The SSoouutthheerrnnCCrroossss September 17 to September 23 , 2014 Reg No. 1920/002058/06 No 4891 www.scross.co.za R7,00 (incl VAT RSA)

Benedict Meet our new Is this SA’s Daswa’s friend columnist: most integrated on martyr Gushwell Brooks parish Page 9 Page 7 Page 10 Hanging with pope a ‘life-changer’

BY DYLAN APPOLIS The list of questions included: what the pope did in his spare time, whether he had OR an East London primary school, chat - met Nelson Mandela, what he would do if he ting with Pope Francis on a video link had complete control over his citizens, and Fthat brought together the pontiff and his opinion of why humanity has been sepa - pupils from five schools around the world rated from God. will remain a memory of a lifetime. Teagan Bok from Selborne Primary said “This was a life-changing experience not not only did the session represent an oppor - only for me and the school, but for the 12 tunity to learn, but also to put the school’s boys who took part as well,” said Aubrey name on the map. “My question was where Pepler, deputy principal of Selborne Pri - he grew up and what his best memories of mary School in East London. childhood are,” he said. The pupils could barely conceal their ex - “This is huge, I don’t think the boys even citement when their school was one of five realise how big this is. This was also the first schools invited, and the only school from hangout session ever done by Pope Francis. It Africa, to have a conversation with Pope was most definitely a massive success for my Francis in a Google Hangout session. school,” Mr Pepler said. Google Hangout is an instant messaging During the session, Pope Francis recalled and video chat platform. getting into trouble in Grade 4. The students from schools in South Africa, “I wasn’t respectful towards the teacher, Australia, Israel, Turkey and El Salvador heard and the teacher called my mother. My advice from Pope Francis, who was speaking mother came, I stayed in class and the in his native Spanish from the Vatican. teacher stepped out, then they called for me. Pope Francis also allowed the pupils to ex - A screen-grab of 13 students from Selborne Primary School in East London putting their “My mom was really calm. I feared the press their views during the video conference. questions to Pope Francis on Google Hangout in an event that brought together five schools worst,” he said. After getting him to admit to He participated in the Google Hangout from across the world to chat with the pope through the Internet video conferencing facility. his wrongdoing, his mother told him to apol - project after meeting with the directors of the ogise to the teacher. Scholas Ocurrentes organisation, an interna - contact with the head of Google South Africa, video equipment, to use for the virtual hang - The pope said he apologised and remem - tional education initiative based in Argentina Karen Welstra, who has visited Selborne Pri - out session, sent from the United States via bered “it was easy and I was happy. But there that promotes development of young stu - mary “to see what we have achieved as we courier. was an Act 2 when I got home,” insinuating dents through technology, sports, arts and have gone Google”. The Google Hangout project started at stiffer punishment had followed. culture. The invitation to participate was issued by 16:45 with all the schools logged in simulta - However, today, if a teacher notes a prob - The Scholas initiative was begun in the Google Hangout project in California, neously. lem with a student, “the next day, the mother Buenos Aires and supported by its then-Arch - which selected the five schools. The session lasted 15 minutes and was and father denounce the teacher”, Pope Fran - bishop Jorge Bergoglio, who also used to Mr Pepler said he worked with the school’s conducted in Spanish. The public could view cis said. teach high school when he was a young Je - headboy, asking him “to send me a list of the hangout session via YouTube. The family, schools and culture have to suit priest. Grade 7 boys he would recommend”. Part of Selborne’s team was Grade 6 learner work together for the well-being of the child, Mr Pepler told The Southern Cross that his The confirmation of their participation Christian Zacapa, who is fluent in Spanish he said. People have to “rebuild this village school’s involvement came about through its came in the form of a package of camera and and spoke on behalf of the school. in order to educate a child”. 1,5 million small steps towards heaven STAFF REPORTER catechetical content. The short messages have newspapers and radio. been drawn from the documents of Vatican II, A similar idea among this month’s SMSs fter three years in operation, the JOY the teaching of popes from St John XXIII on - captures the challenge of this service. It comes text message service will send out its wards, Vatican commissions, and the Cate - from the Pontifical Council for Social Commu - 1,5 millionth SMS on September 24. A chism of the Catholic Church. nications which said: “Media and advertising In May 2011, as part of the Hope&Joy net - have two options: either to help humans grow work, the Jesuit Institute launched a world- Each period takes a theme. This month, fol - in their understanding and practice of what is first SMS service. Each day JOY has been lowing Catholic Communications Sunday, the sharing extracts of Church teaching in the focus is on communications, media and adver - true and good, or to be a destructive force.” form of an SMS available on any cellphone, tising—and shares short sharp messages that Mgr Janvier Yameogo from the council, no matter how old. tie in with the theme. who visited South Africa this month, com - Since the launch almost 6 000 people have The service started with a famous quote mended a service like JOY as a good example signed up to the service at one time or another. from the 1963 Vatican II document Inter Miri - of how modern media can be constructive. The service was inspired by the Redemp - fica which encourages Christians to use all the Fr Russell Pollitt, the new director of the Je - Fr Russell Pollitt, new director of the Jesuit torists’ motivational SMSs which share a media at their disposal to build the Kingdom suit Institute, said: “I love Twitter and Face - Institute, said that no medium has wider reach book but I also know that no medium has as than SMS. He is seen addressing a media thought for the day or the readings for the day. of God, which was in stark contrast to a previ - workshop for bishops earlier this month. The JOY service focuses on educational or ous Vatican stance that had been suspicious of Continued on page 3

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Dpeace in the Middle East and “We call on the leaders of Pales - for the “suffering people of Gaza” BY DYLAN APPOLIS tine and Israel to put an end to the from September 21-27. war and to cease the violence—to HEN Durban’s Emmanuel The week of prayer will include a stop killing each other,” he said. cathedral parish centre collection in all dioceses to support “We call upon them, in the Wwas demolished last year, a children’s home in Gaza. name of the God of Love they both 500 bricks were saved from the rub - “At the last plenary session of worship—and with the collabora - ble and are now being used to build the bishops of the Southern African tion of the international commu - a coffee bar in the new Denis Hur - Catholic Bishops’ Conference, it nity—to commit themselves to ley Centre (DHC). was decided to express our solidar - respect their common and funda - “We saved 500 bricks in order to ity with the suffering people in mental dignity and rights and to di - create a link between the old and Gaza,” said Bishop José Luís Ponce alogue, to real negotiations and the new centre,” DHC coordinator de León of Manzini, Swaziland, on building of a lasting peace.” Paddy Kearney said. his blog ( bhubesi.blogspot.com ). The week of prayer will start with The bricks used in the coffee bar “This would be done by support - a prayer for peace by Pope Francis, come from the 108-year-old build - ing a week of prayer for peace to be which was composed for the meet - ing, which housed St Augustine’s held in all our dioceses and by taking ing with Palestinian President Mah - School before it was the parish cen - up a collection by the end of Septem - moud Abbas and then-Israeli tre. Cast-iron air vents are also ber to support a children’s home in President Shimon Peres in the Vati - being incorporated into the coffee Gaza, to be sent through the can in June. bar, and carved wooden handrails Catholic patriarch in Jerusalem.” On Day 2 (September 22) the re - from the old parish’s centre stair - The Commission of Justice and gion’s faithful are asked to pray for cases will be used for the triangular Peace has prepared a pamphlet of - the region’s youth; on Day 3 for atrium on each of the three upper fering guidelines for the week of refugees and the displaced; on Day floors of the new centre. payer. It can be downloaded in both 4 for the Christian leaders of the After the building of the DHC high and low resolution from Middle East; on Day 5 for humani - began, it soon became apparent bhubesi.blogspot.com/2014/09/week- tarian aid workers; on Day 6 for the that the construction would be far A protester at a march through Cape Town in August against the war on of-prayer-for-peace.html region’s political leaders; and on more expensive than anticipated. Gaza calls for prayers. The bishops of Southern Africa have called for a week Pretoria Archbishop William Day 7 “that we may rediscover the “So far we have R30,7 million of of prayer for peace in the Middle East, starting on September 21. Slattery said whether perpetrated by peace of Christ in our hearts”. the R31,9 million needed for con - struction,” Mr Kearney told The Southern Cross . “We will also need a further R3 million for the fittings, furniture and equipment.” September the month to The DHC will provide care for the poorest and most vulnerable people, promote education and training, give job-related training, fight human trafficking and build community in one of the most diverse and challenging BY DYLAN APPOLIS For the first week of September neighbourhoods of inner-city Dur - the programme focused on introduc - UMAN trafficking is a grow - ing Human Trafficking Advocacy ban. ing concern across the world. “It’s our intention to carry on Month and raising money for a rele - HSouth Africa is both a desti - vant organisation through the sale of the legacy of the late Archbishop nation and transit point for traffick - green pieces of fabric, which students Denis Hurley, continuing his vision ing, which also takes place within of the Church as a community serv - will be encouraged to tie somewhere its borders. on their school grounds to act as a re - ing humanity,” Mr Kearney said. With this in mind, the Edmund Hundreds of bricks are being sold minder of the month’s intention. Rice Network of South Africa’s In weeks two and three, the by St Augustine’s past pupils to help (ERNSA) social justice and advocacy raise funds for the construction learners are assisted in the creation desk has launched its first Human of posters, hosting a relevant guest Fr Anthony Egan SJ (left) with fellow attendees at the theological colloquium work. Trafficking Advocacy Month in Sep - speaker, signing petitions and writ - held in Nairobi, Kenya. “The bricks and vents have been tember. ing protest letters to influential gov - sold for R100 each to boost the Working with the Christian ernment personnel. The learners’ fundraising drive. Most bricks have Brothers’ and affiliated schools na - involvement in these activities is in - Theological meeting in Nairobi been sold to people who have emi - tionwide, the advocacy desk is co - tended to provide them with skills grated to Australia, New Zealand and ordinating various activities aimed and knowledge of their social ATHER Anthony Egan SJ of the Within and Outside the Church at Canada,” said Daphine Goad, who is at raising awareness of the devastat - rights, responsibilities and abilities Jesuit Institute, Nontando the Service of Ecclesia in Africa”. in charge of the brick-selling project. ing realities of human trafficking, to make a positive change. FHadebe (formerly of St Augus - The colloquium examined Construction began on August 1 especially that of children. The month will end with a public tine College) and Sr Alison Munro themes as varied as becoming the and is due to be completed by mid- It is assisting school students in display against human trafficking. OP of the SACBC Aids Office at - Church of the New Testament, small October 2015. organising and implementing advo - The social justice and advocacy tended the theological colloquium Christian communities, African spir - The centre will be officially cacy activities to voice their disap - desk is encouraged by the enthusi - on Church, religion and society in ituality, African independent opened on November 9, 2015, the proval of human trafficking. asm of young people nationwide to Africa held in Nairobi, Kenya. Churches, and Christian unity. 100th anniversary of the birth of “The activities will not only raise stand up and speak out on behalf of The colloquium, part of a three- Fr Egan spoke in a session exam - the late Archbishop Hurley. awareness of human trafficking trafficked children and adults. year project, brought together ining some of the crises besetting n To buy one or more bricks or air among learners, parents, staff and “We are incredibly excited,” Ms African Catholic scholars doing the - Africa which call for a response be - vents at R100 each, please contact local communities, but they will Dewhurst told The Southern Cross . ology or using theological and eth - yond rhetoric conveyed in pastoral Daphne Goad on 084 606 6151 or also act to empower them in their “It’s now the job of organisations ical resources to study issues facing letters, communiques and post-syn - Ekkie Esau on 084 337 7368. The rights for political expression and such as ourselves and civil society to the African Church and society. odal documents. Sr Munro was part names of those who buy bricks will be social advocacy,” desk coordinator stand up and advocate for victims Its theme was “The Church we of a panel addressing the theme of listed on a plaque in the coffee bar. Jessica Dewhurst said. of human trafficking.” Want: Theological Voices from Ecclesia of women in Africa.

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also on DStv audio channel 870 & streamed on www.radioveritas.co.za LOCAL The Southern Cross,September 17 to September 23, 2014 3 Row over sale of Holy Family land

BY STUART GRAHAM “It is prime land and the sisters ents and Catholic professionals in known in the archdiocese of Johan - torn down. are keen to make a buck,” Mr Pot - 1985, but retained ownership of the nesburg. Sr Sheila Mary said the sale of the BITTER battle is brewing be - terton said. land. “It is possible that it could go to land was not a done deal yet. tween the Holy Family Sisters “They are the owners. We are the In 1991, Parktown Convent court. I hope not,” Mr Potterton “We have had so many proposals Aand the governing body of users. But it is the way they have School became Holy Family Col - said. to buy the school,” Sr Sheila Mary the Holy Family College in Park - gone about this that is the prob - lege, a co-educational school for The sale of the land would place said. “Some want the property for town, Johannesburg, over a pro - lem,” he said. girls and boys from Grade 0 to ma - “a lot of pressure on the very small parking. We are in the process of posal to sell a third of the school Mr Potterton said the sisters had tric. property. Most of the playing fields looking at what is feasible and not property to an office park devel - approached the school for a “con - Today the school is attended by will be uprooted. There will be less feasible.” oper. sultation” which he said amounted 560 pupils, many from Soweto. space for recreation for the chil - She said the congregation is still While principal Mark Potterton to, “We are coming to tell you what “They say they are selling it to dren,” the principal said. “looking at proposals”. said the sisters are acting “un - we are going to do”. raise money for their missions and “We will also have to build more Sr Sheila Mary emphasised that scrupulously” by proposing to sell Holy Family, previously known for the retired sisters,” Mr Potterton buildings to accommodate [the] pri - the land belongs to the sisters. one of the school’s playing fields, as Parktown Convent for Girls, was said. mary school.” “It is ours to sell,” she said, Holy Family Sister Sheila Mary founded in 1905. “It puts me in a difficult spot,” Certain buildings on the prop - adding that if the school wants to Waspe said the land belongs to her The Holy Family sisters handed he said. “I like the sisters. And I like erty are classified as heritage sites buy it, “they can make a proposal as congregation, and is theirs to sell. over control of the school to par - Sr Sheila Mary,” who is very well and therefore cannot be simply well”.

Staff of Nazareth House in Yeoville, Johan - nesburg, with a memorandum of under - Fatima fest standing from the Gauteng Department of Health representatives, in which the de - partment undertakes to provide anti-retro - coming to viral drugs and laboratory testing for persons enrolled in the Nazareth House Clinic of Hope and Love. For over ten Stellenbosch years, Nazareth House Yeoville has pro - vided in- and out-patient care for people living with HIV. These services were STAFF REPORTER funded through the US government, but HE annual Fatima Festival will with the recent reallocation of funds, this be held in Stellenbosch over understanding goes a long way to ensuring the weekend of October 18-19. the sustainability of the Nazareth House T clinic and hospice. Started by the then large Por - Seated (from left) Nobantu Mpela, acting tuguese community of Stellenbosch director HIV, Aids and Sexually Transmit - in 1987, the festival has grown into ted Infections; Sr Veronica; and Lucky one of the major annual events on Hlatswayo, ART manager Johannesburg the Stellenbosch social calendar. health district. (Standing) Sr Sylvia Simp - It has also spread throughout the walo; Ricus Dullaert; and Dr Kerrigan Mc - Western Cape, and is celebrated at a Carthy. number of venues. It takes place a week before an - other big event, the annual Blessing of the Fishing Fleet ceremony in Cape Town. Though still retaining a strong Portuguese flavour, with busloads of Portuguese fans coming from other parts of the province, the Fatima Fes - tival embraces all communities. Communities in Kayamandi, Cloetesville and Idas Valley have also raised funds for this year’s festival, which is being organised by St Nicholas’ parish. John Nkompela of Sacred Heart The festival has a religious parish in Qoqodala, Queenstown grounding and includes a street pro - diocese, is pictured after paying for cession on the Sunday morning his annual subscription for The from 11:00. Southern Cross . The parish, led by Fr Matthias Nsamba, has started a n For further information contact Rory drive to promote the national Cruickshank at 073 603 1605 or Catholic weekly. Michelle Jones at 082 474 1298.

The Canon Law Society of South Africa met in Durban for its bi-annual con- ference. The guest speaker was Cardinal Raymond Burke (seated second from left), prefect of the Apostolic Signatura. Elections for office bearers were also held. Fr Cyril Malinga (right of the cardinal) was succeeded by Fr Noel Rucastle (left of the cardinal) as president of the society. Mgr John Finlayson (back, far right) was succeeded by Fr Edmund O’Neill (back, third from the right) as consultor, and Marieke Vrugtman (seated left) remains as secretary for another term of office. Great joy in 1,5 million SMSs Continued from page 1 To sign up for the daily educa- much reach as a humble SMS. We tional service of Vatican teaching, want to encourage people to sign SMS the word JOY to 31222 and up to read these hidden treasures of then SMS the word Yes as a reply to Catholic teaching.” confirm. Cost is R4 per week. His predecessor, Raymond Per- To receive a daily inspirational rier, drafted most of the 1 200 differ- “Thought for the Day” from the Re- ent messages. He said Pope Francis demptorists, SMS the word had made his life easier: “Extracting CATHOLIC to 31222. To receive a 160 characters from his speeches daily reference to the readings of and writings is much easier than it the day, SMS the word WORD to was under previous popes. He 31222. Each of these services costs speaks in soundbites!” R7 per week 4 The Southern Cross, September 17 to September 23, 2014 INTERNATIONAL Libya’s Catholics ‘trapped’

BY JONATHAN LUxMOORE Church property was being thodox churches, had closed guarded and Catholics had been churches and evacuated clergy. ATHOLICS in Libya have cautioned not to travel because of Bishop Magro added that the been left “afraid and unpro - roadblocks set up by the Islamists, Catholic Church was determined to Ctected”, local Catholic leaders he said. “remain with the people”, despite said, since Islamist militants seized “To whom are we accountable, continued clashes between Islamist Tripoli and Benghazi, forcing the and who can we turn to for help? fighters and government-allied country’s elected parliament and We won’t know till we know who’s forces. government to flee. governing. Until the United Na - “As a Church, we’re doing all we Franciscan Father Amado Baran - quel, vicar of Tripoli’s Franciscan tions does something, it’s those can to look after the spiritual needs community, said most Christians with weapons who’ll dominate and of our faithful, and sometimes their were afraid to leave their homes be - rule here,” Fr Baranquel explained. material needs as well,” he said. cause they feared being abducted. Tripoli was captured in late Au - Meanwhile, Fr Baranquel said “There’s much lawlessness now, gust after fighting by the Dawn of the Muslim Red Crescent charity and we have no protection or secu - Libya militia group forced the gov - had earned the trust of Christians rity. Most Masses are having to be ernment and parliament, elected in through its efforts to help, but celebrated in private houses and June, to flee to Tobruk, near the added that local officials seemed A nun leads prayer for displaced Iraqi Christians who fled Islamic State apartments, like in ancient times,” Egyptian border. powerless to influence the situa - militants in Mosul at a school acting as a refugee camp in Irbil, Iraq. Irbil he said. Bishop Sylvester Magro, leader of tion. now hosts more than 10 0 000 displaced Christians and other minorities. The priest spoke as fighting con - the city’s Catholic community, said “Everyone is asking what will Some Christians who have fled Iraq say they do not want to return. tinued between rival Islamist and he had had no contact with Islamist happen. But there are now two gov - (Photo: Ahmed Jadallah, Reuters/CNS) pro-government forces in the groups, and counted on the Vati - ernments, so we don’t know who’s Libyan capital and the eastern port can’s nunciature in Malta, which is running the country and don’t see city. responsible for the Church in Libya, any way out,” he said. Fr Baranquel told Catholic News to negotiate on behalf of Catholics. “For now, we’re trapped and Service that local Muslims had been Bishop Magro said that he was helpless here and needing help Ireland’s new primate: “friendly and sympathetic” towards not aware of any “anti-Christian from someone who can intervene Catholics, often arranging rides for pressure” in Benghazi, but added and negotiate for us. But who are them in private cars and warning of that other Christian communities, they supposed to speak to? Until we I’m a servant, not CEO possible dangers. including the Coptic and Greek Or - know, all we can do is pray.”—CNS

BY SARAH MACDONALD HE new Catholic primate of All Ireland has pledged to be Seminarian received emergency Ta “servant leader” whose aim is to bring the Irish Church through a process of “humble re - deathbed priestly ordination newal”. Archbishop Eamon Martin, 52, has succeeded Cardinal Seán Brady BY RICK MUSACCHIO as primate of All Ireland, a leader - S William Carmona, 51, lay ship role that covers the 26 dioce - gravely ill in a San Antonio, ses in the Irish Republic and ATexas, hospital bed dying of Northern Ireland. For nearly 17 cancer, he repeatedly questioned months, Archbishop Martin had his classmates from nearby Assump - served as Cardinal Brady’s coadju - tion seminary: “Where is Bishop tor in Armagh, and his succession Choby?” “When will he get here?” was automatic when Pope Francis And finally: “How many more accepted Cardinal Brady’s resigna - hours until he ordains me?” tion this month. The fourth-year theology semi - The new Irish primate said his narian, who came from Colombia priorities would be “to get to know to the US in 2000, was entering his my people and to facilitate a move - final year of preparation for ordina - ment that will allow people to be tion as a transitional deacon later confident in their faith without Archbishop Eamon Martin, 52, the this year and as a priest of the dio - being polemical and condemna - new primate of All Ireland. (Photo cese of Nashville, Tennessee, in tory”. courtesy Irish Bishops’ Conference) 2015. Dismissing those who see the When Bishop David Choby of role of primate as “some kind of overly optimistic. Nashville learned of his grave con - massive CEO position”, he said it is Explaining his concept of dition after the seminarian was a figurative and honorary position “humble renewal” he said it was rushed to the hospital the first week Bishop David Choby anoints William Carmona’s hands because of Armagh’s significance as not about “building up some big of September, he made plans to as part of the ordination rite at a hospital. Fr Carmona the see of St Patrick. edifice or some triumphalist travel to San Antonio to ordain him (inset), who was gravely ill with cancer, died two days “It is a kind of a servant leader - Church or trying to make sure that immediately because of the emer - later. (Photos: Rick Musacchio, Tennessee Register) ship rather than any big hierarchi - it dominates politics and the gency circumstances. cal leadership or position of state”. “The joy and satisfaction in ad - “I know of no other vocation formed in the death and resurrec - power,” he said in an interview. “A Church that is humble is a ministering the sacrament of holy which touches so many moments tion of Jesus.” He said that even though people Church on our knees, hopefully in orders is a high point in the life of in a person’s life,” Bishop Choby Although Fr Carmona was un - are living in a very fast world with prayer, recognising the terrible any bishop, but to have the oppor - said. “In a way that is singularly fo - able to respond verbally during his many commitments pulling them things that have happened in the tunity to celebrate the sacrament cused, the priesthood has as its cen - ordination, he had expressed his as - this way and that, he believed past and the need to ask God’s for one who is so much looking for - tre, the mystery of redemption, sent to the ordination earlier, “people still need God in their mercy and to ask forgiveness of ward to ordination but faces the which is the dying and the rising of Bishop Choby told those gathered lives, and they need their Church”. people.” certainty of death made it the more the Lord.” to witness the sacrament. “There is still a lot of hope in Archbishop Martin said he also poignant,” Bishop Choby said. Bishop Choby added that ordi - Priests near Fr Carmona during people that they would like a re - would work quietly with the other He ordained the seminarian in nation of Fr Carmona as he faced the Mass saw signs of recognition newal of their Church,” he said, bishops to encourage the faith - his hospital bed on September 8. Fr death “reflects the Pascal Mystery. and joy as the ordination pro - but he cautioned against being ful.—CNS Carmona died two days later. That is how our own lives are trans - ceeded.—CNS

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BY CAROL GLATz Europe. Of these, none of the 14 members of 38 observers and 16 ex - synod is: “The pastoral challenges gramme in Southern Africa for cou - cardinals, eight bishops and four perts appointed by the pope, the of the family in the context of evan - ples experiencing difficulty in their ORE than 250 participants, priests appointed by the pope is majority are laymen and lay - gelisation”, and synod members marriages. including 14 married cou - from North America or other Eng - women, including 14 married cou - will be called upon to find ways to Riyadh Naoom Azzo and Sanaa ples from around the M lish-speaking countries. ples, and they are more improve the pastoral application of Ibrahim Habeeb, a married couple world, are expected to attend Octo - ber’s extraordinary Synod of Bish - Some of the papal appointees in - geographically diverse, with several Church teachings, ways to explain from Iraq, are attending as “wit - ops on the family. clude German Cardinal Walter coming from Asia, Africa, Oceania it and to help Catholics live it. nesses of Christian family life in an In addition to 114 presidents of Kasper, Belgian Cardinal Godfried and the Americas, as well as Europe. Many of the 38 papally ap - Islamic setting”. national bishops’ conferences, 13 Danneels, and Italian Cardinal Elio Those attending who are part of pointed observers and experts are Eight “fraternal delegates” will heads of Eastern Catholic churches Sgreccia, as well as Jesuit Father An - the synod’s ordinary council in - lay and religious women and men represent non-Catholic Christian and 25 heads of Vatican congrega - tonio Spadaro, director of La Civiltà clude Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of active in family ministries and pas - communities, such as the Lutheran, tions and councils, the pope ap - Cattolica journal, and Mgr Pio Durban. toral care, canon law and moral the - Anglican and Baptist communities pointed 26 synod fathers to take Pinto, dean of the Roman Rota, a Pope Francis will serve as presi - ology. as well as Russian Orthodox Metro - part in the October 5-19 synod. Vatican-based tribunal that deals dent and Cardinal Lorenzo Baldis - Those invited to attend include politan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, di - Almost all of the 26 papally ap - mainly with marriage cases. seri as the synod’s general secretary. Steve and Sandra Conway, regional rector of foreign relations for the pointed voting members are from However, among the non-voting The theme of the extraordinary directors of the Retrouvaille pro - Moscow patriarchate.—CNS Sheen cause suddenly suspended BY MARK PATTISON body, the securing of relics or the transfer of the body”. HE canonisation cause of US In a statement Bishop Jenky said Archbishop Fulton Sheen has that “clearly Archbishop Sheen’s Tbeen suspended indefinitely, wishes for his final resting place according to a statement issued by could not have anticipated that he the diocese of Peoria, Illinois, where would go through a canonisation the archbishop was born. process led by his native diocese of “The process to verify a possible Peoria, after it was turned down by miracle attributed to Sheen had the archdiocese of New York”. been going extremely well, and However, “after further discus - only awaited a vote of the cardinals sion with Rome, it was decided that and the approval of the Holy Father. the Sheen cause would now have to There was every indication that a Archbishop Fulton Sheen, whose be relegated to the congregation’s possible date for beatification in sainthood cause has been abruptly historic archive”, the Peoria dioce - Peoria would have been scheduled suspended. san statement said. for as early as the coming year,” the hesitance in exhuming the body” If the Peoria diocese’s decision is diocese said. without a directive from the Vati - final to suspend Archbishop Sheen’s The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. Pope Francis’ election has Archbishop Sheen, who gained can Congregation for Saints’ Causes cause and to assign it to the Vatican boosted the number of visitors to the Vatican and also the Museums. To pro - fame in the 1950s with a prime- and family approval. The statement congregation’s historical archives, tect the Sistine Chapel, new air-conditioning and LED lighting systems are time television series called Life Is added that Archbishop Sheen’s Mr Zwilling said, “the archdiocese being installed. (Photo: Paul Haring/CNS) Worth Living , died in New York in “closest surviving family members” of New York would welcome the op - 1979. asked that the archbishop’s wishes portunity to assume responsibility The diocesan statement said the be respected and that he had “ex - for the cause in an attempt to move archdiocese of New York denied a pressly stated his desire that his re - it forward”. Sistine chapel weathers request from Bishop Daniel Jenky of mains be buried in New York.” Archbishop Sheen, after his years Peoria to move the archbishop’s A subsequent statement from the in the TV and radio limelight, re - body to Peoria. Peoria diocese said it had received a tained a high profile by running the problem of more tourists Joseph Zwilling, communica - “shocking statement” from an at - Society for the Propagation of the tions director for the New York torney for the New York archdiocese Faith out of New York City. His BY JUDITH HARRIS a fortress. The chapel has no exterior archdiocese, said Cardinal Timothy saying the archdiocese “would work was known throughout the entrance, and is entered through the Dolan of New York “did express a never allow the examination of the English-speaking Church.—CNS HE “Francis effect” has spilled Apostolic Palace; its high windows over into the Sistine Chapel, are permanently closed. Tbringing a surge in visitors but All this keeps the exchange of air also increasing risks to maintenance to a minimum, accentuating the ef - of what Antonio Paolucci, director fects of pollution, including wind- of the Vatican Museums, calls “the borne car exhaust and dust, and of JouRneyS oF a LiFetime! world’s chapel”. exterior humidity and abrupt Prior to a 14-year restoration, changes in temperature. HOLY LAND & JORDAN completed in 1994, visitors to the One obvious remedy would be to chapel numbered about 1,5 million reduce the number of visitors, but with annually. That rose to more than 5 Fr Sean Wales CSsR million in 2011. Since the March Mr Paolucci has vigorously opposed 8 - 18 november 2014 this, insisting the faithful have a 2013 election of Pope Francis, whose See all the great sites of the Holy weekly public audiences and read - right to see the room where cardi - nals have elected new popes for Land and Jordan, plus Cairo, with ings of the Angelus have boosted Fr Sean Wales CSsR turnout in St Peter’s Square, the more than five centuries. number of chapel visitors is up to 5,5 The present air-conditioning sys - Contact gail at Video: bit.ly/1rjcvS7 tem, installed in the mid-1990s, was 076 35 2 3809 or 021 55 1 3923 million, or 2 0 000 per day—and [email protected] fowlertours.co.za 30 000 on the last Sunday of every designed for only half the current month, when admission is free. number of visitors, so the Vatican is Every 20 minutes, a group of al - installing a powerful new system most 700 people is let into the room, slated to be operative in October. which measures less than 560m 2. That is not the only new technol - So many visitors not only make ogy being introduced to assist in the viewing experience less pleasant, conservation. (Please leave your contact details in they bring in perspiration and bac - To reduce the risk of heat damage case of donations) teria that threaten the survival of from illumination, the Vatican is in - masterpieces by Ghirlandaio, Botti - stalling an advanced LED lighting celli, Pinturicchio, Perugino and, system that, according to its manu - most famously, Michelangelo. facturer, will also slash energy con - Recent accounts in the Italian sumption by 60-80%. press have complained that the LED illumination has its critics. chapel is “as crowded as a train sta - Because each LED light must be [email protected] tion”, and warned that a “wall” of colour-adjusted for the surface upon human breath threatens “unimagin - which it is directed, colours can ap - able disaster” for the 1 100m 2 of pear inconsistent. painted surfaces. As one headline Total cost for the 7 000 new LED put it: “The enemy is you!” lights and their installation was R20 The problems are aggravated by million, almost half of it paid for by the late 15th-century chapel’s pecu - the European Union, the rest by pri - PRIESTS OF THE SACRED HEART liar design, which resembles that of vate sponsors.—CNS

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take, eat.” I take the Eucharist with gratitude Now, liturgy is the enactment of Editor: Günther Simmermacher NUMBER of letters have been the Jews of the Old Testament what we believe: my hands speak the Apublished in The Southern Cross feared that seeing God face to face, language of my heart. I express in the expressing opposition to the practice they would die. How is it then that gesture of my outstretched hands a The Church’s healing gift of allowing Holy Communion to be I, flesh and blood, could touch the humbling: like a beggar I acknowl - received in the hand. living God? edge my utter reliance on God; N a perceptive column last Many Catholics continue to I have also had occasions of The answer is, of course, this: through my outstretched hands I week, our writer Sarah-Leah misunderstand the purpose of being confronted by those support - solely because of Jesus Christ, the communicate a welcome to Christ IPimentel proposed that confession. The sacrament of rec - ing this view. The benefit of these “God-Man”. Though divine, “he into my whole being, body and soul. Catholics make use of the sacra - onciliation should not be seen as encounters is that one is drawn to did not cling to his equality with Jesus stretched out his hands to ment of reconciliation as a part an obligation to over-scrupu - reflect on and defend one’s posi - God” but took on flesh and blood. broken humanity: for a moment I of an interior spring-clean. lously enumerate a list of venial tion. So I write this letter to answer Hands formed in the womb of am joined with those privileged few She described confession as sins. the question, “What does it mean Mary, sharing her flesh, would soon who actually reached out and “the gift the Church gives us to It may well be, of course, that to me to receive Holy Communion immerse themselves in the world, touched the Master. approach Christ in childlike trust a penitent feels that a minor sin in the hand?” stretching out to heal and bless all And I walk away filled with grat - and know that all things will be has created a breach with God or Firstly, I believe that in the Eu - who sought him, touching even itude that God has dignified my hu - made new in the light of God’s otherwise weighs on the con - charist I receive the whole Jesus: his leprous flesh, rubbing a paste of manity, and that my hands will love. It is a place where we can science. In this case, such a sin humanity and his divinity. That a spittle and mud on blind eyes. now continue to do his works in let go of the past and look for - should be brought before God human being may receive the di - Those hands, nailed to a cross, the world. ward with hope to the future.” through the mediation of a con - vine is, of course, an awesome no - had broken bread and shared it Deacon Godfrey Solomon , The sacrament of reconcilia - fessor so that healing can take tion. God is the Transcendent One: with the words, “This is my body: Cape Town tion is indeed one of the place. It is not necessary, how - Church’s great gifts to the faith - ever, to bring before God minor ful. Properly conducted, by con - transgressions only to have fessor and penitent, it is a something to say. with his suffering offspring. grace-giving ritual. In fact, a good confession Consider the cross Further, as humans, if we have Ministry of Over time, alas, confession need not involve a list of sins at ÜNTER Simmermacher in his reason for our suffering, then we has been invested with an am - all. It can take the form of a con - Garticle on the hymn “How can endure anything. cantors is vital biguous reputation. By some it is versation, with the confessor of - Great Thou Art” (August 20) de - These issues also provoke further OOD cantors and proclaimers regarded as an anachronistic ob - fering advice, rather than simply scribed how a young Swedish lay and very important questions. Was Gof the Word are vital in regard ligation imposed by the Church, issuing penance. preacher was inspired by a thunder - it necessary that Jesus die on the to the proclamation of the Liturgy rather than as a means by which It does not help that in cate - storm in 1885 to compose what is cross and why? Answers such as the of the Word at Mass. to restore and deepen one’s rela - chism, children are often encour - now a great hymn. necessity to display great love are By and large our proclaimers are tionship with God. aged to take the “shopping list” The tracing, development and somewhat unconvincing and we adequate. However, in some As a consequence it has come approach, being given a cata - evolvement of the hymn in moving must look further and much deeper, parishes and communities it seems to be seen by many as an op - logue of lapses in good behaviour from country to country and among such as to consider that Jesus on the they are “chosen” on their “stand - tional extra in living the Catholic that are supposed to assist them several Christian denominations is cross was the human Christ and as ing” or membership of this or that faith. in examining their conscience both gratifying and uplifting. a man was dying for the redemp - sodality in the parish. No one Pope Francis understands this. (sometimes such lists include Attention is invited to the word - tion of the human race. should be selected for this impor - Earlier this year he broke with acts that aren’t even intrinsically ing of the hymn where we sing that Was Jesus on the cross the tant ministry unless auditioned by papal tradition by publicly going sinful). Almighty God sent his son “upon plenipotentiary of the human race a competent group in the relevant to confession, a practical but also Surely it would be more fruit - the cross to die”. as was Adam at the time of his fall? parish or community. symbolic demonstration of the ful to teach children how to ap - That God did send his only be - We must consider that Jesus was Those in the pew should be able truth that even a Holy Father is a preciate the sacrament not as a gotten son to redeem the world and the God-man, with Jesus on the to discern whether or not our pro - sinner in need of God’s mercy. punitive measure designed to that he knew that because of the ac - cross as the human Christ as op - claimers are “in love with” the To those who believe that palliate an angry deity, but as a tions of the Romans at the instiga - posed to the cosmic or the spiritual Word of God by their manner of they do not need an intermedi - way of achieving grace from our tion and persistence of the Jews and Christ who is and always will be the proclaiming, and are sufficiently at - ary to obtain God’s mercy, the loving God. They should be en - our sinfulness, Jesus would die an second person of the Blessed Trinity tuned to the dynamics of this vital pope said: “God, in his sovereign couraged to discuss with their ignominious death on the cross is and who can never die, for God is ministry in regard to diction, voice mercy, forgives everyone, but he confessor the state of their con - not in dispute—but did an all-lov - eternal. production and projection. wanted those who belong to science, rather than to rattle off ing and Almighty God in fact send It was surely at the resurrection The role of cantor as of pro - Christ and his Church to receive an inventory of minor mischiefs. his son “upon the cross to die”? that the human and the spiritual claimer requires a certain and un - forgiveness through the commu - It is a lesson even some adults In plain terms, did a loving God Christ were reunited, and it is sig - mistakeable spiritual quality that nity’s ministers.” may benefit from. send his son to die and did God nificant that the risen Christ ate can immediately be discerned by Doctrinal requirements and An obligation also resides love us more than he loved his only food with his disciples and re - those in the congregation who are spiritual restoration aside, con - with the confessors. Pope Francis begotten son? mained on earth for 40 days before spiritually attuned. The second part of this question fessing one’s sins can have thera - rightly said that a priest who the ascension. I have often been disappointed is rhetorical because God’s love is peutic benefits. The burden of lacks in empathy and is unable to Kevin Andersson , to witness in some parishes and infinite and in any case God is the feelings of shame or guilt over “sow hope in the penitent’s Pietermaritzburg communities, these roles being as - beginning and the end. It is ac - sinful actions, sometimes en - heart” should rather not admin - signed to the “senior members” in cepted unquestioningly that in ask - dured over years, can be psycho - ister this sacrament until he the parish, and ignoring members ing his father “to let this cup pass logically and even socially changes. from me”, Our Saviour prayed “but of the congregation with excellent damaging. Of all the sacraments, that of Where are our not my will but thy will be done”. voices who could fill these roles The sacrament of reconcilia - reconciliation must place the He willingly accepted the will of more than adequately. tion is a restorative mechanism: heaviest burden on the priest. church bells? his father as we repeat in the second ATTENDED a funeral recently The cantor supports the congre - reconciling one’s relationship The unbreakable seal of the con - station of the cross where Jesus ac - Iwhere the opening hymn was gation in musical matters, leading with God broken by sin, healing fessional locks these secrets be - cepts his cross with loving adoration. “When Morning Gilds the Sky”, a the singing of the hymns, chants one’s conscience, and providing tween confessor, penitent and In his book Where the Hell is real golden oldie. and acclamations. He should have the foundation for repairing God. The shocking confessions God? , Australian Jesuit Fr Richard The second verse goes: a suitably good (possibly trained) one’s relationship with others. which many priests inevitably Leonard invites attention to the “Whene’er the sweet church voice, and an adequate vocal range, The sacrament can also facili - hear, and in some cases their in - theological correctness or otherwise bell/Peals over hill and dell/May get on with people, and have a style tate conversion, a means of repu - ability to act on unjust situa - of the issue of God sending his son Jesus Christ be praised!/O hark to that encourages the congregation to diating a sinful life to make a tions, must be most difficult to to die. what it sings/As joyously it participate. new start. It can help us to for - live with. Fr Leonard writes that God does rings/May Jesus Christ be praised!” It was St Augustine of Hippo give ourselves for our trespasses, As Catholics, we must keep not bring us suffering at all—in fact, What has happened to church who said: “They pray twice who and others for theirs. the confessors in our prayers. when we do suffer, God suffers with bells? Are they rung in our sing.” The better-equipped the can - us, as every loving father suffers churches? Are they a feature of new tor is as a musician, the more suc - churches at all? Or have they just cessful he will be in this ministry. slipped unnoticed into disuse? The Responsorial Psalm should Bring back the bells for the call always be sung by the cantor —both to worship on Sundays and holy the response and the verses. The JouRneyS oF a LiFetime! days. Even the Angelus bells might same applies to the Alleluia and the lead to a society that hears and Gospel Acclamation. Go with Bishop Zolile Mpambani stops to think and pray. It is not good liturgy for the Al - Ethn é Stevens , Cape Town leluia only to be sung, and the verse HOLY LAND & JORDAN recited. On no account should the presiding priest “jump in” and recite 16 - 24 august 2015 or sing the Responsorial Psalm, badly Join the Bishop of Kokstad on this great PeEGaAcReDI NiGs Judditfhf Tiucrnuerl’st arti - (as I have sometimes experienced), pilgrimage to the places of our Lord and the Rcle “Can there be peace?” (Au - confounding the pro claimer. Scriptures in the Holy Land and Jordan gust 27), I think it is difficult to The Liturgy of the Word should forgive and especially to forget be proclaimed in such a way as to Contact gail at what people did to us. This is why set the congregation “on fire” for 076 35 2 3809 or 021 55 1 3923 [email protected] peace is not easy to broker. participation in the liturgy of the fowlertours.co.za The people who hurt me in my Eucharist and the reception of our life have all prospered so greatly, it Lord, body, blood, soul and divinity is unbelievable how good God can in Holy Communion, which fol - Light a virtual candle be. lows. and help feed the poor I am in a shelter, barely making John Lee , Johannesburg it, but much better than seven years Buy ago. I have suffered such poverty since I stood up against what I be - Opinions expressed in The Southern a virtual candle at R20 each Cross , especially in Letters to the Editor, and your prayer request will be lieved was wrong towards me. do not necessarily reflect the views of the I am not sure I will ever under - Editor or staff of the newspaper, or of the mentioned and prayed for live on stand God’s deliberation on this Catholic hierarchy. The letters page in par - Radio Veritas during Holy mass. one. ticular is a forum in which readers may ex - Proceeds go to the feeding programme change opinions on matters of debate. of the St Vincent de Paul conference in La Rochelle How do you make peace with Letters must not be understood to neces - parish, Johannesburg, and the Radio Veritas people who think they are un - sarily reflect the teachings, disciplines or Outreach Programme. touchable? policies of the Church accurately. Letters can be sent to Po box 2372, J Jansen van Rensburg , Cape Town 8000 or [email protected] www.prayercandle.co.za Cape Town or faxed to 021 465-3850

xdfnbsdfnsdfnbsdfnbsdn PERSPECTIVES The Southern Cross, September 17 to September 23, 2014 7 Faith healing: More fiction than faith Michael Shackleton N my life as a radio presenter, every so the sick and feed the poor? Was Jesus’ min - often my producer suggests that I do a istry not based on these very acts, and dur - nEW CoLuMn Open Door Ishow that stretches my imagination ing the process of canonisation, are the somewhat. most common miracles not those of a He rightly believes that as a radio talk healing nature?” It would therefore seem a Gushwell Brooks show host, I should be able to cater to little hypocritical of me not to accept that Talking about Faith Can I change my every interest and make it informative and Minister Louisa could perhaps perform the entertaining for the listener at home. He very same “miracles”, or would it? rips me away from my comfort zone of It is a very human trait to seek animate scepticism of Minister Louisa; people yearn confirmation saint? tackling politics, news and current events evidence of God’s presence. It is far for a higher power that physically and ma - and throws me into the deep end where I tougher to believe in an ethereal being, terially intervenes in their lives. I have read online that taking a confirmation am expected to navigate conversation seemingly disconnected from us, refusing Minister Louisa and many like her un - name is simply an act of personal piety or cus - through the morass of astrology, a litany to intervene in life’s strife of loneliness, ill - derstand this most vulnerable chink in the tom, and not required by the rubrics for the of many other esoteric subjects and the ness, financial insecurity, crime and many human spiritual armour and “in exchange sacrament. Is it possible to later change one’s subject of this piece: faith healing. other tragedies. for some petrol money or a small fee” pro - confirmation name if, for example, a strong My latest encounter was with an elderly vide evidence of that present God by cur - affinity to a different saint arose? Michelle Evert lady who calls herself Minister Louisa, who he belief in a loving God is shaken for ing illnesses and casting out demons that practises in the southern suburbs of greater Tevery person at one point or the other; stop you from getting that job that will ULIET asked Romeo: “What’s in a name?” She Johannesburg. She claims that among the whether it is through the loss of a loved save your family from starvation. imagined a name as a mere word, saying: “miracles” she has performed, she man - one, our own shortcomings or afflictions The real truth is that the only evidence J“That which we call a rose, by any other name aged to cure a 27-year-old man of HIV/Aids of a physical or psychological nature. I have of her efficacy and those like her, are would smell as sweet.” and multiplied food to feed the poor. So if someone saunters along, claiming the many tragic stories of terminally ill For Christians a given name carries much more I entered the conversation thinking that to heal illnesses and feed the poor, that people spending fortunes, travelling great weight than just another random word. When we my audience—supposedly rational com - seemingly absent God becomes real and distances, all to meet a tragic end because are christened and receive our Christian name in mentators, or couch commentators of an present for many of us once more. “they did not have enough faith in God’s the waters of baptism, we are sealed with a very expected secular persuasion—would rip That is why I found myself alone in my healing power”. special identity. Christ claims us as his own. We into her, criticising her for falsities and By claiming to be God’s vessel, people belong to him and become answerable to him for dangerous practices that put real people’s like Minister Louisa strip themselves of any our conduct in life. When he judges us, we can lives at stake. culpability and place it on the shoulders of expect him to address us by that very personal In fact, at the outset of the interview, I desperate people willing to do anything in name. pitied her slightly, assuming that my audi - search of a cure or treatment. One’s confirmation name, religious name, sur - ence, and I, would launch a relentless It is not that miracles do not happen, it name or any other kind of title cannot match the “shock and awe” verbal campaign against is just that many lie and take advantage of priority of the baptismal name. her. Instead I seemed to find myself alone our belief and hope in miracles. It is this Interestingly, in the past number of years there in my criticism of her practices. that makes the vast majority of faith heal - has been a tendency, among religious sisters par - So, as anyone else who walks a fine line ers very, very dangerous people with little, ticularly, to drop their religious name and revert between faith and rationality, I thought to if any, scruples. to their Christian name. myself: “Why am I so resistant to the idea n Gushwell Brooks is a presenter on Talk Radio In the early centuries candidates received con - that God could have chosen Minister 702 and 567 CapeTalk, and on Radio Veritas. firmation under the name they had assumed at Louisa as a vessel—as she claims—to heal He also writes for The Daily Maverick. their christening. It was only in later centuries in certain parts of the Western Church that the cus - tom of taking another name at confirmation be - came current. The confirmands were encouraged to choose a Mphuthumi name, generally of a patron saint, whose virtues To cut the wealth gap inspired them and who would be their particular Ntabeni role-model after reception of the sacrament. OPE Benedict XVI, in his encyclical Pushing the This development was an imitation of baptism, Caritas in Veritate , says that political Boundaries so that instead of the godparents standing for the Paction is needed to ensure that newly baptised, one or more members of the wealth is distributed equitably. As the neoliberal agenda? Church would sponsor those to be confirmed, as - Church and civil society, he says, we must The government, through the NDP, suring the officiating bishop of their worthiness. act to promote governance that treats the should not shy away from actively getting This practice is, as you mention, a custom; it is drive for social and economic justice seri - involved to correct market forces for the not a requirement of the Roman Ritual, so there ously. benefit of its citizens. Sadly, the NDP is are regions where no new confirmation name is The Church’s social teaching puts assumed and the bishop confirms the candidates silent on all of this. heavy responsibilities on a person (or na - calling them by their baptismal names. For some As Joseph E Stiglitz, the Nobel Prize lau - tion) that has a surplus where others lack reason, it is mostly in English-speaking lands that reate for economics, puts it: “Progressive the basic necessities. the taking of a confirmation name has become the tax and expenditure policies”, which tax Successive popes have made that point: Traders on a stock exchange. In his column norm. Candidates may choose to keep their bap - the rich more than the poor and provide Leo XIII in Rerum Novarum (1891), Pius XI Mphutumi Ntabeni asks whether free mar - tismal name when confirmed, if they like. in Quadregesimo Anno (1931), St John kets can operate under defective competi - systems of good social protection, “can Names given in baptism and confirmation are XXIII in Mater et Magistra (1961), Paul VI tion conditions. (Photo: Paulo Whitaker, limit the extent of inequality. By contrast, entered into the parish register and may not be in Populorum Progressio (1967), and so on. Reuters/CNS) programmes that give away a country’s re - altered afterwards. So, while one may prefer an - The question for us South African sources to the rich and well-connected can other saint’s patronage to the one whose name Catholics is this: How seriously do we take any economist knows, governments do increase inequality.” was chosen in confirmation, one may freely foster the Church’s social teachings? Do we re - not produce an economy that creates jobs Prof Stiglitz concludes by saying: “In - a devotion to that other saint. The names in the ally use them as a measure to evaluate our and raises living standards for all—that is equality is the result of political forces as parish register, however, remain unchanged. government or the political parties we the duty of the private sector. much as of economic ones. In a modern vote for? Hence the government needs to issue economy government sets and enforces n Send your queries to Open Door, Box 2372, Cape Town, For instance, have we thought hard penalties for domestic companies that sit the rules of the game.” And that “govern - 8000 ; or e-mail: [email protected] ; or fax (021) about our government’s plan towards on liquid cash above a certain percentage, ment alters the dynamics of wealth by, for 46 5 3850 . Anonymity can be preserved by arrangement, but instance, taxing inheritances and provid - questions must be signed, and may be edited for clarity. Only 2030, the National Development Plan and make it compulsory for all companies published questions will be answered. (NDP)? Whether it is going to change the that do business in South Africa to invest ing free public education”. gross situation of growing inequalities in a certain percentage of their revenue back If all that sounds too “socialist” or “in - our country by instilling better social and into the country’s economy. terventionist”, consider Pope Benedict economic justice? No country is ever developed by foreign XVI who in Caritas in Veritate calls for the The NDP takes seriously the strategy of investment. Projecting a country’s growth “regulation of the financial sector” by gov - economic growth (interrogated in last based on foreign investment is a fallacy. ernments to safeguard vulnerable parties, month’s column). It also puts at the fore - What is required is for government to put such as the poor and the unemployed. front agricultural development for the in place corrective measures for our free The market, Pope Benedict says, “needs purposes of food security. markets. to be directed towards the pursuit of the One would have thought that it would common good, for which the political also seek to establish community gardens outh Africa has one of the weakest co - community in particular must also take re - for commercial farming, also to promote Soperative laws in the world, and even sponsibility”. inclusive economic participation. Per - those are not effectively implemented. Political action, he says, is needed to haps it is mute on that point because it is That is why our CEOs can pay themselves ensure that wealth is distributed equitably. trying to avoid the controversial question obscene bonuses, and why big business And that is the job we must look for the of land redistribution. (The governing collusion is common. NDP to perform, and which civil society— party has tabled radical land reform pro - But the NDP does not talk about this, a component which Pope Benedict posals in parliament that, if enacted, nor about the fact that the so-called free stresses—must advocate for. would see farmers giving half their land, markets operate under defective competi - The NDP needs to pay more attention compensated by the state, to their long- tion conditions, for a start—a far cry from to the structural dislocations that exist in term workers.) the ideal of “perfect” competition and our economy and come up with better, I laud the NDP for undertaking to in - “perfect” information. Can one then more effective and responsible ways of vest in the country’s infrastructure, but as blame those who say the NDP promotes a mending them.

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The zimbabwe-South Africa (zimSA) unit of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur held their annual assembly at the Ave Maria Pastoral and Development Centre in Mooketsi, Tzaneen. One of the days Nineteen members of St Anne’s parish in Mpophomeni, Durban archdiocese, were baptised. was spent at a diversity workshop held together with the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. They are pictured with Franciscan Sisters Francina and Innocencia, catechists and Fr Jude Twenty-six sisters from ten countries attended the workshop facilitated by Paul Graham from Johan - Fernando TOR (back left). nesburg.

The staff and youth of Salesian Institute Youth Projects in Cape Town held a special service at Sacred Heart The Catholic Women’s League of Our Lady of Fatima parish in Durban North at - church in Green Point, Cape Town, to launch the bicentenary year of the birth of St John Bosco. During the tended a retreat weekend at Coolock Retreat House in Melville, South Coast. The service, which comprised readings, singing and a short talk by Fr Jeff Johnson, the youth also brought forward theme was Mary and Martha. (From left back) Marie Bates, Lucy Venter, Jenny various symbols reflecting Salesian spirituality—a map of the Salesian presence in the world, a picture of Don Davis, Christine Schoombe, Liz Newberry, Eileen Chapson and Nancy Ah-Chuen. Bosco, a candle, bible and the official bicentenary logo. (Front) Margaret Larkins, Carol Price, Elizabeth Norton-Amor, Carol Lind, Gabi van der Merwe and Totti Bremner.

Mgr Jock Baird gives Brigid and Deacon Harvey Moon of St John the Evangelist parish in Fish Hoek, Cape Town, a nuptial blessing on the occasion of their golden wedding anniversary.

Send your photos to [email protected] with information about the event Holy Angels parish in Bez Valley, Johannesburg, started a monthly liturgy for children MICASA TOURS and names of the people in from Grades R to 4. Catechists (from left) Shanelle Behari, Hailey Buikes and Ntlhande Easter Pilgrimage to Lourdes the photos Rathangane are pictured with the children at the first session. Led by Father Allan Moss OMI 01-09 April 2015 Pilgrimage to Fatima, garabandal, Lourdes, Dozulè, Liseux and Paris Led by Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI 10-23 May 2015 Pilgrimage to italy-Shroud of Turin, Passion Play in Sordevolo, Milan, rome, Verona, Venice Led by Father Victor Phalana 09-21 June 2015 Holy Land Pilgrimage Led by Father Christopher Townsend 31 August -09 September 2015 Pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes , rome and Assisi Led by Father Robert Mphiwe Our Lady of Fatima Dominican School in 07-19 September 2015 Durban North celebrated its 60th jubilee by arranging pupils into the school Contact: Tel: 012 342 7917/072 637 0508 (Michelle) badge and the numeral 60. E-Mail: [email protected] CHURCH The Southern Cross, September17 to September 23, 2014 9 A martyr ahead of his time

principal of the local primary school. In October the Vatican will He grew vegetables and fruit for examine the sainthood his community, making sure the cause for Benedict Daswa, poor were fed, and he started a football team. the Limpopo man who many A family man with eight chil - consider to be a martyr. dren, he was known for breaking STUART GRAHAM trav - with Venda tradition and helping his wife with the household elled to the area of Bene - chores. dict’s life and spoke to Mr Mphaphuli chuckles at Bene - people associated with the dict’s propensity to take on the tasks generally performed by man and his cause. In the women. first of three articles to be “You would see Benedict wash - published over the next ing the nappies of his babies,” says weeks, he recalls Benedict’s Mr Mphaphuli. “This is not some - thing you see in this area. Men life and speaks to a close have their tasks and women have friend. theirs. But for Benedict there was none of that. He was ahead of his HE jagged rocks piled up as a time.” makeshift memorial beside Mr Mphaphuli added: “Some Tthe road to Thohoyandou in people said he was bewitched be - Limpopo province are an ominous cause it was so unusual for a man reminder that little has changed in to do these things.” the area where Benedict Daswa was Benedict’s break with Venda tra - stoned and beaten to death after he ditions was greeted with disdain by stood up against a witchhunt some fellow villagers and made Mbahe village near the soccer field where Benedict Daswa (inset) was killed. (Below left) Fr Benedict Risimati, Bene - nearly 25 years ago. him few friends, but it was his out - dict’s catechist. (Below right) Benedict’s close friend Chris Mphaphuli explains the events of February 2, 1990. It was late in the day on Friday, spokenness against age-old super - February 2, 1990—the day Presi - stitions that brought out his dent FW de Klerk unbanned the enemies. liberation movements—and Bene - dict was driving home in his bakkie e had first earned the mistrust from taking his sister-in-law and Hof some of his fellow villagers her sick child to the doctor when when he refused to let his football he saw the branch of a fig tree team wear trinkets that supposedly blocking his path on the road. would bring them luck in an im - “Little did he know that on ei - portant game. Their dislike for ther side of the bushes there were Benedict came to a head in January people fully armed with stones, 1990 after the rains had failed to knobkierries and what have you,” come and then a series of unsea - Benedict’s close friend Chris Mpha - sonal lightning strikes hit the area, phuli says as he examines the rocks one of them causing three huts to and points out the fig tree, which burn down in Mbahe village. is still standing, across the road. The village elders called a meet - “He opened the door, ran for his ing and concluded that a witch was life, but they were stoning him,” responsible. Each member of the Mr Mphaphuli recalls in an inter - meeting was asked to contribute R5 view with The Southern Cross . to a fund that would be used to Benedict, a member of the consult a witchdoctor. Benedict re - Lemba tribe which has links to Ju - fused to take part, explaining that daism, grew up observing Jewish lightning was a natural phenome - customs. He converted to Catholi - non, not the work of witches. cism at the age of 17, and was con - He reasoned that the use of a firmed by Benedictine Abbot traditional healer constituted stopped him from doing so. He belief that Benedict had died a The investigation resulted in more Bishop Clemens van Hoek at Sibasa witchcraft and therefore was in came back and he found a ron - martyr’s death for his faith. than 850 pages of testimony from in 1963. conflict with his Catholic faith. davel. The door was open. He went The irony that Benedict was reliable witnesses to his life and His ID book gave his name as With that he refused to participate straight there and closed the door.” killed on the very day that Presi - death. Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa, but or pay the R5 fee. When he heard the mob dent de Klerk announced his inten - In October the Vatican’s Con - he became known by his confirma - A week later the mob attacked, threatening the owner he came tion to release Nelson Mandela has gregation for Sainthood Causes tion name, Benedict, chosen after having stopped Benedict’s bakkie outside. not escaped attention. will examine the cause of Benedict the sixth-century saint who with that branch of the fig tree. He The mob trapped Benedict. As a The comparisons between Bene - Daswa. If the cause is accepted, it founded the Benedictine order and was assaulted but managed to run man approached with a raised dict and Mr Mandela come easily. will be sent to Pope Francis, who in tribute to Fr Benedict Risimati, away. knobkerrie to deliver the fatal Both were compassionate, altruis - may then decide to approve what the catechist who had instructed “He took the shortcut to a blow, Benedict prayed: “God, into tic, hard workers and believed in would be South Africa’s first beati - him and others under a fig tree. nearby shebeen,” says Mr Mpha - your hands, receive my spirit.” education. At the same time, the fication. He was known in his commu - phuli. “We think he wanted to get His killers were never brought to two were also different. n Next week Stuart Graham speaks to nity as a hard worker and a man help. When he arrived there, some justice. “Daswa was not a politician,” Benedict Daswa’s family. On Septem - who could get things done. He people were drinking beer. He did Benedict’s funeral Mass was con - says Mr Mphaphuli. “He loved his ber 25 a group of Southern Cross pil - built a school, bought a bakkie and not talk much, because he was celebrated by several priests, with community. He wanted to make a grims, led by Bishop João Rodrigues of used it to transport rocks from the bleeding and he wanted to hide. Fr John Finn MSC, parish priest of difference in a small way.” Tzaneen, will leave on a pilgrimage of river to build a church. He went straight through the pas - Thohoyandou/Sibasa, as the main The diocese of Tzaneen opened prayer for Benedict’s cause to Fatima, He was a catechist in his com - sage to the four-roomed house, celebrant. All clergy wore red vest - an inquiry into Benedict’s death in Avila, Zaragoza, Lourdes, Paris and munity, and professionally was the [but] then the owner of the house ments in acknowledgment of their 2005 and completed it in 2009. other places associated with Our Lady.

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Only R80 (plus p&p) VoLunteeR SaFaRiS Please send them to: rESErVATionS: omI stamps, Box (see www.volunteer ALICE 071 842-5547 or PIERO 082 444-7654 101352, scottsville, Order from [email protected] or www.books.scross.co.za safaris.co.za) 3209 . or call 021 465-5007 or buy at 10 tuin Plein, Cape town or e-mail [email protected] 10 The Southern Cross, September 17 to September 23, 2014 CHURCH SA’s most integrated parish? uncontrollably. Every face had a tear: every face told a story of emotional When COLLEEN pain and loss. I had mixed feelings as I heard of CONSTABLE moved from another spiritual challenge the com - the Western Cape to Gaut - munity faces. A mixed feeling that eng earlier this year, she was soon overcome by the beauty of had to find a church in the parish community: I saw a truly integrated body of Christ. And I be - which to attends Mass. In came excited—this is the parish Centurion, she found one where I want to worship God! A new that enriches and excites spiritual family: a new spiritual home. her. The following week, on the feast of the Holy Trinity, I was again T is St Paul who stated in Romans touched by the visible “unity” of the 12:3-5: “I tell everyone among parish community. You enter a Iyou not to think of himself more church where each of the pews is highly than one ought to think, but filled with parishioners from various to think soberly, each according to cultural backgrounds, sitting next to the measure of faith that God has ap - each other. They become a perfect re - pointed. For as in one body we have flection of integration of different many parts and all parts do not have cultures: a modern reflection of St the same function, so we though Paul’s “…so we, though many, are many, are one body in Christ and in - one body in Christ and individual dividually parts of one another,”( The parts of one another.” You enter the church and observe African Bible ). the integrated seating of parish - like us. I find relevance of these biblical ioners. There seem to be no special I have observed that many of our Colleen Constable writes of her verses in the spiritual community of pews for those who have fallen into churches are still disintegrated: car - experiences of attending Mass in Maria Regina parish in Centurion. I the habit of sitting in the same pew, rying the hallmarks of the past. We a truly integrated congregation. attended my first Mass with this claiming entitlement to the same continue to worship in our tradi - (Above) Members of the church community on Pentecost. seat, every Sunday, even if they arrive tional churches where we live in our choir are silhouetted against I found a spirit-filled community late. residential areas that still lack full in - stained glass windows at the back in deep grief. I joined them in a time In this parish, as people enter the tegration of cultural groups. of the church. (Below) Clergy and of sorrow: a time when they were church, they seem to fill up the pews. Now I am blessed to experience a parishioners of Maria Regina at - mourning the sudden death of their Hence you’ll hardly find the front true reflection of an integrated tend the requiem Mass of their beloved parish priest, Fr Ars ène rows empty, while the back pews are parish: the beauty of parishioners parish priest Fr Ars ène Muhau Muhau (may his soul rest in peace). I packed to their limit. This is a church from various cultural backgrounds, who died in June this year. (Pho - tos: Mathibela Sebothoma) found a parish trying to cope with its with strong attendance: all pews are from different languages, worship - extraordinary challenges. filled every Sunday. If you want a ping together with one mind, inter - And I found what may well be the seat, you come early. acting with each other with love. country’s most integrated Catholic I am inspired by how integrated church: a community that is a true thought that this parish resembles Maria Regina parish has become: I resemblance of the “rainbow na - Ithe unity and love that exists be - am in awe of the journey thecom - tion”. tween the Father, Son and Holy munity has travelled to reach this It is an integrated community Spirit. This love for another is visible space where they are truly one spiri - united by design. An integrated com - through parishioners’ interaction tual family. munity united in mourning through with each other, across cultural It is a process which, given our the sudden loss of their beloved groups, after Mass, chatting and pro - historical background, most proba - parish priest. An integrated commu - moting their different activities. bly did not happen overnight. But it nity united in their expectations of I have lived and worked in four of was a step they took to become a true how best to move ahead as a spiritual the nine provinces in our country. I reflection of the body of Christ: a family in the absence of their attended Mass in each of the mirror of the love and unity that ex - beloved parish priest. provinces where I lived. I have seen ists between the Father, Son and After Mass that Sunday, I felt over - our ability to seek those who look Holy Spirit. whelmed by the atmosphere of sor - like us or speak like us, as we seat our - I pray that the parish of Maria row and grief. I passed two women at selves in church. I have seen how dis - Regina will grow from strength to the back of the church holding on to integrated we are as we attend Mass. strength and become an example for each other, united in grief that cuts After Mass, we end up talking to many parishes across the country. across their cultural barriers, sobbing those who look like us and speak We can be one.

Franciscan Sisters Servants of the Holy Childhood of Jesus nEW For 2015 27 MAR TO 6 APR 2015 EASTEr in THE HoLYLAnD Pilgrimage to the Christian sites in israel at this spe - cial time where Jesus was born, walked, preached, We have moved to: 2 Plein Street, taught, was crucified. Join the crowds on Palm Sunday as you take the route He took on the colt. Sidwell, Port elizabeth organised by Jacinta and Victor David, accompanied by Fr nkululeko Meyiwa Cost from R 29729 Tel: (031) 26 6 7702 Fax: (031) 26 6 8982 Email: [email protected]

Are you called to join us to love God, in Catholic Liturgical Arts praising Him in Prayer and serving Him, as We have a wonderful selection of cribs, crystal nativity scenes, we care for people in need, especially children? and of Our Lady and baby Jesus. Write, phone or visit us Advent wreaths, vestments, stoles, banners Holy Childhood Sisters Mbongolwane Convent P.Bag 553 P.Bag 506 and altar linen for Christmas. Eshowe, 3815 Eshowe, 3815 Order early to avoid Sr. Teressa Zungu Sr. Bongiwe Xulu disappointment Phone: 035 -4744242 Phone: 035-4766262 Tel: +27 11 782 3135, Fax: 086 863 7303 Cell: 082-0932002 Cell: 076-3064446 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] CLASSIFIEDS The Southern Cross, September 17 to September 23, 2014 11 Pope mourns death of missionary sisters OPE Francis has mourned ters decided to spend the night in Births • FirsCt ComLmuAnionS • CoSnfirmiaFtioni • EEngDagemS ent/Marriage • the deaths of three Xaverian their home. However, they Wedding anniversary • Ordination jubilee • Congratulations • Deaths • PMissionary Sisters of Mary, phoned Fr Pulcini during the In memoriam • Thanks • Prayers • Accommodation • Holiday Accommodation • who were murdered in two sepa - night after the murders, afraid Personal • Services • Employment • Property • Others rate attacks in their residence in that “the aggressor was in the Please include payment (R1,37 a word) with small advertisements for promptest Burundi. home”. When the priest arrived, publication. Srs Lucia Pulici, 75, and Olga he found Sr Bogianni had been etly kept, always in our be silent on Raschietti, 82, were found dead killed, too. WEDDing CAn You in their mission residence in the Police said a man was arrested. hearts we’ll never forget; abortion and walk with AnniVErSArY Resting where no shadows God? Matthew 7:21 See capital of Bujumbura. Sr He was found with a key to the www.180movie.com Bernadetta Bogianni, 79, who convent and a cellphone belong - PiLLAY —Dr and Mrs fall. Loved and remem - had found the bodies, was killed ing to one of the nuns. George and Rita. Congrat - bered by us all. Looking to buy a sec - ulations on your 58th wed - the next night. A statement put out by the ondhand church bell. Paul ding anniversary on 072 389 1699. In telegrams sent to Arch - nuns’ order said that “the mur - September 15. Family and PrAYErS and bishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of Bu - ders appeared to be the tragic friends wish you every - HoLY ST JuDE , apostle MATEriAL oFFCuTS jumbura and Sr Ines Frizza outcome of an armed robbery or thing of the best and want and martyr, great in virtue sewing scraps required by superior-general of the Xaverian a vendetta”. They strongly de - to thank you very much for and rich in miracles, kins - Mission sewing group and Missionary Sisters of Mary, the nied reports that two of the nuns your love and care through man of Jesus Christ, faith - school, Daughters of the pope expressed his sadness con - had been raped. all the years. May God ful intercessor of all who Charity of the Sacred Bless you. invoke you, special patron Heart. Sr Rita, PO Box cerning the “tragic deaths” of “The local population is as 3918, Ladysmith, 3370. these “faithful and devout nuns”. shocked as we are” ands were in time of need. To you I The messages, sent on behalf Sr Olga Raschietti, 82, one of coming together to pray for the have recourse from the TAXATion SErViCES: three nuns who were murdered in DEATH of the pope by Cardinal Pietro three women, the order said. depth of my heart and Tax & Vat returns prepared two separate attacks at their resi - —Martin. Born Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, Burundian Vice-President MAruSiC humbly beg you to come to & e-filed by SARS-regis - dence in Burundi.(Photo courtesy 8/12/1937 in Croatia, died my assistance. Help me tered tax practitioner, (45 said the pope hoped that “the xaverian Missionaries) Prosper Bazombanza has said the 5/8/2014 in Mutare, zim - now in my urgent need years’ SARS experience blood they have shed may be - government was “appalled by babwe, after illness and grant my petitions. In now on your side). Contact come the seed of hope to build door with the idea of forcing it such barbarity”. bravely borne. Will be lov - return I promise to make Mike 082 929 9874/033 true fraternity between peoples”. open when it opened and I saw Sr The three missionary sisters ingly remembered by lov - your name known and 396 5471 or mikewhite1@ Xaverian Missionary Father Bernadetta there very upset. She had been working in Burundi, ing wife Poppie, children publish this prayer. Amen. telkomsa.net Mario Pulcini, superior of the had found a side service entrance helping the poor and the sick, Susan and Darren, Steven Remo Ciolli. open and, once she entered, and Natalie, Sonja and www.abortioninstru Xaverian Missionaries in Bu - the past seven years, Vatican is the graphic Brent, grandchildren Tyla, ments.com rundi, told the missionary news found the lifeless bodies of Srs Radio reported. Before that they truth that will set you free. service MISNA that he had gone Olga and Lucia,” he said. had worked for several years in Dayna, Sasha, Hannah, to the mission house after he and They alerted government, mil - the Democratic Republic of Joshua, Chesney and Sr Bogianni had been unable to itary, judicial and religious au - Congo. Brandon. Brother of Ruz - HoLiDAY reach Srs Pulici and Raschietti by thorities, the priest said, and an Sr Bogianni had been a supe - ica and Makso Ujko to ACCoMMoDATion Marianne, Angela and Si - telephone all of that day. investigation was begun. rior of the congregation for many LonDon , Protea House: Despite the murders, the sis - mone. Pokoj Vjecni (Eter - “I was in front of the main years. nal rest grant him O Lord) Single R350, twin R560 at rest with his Mom and per/night. Self-catering, Dad. Forever loved and busses and underground kept in our memory. nearby. Phone Peter 021 o MoST beautiful flower of 851 5200. 0044 208 Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, 7484834. in MEMoriAM splendour of Heaven, blessed Mother of the Son CAPE ToWn: Fully Liturgical Calendar Year A bLAnD —Anne Patricia. In of God, Immaculate Virgin, equipped self-catering 2- Weekdays Cycle Year 2 loving memory of my dear bedroom apartment with Communit y Calendar wife, our mother and assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me parking, in Strandfontein. To place your event, call Mary Leveson at 021 46 5 5007 grandmother who Our Lord R500 per night (4 persons) or e-mail m.leveson @scross.co.za Sunday, September 21, 25th Sunday called home ten years ago and show me herein that you are my Mother, O Holy Paul 021 393 2503, 083 (publication subject to space) Isaiah 55:6-9, Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18, Philip - on September 26, 2004. 553 9856, vivilla@ pians 1:20-24, 27, Matthew 20:1-16 Time passes but the ache Mary Mother of God, DurbAn: matic Renewal at cathe - Queen of heaven and telkomsa.net dral of Christ the King. Monday, September 22 never goes away. We love Holy Mass and novena and miss you and Tracy earth, I humbly beseech bALLiTo: Upmarket pent - Contact Joseph Uga at Proverbs 3:27-34, Psalm 15:2-5, Luke 8:16-18 to St Anthony at St An - each and every day and you from the bottom of my house on beach, self- thony’s parish every 083 237 3745 or Boni Tuesday, September 23, St Pio of Pietrelcina you are both in our hearts heart to secure me in my catering, 084 790 6562. Tuesday at 9am. Holy Gumede at 072 274 3901. Galatians 2:19-20 (LFM 740.5), Psalm 16:1-2, and thoughts continually. necessity. There are none knYSnA: Self-catering who can withstand your Mass and Divine Mercy nELSPruiT: 5-8, 11 (LFM 739.3), Matthew 16:24-27 (LFM Rest in peace and may accommodation for 2 in power, O show me that you Devotion at 17:30pm on Adoration of the 742.6) Our Lord and His Beloved Old Belvidere with wonder - first Friday of every Mother Mary hold you al - are my mother. O Mary ful lagoon views. 044 387 blessed sacrament at St Wednesday, September 24 conceived without sin, pray month. at ways close. Love Ken, 1052. Sunday Mass Peter’s parish every Proverbs 30:5-9, Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, for us who have recourse 9am. Phone 03 1 309 Carol, Jennifer, Mathew, Tuesday from 8:00 to 104, 163, Luke 9:1-6 to thee. Thank you for your knYSnA: S/c accommo - 3496. 16:45, followed by Paul, grandchildren, family dation for 2/3 on dairy farm Thursday, September 25 and friends. mercy towards me and JoHAnnESburg: rosary, Divine Mercy mine. Amen. in gorgeous valley. Winter Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17, —In loving mem - special R600. 084 458 Life in the Spirit seminar, prayers , then a LETorD ory of Edna Madeline, who THAnkS be to thee, my September 4 to October Mass/Communion serv - Luke 9:7-9 8397. passed away twelve years Lord Jesus Christ, For all ice at 17:30pm. 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26th Sunday: September 28 Readings: Ezekiel 18:25-28, Psalm 25:4-9, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32 Align yourself with the Creator E need to learn how God operates; and it is not quite like the way we there have been quarrels there, and so he is sponse he tells them this parable about the Woperate. Next Sunday’s readings are asking them to “have the same mindset, the two sons, whom their father approaches with all about God’s way. The first reading and the Fr Nicholas same love, united in spirit”. a request (well, an order, really) to “go today, psalm talk about “the way” or “path” of God, This is by way of reminding them that and work in my vineyard”. while the second reading speaks of Jesus’ way, King SJ there has been “squabbling and empty-head - Number One son, rebellious adolescent, and the gospel about two different “ways” of Sunday Reflections edness”, instead of which they need “in hu - said, “‘I don’t want to’, but later changed his responding to God’s invitation. mility to think of each other as their superior, mind and went”. Number Two son, syco - Ezekiel starts with a complaint from the Is - not looking for your own interests, but for phantic creep, “said, ‘Yessir!’ and never raelite exiles in Babylon about “the way of the those of other people”. turned up”. Lord”, which, in the words of children down Deeper than that, however, he reminds Now we are both of these youngsters, and the ages, “isn’t fair!” you are the God of my salvation”. them of how God and Christ operate: “if when Jesus asks, “Which of the two did the The response is that it is the “way” of the God is then asked to “remember your there is any comfort in Christ, any consola - father’s will?”, we have to confess, shame - “house of Israel” that “isn’t fair”; when the mercy and your steadfast love, for they are tion of love, any solidarity in the Spirit, any facedly, that we have been rebellious and dis - “just man” behaves unjustly, and dies, that is from of old”, and, by contrast, to forget “the mercy or compassion”. obedient. fair; but “when the wicked man turns away sins of my youth…for the sake of your good - Then he goes into the well-known, and Then comes Jesus’ humiliating response: from wickedness…and does justice and right - ness, O Lord”. much-loved, hymn to Christ’s self-emptying, “Amen, I’m telling you —the tax-collectors eousness, he shall save his life”. The singer insists that God is “good and and its astonishing result. That is how the and the prostitutes are going ahead of you We may be uneasy at the notion that sin upright”, and “makes sinners see the way”. Philippians (and we) are to learn to operate, into the kingdom of God.” That was not the deserves capital punishment; but we need to He “shows the way to the oppressed in jus - so that “every tongue may confess that Jesus way it was supposed to be, but that is the way observe that God takes seriously the way that tice, and teaches the oppressed his way”. This Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Fa - that God operates. we behave. constant emphasis on God’s “way” is a re - ther”. Then he goes back to John the Baptist, The psalm likewise speaks of God’s “way”, minder that God has not changed, or acted In the gospel , we have reached that stage charging them with their failure to do what and the poet asks the Lord: “Make your way unfairly; God is unchangingly benevolent. of the Jesus-story where the religious author - he told them to do, while the tax-collectors known to me, God, and teach me your The second reading likewise speaks of how ities are moving against him, and his death is and prostitutes (or whoever are your least paths.” He continues asking (though it is dif - God operates, in stark contrast to the way in clearly looming. They come and interrogate favourite groups of individuals in this coun - ficult to get it into English) “put me in the which the Philippians (for which we should him about his behaviour in the Temple, and try today) “believed him”. way of our faithfulness, and teach me that understand ourselves) have been operating; his authority for acting in this way; in re - What is God’s way for you, this week? Accept God’s generosity Southern Cross word #620 Y youth had both its strengths sense of scarcity too often gives us a con - and its weaknesses. I grew up on a Fr Ron cept of a God who is limited and who is Mfarm in the heart of the Canadian frugal rather than prodigal. But that isn’t prairies, a second-generation immigrant. Rolheiser OMI the God of Jesus. Our family was a large one and the Allow me just one, rather pointed, illus - small farm we lived on gave us enough to Final Reflection tration. A seminary professor whom I live on, though just enough. There were know shares this story. He’s been teaching never any extras. We were never hungry or seminarians for many years and in recent genuinely poor, but we lived with frugality. years, when teaching about the sacrament You were given what you needed, but of penance, is frequently asked this ques - rarely anything extra. You got just one por - enough for everyone and you live with the tion, often as the first question in the class: tion of the main course at a meal and one underlying fear that there might not be “When can I refuse absolution? When do dessert because these had to be measured enough, you can easily end up with a sense I not grant forgiveness?” out in a way that left enough for everyone. of scarcity rather than of abundance and The anxiety expressed here is not, I be - And I lived happily inside that, taking for an inclination towards stinginess rather lieve, triggered by a need for power but by a granted that this was the way life was meant than generosity. very sincere fear that we have to be rather to be, assuming that all resources are limited A mindset of scarcity rather than of scrupulous in handing out God’s mercy, that and you shouldn’t ever be asking for or tak - abundance debilitates us in several ways. we shouldn’t be handing out cheap grace. ing more than what’s necessary. And, undergirding that fear, I believe, is And such a background has its t tends to leave us standing before life’s the unconscious notion that God too strengths: you grow into adulthood with Iabundance too timid to celebrate life works out of a sense of scarcity rather than the sense that there’s no free lunch, you with any exuberance. Life is too equated of abundance, and that God’s mercies, like with frugality and you are forever haunted ACROSS DOWN need to earn what you eat. our own resources, are limited and need to by guilt in the face of life’s goodness, and 4. Is it seen to be done in 1. Pray the treatment makes You know too that you shouldn’t be be measured out very sparingly. especially before any experience of luxury, court? (7) a change (7) taking more than your share because the But that’s not the God whom Jesus incar - goods of this world are limited and meant not unlike the discomfort felt by Jesus’ dis - 8. One who restores your 2. Man trap that is out of nated and revealed. The gospels rather re - to be shared with everyone. If you take ciples when they are face to face with a health (6) control (7) veal a God who is prodigal beyond all our 3. Cheers! Yours is drunk more than your share, then there won’t be prodigal woman lavishly anointing Jesus’ 9. Lights the paschal candle standards and beyond our imagination. The (6) enough for everyone. Resources are lim - feet with expensive perfume. God of the gospels is the Sower who, be - (7) 5. Clumsy in an ugly way ited, so if anyone gets too much, someone Inside a mindset of scarcity there’s the 10. Turns out lepers (6) (8) gets too little. perennial temptation to falsely idealise suf - cause he has unlimited seeds, scatters those seeds everywhere without discrimination: 11. This refers to the Byzan - 6. Greek sea-god from NT But such an upbringing also has its fering and poverty and have them replace tine image (6) trio (6) downside. When everything has to be grace and abundance as God’s real gift to on the road, in the ditches, in the thorn bushes, in bad soil, and in good soil. 12. Neon path to the temple 7. Direct move to believe measured-out to ensure that there’s us. More crippling still is the fact that a (6) Moreover, that prodigal Sower is also (8) 18. They had to hear the word 13. Adore old fabulous rich the God of creation, that is, the God who land of the Amazon (8) of the Lord (Ez 37) (3,5) has created and continues to create hun - 14. Done any stirring and ir- Classic Conrad dreds of billions of galaxies and billions 20. Priest’s Latin washing ritated? (7) and billions of human beings. And this prayer (6) 15. Fred who danced on prodigal God gives us this perennial invi - 21. Some African country can screen (7) tation: Come to the waters, come without go last of all (6) 16. Bestow generously (6) money, come without merit because God’s 22. Make a mistake from the 17. Let it roll for the parish gift is as plentiful, available, and as free as lectionary (7) fiesta (6) the air we breathe. 23. Finish a thin coat (6) 19. Flag the censor will wave? (6) The gospel of Luke recounts an incident 24. Superficial part of the pool where Peter, just after he had spent an en - (7) tire night fishing and had caught nothing, is told to cast out his net one more time. Solutions on page 11 This time, Peter’s net catches so many fish that the weight of the catch threatens to sink two boats. Peter reacts by falling on his knees and confessing his sinfulness. But, as the text makes clear, that’s not the proper reaction CHURCH CHUCKLE in the face of overabundance. Peter is HERE was an inter-faith meeting where Jews, wrongly fearful, in effect, wanting that over - TChristians and Muslims were visiting each oth - abundance to go away, when what Jesus ers’ places of worship. wants from him in the face of that over - While visiting the Catholic cathedral, a little old abundance is to go out to the world and Jewish lady looked at a statue of Mary and whis - share with others that unimaginable grace. pered: “What’s a nice Jewish girl like you doing in What God’s overabundance is meant to a Catholic church?” teach us is that, in the face of limitless grace, we may never refuse anyone absolu - Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to tion. The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.