th 1944 and consequently celebrated his 65 your home, he replied, “Matikwe is my real anniversary of his Priestly ordination this year. He home”. The funeral was on Monday 21 of th arrived in South Africa on the 15 of August September at Inchicore in Ireland and he was 1946. After various appointments as assistant buried in the OMI community grave at Inchicore priest in Seven Oaks, Oakford, Dundee and on the same day, Forty members of his family Ladysmith, in 1956 he was appointed Parish Priest were present at his funeral. A memorial service in Besters. Then in 1961 he was appointed Parish was held for him in Matikwe on Friday 27 of Priest in Estcourt. But from 1963 he worked September; many people came and spoke very exclusively in the Inanda Valley area: until 1975 highly of him in speeches, May his soul rest in as Parish priest in Edwaleni and then in 1975 as peace. parish priest in Matikwe. From 1992 he continued to help in the parish but he focussed mainly in the Good News about Oblate Mission Inanda area especially around the Sukumawenze 1. Provincial Assembly 2009 community which he founded together with Sr About 80 Oblates from KwaZulu-Natal and Mary Anne Mkhize who was a Matikwe sister. Zimbabwe participated in the 2009 Provincial He was also chaplain to the large community of Assembly at Albini Hall Congella. The theme of Sisters at Matikwe. In August 2000 he retired to the Assembly echoed that of the Congress last the Sukumawenze community which has become year: LIVING A FULLY COMMITTED OBLATE an important community centre for HIV/AIDS. In LIFE. 2007 it won an award from the Ethekwini Municipality as the best community development The Keynote Speaker was Fr Frank SANTUCCI, project in the Durban Metro region. a South African Oblate who for many years has ministered in the International Administration of In July this year he went on holiday to Ireland to the Congregation. He was Superior of the visit family members and celebrate his 70 th th International Scholasticate and then Postulator anniversary of religious life and the 65 of his General of the Congregation. Since 2006 he has ordination. In our last edition of OMI update we been based in Aix en Province focussing on reported that, whilst on his way home, he was off- animating the Charism of the Founder worldwide. loaded from a Virgin Atlantic Aircraft into the Johannesburg cold and this severely affected his 2 It was good to have him with us for this event. In policies which deal with many practical aspects of his presentation on the founder he noted that “the our life in South Africa and Zimbabwe charism of Saint Eugene de Mazenod is a gift of the Spirit to the Church, and it radiates throughout In the only evening session of the Assembly, we the world.” (R41) The charism of Saint Eugene were joined by a number of lay associates who are de Mazenod was born when he experienced and involved in supporting our ministries. Fr Andrew understood God’s love for him and from that KNOTT presented a vision of how we want to personal experience to he came to understand develop our lay associates through a greater God’s love for all people and his own mission to incorporation of lay people into our life and render that love present . Initially he ministered to mission. Mr Rob Redlinger presented plans for youth, the sick, the poor and the servants in his using the media to promote our ministries. Ms own area. Then he established a band of Veronica Young spoke of the growth and followers. They spread the charism by setting up developments at our Retreat Centre in Redacres pilgrimage centres and Marian Shrines, and then which she manages. Mr Paddy Kearney presented by establishing seminaries fro Priests. Finally the new biography of Archbishop Hurley. from 1841 this same charism spread to foreign missions: Canada, USA, Ceylon and finally in his The second day was devoted to reports on our life time to Natal. By 2009 his followers had ministries. Fr. Sipho KUNENE & Fr. Claude carried this charism to 67 countries throughout the LUKUBA reported on progress in the Zimbabwe world. Fr. Santucci led us on an extraordinary mission. This was followed by a report on our world wide journey of places and peoples where Youth Ministries by Fr Mxolisi NGCOBO. Next Oblates serve the poor. In parishes and amongst there were reports from our three formation migrants; in shrines and amongst the youth; in houses. First, Fr Vusi MAZIBUKO, Superior, seminaries and with the rural impoverished; in reported on formation at St Josephs Scholasticate. radio stations that inform the poor of their rights Then Fr Callistus KHATHALI, Superior, reported and responsibilities and in institutes of higher on Formation at Cebula House. And, Fr Charles learning preparing the leaders of tomorrow. In all NABWENJE reported on formation at Mazenod these the charism of St Eugene is alive uniting his House, Bulawayo. They were followed by Fr sons and daughters in a worldwide enterprise Zibonele NGUBANE who reported on the mediating Gods love for his people! It was with progress of the Province Regency Programme. this inspirational background presented by Fr Finally Fr Sylvester DAVID, President, reported Frank that we were able to enter into a review of on progress at St Josephs Theological Institute. our own ministries and community life. After these reports there was a session devoted to We began with a review of life workshop in our 8 International Oblate Affairs. The first was a local communities: 4 houses, 3 districts and a presentation and discussion of the responses of the mission. We saw both the quality and the Province to the questionnaires for the General difficulties of our life in local communities. We Chapter of 2010.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Solidarity and Mediation in the French Stream Of
    SOLIDARITY AND MEDIATION IN THE FRENCH STREAM OF MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST THEOLOGY Dissertation Submitted to The College of Arts and Sciences of the UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Doctor of Philosophy in Theology By Timothy R. Gabrielli Dayton, Ohio December 2014 SOLIDARITY AND MEDIATION IN THE FRENCH STREAM OF MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST THEOLOGY Name: Gabrielli, Timothy R. APPROVED BY: _________________________________________ William L. Portier, Ph.D. Faculty Advisor _________________________________________ Dennis M. Doyle, Ph.D. Faculty Reader _________________________________________ Anthony J. Godzieba, Ph.D. Outside Faculty Reader _________________________________________ Vincent J. Miller, Ph.D. Faculty Reader _________________________________________ Sandra A. Yocum, Ph.D. Faculty Reader _________________________________________ Daniel S. Thompson, Ph.D. Chairperson ii © Copyright by Timothy R. Gabrielli All rights reserved 2014 iii ABSTRACT SOLIDARITY MEDIATION IN THE FRENCH STREAM OF MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST THEOLOGY Name: Gabrielli, Timothy R. University of Dayton Advisor: William L. Portier, Ph.D. In its analysis of mystical body of Christ theology in the twentieth century, this dissertation identifies three major streams of mystical body theology operative in the early part of the century: the Roman, the German-Romantic, and the French-Social- Liturgical. Delineating these three streams of mystical body theology sheds light on the diversity of scholarly positions concerning the heritage of mystical body theology, on its mid twentieth-century recession, as well as on Pope Pius XII’s 1943 encyclical, Mystici Corporis Christi, which enshrined “mystical body of Christ” in Catholic magisterial teaching. Further, it links the work of Virgil Michel and Louis-Marie Chauvet, two scholars remote from each other on several fronts, in the long, winding French stream.
    [Show full text]
  • Denis Hurley Association
    Support the Denis Hurley Association The Denis Hurley Association is a registered charity based in Britain. Our aim is to keep the vision of Denis Hurley alive and to promote and raise funds for the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban, South Africa. All money raised by the Denis Hurley Association goes Denis Hurley dedicated his life to the directly to the Denis Hurley Centre. You can become a poor, the marginalised, the abandoned supporter by donating to the Denis Hurley Association. and the downtrodden. He fought Donations can be made by: Denis Hurley tirelessly for an end to apartheid, and Cheque Please make cheques payable to Association for equality among all human beings. “Denis Hurley Association” He truly lived the words of the Oblate Bank Transfer Bank name: The Co-operative Bank Founder, St Eugene de Mazenod, Account Name: Denis Hurley Association who called us to lead people to be Account Number: 65456699 Sort Code: 08-92-99 “human beings first of all, then Online Donations Christians, then saints.” https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/denishurleyassociation Please e-mail [email protected] if you send an online bank transfer, so we can properly acknowledge your contribution and keep you up to date on the project. Archbishop Denis Hurley OMI PATRONS Contact us at: “Guardian of the Light” Bishop David Konstant Denis Hurley Association, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor Denis Hurley House, 14 Quex Road, Bishop Maurice Taylor London NW6 4PL Fr Ray Warren OMI [email protected] Archbishop Denis Hurley had a vision of the Baroness Shirley Williams www.denishurleyassociation.org.uk church as a “community serving humanity”.
    [Show full text]
  • In This Issue …
    Marist Brothers – Irmãos Maristas Province of Southern Africa – Província da África Austral NEWSLETTER 2017 May - June Vol.2 #6 IN THIS ISSUE … Reception of our First-Year Novices Message from Brother Norbert Birthdays “Senderos” Programme in Manziana Br Adrien Beaudoin (99) RIP Creative Projects by the “Blue Marists” in Aleppo Photo Time! Pope Francis in a Private Audience with Br Emili Meeting of Marist Bursars from around the World Gems from Brother Emili A First Trip to Rome Post-Truth Intentions for our Prayers Commemorating 150 years of the Brothers in Africa Brother Jude Pieterse receives the BONUM COMUNE AWARD New Icon represents our three-year preparation for the Bicentenary 1 OFFICIAL RECEPTION OF FIRST-YEAR NOVICES New Novices with Br António Pisco, Br Emmanuel Mwanalirenji and Br Norbert Mwila fter a long wait of nearly two months, the novices- to-be finally arrived at the novitiate. We were in high spirits and they too were contented to start the A novitiate. They were officially accepted on 1 April 2017 in a vibrant and well-thought-out ceremony. Our Chaplain, Father Petros, led the Eucharistic celebration at 11h 00. During the celebration, the Master of novices, Brother Emmanuel, exhorted to them to be good Marist Novices and to embrace the formation process. The provincial Brother Norbert challenged them to be the main artisans of their own formation as they journey towards holiness. Thereafter we had a special meal and the 2nd-year novices performed a number of activities. As they start the canonical year we wish the 1st-years the graces they need from above.
    [Show full text]
  • Winter 2014 Priests in the Mission Rev
    “Go, e efo e, make disciples of all io s ~ & B.W.I. (Mt. 28:19 ) Volume 15, Issue I Winter 2014 Priests in the Mission Rev. Luis Orlando González, Chancellor ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSION ‘SUI IURIS’ Turks and Caicos Islands; Pastor of Our Lady of Divine Providence Church, Providenciales Rev. Bruno Sammarco, Parochial Vicars, Our Lady of Divine Providence Church, Providenciales Rev. Rafael Velazquez Pastor of Church of the Holy Cross, Grand Turk Rev. Pedro Vilchez Parochial Vicar, Grand Turk Above: From the right Fr. Orlando the new Chancellor of the Roman Catholic Mission Sui Iuris, Turks and Caicos Islands, Governor His Excellency Peter Beckingham, Bishop Peter Baldacchino auxiliary bishop of Miami and Fr. Bruno Sammarco parochial vicar (left), feast of Our Lady of Divine Providence Church on Providenciales Island, November 16, 2014. Above: youth from the parish met once a month to share the Word of God, All students from Holy Family Academy participate of the liturgies this year 8 new missionaries teacher came to help the mission.. and feast of the parish, the third Sunday of November. Msgr. Rozniak, The Vicar General of the Missio Sui Iuris, visit us and share with us about the new play ground. Above: The Auxiliary bishop from Miami, His Excellence, Peter Baldacchino visits the Mission were 15 years of his life was given to bring this pastoral work accomplished by the Mission in such a short time. The first time that we celebrate Thanks given in Turk and Caicos Islands. Now is an official holiday. ROMAN MISSION, P.O. Box 340, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS, British West Indies; Phone / Fax: (649) 941-5136; E-mail: c i i @ c www.CATHOLIC.tc Volume 15, Issue I O N H O C O N N W R Page 2 A SCHOLARSHIP FUND is in place at HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY Catholic School to help families in need provide an education to their children.
    [Show full text]
  • 465 Info E.P65
    May 2007 465/1 Information No. 465 (English) May 2007 Indonesia: Interreligious Dialogue Symposium Oblate representatives from various countries in the on the role and position of women in the Indonesian Asia-Oceania region gathered in Yogyakarta, Indo- Muslim Society in which she promoted vigorously a nesia, for a 3-day Interreligious Dialogue Sympo- Muslim form of contemporary gender equality in the sium on Islam, March 3-6, 2007. The symposium family and wider society.” was a follow-up of the mandate of the 34th General Chapter 2004, “That the General Council and Each contribution was followed by questions and Oblate units explore, facilitate, and support the discussion. Time was also allotted for some Oblates existence and establishment of communities and to share their varying experiences in ministry among support groups of Oblates whose focus will be Muslims, some of which were hopeful, some ex- inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue, par- tremely demanding and exhausting. ticularly in Muslim, Hindu or Buddhist milieus, and among autochthonous people.”(WH 6). Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world and is known as a tolerant society. The rise of ex- The gathering was organized by the Asia/Oceania tremist Islam in the country, however, is threatening Interreligious Dialogue Committee headed by Fr. the peaceful co-existence and harmonious relation- Andri ATMAKA, the Provincial of Indonesia, with ship of Muslims and Christians. Fr. Sowriappan LOORTHUSAMY (India) and Fr.Roberto LAYSON (Philippines) as members. Fr. Oblates from Natal, Senegal, Sahara, Indonesia and Oswald FIRTH, Assistant General and portfolio Philippines also shared their experiences, pointing holder of Mission and Ministries and Fr.
    [Show full text]
  • Reviewed by Bobby Godsell
    THE JOURNAL OF THE HELEN SUZMAN FOUNDATION | ISSUE 69 | JUNE 2013 Bobby Godsell Bobby Godsell is a BOOK REVIEW distinguished South African businessman. He is currently the chairman of Business Denis Hurley Leadership South Africa, and a member of the National Truth to Power Planning Commission. The American sociologist Peter Berger has produced, more or less, in every decade of his adult life an important book about religion. On the cover of one of these he put a picture of the place of great Italian beauty, Lake Como. Berger asserted that this place of beauty was reason enough to accept that our world had a creator whose design for our universe and our lives was good. I would argue that the lives of some people – saints in the broadest, oldest and most inclusive sense – is reason enough to believe that this creator continues to love our crazy, troubled world and inspire those who love him to act in it. One such saintly person is Denis Hurley. Paddy Kearney’s abridged story of his life tells a remarkable story of: where this man of God began his journey, what he became, his achievements, his failures and most, of all, of that deep and abiding love which inhabited his heart and character until the moment of his death. Hurley began his journey in South Africa as the son of a pretty poor immigrant family (from Ireland). His father was a lighthouse keeper leading therefore, a life that was itinerant, isolated and lonely. Hurley’s family circumstances required an active search for quality schooling, DENIS HURLEY: leading to time spent first in Ireland and Rome in preparation for ordination as a TRUTH TO POWER priest.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See
    The Holy See APOSTOLIC VISIT OF HIS HOLINESS POPE JOHN PAUL II TO AZERBAIJAN AND BULGARIA EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER Baku Sports Palace Thursday, 23 May 2002 1. "Honour to you who believe!" (1 Pt 2:7). Yes, beloved brothers and sisters of the Catholic community of Baku, and all of you who come from the Catholic communities in the neighbouring countries, "honour to you who believe!" I greet the Christians of the Orthodox Church who have joined us for this solemn moment of prayer, with their Bishop, Alexander. To them too I address the words of the Apostle Peter to the first Christians: "Honour to you who believe!". The universal Church pays tribute to all those who succeeded in remaining faithful to their Baptismal commitments. I am thinking in particular of those who live permanently in this country and who experienced the tragedy of Marxist persecution, and bore the consequences of their faithful attachment to Christ. Brothers and sisters, you saw your religion mocked as mere superstition, as an attempt to escape the responsibilities of engagement in history. For this reason you were regarded as second class citizens and were humiliated and marginalized in many ways. 2. "Honour to you who believe!" Honour to your grandfathers and grandmothers, to your fathers and mothers, who nurtured the seed of faith in you, nourished it with prayer, and helped it to grow and bear fruit. I wish to repeat once again, honour also to you, the holy Orthodox Church; you opened your doors to the Catholic faithful, who were without fold or shepherd.
    [Show full text]
  • Oblate Missiologists: a Workbook
    Oblate Missiologists: A Workbook 2019 Appendix 2 Revised 2020 Harry E. Winter, O.M.I., Editor WHY A WORKBOOK? Editor’s Note: From Eskimo to Inuit: Oblate Cultural Sensitivity, 2020 addition to Appendix 2 Oblate Missiologists: A Workbook, published in 2019, has drawn much positive comment, for example from North American General Councilor Warren Brown, who "enjoyed the articles" he found there. However, Warren also noted that the term Eskimo, used especially in Appendix 2, is considered derogatory today. He asked, with Fr. General's approval, that, wherever it is not the title of a book, it be changed to the more culturally sensitive Inuit. Since many of the references related to the material on first bishop of Hudson Bay, Arsène Turquetil, O.M.I., I also asked the input of the current bishop, Anthony W. Krotki, O.M.I., who summarized it this way: one person, Inuk; two or more, Inuit. Addition and corrections have been made by both Oblate leaders to Appendix 2. There are at least three reasons why this 2019 edition of Oblate Missiologists is a workbook. First, neither the editor nor the authors of the various articles have the time or energy to use one standard style sheet. With articles coming from all over the world, such a requirement would take away from evangelization efforts. Oblates have traditionally been over-extended from the earliest days of our congregation. Second, our international administration has finally attempted to form a Mission Committee, including Ecumenism and Dialogue. The General Administration Mission Committee has met at least once, with Fernando Velazquez from the USA as a member.
    [Show full text]
  • Roman Catholic Mission “Sui Iuris” Turks and Caicos Islands
    God has given the growth 2015 Benefit Banquet (1 Cor 3:6) Celebrating 5 Years Congratulations Congratulations to theCongratulations 2015 Servant Leader Honorees Congratulations toMost the 2015ReverReverend Servantend Peter Leader BaldacchinoBaldacchi Honoreesno Most toto thethe Rever20152015AuxiliaryAuxiliary ServantServantend Bishop BishopPeter LeaderLeader of ofBaldacchi MiamiMiami HonoreesHonorees no Auxiliary Bishop of Miami Most Most ReverRever ee ndnd PeterPeter & BaldacchiBaldacchinnoo Our Our Lady Lady AuxiliaryAuxiliary ofof Mount Mount Bishop Bishop & Carmel ofCarmelof MiamiMiami ParishParish Ridgewood, NJ Our Lady of Ridgewood, Mount && Carmel NJ Parish Ridgewood, NJ OurOur LadyLady of of MountMount CarmelCarmel ParishParish With ourRidgewood, sincere NJ gratitude W ith our Ridgewood, sincere NJ gratitude forWWithith your ourour outstanding sinceresincere gratitudegratitude service for yourand outstanding dedication service forfor youryourand outstandingoutstanding dedication serviceservice ~ Richandand & dedicationdedication Aleta Taylor ~ ~ Rich & Aleta Taylor ~ ~~ RichRich && AletaAleta TaylorTaylor ~~ P.O. Box AY • 285 Straight Street • Paterson, NJ 07509 • Fax (973) 345-0301 • Phone (973) 345-5600 Emergency Service (201) 933-3569 • rapidservice.com P.O. Box AY • 285 Straight Street • Paterson, NJ 07509 • Fax (973) 345-0301 • Phone (973) 345-5600 Emergency Service (201) 933-3569 • rapidservice.com P.O. Box AY • 285 Straight Street • Paterson, NJ 07509 • Fax (973) 345-0301 • Phone (973) 345-5600 P.O. Box AY • 285 Straight
    [Show full text]
  • Denis Hurley (1915- ) Courageous and Consistent Witness for Social Justice by Paddy Kearney
    Denis Hurley (1915- ) Courageous and Consistent Witness for Social Justice by Paddy Kearney Editor's Note: During the annual meeting of the U.S. Catholic Mission Association, October 25-27, 1996, in Denver, Colorado, the South African missiologist Albert Nolan O.P. was one of the three featured speakers. I asked him for the best expert on Archbishop Denis Hurley, presuming he would name an Oblate. Instead he recommended without any hesitation Paddy Kearney. Mr. Kearney quickly agreed to write the contribution on Archbishop Hurley as the persistent prophet of social justice. Mr. Kearney, a native South African, was born at Pietermaritzburg in 1942, and was a member of the Marist Brothers Congregation from 1960-69. He then did further studies in education at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, earning a BA and a University Education Diploma from that university, a Bachelor of Education from the U of Witwatersrand and Masters in Education from the University of Toledo, Ohio. During 1991/92 he spent an academic year at Harvard University, studying theology and conflict resolution. Since 1976 he has been employed by Diakonia, an organization founded by Archbishop Hurley in that year, and has served as Director for the amalgamated organization known as Diakonia Council of Churches since 1994. My gratitude to Father Nolan for recommending Mr. Kearney and to Mr. Kearney for contributing the following chapter. When the Oblate General Chapter of 1986 had an audience with Pope John Paul II, he put before them the lives of two Oblates who could be regarded as examples to the whole congregation.
    [Show full text]
  • Denis Hurley in 2014 – Justice & Peace in South Africa
    Denis Hurley in 2014 – Justice & Peace in South Africa By Anthony Egan SJ Ten years ago this week, on 13 February 2004 to be precise, Denis Hurley OMI the retired Catholic archbishop of Durban died. As a priest and bishop, as a theologian and religious leader in the struggle against apartheid, he made perhaps the greatest contribution to putting Catholicism firmly in the South African public square. Before him, the Catholic Church in South Africa was cautious and quite inward-looking. Prohibited during Dutch rule, coolly tolerated by the British, and treated with intense suspicion after the Union of South Africa in 1910, the Church was (unsurprisingly) cautious in challenging apartheid. With the majority of its clergy foreign-born and thus vulnerable to deportation it was encouraged even by the Vatican to ‘play it safe’ after the 1948 National Party election victory. But Hurley, a white South African by birth, Oblate priest and bishop since 1946, thought differently. He believed that it was a matter of faith to oppose apartheid. During the 1930s Denis Hurley completed licentiates [advanced master’s degrees] in philosophy and theology in Rome. He had studied in particular Aquinas and Catholic Social Thought, both of which convinced him that segregation was morally unjustifiable. His episcopal motto “Ubi Spiritus, ibi libertas” (“Where the Spirit is, there is liberty”) summed up his thinking and would point to the course his life would take: a rigorous, theologically informed search for freedom. Together with a small group of fellow bishops, priests, religious and laity he pushed the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference to an increasingly uncompromising stand against apartheid – so much so that in 1957 the Catholic Church was first church in South Africa to theologically condemn apartheid.
    [Show full text]
  • Archbishop Denis Hurley and the Second Vatican Council
    Voice for Truth: Archbishop Denis Hurley and the Second Vatican Council by Brian Thornton A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Theology of the University of St. Michael’s College and the Theology Department of the Toronto School of Theology. In partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael’s College and the University of Toronto. © Copyright by Brian Thornton 2014 Voice for Truth: Archbishop Denis Hurley and the Second Vatican Council by Brian Thornton Master of Theology University of St. Michael’s College and the University of Toronto 2014 Abstract Archbishop Denis Hurley of Durban identified himself as a son of the Second Vatican Council when he said that the council was the greatest experience of his whole life. With that claim as its base this thesis explores how the council defined the archbishop’s life. His time before the council provided experiences and influences that made him ready for the reality of the council. During the council he was informed and formed by his contact with other bishops and theologians. The council provided him with a theological underpinning for two themes which had been germinating in him since his student days. After the council, armed with his new theological understanding, he moved ahead with promoting the two themes. He had been impressed with the newly recovered understanding that the Church was the Body of Christ and all in the Church, clergy and laity, having God-given dignity, had their part to play in the mission of the Church.
    [Show full text]