June 1 to June 7 , 2011 www.scross.co.za R5,50 (incl Vat RSa) Reg No. 1920/002058/06 No 4728

Don’t miss our bumper Allies wanted How priests Moerdyk on CATHOLIC Pius XII’s are portrayed EDUCATION Friday fasts: Why issue silence on TV punish butchers? next week! Page 5 Page 7 Page 12 OUT ON JUNE 8 New national youth chaplain for SA By MathiBela SeBothoMa Kumalo said. Fr Mabusela HE bishops of Southern Africa have belongs to the Stig - appointed Fr Sammy Mabusela (pic - matine congregation Ttured) as the new chaplain of youth which has a special and students in the region. He replaces charism of youth Schoenstatt Father Michael Hagan who has ministry. According been recalled by his religious congregation. to Fr Patrick Rakeket - Welcoming Fr Mabusela’s appointment, si, local superior, Fr Bishop Xolelo Kumalo of Eshowe, the liai - Mabusela did a ster - son bishop for youth and laity, said: “We ling job when he was must engage with young people as we pre - diocesan chaplain in pare them for future leadership.” Pretoria and when he Bishop Kumalo paid tribute to Fr Hagan, ran a school in Tanzania. saying he “did a very good job” in building Fr Mabusela, a priest for ten years, wants the Association of Catholic Tertiary Stu - to see the youth of the Southern African dents (ACTS) and the National Youth Office. pastoral region “united in their diversity of The bishop stressed that Fr Mabusela, nationality, race, class and language”. who is “very experienced in working with He said many young people desire to youth”, must work with other diocesan and belong to the Church, but are alienated by university chaplains. He says his new work adults. must coordinate and complement what The Internet-savvy priest will ensure that already is being done already by chaplains during his three-year contract the whole in universities and dioceses. person is cared for “at four levels of spirit, He encouraged Fr Mabusela to create a emotion, intellect and body”. platform where chaplains and other youth His office will be based at the SACBC’s leaders will “share their experiences and headquarters, Khanya House, in Pretoria Dancers welcome Bishop abel Gabuza of Kimberley to St Gertrude parish in Coe-heun - ideas on youth ministry.” Fr Mabusela appealed to all youth to sup - ingvlei, the most remote Catholic community in the diocese. it was Bishop Gabuza’s first “I am convinced that Fr Mabusela will do port him in his new challenge. “Young peo - pastoral visit outside Kimberley. the Northern Cape parish is located 420km from Kimberley. a good job with other chaplains and youth ple you are capable you are gifted and you (See report on page 2) structures for our missionary area,” Bishop are very special,” he said. The Southern Cross again a Bishop for Queenstown named By ClaiRe MathieSoN that through his top-performing newspaper leadership Catholics OR the second time this year, a vicar- in that part of the StaFF RePoRteR and after lagging behind for a while, South general of the Pretoria archdiocese has world would be Africa seems to be catching up—we will have Fbeen appointed a bishop. “inspired and moti - OUTH AFRICA’S authorative marketing to investigate the potential for engaging Earlier this year, Mgr Abel Gabuza was vated to a deepening magazine has named The Southern Cross with that technology, as well as with cell - named bishop of Kimberley; now Pope Bene - of their faith as they Sone of its top performers among weekly phone technology.” dict has appointed his successor as vicar-gen - open themselves newspapers for 2010. Reacting to The Southern Cross being eral, Fr Dabula Mpako, as the new bishop of fully to the working It is the second year running that The named one of Marketing Mix ’s top perform - Queenstown—the first bishop of the Eastern of the Spirit of God Southern Cross has been featured in the annu - ing newspapers, Mr Simmermacher said that Cape diocese who is not a Pallottine. in their hearts, in al review of top performing South African “the credit must go above all to the people Eastern Cape-born Bishop-elect Mpako, their lives and in publications of Marketing Mix magazine. who distribute, promote and sell the news - 51, said he sees his appointment as “a new their participation in The magazine identified its top perform - paper every week in the parishes, and the challenge and an opportunity for me to carry the life of the local ers according to circulation figures from the priests who promote it at the end of Mass”. out my priestly ministry on a larger scale Church”. Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC). Their efforts are “absolutely crucial in than has been the case hitherto”. He hoped his Bishop-elect Marketing Mix listed seven weekly newspa - keeping The Southern Cross ’ circulation Fr Mpako has served the Church in many leadership would Dabula Mpako pers as their top performers. Apart from The going”. capacities since his 1986 ordination. He was give all in the diocese Southern Cross , they were Ilanga , Isolezwe “The more people get involved in pro - the rector at St Paul’s Orientation Seminary an experience “of being ‘at home’, where all ngeSonto , Sondag Son , Sondag , Sunday Indepen - moting The Southern Cross at the parish level, Hammanskraal and of St Peter’s Seminary in feel free to express their Catholic faith in a dent , and Sunday Sun . the more Catholic families will have a Garsfontein, chairman of the Priests’ Council meaningful and life-giving way”. He said he The Southern Cross was the only religious Catholic newspaper in their home. So it’s an (2000-06), and director of Pretoria’s first hoped for a local Church where all experi - archiocesan synod. newspaper to be named. important apostolic ministry they are per - ence a real sense of ownership of, responsibil - Fr Mpako served as pastor of Christ the Marketing Mix noted that The Southern forming.” ity for and accountability to the diocese. King and St Mark’s parishes, Mabopane, and Cross ’ circulation figures had remained con - Mr Simmermacher pointed out that the Although excited about his new challenge, sistent, which in the present climate is an circulation figures show that Southern Cross at St Columba’s parish in Capital Park. Most recently he was parish priest of St Thomas Fr Mpako said he would be sad to leave Preto - achievement in itself. readers generally “are very loyal indeed”, ria and would miss the brotherhood of the “Keeping this consistency is demanding, and noted that “the readership seems to be More parish in Monavoni. He said he considers his episcopal local priests and the history with the archdio - but The Southern Cross has managed it getting a lot younger”. cese’s people. extremely well without resorting to retaining Mr Simmermacher praised the adminis - appointment an “encouraging affirmation and validation by the universal Church of “I have lived and ministered in the arch - figures through other means such as sales trative staff under business manager Pamela diocese of Pretoria for all the years that I have below 50% or third-party bulk sales, for Davids for ensuring that the newspaper is the gifts and talents that God has given me, as well as a clear acknowledgement of the been a priest. Pretoria has therefore become example,” Marketing Mix wrote. produced and distributed every week. for me a home and a familiar territory for my It noted that in March 2010, The Southern He noted that the editorial team had lost love for and commitment to the Church that I have shown over the almost 25 years that I daily experiences. Obviously, leaving Pretoria Cross launched its subscription-only digital key members in Michail Rassool and Gene will for a moment feel like being uprooted.” edition. Donnelly in 2010, but the staff members have been a priest—sometimes through very trying and discouraging circumstances”. He is ooking forward to creating the same “The feedback has been excellent, and we who succeeded them—Claire Allen and kind of bond in Queenstown. are now looking at ways to promote the Dig - While not yet familiar with the diocese of Claire Mathieson—had “brilliantly filled the “What I have learned from my experience ital Southern Cross more aggressively, espe - Queenstown, which has been without a bish - gaps left by these two stalwarts”, who in the archdiocese of Pretoria is the vital cially among expatriates,” Southern Cross edi - op since the retirement of Bishop Herbert between them had 50 years of service at the importance for the bishop to have a close tor Günther Simmermacher told Marketing Lenhof, Fr Mpako said that the beginning of newspaper. relationship with the clergy and the religious Mix . his ministry would be dedicated to familiaris - “Behind circulation figures,” said Mr Sim - who are his immediate collaborators in his “While in terms of content, we believe we mermacher, “there are many people who ing himself with the diocese. ministry of being chief pastor of the diocese. have appeal across age groups, we realise work hard: the people who write articles or “In particular, I will have to listen openly I hope to be able to foster and promote a real that within our target market there will place photos, the person who takes the week - and actively to the clergy and the religious sense of fraternity among all the priests and increasingly be different reading preferences. ly orders for the newspaper and those who who have worked in the diocese and who are The Digital Southern Cross is one way of distribute it, the parishioner who sells The more familiar with the strengths, the prob - religious in the diocese.” diversifying to meet different needs,” Mr Southern Cross before and after Mass. And, of lems and the challenges that face the diocese There are 6 1 000 Catholics in the diocese Simmermacher said in Marketing Mix . course, there’s the reader—the person being at this time,” he said. Queenstown, served by 30 parishes and their “As e-readers become more ubiquitous— counted by the circulation bureau.” Fr Mpako said his dream for the diocese is outstations. 2 the Southern Cross, June 1 to June 7, 2011 LOCAL The Catholic Church plays a ‘critical role’ in local elections

By MathiBela SeBothoMa He is in the final year of com - was when he experienced the ordi - needed the Holy Spirit to guide the pleting a three-year theology pro - nation of a fellow parishioner Fr electoral process.” RAYER and Christian partici - gramme at the Jesuit Institute of Vincent Sello MSC. “The ordina - He was pleased when he saw pation made the May 18 local Theology in Johannesburg. tion rite moved me to tears; the the defence force’s Catholic chap - Pelections successful, said Sy Born and bred a Catholic at St liturgy preached to me…I decided lain, Fr Mike Phillips, and Soweto Mamabolo (pictured), provincial Vincent Catholic church in Tem - I am following Jesus all the way.” priest Fr Victor Ngwenya as part of electoral officer for Gauteng. bisa, he temporarily left the com - The provincial IEC “has a cor - the conflict management panel Mr Mamabolo was responsible munity during the struggle against dial relationship” with the Gaut - created by the IEC. Their role was for leading the IEC team in the apartheid. eng Council of Churches, he said. to intervene if election related province with more registered vot - “Two special moments re-evan - “I am glad that Catholic leaders conflicts arose. ers than any other in the country. gelised my faith commitment and like Gauteng Premier Nomvula He is grateful the Catholic A staunch Catholic, he serves as active participation in my home Mokonyane and Fr Smangaliso Church played a critical role in extraordinary minister of Commu - parish,” said Mr Mamabolo. “First - ment of matrimony. In addition Mkhatshwa were part of the prayer mobilising communities to partici - nion at the parish of Our Lady of ly, it was my marriage to my wife the community supported me in a services for successful elections in pate in the polls through the issu - the Wayside in Maryvale, Johan - Butsi in 1998. The parish was lively celebration of the nuptial Johannesburg and Tshwane.” ing of the pastoral letter by the nesburg, under Fr Peter Holiday, warm and spiritually uplifting Mass.” The IEC had organised six Southern African Catholic Bishops’ bishop-elect of Kroonstad. when I was preparing for the sacra - He said the deciding moment assemblies in the province. “We Conference. Bishop heads to rural parish outside Kimberley

StaFF RePoRteR During Mass, the bishop preached in seTswana. His homily AKING his first pastoral was met with loud applause. visit outside Kimberley Fr Tarimo said he saw things at Msince his episcopal ordina - the Mass he hadn’t seen before. tion in March, Bishop Abel Gabuza “All the out-stations presented surprised parishioners by arriving gifts. Elders brought up live goats in a big procession, carried by a and sheep, and children brought donkey. up live chickens. And all people Bishop Gabuza visited St came forward to shake hands with Gertrude’s parish in the Northern the bishop,” he said. Cape district of Coe-Heuningvlei, “They gave all what they had the most remote community in Sunday morning. out of excitement and joy, just like the diocese. At the Saturday Mass, he paid that woman in the gospel,” Fr “This parish is in a rural area, tribute to his retired predecessor, Tarimo said, referring to Luke and it is poverty-stricken, with Bishop Erwin Hecht, for putting 21:1-4. many unemployed people,” said Fr up houses of prayer in the area, “This parish is in a poverty- Reginald Tarimo, an Apostles of and for training lay people as min - stricken area,” he said, “but that Jesus priest. isters of the word to keep the faith Sunday I saw no poverty. I saw “On the way to our parish, the alive. only the joy of people and their bishop got lost, and saw only St Dominic’s Priory Junior School in Port elizabeth will raise the curtain on For Sunday Mass, Catholics and excitement,” the priest said. June 13 for the staging of the well-loved musical The Pirates of Penzance bushes, donkeys, cows and the non-Catholics came to St “I can confirm what The South - dust from the rough road on Jr . tickets go on sale at R25 from May 30 and can be bought by calling Gertrude’s church to see the new ern Cross wrote recently; that with Mrs Raubenheimer on 04 1 39 6 2819. there will be five shows of Rogers which he was driving,” Fr Tarimo bishop. Arriving for Mass, Bishop Bishop Gabuza, Kimberley diocese and hammerstein’s tale of misunderstanding and misfortune running from said. Gabuza was welcomed by Fr Tari - has received a diamond,” Fr Tari - June 13-15. Bishop Gabuza celebrated Mass mo and the community’s elders at mo said. on both Saturday evening and the door. (See also front-page picture) LOCAL the Southern Cross, June 1 to June 7, 2011 3 Municipal elections: free, fair and mature By ClaiRe MathieSoN one case the presiding officer did He noted that the Mozambican not return his paper work]; and observer delegation acknowledged HE 2011 Municipal elections technical hitches such as defective the high levels of “trust and have been described as scanners at some voting stations in respect” between the IEC and the T“robust and mature” by Fr the Western Cape were quickly various political parties. Peter-John Pearson, director of the remedied”. Fr Pearson said that local elec - Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Fr Pearson said the organisation tions do not tend to receive the Office (CPLO), an associated body of the elections had improved as same attention as national elec - of the Southern African Catholic 90% of the 20000 polling stations tions, despite the fact that local Bishops’ Conference. opened on time as fully functional government is where delivery hap - “There is no doubt that the operations. The average travelling pens at a most basic level. elections were indeed free and time between a voter’s home and “But the actual turnout, and the fair,” said Fr Pearson, who added the polling station was 15 min - reduction in spoilt ballots, from that a total of 63 complaints were utes, and the average wait from 2,2% to 1,8%, points instead to a received, investigated and joining the queue to casting the high level of engagement by voters resolved. vote was 23 minutes. and a general trust that formal pol - Fr Pearson was not only repre - While this was an average cal - itics still has value and should be senting the Church in his observa - culation there were some town - engaged in, at least alongside more tions, but was also a member of ships where voters were forced to vigorous forms of activism.” the Electoral Code of Conduct queue for hours and this was “The results show a certain flu - Commission, a civil society com - something the IEC would have to idity or openness in voting pat - ponent working with Independent improve on, the priest said. terns with voters beginning to Electoral Commission (IEC) to But the highlight of the recent vote outside of traditional cate - assist with any contentious issues elections, according to Fr Pearson, gories whether these be party, cul - on a provincial level as well as rep - was that they were “mercifully free ture, race or religion. This could resenting the Electoral Monitoring of pre-poll violence and there were indicate a sense of votes having to Network—a similar group of emi - this time round no ‘no-go areas’”. be earned on the basis of a particu - nent people working on a national This meant that all parties were lar set of values and experiences. If level. free to campaign without hin - so, this bodes well for a more electoral observer, Fr Peter-John Pearson, at a recent ecumenical service at As an official observer, Fr Pear - drance in all areas and voters were robust political culture and for Corpus Christi, Wynberg, Cape town. (Photo: Keith Stober) son said complaints were handled able to make decisions without greater accountability for good expeditiously. Some, he said, intimidation. governance and delivery,” he said resulted “in the suspension of offi - “The environment before and “Catholic Social Teaching lays cials who displayed party biases during the elections also ensured great emphasis on three values as which translate for our purposes vote according to conscience; and [for example in Limpopo]; compliance with the fundamental the benchmark for assessing good into the freedom to form political to pursue and implement practices recounting took place in locales human right of freedom of associa - political practice. These are free - organisations and expound an ide - that enhance the common good,” where disputes were registered [in tion,” Fr Pearson said. dom, participation and equality, ological position; to canvass; to Fr Pearson said. Farewell to Southern Cross director who died at 81

StaFF RePoRteR Town, Bernard Pothier was among An opponent of apartheid, he tion to all, particularly in his com - the first intake at Christian Broth - was a founding member of the mon-sense, no-nonsense approach ERNARD Pothier, a long-time ers’ College in Bloemfontein, Progressive Party in 1959. to getting things done. member of the board of the when the Pothier family lived in Mr Pothier was married to Mar - “He spent many hours phoning BCatholic Newspaper & Pub - that city. After matriculation at garet for 51 years. They had three parishes and parish priests to pro - lishing Company, which publishes Christiian Brothers’ College in children—two of them serving mote sales, and there is no doubt The Southern Cros s, died on May 24 Green Point, Cape Town, he Catholic institutions—and six that the success of this newspaper after a long illness. He was 81. worked as a medical rep and at grandchildren. His daughter over the past few decades can be Mr Pothier served as a director SBH Cotton Mills. Rosanne Shields is development attributed in no small way to the for 16 years until his retirement “But his work was a mere dis - director at the Rural Development dedication of Bernard Pothier,” Mr from the board in 2006. traction,” his younger brother, Len Support Program, a Catholic insti - Moerdyk said. In that capacity, he spearhead - Pothier, recalled. “Bernard’s real tution. His son, Advocate Mike “Even, a few months ago when ed the Associates’ Campaign, priority was every possible Church Pothier, is research director of the he discovered that he had terminal which has helped keep The South - activity.” Catholic Parliamentary Liaison cancer, Bernard set about finding ern Cross running. He contined to A recipient of the papal medal Office. others to be able to take over his run the Associates Campaign after Pro Ecclesia in 1989, Mr Pothier Chris Moerdyk, chairman of the Southern Cross duties. We shall his retirement and even well into was involved in many Catholic board of directors of the Catholic miss him, his friendship, sense of his illness. activities, including youth groups Newspaper & Publishing Compa - humour and wisdom. ” His father, Jean Pothier, was the in Durban and Cape Town, the ny, said: “In the many years Mr Pothier’s funeral Mass at St chairman of the company for 24 Society of St Vincent de Paul, Jus - serving member of the parish pas - Bernard served on the board and Patrick’s church in Mowbray was years, until his death in 1979. tice & Peace and the Schoenstatt toral council of St Patrick’s church the executive committee of The celebrated by his nephew, Fr Mark Born on April 12, 1930 in Cape Movement. He was also a long- in Mowbray, Cape Town. Southern Cross he was an inspira - Pothier.

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No late applications will be considered and only those short-listed will be contacted 4 the Southern Cross, June 1 to June 7, 2011 INTERNATIONAL Catholic charities ‘called to express God’s love’ By CiNDy WooDeN continue our journey with the cur - The cardinal said the new rent secretary-general,” Cardinal statutes for the organisation are HETHER they are tiny, all- Rodriguez said in his opening meant to reflect “a theological real - volunteer organisations or address. “The way she was not ity: in full communion with Christ Wagencies with hundreds of allowed to stand as a candidate... and the Church, manifested in the professional employees working has caused grievance in our con - life of its members and in their per - around the globe, Catholic chari - federation”, especially among the sonal adherence to Jesus Christ, ties are called to be expressions of women working for Caritas. Caritas Internationalis will be truly God’s love and the Catholic Cardinal Robert Sarah, president capable of helping make the world Church’s concern for the poor, of the Pontifical Council Cor one family, since it is only in Jesus Honduran Cardinal Oscar Unum, told the delegates that Christ that our true human identi - Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigal - because the Catholic Church has a ty and dignity is revealed to us”. pa, president of the confederation hierarchical structure in which the Cardinal Peter Turkson, presi - of 165 national Catholic charities, bishops are ultimately responsible dent of the Pontifical Council for opened the week-long Caritas gen - for all activity, bishops must be Justice and Peace, told delegates eral assembly in Rome. involved in promoting and over - that Catholic charity workers face While a central focus of the seeing any agency that claims to two dangers when it comes to shar - meeting was on new statutes that work in the Church’s name. ing the good news of God’s love: would strengthen Vatican over - “Our charitable organisations one is to place conditions on peo - sight of Caritas Internationalis, the are located within the Church and ple receiving charity and the other gathering also marked the 60th not alongside her,” the cardinal is to be excessively cautious about anniversary of the confederation, a vintage steam train, dubbed the Caritas express, makes a short run for the said. sharing the faith. which was celebrated with a day - media as it prepares to leave the rarely used Vatican train station for a jour - Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vati - “In performing the work of Car - long trip on a vintage steam train ney to orvieto, italy. the train ride was part of the 60th anniversary celebra - can secretary of state, presided at a itas, we need not, and should not, that boarded at the Vatican train tions of Caritas internationalis. (Photo: Paul haring, CNS) Mass for the delegates and thanked restrict our aid to those who share station. Caritas Internationalis for giving our faith,” he said, but Catholics The festive atmosphere of the prepared to elect new officers, retary-general, Lesley-Anne Knight, concrete, practical demonstrations should make sure that the services train trip was a contrast to the including a new secretary-general its blessing to run for a second of the Church’s love for all people they provide “reflect the values businesslike atmosphere of the after the Vatican secretariat of state four-year term. and its belief that the world is one and the teaching of our Lord Jesus general assembly, especially as it decided not to give the current sec - “We all would have loved to family. Christ”.—CNS Milan gears up for 2012 family meeting Jesuits asked to save By CiNDy WooDeN for the gathering. wife to talk about and for groups “The Family: Work and Cele - of couples to discuss together. ATHOLICS , like everyone, bration” is the theme Pope Bene - Fr Davide Milani, director of dying native language often are challenged to bal - dict chose for the 2012 gathering, communications for the archdio - Cance the demands of fami - and while Cardinal Antonelli said cese of Milan, said the group dis - By MiChael SWaN “We want to be with them in ly, work and free time, but they spirit,” said the Jesuits’ English specific challenges vary widely cussions as well as more global S Canada’s Jesuits remem - also have an obligation to show around the world, “globalisation sharing through Facebook and Canadian provincial superior, Fr others there is a Christian bered their first steps on means that many problems are other media would ensure that Jim Webb. “We would be happy approach to all three, said Cardi - ANorth American soil and to cooperate.” becoming common everywhere the preparation period is not nal Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan. the welcome they received from in the world”. focused exclusively on the experi - Fr Webb told The Catholic Reg - “Our being Catholic should Mi’kmaq people 400 years ago, The Pontifical Council for the ences of families in Europe. ister it’s difficult to say what prac - become a unique and original the Mi’kmaq asked for a favour. tical steps today’s Jesuits could Family has translated the cate - The archdiocese has launched way of living the challenges that “Maybe it’s time for the take to help preserve the lan - chetical material into English, a website for the 2012 meeting face every family,” the cardinal Mi’kmaq to ask for your help in guage, but he noted that work on Spanish, French, German, Por - (www.family2012.com ) and the said at a Vatican news conference preserving our language,” Grand languages has been part of Jesuit tuguese and Polish and will send Pontifical Council for the Family to discuss plans for the World Keptin Antle Denny told three history in Canada. Canadian Meeting of Families 2012. the texts to bishops’ conferences also has opened a new website dozen Canadian Jesuits and Jesuits translated Ojibwa stories The international gathering, to print, distribute and adapt, he (www.family.va ). about 100 guests who had gath - into English and the Bible into co-sponsored by the Pontifical said. Auxiliary Bishop Franco Bram - ered to mark the 1611 landing of Ojibwa in central Canada. Council for the Family, will be The booklet, which is designed billa of Milan, who coordinated two Jesuits at Port Royal in what “If we could find a way of held in Milan from May 30 to to be used at ten periodic meet - the drafting of the catechesis, is now Nova Scotia. helping, we would try,” said Fr June 3, 2012. Pope Benedict is ings of small groups of families, said Catholic couples should be Mr Denny said about 70% of Webb. expected to attend. offers reflections from the Bible aware of just how much work and Mi’kmaq speak English and very “Any influence they could At the Vatican news confer - and from papal documents on free time influence their family few young people are comfort - have to help us [would be ence, Cardinal Tettamanzi and the themes of marriage and fami - life, but they also must recognise able in their own language. Lin - accepted]. Whatever is neces - Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, presi - ly life, human dignity and labour, that they can “transform the guists have predicted the lan - sary,” said Mr Denny. “If there dent of the family council, pre - and rest, celebration and keeping world through work and human - guage will be extinct in 20 years. was only one thing that would sented catechetical material their Sunday as the Lord’s day. ise time with a Christian sense of “We need your help,” Mr cure it, we would all be doing staffs developed to help Catholic Each chapter includes discus - celebration, especially regarding Denny told the Jesuits. it.”—CNS couples around the world prepare sion questions for a husband and Sundays”.—CNS Brazil’s ‘Mother Teresa’ beatified ed the first Catholic workers’ ESPITE intermittent rain, organisation in the state of 70 000 people gathered in Bahia in 1936 and started a Da park for the beatifica - health clinic for poor workers. tion of the nun sometimes She opened a school for workers called Brazil’s Mother Teresa in and their children in 1939. Salvador, Brazil. That same year, Sr Dulce, Born as Maria Rita de Souza with nowhere to turn, invaded Brito Lopes Pontes in 1914, she five abandoned houses on Rat’s was known to Brazilian Island in Salvador Bay to house Catholics as simply Sr Dulce, the the sick and homeless. After get - mother of the poor. ting evicted, she searched for a Cardinal Geraldo Majella haven for the poor until 1949, Agnelo of Salvador celebrated when she settled in an old the beatification Mass with chicken coop structure beside more than 500 archbishops, the convent. That old chicken bishops and priests in atten - coop, said her followers, became dance. the largest hospital in the area. Claudia Cristiane Santos Sr Dulce met Pope John Paul Araujo, the woman whose mira - II twice. The first time was in cle cure was attributed to Sr 1980 during his first trip to Dulce’s intercession, also attend - Brazil. In October 1991, the ed. She had prayed to Sr Dulce pope visited her in the hospital while suffering from a massive A Missionary Sisters of the due to her weak and frail state. haemorrhage minutes after giv - Immaculate Conception of the Five months later, on March ing birth. Mother of God, Sr Dulce found - 13, 1992, Sr Dulce died.—CNS

O R FO R D eStaBliSheD 1982 CONSTRUCTION Professional Supervision Project Management Specialists in: New houses • Renovations • alterations • additions • Painting • Plumbing • Property Management and Care For advice call Julian Orford B.Sc. (Civ.eng) tel: (021) 79 4 5552 Fax: (021) 79 4 7088 Cell: 082 49 3 0563 e-mail: [email protected] INTERNATIONAL the Southern Cross, June 1 to June 7, 2011 5 Hi-tech priests develop Holy Land Pro-paedophilia app with ‘virtual candles’ for iPads priests fired lets users have “information on NEW iPad application devel - what is happening in the holy By CaRol Glatz oped by two priests will send places, news and videos on the life Ausers news, videos and pho - of the custody, and photos of cele - HE Salesians of St John tos from the Holy Land and let brations, events and people”, the Bosco removed two Dutch people send prayers via “virtual press release said. Tmembers from their candles”. The content can be shared on duties after it was discovered The new app, called “Terra Facebook and Twitter. one belonged to a pro-pae - Sancta” (Latin for Holy Land) was Users can also “light a candle dophilia organisation and launched in English, Spanish, for the Holy Land” by sending another made remarks defend - French and Italian at the Apple prayers and messages to the cus - ing paedophilia. Store, according to a press release tody, the Franciscan Custody said. The Salesian headquarters in by the Franciscan Custody of the The idea for the new applica - Rome said a Dutch priest iden - Holy Land. Hebrew and Arabic are tion was conceived by Fr Paolo tified only as Fr “B” and the to be made available at a later Padrini, a diocesan priest from superior of the Salesians in the date. Italy who also helped develop the Netherlands, Fr Herman Spron - ck, had both been suspended. a statue representing Bl Pope John Paul ii is unveiled at a ceremony App users receive news from the iBreviary application for the custodia.org website as well as iPhone, and Franciscan Father Sil - The Salesian provincial of outside the main train station in Rome. the statue has drawn criticism Belgium-Holland, Fr Jos Claes, videos and high definition pho - vio de la Fuente, secretary of the from Romans and the Vatican newspaper, which said the abstract work said that to the Salesians’ tographs produced by the Francis - Franciscan Custody of the Holy is unrecognisable as John Paul ii. (Photo: tony Gentile, Reuters/CNS) “great surprise”, Fr B was a can Media Centre. The application Land.—CNS member of a Dutch-based asso - ciation that advocates legalis - ing sexual relations between an adult and child. Fr Claes said the association Allies wanted Pius to be silent on Jews is “not compatible with our Salesian identity” and “we By SiMoN CalDWell Vatican assistant secretary of state, However, on November 19— into the actions of Pope Pius. therefore condemn the mem - had told him ten days earlier that less than two weeks after Mr Gary Krupp, president of the bership and the opinions of F RITISH and US diplomats dis - Pope Pius would not “make any Gowen wrote his letter—the Vati - foundation, said that the Allies van B”. cussed exerting pressure on radio appeal because if he did so can joined the neutral states of feared any condemnation of Josef The province set up a com - BPope Pius XII to be silent he would, in fairness, to all have to Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Stalin’s armies “would work mittee to collect information about the Nazi deportations of criticise the Russians”, a member Sweden to appeal to the Hungari - against the unified war effort of about Fr B’s actions and state - Hungarian Jews, according to of the Allies. an government to end the depor - the Allies”. ments, Fr Claes said, and a newly discovered documentation. He said he withheld this infor - tations. He said the letter is significant committee report “will be sent The British feared that the mation from Mr Osborne in the The British Jewish historian Sir because it showed the pressures to the superiors of the Salesian wartime pope might make a “radio belief that it would Martin Gilbert, an internationally that confronted Pope Pius, who congregation in Rome”. appeal on behalf of the Jews in be best for Taylor recognised has been criticised for his alleged Fr Spronck was dismissed Hungary” and that in the course of to impart it him - expert on the silence in the face of the Holo - from his position as head of his broadcast would “also criticise self following a Holocaust, said caust. the Salesians in the Nether - what the Russians are doing in meeting with Pope in his 2002 “The simple reality, which lands after RTL radio published a transcript of an interview occupied territory”. Pius scheduled the book, The Right - seems to be ignored by many crit - with the priest in which he Sir Francis D’Arcy Osborne, the day after the letter eous: The Unsung ics, is that the Vatican was a neu - reportedly said sexual relations British ambassador to the Vatican, was written. Heroes of the tral government that used its neu - between adults and children told an American diplomat that The letter was Holocaust , that at trality to save thousands of lives,” should be allowed. “something should be done to pre - dated November that time the said Mr Krupp, a Jew from New The priest is quoted as say - vail upon the pope not to do this 7, 1944, as the Catholic Church York. ing: “We shouldn’t consider as it will have very serious political Nazis were organ - in Budapest was Another letter made public by age so rigidly. You should repercussions”. ising mass depor - hiding 2 5 000 the foundation discusses help for never break into the personal His comments were made to tations of Jews Jews in homes Jewish fugitives, with Mr Osborne space of a child if the child Franklin C Gowen, an assistant to from Budapest, and religious insti - telling Harold Tittman, another of does not want that, but that Myron Taylor, the US special rep - the Hungarian tutions. Mr Taylor’s aides, that it must be has to do with the child him - resentative to the Vatican. capital, to death Simultaneously, destroyed because it might endan - self. There are also children Mr Gowen recorded the conver - camps in the Red Army of ger the life of an Italian priest who who themselves indicate that it sation in a letter to Mr Taylor, say - Poland, Austria the Soviet Union was rescuing Jews if it fell into is okay. Sexual contact is then ing he had promised Mr Osborne and Germany. was advancing enemy hands. also possible.” that he would bring his concerns Rome had been liberated by westward across It was dated May 20, 1944, The provincial of Belgium- to the “immediate attention” of the US Fifth Army the previous Europe and killing and raping barely three weeks before Rome Holland said: “We distance the US ambassador. June and, with the Vatican behind many innocent people as it was fell to the Allies. According to the ourselves completely from the “It was understood that, pend - Allied lines, the pope had more driving German armies into Pave the Way Foundation, it comments by Fr H Spronck” ing your reaction, he would not freedom to speak out. But as the retreat. shows how the work of rescuing and the order suspended him take any steps vis-a-vis the Holy head of a neutral state, he under - Mr Gowen’s letter was made Jews was conducted in secrecy, “from all delegated authority” See,” Mr Gowen told Mr Taylor. stood that he could not condemn public for the first time by the New with most documentary evidence within the Salesian order.— In the letter, Gowen also said the war crimes of one side without York-based Pave the Way Founda - of such activities destroyed almost CNS that Mgr Domenico Tardini, the condemning those of the other. tion, which is conducting research instantly.—CNS

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from all they knew and loved. tual about such a selfless act of love. Editor: Günther Simmermacher The last journey When tiredness overtook them, It is not a violent death, but an they’d find a snow drift for shelter, act of the greatest kind of love per - S a devout Catholic there are settle down and eat the little food formed with gentleness and in times when I come across facts A they had brought with them. peace. Such an act of love spares The bishop’s big job (and sometimes fiction) which I feel sure that in those last hours loved ones the anguish of caring for cause me to pause and ponder on community’s enthusiasm for they would dwell on the happy a frail senior member of the family the teachings of our faith. The fol - ANY South Africans their bishop, who until recently memories of their lives, make their lowing was, and perhaps still is, a and community who in the harsh Catholics will have had was a priest in Pretoria, and a peace with their Great Creator God and hostile environment of bitter cause over the past few profound occurrence in the lives of M stranger to the diocese he now before closing their eyes and allow - long winters and short cold sum - years to rejoice in the appoint - good, hard working people living in ing the spirit of rest to wrap them in heads. mers would be an added burden. ment of a new bishop in their a challenging, hostile environment. its arms and then welcome the Bishops need that support. In the eyes of the Church would diocese. The aged and ill of the Inuit peo - wings of sleep to carry them into this act be accepted as an act of self - When The Southern Cross in a Being named a bishop is a great ple of the frozen north, Alaska, the welcoming arms of eternity. September 2006 editorial wel - honour, but it is also a lonely Canada and beyond would, without Neither family nor friends would less love or revoked as an act of sui - comed the present apostolic and colossal task, performed by a fuss, make the decision to lighten have attempted to follow them for cide and therefore rejected as sinful? nuncio, Archbishop James P relatively small number of men the burden on their loved ones and they knew and understood the way June Jansen Green, to our region, we noted who must find ways of meeting take one last journey into their pris - of their own people. Any trace of that “it is conceivable that the trust that has been invested tine but frozen arctic homeland. the footsteps of their loved ones n Such a person would not be commit - among the priorities our local in them. When the time of their departure would not be visible having been ting suicide but surrendering to a nat - Church leaders might wish to The late Archbishop Denis arrived, they would wrap them - blotted out by the falling, shifting ural end. So even if suicide was invari - bring to the nuncio’s attention is Hurley of Durban used to talk selves in furs, take a small parcel of snow. They would with sadness, but ably a sinful act (which according to the high number of vacant or about the loneliness of the epis - food and step out into the tranquil - acceptance, appreciate the loving the catechism of the Catholic Church it soon to be vacant dioceses in copal position. The price of the lity of the snow and icy air. They sacrifice made. is not), that point wouldn’t apply.— Southern Africa”. mitre is indeed steep: a bishop would go as far as they could away There is something deeply spiri - Editor Archbishop Green clearly must take decisions that will not made the process of appointing please everybody. A good bishop new bishops a priority. In meet - will make difficult and hopefully The church was to be the ser - is dogma—she continued to live a ing this challenge—which is an wise judgments, even at risk of immense responsibility, because We are not alone vant of the servants of God. sin-free life. upsetting friends. Expectations a poorly chosen bishop can cre - Clearly the Holy Spirit is not con - At what the Greek Orthodox of him differ so much that ENRY Makori‘s “The loneli - ate big problems—the nuncio ness of priests” (May 11), fined to church with a capital C! so touchingly call her dormition invariably he will disappoint H evidently has been creative in brings me to some of our older Dr Straughan correctly states (falling asleep) she was taken up somebody at some point. And a submitting the names of suitable folk. They too, both men and that the Church guides us with body and soul into heaven—also candidates to the Holy See. bishop knows that some people women, suffer loneliness. Maybe the Holy Spirit, but according to dogma. More than half of the dioce - will find it difficult to pardon a a lifelong partner is gone, the Jesus the primary guidance is Unlike sinners, therefore, she ses in the Southern African mistake or lapse in judgment. children flown the coop, and too “the voice of Christ” in the was not subjected to the indigni - region are now headed by bish - A bishop, as Pope Benedict busy or too far away to visit. In minds and hearts of all the faith - ty of the grave. This proves that ops appointed during Archbish - once put it, is expected to be a most cases when visitors depart, ful. Is this not why we have the she was not in need of redemp - op Green’s tenure. father, brother and friend to his there is a feeling of loss, a sense doctrine of primacy of con - tion but only of acceptance from Some of these appointments clergy and shepherd to the laity. of separation. science? God. have proved to be particularly But that is the abbreviated job I’m in my 29th year of widow - It is a waste of time trying to While on this topic of the put down a fellow professional wise. The question of naming a description. He must also be a hood, and using my faith, I cope mediatorship of Mary, I would Catholic by inferring with the successor to Archbishop spiritual leader, pastor, adminis - by placing all things on the cross like to express my bafflement at statement: “liberation of the con - Lawrence Henry in Cape Town with Jesus in his pre-death agony, the on-going controversy about trator, human resource execu - science from Godly guidance”! was exceptionally tricky. The hanging there beside him. proclaiming Mary to be the medi - tive, social advocate, promoter No one with Jesus in mind and transfer of Archbishop Stephen of vocations, psychologist, arbi - He too knows loneliness. In atrix of all graces. Why should heart is going to listen to such a the bestowal of this title offend Brislin from Kroonstad to Cape trator, moderator, reconciler, the garden his disciples were Town has proved to be a master - foolish statement! Almighty God? teacher and student, and guaran - asleep. Yet we are not alone. God Rosemary Gravenor, stroke; the faithful and clergy of lives in us. He keeps us company Mr Shackleton records that the archdiocese have taken the tor of unity within his diocese— Durban Vatican II reaffirmed Mary as preferably exercising all these always. Trust in him. man from the Free State to their HM De Kock, Cape Town mediatrix but did not clarify the heart. roles with a measure of collegial - title, probably because there was Likewise, the transfer of Arch - ity. Did Our Lady not enough agreement about bishop William Slattery from The Body of Christ must be how to express it. If this was in Kokstad to Pretoria, another thankful to those who assume all who are on really need to be fact the case, why should seman - complex archdiocese, has been these great responsibilities. We tics be allowed to get in the way warmly received by both the must pray for our bishops that the side of truth redeemed? of truth? clergy and faithful there. they may satisfy the enormous OCTOR John Straughan, N his column Open Door, (May In the Hail Mary we ask Our The snag in these transfers, of expectations invested in them, D(“Which Church?” April 20) I4), Michael Shackleton asserts Lady: “Pray for us sinners now course, resides in the dioceses that they exercise their authority seems to be confused about the in explaining the mediatorship of and at the hour of our death.” from which the new archbishops with wisdom, that they won’t be work and whereabouts of the Mary, it is necessary to stress that Does this not make her our medi - were transferred having lost out - disheartened when things go Holy Spirit in the Church (both Mary needed to be redeemed by ator? standing bishops. We trust that wrong and remain humble when capital and small c). Thus I can - Christ as we all do. Since God first used Mary as a Fr Peter Holiday will be an excel - things go well; and that they not find his “advice” credible. If this is true, from which sin bridge to come to us, what harm lent successor to Archbishop will not be too lonely. At this so very holy time of did Our Lady need to be set free? could there be in our solemnly Brislin after his installation in We must commend our bish - year and having absorbed again Catholicism teaches that it was declaring the validity of using Kroonstad later this month. ops when they perform their all that the Christ actually did the sin of disobedience by our Mary as a bridge to go to God? By all accounts, bishops who and said during this time, I would Luky Whittle, Kroonstod obligations well. And when they first parents that barred us from have moved to a diocese they offer Dr Straughan some of the do not, we must feel able to entering heaven and thus caused previously were unfamiliar with words Jesus spoke to Pilate when the need for our redemption. n From the moment of her concep - communicate our concerns as have generally assimilated and agreeing that he is a king: “I was By his grievous suffering and tion, Mary was immune from origi - connected with their new flock well, with charity and respect. born for this…to bear witness to death on the Cross, Christ nal sin. But this privilege, the quickly. Above all, we must give the truth and all who are on the redeemed his human creatures immaculate conception, was hers This week we report on Bish - thanks to our bishops for their side of truth listen to my voice.” from their sins. All alone among through the redeeming grace of Jesus op Abel Gabuza’s pastoral visit selfless service to the People of Please note that Jesus had by humankind, Our Lady, by obey - Christ who is the redeemer of the to a remote parish in his large God, and offer our prayers for then established his “church” ing God in all things, remained whole human race. See Catechism of diocese of Kimberley. It is them in their demanding min - (small c) and he said: “Listen to entirely free from sin. After being the Catholic Church, 491.—Michael encouraging to read about the istry. my voice.” conceived immaculate—and this Shackleton

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How fictional TV priests are portrayed Michael Shackleton have been the United Nations or Microsoft, open Door AST month the Vatican hosted some - if they had anything as cool as priests. Günther thing quite new: the International But if watching a sci-fi bloodfest or the Simmermacher LCatholic Film Festival, which was albino monk of The Da Vinci Code has the held Rome from May 12-21. The festival power to shake an individual’s confidence Point of Debate placed a particular spotlight on the priest - in the Catholic Church, then that indi - Truth about lice hood. vidual must have had a dim view of the Liana Marabini, an Italian film director Church in the first place. With the recent outbreak of head lice in the and president of the festival, said she I don’t know if the Vatican festival shows treated Catholicism accurately and Western Cape, do we really have to continue wanted to focus on the priesthood president was thinking of such movies as a source for good. with the unhealthy practice of the priest and because priests are often “overlooked” or when she said priests are portrayed in a In The West Wing , Martin Sheen played Eucharistic minister blessing a child who has portrayed in a negative light in films. negative light on film. Perhaps there is an a Catholic US president, educated at accompanied a parent to the altar at Commu - “They need to be valued, loved and wel - anti-clerical trend in European film I have Notre Dame university, whose ethics were nion time, by placing a hand on the head of the comed” by the laity and the wider com - missed, but I have not picked up on a sys - very much informed by his faith, even if child? Would it not suffice to place the hand on munity, she told reporters. tematic prejudice against priests in US sometimes he had to act against them. In the forehead rather than on the hair? It’s an instinctive reaction to deplore one episode, a priest played the great Karl Bill McIntosh the way the Catholic Church and her productions. To be sure, there have been films that Malden (who also played an admirable priests are presented in film. No doubt priest in On The Waterfront ) gives the pres - EAD lice are parasitic wingless insects that the Church and the priesthood, and are not friendly, or even hostile, towards live in the hair and feed off blood from the the Church, her priests and teachings, ident spiritual counsel on the question of Christian values in general, tend to get capital punishment. It is a memorable Hscalp. Their eggs are known as nits. They are just as there are films that are not friendly short shrift in the movies and on televi - scene with a memorable priest. most commonly found in primary school children. towards, say, the US presidency. The sion. And sometimes scripts appoint In the mafia series The Sopranos , the Because the children play and sit with heads close incessant jokes about “paedophile priests” Catholic clerics as the bad guys (though Catholic Church is central in the Italian- together and often share items such as hats, head - are tiresome. Portrayals of the Catholic we see priests mostly presiding over American community. Gangsters are phones, towels and combs, the parasite spreads Church are often poorly researched. And graveside funerals). buried with rosaries around their hands, rapidly by contagion, and it is a major task to be rid A movie called Priest , released in the in some films priests are made to look mafia wives go to confession or do nappy of it once infestation has taken place. United States in May, takes the foolish or unkind (but it just reflects the drives for the parish, and priests offer spir - Medical treatment is available for this unpleasant unfavourable view of the Catholic reality that some priests sometimes act itual guidance and friendship. condition which is characterised by persistent Church to a ludicrous extreme. It’s a foolishly or unkindly). Remarkably, not once are priests scratching and sometimes bleeding and infection. futuristic action flick in which the That doesn’t mean that Hollywood, to depicted as objectionable, even when Preventive measures include cleanliness of body, Catholic Church has taken over the use a shorthand, is systematically anti- there was opportunity to do so. The hair, clothing, bedclothes, towels and other personal world after winning an apocalyptic war Catholic, even if it is not as pro-clerical as priest-principal of the Catholic high items—and certainly not sharing these with others. against vampires, as you do, with its it used to be when Bing Crosby was going school is strict but understanding; the It appears unclear whether touching the hair or priests as warriors. Now the victors have his way, Pat O’Brien or Spencer Tracy priest tempted to commit adultery foreheads of affected children will necessarily pass become totalitarian oppressors and to were donning the Roman collar, and remains firm in his fidelity to his promise on the condition to those not affected, but in the rebel against the Church’s authority is Montgomery Clift would rather die than of celibacy and the Church’s teaching; case of a widespread outbreak of head lice in a regarded an ethical necessity. violate the seal of the confessional. the new, young parish priest is wise to the parish and its contagious nature, medical opinion Perhaps the makers of the movie are hood’s manipulation of a Catholic feast. should be requested. Also, local schools and clinics trying to juggle metaphor, fantasy, analo - erhaps a better method of judging the When the priests dispense advice, it is should be asked whether there has been a recent sig - gy, vampires, propaganda and lots of gore Pentertainment industry’s attitudes doctrinally and pastorally sound. They are nificant incidence of head lice among their pupils. to make a point about challenging the towards priest is by studying television very much human (one priest likes to be The parish priest can then, if necessary, make Catholic Church’s global power (surely an serials, with their scope for recurring roles invited to a good meal) and sometimes the decision to discontinue blessing children with imprudent move if you believe the Vati - and characterisations. In my experience, supercilious, but in a depraved world, the hand on their heads. He could instead bless by can has the muscle to defeat vampires). Catholicism and the priesthood tend to they provide a moral centre. making the sign of the cross over them. Eucharistic More likely, the futuristic Catholic be portrayed respectfully, and in the best And then there have been the affirm - ministers could perhaps lay a hand on the child’s Church of the movie is a proxy for any ran - shows even positively. ing detective priest (in the early ’90s series shoulder. These are possibilities but the bishop or dom institution of global reach. It could Two superb, critically acclaimed TV Father Dowling Mysteries ) and action hero parish priest may want to make a ruling appropriate cleric (in the current sci-fi series V) to the circumstances. I struggle to come up with a TV show In my experience, blessing the child with a that portrays priests in a negative light— touch to the head is appreciated with satisfaction even the British sitcom Father Ted , which by parents. Also, those adults who, for certain rea - pokes fun at the priesthood, has many sons, present themselves at Communion time with fans even among the clergy, who proba - arms crossed over their chests, do so because they bly recognise more about absurdities in value receiving a blessing during Christian commu - the lives of priests in that programmes nity worship. than the average viewer would. Therefore, a priest should not be over-hasty in One TV show about priests that was stopping this kind of blessing, unless there is rea - cancelled because of unaccountable sonable certainty and sound medical opinion that Catholic lobbying was the short-lived head lice are being spread in this way. Nothing Sacred —which presented the priesthood as a positive institution and n Send your queries to Open Door, Box 2372, Cape Town, desirable vocation. 8000 ; or e-mail: [email protected] ; or fax (021) There seems little evidence for some 46 5 3850 . Anonymity can be preserved by arrangement, but questions must be signed, and may be edited for clarity. sustained agenda against the priesthood. Only published questions will be answered. But when there are representations of fic - Dermot Morgan as Fr ted Crilly in Father Ted , Karl Malden as Fr Cavanaugh in The West tional priests we don’t approve of, we Wing , and Paul Schulze as Fr Phil intintola in The Sopranos . hold the power: the off-switch.

Mphuthumi The African Rivermoss Ntabeni the oppressed prey on each other, espe - Pushing Boundaries HE time just after the First World cially the weak. War was a spring time not only for Like most educated black people of the Xhosa politics but literature too. T time, her convictions, political and other - frustrated by the male dominance over Just before the war, there was the founda - wise, were almost inseparable from her tion of the South African Native National women in her time. It meant that she religious beliefs and commitments. And could never really live by her pen, no Congress, which became known as the her impeccable honesty can be seen in African National Congress in 1923. And matter how attracted she was to the idea. her narration of the anti-pass demonstra - And she was also compelled to use mas - there was a proliferation of native news - tion she was part of in 1929: culine language to express herself, since papers. “On 3 April 1929, we the leaders of she wrote more in the genre of a tradi - Umteteli was prominent among the the nation marched with a mass of peo - tional Xhosa imbhongi . newspapers then. It went on to become a ple to the Fort [Johannesburg], where we Though a committed Christian, some - seed for others, like Imvo Zabantu were going to wait for ‘the dawn of times she was unable to reconcile her Abantsundu . The editor of Umteteli was Africa’, the lifting of the burden of the religious beliefs with her political anger: none other than “uNzululwazi” (which pass from our shoulders. We had high Heed its word and heaven’s lost, / It’s spear means deep knowledge), the most hopes, truly believing that this burden that wheels and stab us: / The land of HOLY SITES TRAVEL renowned poet of the nation since then, would fall once we’d scale the hill Diffi - Phalo’s on its head / From the hypocritical TEL: 082 975 0034 / FAX: 086 552 9648 SK E Mqhayi. Mqhayi is fondly known as culty. cant of white man’s gospel . E-MAIL:[email protected] the Shakespeare of Xhosa literature. “We got there and stood around, won - She decried the loss of values that WEB SITE: www.holysites.co.za Prominent among Umteteli ’s contribu - dering what to do next. What did we see? came with urbanisation and thought the tors was Nontsizi Mgqwetho, who con - Another hill Difficulty suddenly con - solution came with returning to more Join us on a pilgrimage to the holy land tributed more than 90 poems to the fronted us, sowing confusion. Cops on traditional ways, without necessarily dis - as we explore the cradle of Christianity paper between 1920 to 1929. Before then horseback charged us down, at full tilt, posing of the Bible, which was more in and follow the Footsteps of Jesus . no black woman had published poetry so like bats out of hell. Our leaders took to line with Ntsikana's teachings: You see my voluminous. the hills before those horses reached the people, we’re growing old, / The truth has In the Xhosa tradition there is a say - Fort. They made no bones about their left us long time ago, / The Truth is bound in VISIT: ing: umtana uyalilandela igama lakhe —a fear, saying they had been pounded by Bible covers / Also swathed in custom blan - Pray in the holy Grotto where Gabriel appeared child follows the meaning of their name. the cops at Fordsburg the day before. kets . to the Virgin Mary There was something tragic about Nont - They just left us there in the mess they’d Oh peace, Nontsizi, African rivermoss, / Visit the holy Manger where Jesus was born sizi’s life whose name means “the one invited us to. I tell you truly my people, Woman, the winsome song of your voice / Sea of Galilee – by its waters Jesus chose his affiliated with sorrow”. The sorrow was it’s only through the power of God we Sets Africa’s walls thrumming,/ Utterly sham - more of a torture of a soul who lived survived that mess.” ming all the lads. / We’ll hear of the day of first disciples under the eye of God and the enlighten - I guess the confrontation with the your death, Nontsizi. / The commando’s horse Renew your baptismal vows in the Jordan River ing demands of literature. police was not always the stuff of heroic has lost its way. / Oh, peace! And to you, Walk the Via Dolorosa Often, in her writings, she is caught tales the history books would have us Ntsikana, / Who prophesied in thorn brakes. light a candle for your loved ones on Calvary up in a moral dichotomy, the curse of believe. Only poets can bring us these (With gratitude to Jeff Opland for the not really belonging, having to castigate honest admissions, and thank God for painstaking work he did in researching For more details contact Elna Ferreira both white oppression and a black self- their saintly souls. Xhosa poetry and putting it on the map Tel: 082 975 0034 seeking callous attitude that often makes Mgqwetho was clearly a tortured soul, again.) 8 the Southern Cross, June 1 to June 7, 2011 COMMUNITY

the youth of Kroonstad diocese enjoyed a five-day youth retreat and rally that took place around the Vaal River between Carltonville and Parys. (Submitted by Fr emmanuel Mbeh MhM)

IINN FFOOCCUUSS

Send photographs, with sender’s name and address on the back, and a SASE to: The Southern Cross, Community Pics, Saydoon Nisa Sayed (coordinator of the World Conference Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000 on Religion for Peace), Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban or email them to: [email protected] and Paddy Meskin, (a patron of the Denis hurley Centre Edited by: Lara Moses Pilgrims of St Bernadette's lenten Journey to the holy and president of the World Conference on Religions for land, led by Fr Gregory Mitchell Co outside the church Peace in South africa), place flowers on the tomb of arch - of the holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. with their Christian bishop Denis hurley. (Submitted by illa thompson) tour guide Usama Salman.

the Catholic Chinese Welfare J.M.J HOT POT PAINT association held its 46th annual AND HARDWARE Debutantes and Squires Ball in (PTY) LTD Gauteng. Nicole Fung was crowned Miss Debutante 46, 12th Street, Springs, 1559 2011. She is Tel: (011) 362 3071, (011) 362 4682/3, (011) 8121655/6/7 photographed with Fr Daniel Madanza from Cosmos City BRANCHES: parish, Catholic Springs (011) 362 3071 Chinese Welfare association Vereeniging (016) 427 5525 members and her fellow debutantes Alberton (011) 907 8676 and squires. (Submitted by lilly Benoni (011) 422 2331 loo) Heidelberg (016) 349 5886 Boksburg (011) 892 5186 Randburg (011) 678 2436 Lephalale (Ellisras) Mike or Annette (014) 763 3147 a surprise 80th birthday party was held for ellen Ray (purple dress), the oldest member of the Catholic STOCKISTS OF: Paint, Hardware, Geysers, Roll- Women’s league at St Michael’s parish in Redhill, Durban. She is up garage doors, Sink tops, Bosch Power Tools. with her friend, lorraine Smith, daughter-in-law and grandchil - dren. (Submitted by Marlene ALL AT THE VERY BEST PRICES! abrahams) Looking to open franchises in ALL areas. If interested please contact Nero or Gerald on 083 4606650

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082 450 9930 Trevor Reservations: 082 444 7654 Piero 082 506 9641 Anthony FOCUS the Southern Cross, June 1 to June 7, 2011 9 Does an abusive marriage call for divorce?

vivors can be female or male. for her if she wants to remain in The Catholic Church Domestic violence is considered full communion with the Church? the cause of most major injuries of If she cannot obtain an annul - holds that the bonds of women in the United States, and a ment, she has no right to remarry high contributor to female death in the Church and would lose her Christian marriage worldwide. In South Africa one right to certain sacraments if she out of every four women is a sur - engages in a relationship in future. cannot be broken. But vivor of domestic violence. For many practising Catholic what if such a marriage is According to the Medical women this is the most tragic part: Research Council, a woman is to be cut off from receiving the abusive, asks ColleeN killed by her partner every six Eucharist. hours. If this is placed within con - Only the domestic violence sur - CoNStaBle. text of family, it surely suggests a vivor can face the moment of breakdown of the cohesiveness in truth between her and a triune the family unit. God. In the movie Eat, Pray, Love , N Catholicism marriage is a Research from World Health the character Elizabeth Gilbert has sacrament: it does not come Organisation suggests that domes - a “bathroom moment”: in desper - Iwith an option of divorce— tic violence survivors do not ation to save her marriage, Eliza - there is no exit ticket. From a leg - receive support from family or beth sits on the floor of her bath - islative perspective a legally mar - friends and even local leaders. It room in the early hours of the ried person can file for divorce in implies that the survivor fights a morning. She turns to God and accordance with the laws of the lonely battle. Sometimes the jus - prays: “I need your help, I am in country. tice system also lets the survivor serious trouble.” For Catholics, a divorce decree down. Only domestic violence sur - is not a ticket to freedom. Unless In such a harsh reality, can the vivors can decide whether to end the marriage is annulled by the domestic violence survivor turn to With one in every four South african women being a survivor of some form of an abusive marriage. If she leaves, Church, you remain married even her parish priest for support? I domestic violence, should the Catholic Church adapt its teachings on she needs spiritual support from if you are divorced within the con - know a woman who sought the divorce? in this article Colleen Constable discusses why she thinks they the Church and moral support text of the law. support and trust of her parish should. from the parish family. Some divorced Catholics hope priest—the one who operates in If she decides to leave an abu - to get an annulment, but only a persona Christi . sive marriage, she leaves with the few succeed in having their failed After Mass, she anxiously wait - A year later she unknowingly entitlement, masculinity, domi - Triune God in her heart. And marriages erased in the eyes of the ed for him at the church gate. faced the master of all abusive nant behaviour and power; when when she leaves, she will need the Church. There are technicalities When he closed the gate, she techniques: strangulation. All she love as described in 1 Corinthians Eucharist for spiritual healing: this linked to an annulment, and one approached him. “Father,” she remembers of that day was that in 13 becomes vague rhetoric. And is where her strength will come is that domestic violence does not said,” I am going to leave my hus - her mind she called out to God for when the representative of Christ from each day, taking one step at a provide grounds for an annulment band. He is too abusive. I cannot forgiveness; she felt death was forgets to play the role in persona time. of a marriage. take it anymore.” upon her. She was losing breath. Christi , when spiritual leadership And she will need a psycholo - There are some women who The priest, without looking up Only a chance visit from a relative associated with the “first person” gist for emotional healing, a med - have divorced their husbands (for to her, continued closing the gate saved her life. He stopped her ex- in the marriage between two peo - ical doctor for physical healing, legitimate reasons), but could not of the church. And as he did so, he husband from killing her. ple who once proclaimed “for bet - and the friendship of a parish fam - get an annulment, and are there - responded: “You are going to be ter or for worse” is required. ily to hold her hand while her fore considered by the Church to second-hand. Nobody would want n that day she walked away The representative of Christ for - own family and in-laws are caught be married. you.” Ofrom her marriage. She gets to be the human rights up in the battle of choosing who These include women who may On hearing this response, a divorced him. But she could not activist that our Lord was when he to side with. have left their ex-husbands chill went down her spine and she get an annulment, because domes - saved the woman from being Her parish family is the one because of gender-based violence. felt powerless. The priest’s tic violence is not recognised as a stoned to death, correcting patriar - who should accept her without She is now in a state of limbo, response equalled secondary vic - condition for an annulment. chal attitudes. questions: she will be too vulnera - because she cannot remarry in the timisation. It is an example of when a mar - If canonical annulment on ble to share so much pain so soon. Church, and if she enters into a The priest got into his car and riage is a valid marriage and yet grounds of domestic violence is She has to learn to trust again, to relationship with another man, drove away. She stood at the gate, not a marriage: when the patriar - not possible, should the domestic relax, to laugh, and find inner and she loses the right to receive the shocked by the lack of support and chal attitude some men carriy violence survivor stay “till death outer peace. For the domestic vio - sacrament of the Eucharist. absence of empathy. She went towards women diminishes the do us part” (perhaps at the hands lence survivor, the journey begins Domestic violence is defined as home. She stayed. She prayed. She priesthood of Christ within mar - of her husband), or end the mar - when she walks out—and it is a the emotional, verbal physical or kept her secret: nobody knew that riage; when equality in Christ is riage if the centre is held together long process of healing and reflec - financial abuse of another. Sur - she was being abused. set aside and replaced by a sense of by violence and fear? What is best tion.

MONK? Is God calling you to the Religious Life in the YES! Franciscan Family? St Francis If you are seeking God …And you desire to live a life of prayer We Franciscan Sisters of the immaculate - and personal transformation Conception strengthen our relationship …And you are able to live the common life… Perhaps you have the vocation to do so as with God by prayer in order to serve him a Benedictine Monk and his people. We work with all age- Ursulines of the Blessed Virgin Mary For more information contact: groups and where the Church needs us. The abbot The Prior If you wish to know more about us, contact: We are the Ursulines of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Benedictine abbey inkamana abbey The Vocations Directress at education of girls, P/Bag X9333 Or Subiaco called to serve Christ through PO Box 2189 PO Box 2912, Middelburg, 1050. Vryheid Pietersburg women and servants, pastoral and social work. 3100 Tel (013) 243 3410, 072 213 4671 0700 Do you feel God’s call? Join us.

Contact Vocation directress: Ursuline Sisters PO Box 36 Ngqeleni 5140 Cell: 072 958 2111

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Box 212 Libode 5160 Tel: 047 555 0018 10 the Southern Cross, June 1 to June 7, 2011 FOCUS Remembering Oxford’s Catholic martyrs

The subject of the Reformation Belson, who had studied at the prison torture, being hanged at university’s Oriel College, and Tyburn in 1581 during the reign of can still cause heated debate Humphrey Prichard, the inn’s Queen Elizabeth I. in some circles of England’s Welsh barman, also were hanged St Edmund studied at an exiled for harbouring the priests. All four English seminary in the Spanish Oxford University, but things were beatified by Pope John Paul II Netherlands—now Belgium and may be changing, as in 1987. Luxembourg—after giving up his JoNathaN lUxMooRe and Besides 40 canonised saints, Oxford post to become Catholic. hundreds of other English and He joined the newly founded MalGoRzata GlaBiSz- Welsh Catholic martyrs also have Jesuits and was chosen to head a PNieWSKa report. been declared blessed by the mission to his homeland because Church. Many had close links with of debating skills gained at the Oxford, which was seen as a university. T 100 Holywell Street, not hotbed of Catholic dissent during Betrayed by an informer, St far from Oxford University’s King Henry VIII’s reformation. Edmund was caught near Oxford Afabled Bodleian Library, a Until recently, the story of and was killed at Tyburn with fel - melancholy black plaque main - Oxford’s Catholic martyrs was low Catholics Fr Alexander Bryant tains a solitary vigil against the ele - overshadowed by that of Anglican and Fr Ralph Sherwin, after refus - ments. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, ing to embrace Anglicanism. When officials at the universi - Bishop Hugh Latimer and Bishop ty’s Merton College agreed in Nicholas Ridely, who were burned lthough repression eased under October 2008 to allow the house at the stake in 1555/56 during the AElizabeth’s successor, King reimposition of Catholicism under James I, who had a Catholic to be used to commemorate four archbishop Bernard longley of Birmingham blesses a plaque in honour of Catholics executed under Queen Henry’s daughter, Queen Mary I. queen, anti-Catholic measures The ditch outside the city’s were never far away. Bl George Napier at oxford Castle last october. Fr Napier was among the Elizabeth I, the move was resisted many Catholic priests martyred for their faith in the 16th and 17th centuries. North Gate where Archbishop When civil war erupted in the by some city council members. (Photo: Joseph Shaw, CNS) After more than four centuries, the Cranmer and his companions were 1640s, Catholic priests again were story of Oxford’s martyrs still pro - killed as heretics still is marked arrested and hanged by Puritan such as St Edmund would be seen ory of Oxford’s Catholic martyrs vokes unease. with a brick cross. An ornate parliamentary forces. Catholic “There’s no doubting we’re in a memorial, unveiled nearby in books and pictures were burned in as political conspirators. has been organised since 2004 by more ecumenical frame of mind 1841, declares the three bore wit - the streets. The bones of Catholics “The most serious opposition the Latin Mass Society of England now, and can acknowledge the ness “to the sacred truths...against are believed among remains Elizabeth faced was indeed and Wales. In 2009, an ecumeni - heroism of those who, whether the errors of the Church of Rome”. recently unearthed under the Catholic, so we can appreciate cal memorial was unveiled in St Protestant or Catholic, died for It serves as a permanent reminder North Gate site of Oxford’s notori - why her governments suspected Mary’s Church, listing five Protes - their beliefs,” explained Benedic - to Oxford’s inhabitants that the ous Bocardo Prison. Catholics of treason,” Fr Green tants executed under the Catholic tine Father Bernard Green, an Anglican clergy were martyred by a When a chapel was dedicated to explained. “But Catholics as a Queen Mary, and 16 Catholics expert on Christian persecution in Catholic ruler. St Ignatius in 1795, it was Oxford’s whole weren’t politically involved, killed by Protestant rulers. England and director of studies at But Fr Green thinks the memor - first Catholic place of worship in and researchers now concur the “When religious faith is critical Oxford’s St Benet’s Hall. ial reflects internal church politics 237 years. Even then, students vast majority of Catholic victims of the state, people often suffer for “But there’s still, even today, a of the 1840s, when Anglicans were were required to be Church of Eng - were innocent.” it, and that was especially true reluctance here to accept that resisting the pro-Catholic Oxford land members, a requirement until Attitudes could be changing. when Catholicism and Protes - Catholics like these were genuine Movement led by, among others, 1871. Only in 1895 were Catholics In November, a plaque was tantism were battling each other,” martyrs. Although many have the recently beatified Cardinal finally allowed to enroll openly at unveiled at Oxford Castle in mem - explained Rev Brian Mountford, been beatified for their witness, John Henry Newman. the university. ory of Bl George Napier, four cen - the university church’s Anglican the vast majority are still com - “The Catholic martyrs were Fr Green thinks the long-held turies after he was executed there rector. pletely unknown,” Fr Green said. killed mostly for treason, rather anti-Catholic phobia should be for his Catholic faith. “But when it comes to honour - Two of the martyrs, Frs Richard than heresy, highlighting the close understood. Born in Oxford, Fr Napier was ing people who died martyrs’ Yaxley and George Nichols, were link between religion and poli - The Protestant regime of Eliza - expelled from Oxford’s Corpus deaths, I don’t think there need arrested at midnight in May 1589 tics,” Fr Green said. “This explains beth I was a fragile one. If the Christi College for being a be any division between after secretly saying Mass at the why discussions about the Refor - unmarried queen had been assassi - Catholic recusant and trained Catholics and Anglicans today,” city’s Catherine Wheel Inn, during mation are still highly charged nated without an heir, a Catholic abroad as a priest. Returning to Rev Mountford said. a wave of repression against the here, even among academics, and claimant might well have been England, he was arrested with “We may differ in how we cele - outlawed “Old Religion”. After why it’s difficult, even today, to installed at the behest of France or consecrated hosts and holy oils brate saints and martyrs. But in being tortured in London, they find a neutral historian.” Spain. Although the defeat of the after a captured highwayman he recognising those who died for were brought back to Oxford to be On a wall of Oxford’s St Aloy - invading Spanish armada in 1588 had visited in jail told authorities their faith, whichever church they hanged, drawn and quartered. sius church, a mural shows St defused immediate dangers, it was about him. belonged to, we can and should Their lay companions, Thomas Edmund Campion, worn out by natural that underground priests An annual pilgrimage in mem - reach a consensus.”—CNS

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on DStv audio channel 170 & streamed on www.radioveritas.co.za rreeTTrreeaaTT hhOOuuSSee We are blessed to have this House of prayer to share the contemplative silence and solitude that are our riches as Poor Clares. Retreatants have the opportunity to: attend eucharist with the Sisters Spend time in personal prayer and reflection Experience the peace, simplicity and joy of a Franciscan holy place Experience the support and the prayers of the Capuchin Poor Clare Sisters Take time for rest and renewal

TO MaKe reSerVaTiOn Or FOr MOre inFOrMaTiOn COnTaCT: Sr. Leonissa (028) 514-1319 e-mail: [email protected]

VOCaTiOn OFFiCe: P.O. Box 630, hilton, 3245 033 383-0001 or 072 229-1855 e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.scj.org.za the Southern Cross, June 1 to June 7, 2011 11

Sr Rita Scollan HC tough years to be teaching or running a school in Soweto. In 1986 Sr Rita was appointed principal of Holy ISTER Rita Scollan was born in Swanlinbar, Cross High School for girls in Maitland, Cape Town. CLASSIFIEDS County Cavan, Ireland on December 17, 1949, In 1994 she was appointed to the staff of the newly Births • First Communion • Confirmation • engagement/Marriage • Wedding anniversary • Sthe second daughter in a close-knit Catholic fam - established Catholic Teacher Training College in ordination jubilee • Congratulations • Deaths • in memoriam • thanks • Prayers • accommoda - ily of six sons and two daughters. Her parents, Patrick Mogwase near Rustenburg. Here she lectured in Eng - tion • holiday accommodation • Personal • Services • employment • Property • others and Ellen Scollan, owned a farm and Rita grew up in lish until the college was closed in the year 2000. Please include payment (R1,15 a word) with small advertisements for promptest publication. the countryside loving to accompany her father in Meanwhile, she had obtained a Masters degree in the fields. She was a lively, talkative, intelligent child, Language Acquisition Studies from Stellenbosch Uni - wisdom and fine sense of hills. Grade 10/11/12 learn - absorbing the Catholic faith and a love for Ireland versity and applied for and was appointed to a gov - DEATH from her family and her surroundings. She was humour, and his concrete ers—200m from St Cather - ernment post with special responsibility for English AHERN —John Patrick. example of Christian wit - ine’s Convent, Florida. Call courageous and adventurous and remained so all her in the many secondary schools in the Mogwase dis - Passed away in Graham - ness. he will be dearly 083 720 0011. life. trict of the North West Province. stown on april 29, 2011, missed. our sincere and At 19, Sr Rita experienced a call to be a missionary From June 2000 until her death Sr Rita devoted after a short illness. Deeply prayerful condolences to sister and found her way to the Holy Cross Sisters in HOLIDAY herself unstintingly to providing quality education mourned by his wife Marion, Margaret, Mike, Rosanne, ACCOMMODATION Belfast, who were actively seeking young women for learners in these rural areas. children Jenni, Sandra and Nicholas and their families. who would devote themselves to missionary work in Sr Rita was idealistic and wholeheartedly devoted Patrick and families, his sis - Günther Simmermacher, BETTY’S BAY : (Western Africa. Sr Rita, entered the Holy Cross Sisters on Octo - Pamela Davids and staff of herself with passion to the cause of education for the ter Bridget and family, other Cape) holiday home, ber, 4 1969. In the circumstances in Belfast at that family members and many The Southern Cross. sleeps seven, three bath - disadvantaged in South Africa, which she saw as her time—the early days of the “troubles”—it was a very friends. May his dear soul rooms, close to beach, mission in life. This mission was rooted in her strong courageous step for her parents and herself to take. rest in peace. R600/night. 021 794 4293, Catholic faith. She was a vibrant person who loved to IN MEMORIAM However, the sudden death of her beloved father ESTMENT —Mark Denton, [email protected] RAINS —allan. Dearest some months after she entered was a cause of shock engage in conversation and debate and appreciated aged 49, passed away in allan, it’s been one year CAPE WEST COAST yzer - banter and a good laugh. Cape town on May 8, and deep sadness to her. since you left us, but feels fontein: emmaus on Sea In the first months of 2011 she handed in her res - 2011. he suffered greatly Nevertheless, she was not deterred from pursuing like a lifetime ago. We love B&B and self-catering. holy ignation to the education department. After a short but is now at peace. always her calling and made her first profession of vows in and miss you more than Mass celebrated every Sun - illness, Sr Rita died at Holy Cross Home, Pretoria, on remembered and sorely Belfast on August 23, 1972. Thereafter she obtained words can say. there is day at 6pm. tel: 022 451 April 3. Bishop Dowling of Rustenburg presided at missed by his mother Rose an education degree at St Mary’ Education College, hardly any moment of the 2650. and by adrian, Barbie, Paul, Falls Road, Belfast. This was a period of a lot of vio - her funeral which was attended by members of her day that you’re not in our Nick and Kevin. FISH HOEK: Self-catering lence and tension in the West Belfast area where family from the United States and Ireland, her col - thoughts and prayers and accommodation, sleeps 4. both the convent and the college were situated. leagues, former pupils, friends, a number of priests HORTOP —Fr Peter oP. shall live forever in our Secure parking. tel: 021 In November 1977 Sr Rita left Northern Ireland for and the Holy Cross Sisters. Popularly known as Nkul - hearts. living life without 785 1247. Sr Maureen Rooney uleko, died on May 22 in you is the hardest thing of an even more troubled South Africa. She was GORDON’S BAY: Beautiful hospital from heart failure. all. love you forever, tere - assigned to Immaculata High School, Soweto. On en-suite rooms available at May he rest in peace. Fr sa, Bradley, Nicky, Chloé. January 5, 1979, she made her final vows in the reasonable rates. Magnifi - emil Blaser. Christopher, hilton, eon Catholic church in Diepkloof, Soweto. cent views, breakfast on and Cindy . Sr Rita was a very enthusiastic and dedicated Family Reflections POTHIER —Bernard, our request. tel: 082 774 7140. teacher, determined to give of her best to the stu - beloved husband, father e-mail: [email protected] and grandfather passed dents and so give them a better chance in life. In June 2 Ascension Thursday. Christ’s eternal PERSONAL KNYSNA: Self-catering glory. This feast both celebrates an event—Christ’s away at home on May 24 1981 she was appointed principal of the school and ABORTION WARNING : accommodation for 2 in old ascension—as well as a look to the future—that we after a long illness borne gave all her energy and considerable skills to provid - with grace and dignity. ‘the Pill’ can abort, unde - Belvidere with wonderful will one day follow him and live in God’s King - ing a good education for the pupils. These were very Greatly missed and forever tected, soon after concep - lagoon views. 044 387 dom. Youth is a time for looking at the present loved by Margaret, Mike, tion (a medical fact). See 1052. Shrine to host pilgrimage and the way forward too. How can families help Siobhain, Nicholas, heide, website: www.human MARIANELLA Guest their youth to create a positive self-image in order Rosanne, tiernan and life.org/abortion_does_the_ house, Simon’s town: that they will be peace-builders and not peace- GOME Marian shrine in collaboration with grandchildren luke, Jamie, pill.php “Come experience the destroyers? At this time pray too for an increase in Sam, Jodie, Catherine & peace and beauty of God the Diocese of Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, will CRUCIFIXES FOR Christian unity that peace will become a reality. Julian. Many thanks to St with us.” Fully equipped AFRICA : Made in four com - Nhost a Youth Camp and Eucharistic Pilgrim - luke’s hospice for their with amazing sea views. plete sizes. Phone/Fax: 046 age. help. Secure parking, ideal for It will begin before 19:00 on June 17 and end on 604 0401 for details and rest and relaxation. Special June 19 at Holy Angels parish in Vryheid. POTHIER —Bernard, our brochure. Liturgical Calendar dearest Dad and “Gaga”, rates for pensioners and Bishop Xolelo Kumalo of Eshowe and other clergy. tel: Malcolm Salida Year A thank you for everything. priests will celebrate various Masses on these three We love you with all our SERVICES 082 784 5675 or mjsalida@ days. Adoration, praise and worship and presenta - Sunday, June 5, 7th Sunday of Easter hearts and miss you ANNUAL REPORTS , mweb.co.za tions are planned. Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9, Ephesians 1:17-23, already. Please look down newsletters, books etc STELLENBOSCH: Five Contact Fr Nkululeko Meyiwa OMI on 076 640 Matthew 28:16-20 on us and guide us always. designed and edited at simple private suites (2 Monday, June 6, St Norbert it was a great honour to be competitive rates. Phone beds, fridge, micro-wave). with you at the end. Gail at 082 415 4312 or Acts 19:1-8, Psalm 68:2-7, John 16:29-33 Countryside vineyard/for - Rosanne, tiernan & Cather - [email protected] est/mountain walks; beach Tuesday, June 7, feria Southern Cross Word solutions ine. DO YOU need the follow - 20 minute drive. affordable. Acts 20:17-27, Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21, John 17:1-11 POTHIER —Bernard ing? Driver/Cook/Compan - Christian Brothers tel 021 SOLUTIONS TO #447. ACROSS: 1 Repute, 4 Grapes, Wednesday, June 8, Bl James Berthieu George. Beloved brother, ion for elderly patients or 880 0242, [email protected] 9 Christian love, 10 Evident, 11 Ocean, 12 Mince, 14 Acts 20:28-38, Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36, John 17:11-19 brother-inlaw and uncle, children 3 or 5 days a week. Broth, 18 Plato, 19 Ugliest, 21 Trinity Sunday, 22 Sen - UMHLANGA ROCKS: Fully Thursday, June 9, St Ephrem passed away May 24 aged Contact laura 011 882 equipped self-catering 3 try, 23 Terror. DOWN: 1 Rocket, 2 Participation, 3 81. the patriarch of our 7461 (home) or 072 388 Taste, 5 Protest leader, 7 Skeins, 8 Mists, 13 Crozier, Acts 22:30; 23:6-11, Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11, John bedroom, 2 bathroom family, he is deeply 6794, between 07h30- house, sleeps 6, sea view, 15 Spites, 16 Quays, 17 Stayer, 20 Louse. 17:20-26 mourned and will always be 09h30 or 14h30-16h30. Friday, June 10, feria 200 metres from beach, missed by leonard and Val, Johannesburg area only. DStv. tel: holiday Division, Acts 25:13-21, Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20, John adele and alec, Val and 031 561 5838, holidays@ Word of the Week 21:15-19 Richard and his nieces and PRAYERS lighthouse.co.za Saturday, June 11, St Barnabas nephews. Rest in Peace. Scapular: a sacramental worn by monastic or HOLY St Jude, apostle and WILDERNESS: Rustic farm Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3, Psalm 98:1-6, Matthew 10:7- POTHIER —Bernard. For - lay persons consisting of two small pieces of martyr, great in virtue and cottage. 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They often come with a set of bless - Company passed away on Jesus Christ, faithful inter - thewoodvillecottage@ ings for the wearer, either rooted in tradition or Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31,34, 1 Corinthians May 24. his long service, cessor of all who invoke gmail.com formally approved by religious leaders. 12:3-7, 12-13, John 20:19-23 contributions, friendship and you, special patron in time wise counsel even after of need. to you i have retirement from the board recourse from the depth of will be remembered by his my heart and humbly beg fellow directors. our sincere you to come to my assis - Wed, 25 May tance. help me now in my is condolences to Margaret and family. the chairman urgent need and grant my and directors of the board of petitions. in return i promise AFRICA DAY to make your name known the Catholic Newspaper & Po Box 2372, CaPe toWN, 8000 Publishing Company. and publish this prayer. Pray that AFRICA amen. 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Pentecost Sunday: June 12 Readings: Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104: 1, 24, 29- Pentecost brings the gift of the spirit 31, 34, 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13, John 20:19-23 This is a God who is very involved in his wretched Corinthians): “For in one Spirit, all EXT Sunday, the Easter season comes beloved creation: “Let the glory of the Lord of us were baptised into one body, whether to its end, with the celebration of the endure forever, may the Lord rejoice in his Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we have NHoly Spirit, which (or who?) was such Nicholas King SJ works!”, and finally an ecstatic response: “I all been given one Spirit to drink.” So the a powerful part of the experience of those shall rejoice in him.” None of this, you see, is Spirit, next Sunday, should be bringing us first Christians. And what does this ‘Holy Sunday Reflections at all our own doing. unity. Spirit’ do for us? Paul is making a similar point in the sec - Nor is that all. For the Spirit is also given It is more, it would seem, a matter of what ond reading for next Sunday. The Corinthi - to enable Christians to deal with sin. it does in us, almost without our permission. ans, it seems, have been rather getting above In the gospel reading the scene is set on Watch what happens in the first reading for Then we hear a list of the places they themselves, because they had received the that first Easter evening, when the timorous the feast. About the only thing that the disci - come from, which is almost a tour of the gift of the Spirit (unless you are careful, there male disciples had locked themselves in, “for ples do for themselves is to be “together, in Mediterranean world, from East to West, is always a risk that you may complacently fear of the Jews”, which tells us that although the same place”. All that happens after that is North to South; and, when finally we come congratulate yourself on your charismatic some of them had had experience of the none of their choosing: “Suddenly there to the end of the list, with “Romans, Judeans qualities; and then there is inevitably going Risen Lord, they had not really been changed came from Heaven a sound, like that of a and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs”, we dis - to be trouble). very much from those panic-stricken cowards powerful wind blowing, and it filled the cover what all these disciples have been get - Paul has to warn them how to find out who had abandoned Jesus and (in the case of whole house where they were sitting.” Then ting up to: “speaking in our languages the whether they have the Spirit. First, if you Peter) energetically denied that they had ever there are “tongues of fire”, which “sat on great things of God” Are you praying for this have the Spirit, you will find that you are heard of him. each one of them”, and, still with no appar - gift of the Spirit, this coming week? able to say “Jesus is Lord”; and, secondly, you To this craven band, Jesus offers “Peace”, ent choice in the matter, “they were all filled The psalm also talks about the great will realise that there is more than one way and evidence (“his hands and his side”) that with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in things of God, “Lord my God, you are very of being Spirit-filled: “There are different it was indeed him. Eventually they consent different languages, according as the Spirit great”, it sings, “How many are your works, kinds of charism, but the Spirit is the same, to “rejoice, having seen the Lord”. Finally, gave them to utter”. O Lord!” Then comes the mention of “Spir - different kinds of service [and the Corinthi - these reluctant heroes are given a job: “He After that, we are invited to look at the it”, which is presumably why the psalm was ans were not very service-oriented], and the breathed on them, and said ‘Receive the Holy episode through the eyes of their audience: chosen for the feast; but actually the word same Lord.” Spirit: if you let go the sins of anybody, they “Jews and pious men from every nation here could also mean “breath”. Either way, Thirdly, the Spirit is given “to benefit the are let go; if you hold onto the sins of any, under Heaven,” who come running together however, it is the gift of God: “You take away body”. Then Paul goes on to tell his famous they are held’.” at the noise, “and each one heard them their breath, and they perish, and they go fable of the “body” of Christ, in which all the We blink nervously and wonder what this speaking in his or her own language”. Now back into the dust.” limbs and organs are of equal value. The means; but it clearly refers to the gift of the comes a report of their astonishment, That is a reminder that the “breath” or point is that those Corinthians thought that Spirit that Pentecost celebrates, and it “Look—aren’t these fellows who are talking, “Spirit” is that without which we cannot some of them were better than others in the includes the Resurrection and Jesus’ conquest Galileans?” [And we should remember at this exist; and he continues: “You send forth your Church, which is catastrophic for unity. of sin. There is nothing here on which to point that people used to laugh at the Spirit, and they are created; and you make Finally, if the Spirit is breathing in the congratulate ourselves; our task is to rejoice Galileans for their funny dialect of Aramaic]. new the face of the earth.” body, then they will be united (unlike those in the victory of God.

Why punish the butchers? Southern Cross word #447

understand. Why use one of the most HAVE noted with considerable inter - wonderful prayers in Catholicism as a est, and more than just a modicum of Chris Moerdyk form of punishment? The Hail Mary Idismay, that the Catholic hierarchy should be a prayer of joy, not of in the England and Wales has decided the last Word penance, surely. To youngsters, of to re-introduce the practice of not eat - course, penance and punishment are ing meat on Fridays. the same thing. Now, I grew up in a post-war house - I believe that there are so many other hold where this practice was zealously faithful as a “clear and distinctive mark things Catholics can do to express their observed. Two things worried me at the of their own Catholic identity”. Catholicism. time. This is to come into effect from Fri - Maybe they can do so in the same One was that I actually preferred fish day September 16 when Catholics in way that was suggested by several local and chips to fried steak and therefore Britain will mark the first anniversary of priests this past Easter when they called wondered what was so penitential about Pope Benedict’s visit to their country. for parishioners to move away from what I was doing. This really quite strange because I observing Lent by giving up things like Secondly, I could never quite fathom seem to remember that the pope’s visit chocolates, sweets and other indul - why the Church chose to punish butch - was an overwhelmingly joyous occasion gences and rather try and show a daily ers. Just what had butchers done way in which papal nay-sayers were put act of kindness towards their fellow back in history to deserve being singled firmly in their place as virtually the human beings and those less fortunate out for what was effectively a weekly whole country, not just Catholics, went than themselves. boycott by Catholics? into welcoming raptures very rarely I would like to think that it would be Why not dairy farmers or greengro - seen in the British Isles these days. far better to celebrate our Catholicism, ACROSS DOWN cers? I would have thoroughly enjoyed It really is quite odd that this celebrate the life and death of Christ, by 1. Up tree there's high 1. Salad ingredient that's abstaining from vegetables on Fridays momentous event is now to be celebrat - individually or collectively performing esteem (6) also a missile (6) because when I was a kid things like ed by boycotting butchers and re-estab - acts of kindness to others. From small 2.It shows you're taking 4. Fruit of the vine (6) broccoli and cabbage were instruments lishing a practice that, in my opinion, acts of kindness, such as a simple smile, part (13) of the devil. serves absolutely no purpose whatsoev - to greater acts of kindness by feeding, 9. Charity among Jesus' fol - 3. The bud on your tongue And what about puddings? Most of er. clothing and helping to provide hous - lowers (9,4) (5) them were pure self-indulgence anyway Penance, in this modern day and age, ing for the poor. 10. Obviously clear (7) 5. Under cover I ran court - with no real nutritional value. In fact, is not nearly as important as it used to I cannot see how on earth a poor 11. Change canoe to sail on wards, showing resentment all a pudding seemed to do was give be in the Middle Ages when most peo - family, living in a freezing cold and it (5) (7) everyone in the family under the age of ple actually didn’t have anything to leaky shack in a smog-engulfed town - 12. Do it to words of disap - 6. He is the front man in the public demonstration five a sugar rush of such intensity that it give up and could really just manage to ship, is going to benefit by me deciding proval of meat? (5) (7,6) made parents have evil thoughts, most - dress in sackcloth and wail pitifully. not to have a sausage for supper. 14. Thin soup (5) And then came penance in the form 7. Lengths of yarn for knit - ly about inflicting bodily harm on their I cannot see how an aged, lonely and 18. Greek philosopher (5) progeny with the sharp end of a slipper. of a post-confession recital of three Hail ting, perhaps (6) dying pensioner is going to find any 19. Isle tug is the most repul - 8. They're not as thick as The bishops of England and Wales Marys or saying the rosary if you’d been sort of solace just because I decided to a really naughty fellow. sive (7) fogs (5) say they wish to re-establish the practice switch my pork chop for a fish finger on 13. The bishop's crooked of Friday penance in the lives of the This was something else I didn’t Fridays. 21. It follows feast of Pente - cost (7,6) staff (7) I am sure that this lonely person 15. Pest is making deliber - 22. One who guarded Conrad would gain enormous comfort from a ate offences 6) visit by a kindly neighbour, or even of a Christ's tomb (6) 16. Loading places for ships complete stranger, never mind if that 23. Extreme fear (6) sound like lockers (5) visitor was munching on a stick of bil - 17. One who remains (6) tong that Friday. 20. One among the lice (5) I know that I might well incur the Answers on page 11 wrath of Catholic traditionalists who think that giving up meat on a Friday is sacrosanct and that saying three Hail Marys after confession will make some CHURCH CHUCKLE sort of difference other than a personal feeling of inner peace and well-being. OMEBODY has said there are only two kinds of But I firmly believe that there is so people in the world. There are those who wake up much suffering in the world today that Sin the morning and say: “Good morning, Lord”, and there are those who wake up in the morning and we can no longer justify self-indulgent say: “Good Lord, it's morning.” penance. Quite apart from which, punishing Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to butchers is just plain unChristian. The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000 .