Priest: Princess Charlène Is ‘Full of Grace’
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July 13 to July 19, 2011 www.scross.co.za R5,50 (incl VAT RSA) Reg No. 1920/002058/06 No 4734 Moerdyk: Book Reviews: Coleman reflects it’s reigning sex in the Bible and on 25 years as cats and dogs Catholic health in sA Pe’s bishop Page 12 Page 10 Page 9 Monaco wedding’s SA priest: Princess Charlène is ‘full of grace’ BY CLAIRE MATHIESON Grimaldis, traditionally have strong ties to the Catholic Church. Prince Albert’s late PRIEST born near Kakamas in the mother, Princess Grace, was said to have a Northern Cape led Princess Charlène particularly strong attachment to her Aof Monaco on her way to the faith. Catholic faith before she married the prin - The former film star Grace Kelly died in cipality’s Prince Albert. a car accident in 1982. Monaco-based Father Carlo Adams “Princess Charlène didn’t have to con - OSFS was among the concelebrants at the vert, but she embraced the faith with joy,” nuptial Mass of Charlene Wittstock and Fr Adams said. “The princess has been Prince Albert II of Monaco in Monte really excited to learn and understand the Carlo. way we celebrate the liturgy and has been Television viewers worldwide heard Fr an eager convert to the faith.” Adams speak Afrikaans during the Mass, at Princess Charlène also learned to speak which Archbishop Bernard Barsi of Mona - French and the Monégasque dialect, and co presided. to become acquainted with European Fr Adams, originally from Marchand court protocol. near Kakamas, has been based at the But the highlight of the priest’s interac - parish of St Charles in Monaco since his tion with the princess was being a part of ordination seven years ago. her religious wedding ceremony. “The cer - “Since 1950, my order, the Oblates of St emony was emotional and beautiful and it Francis de Sales, have been the religious was an extraordinary thing to be a part of congregation in charge of the parish. it,” he said. When I was still in the seminary in 2003, “It was the prince’s idea to have the parish requested a new priest, and my Afrikaans spoken during the wedding,” Fr provincial at the time sent me,” he told Adams said. “Prince Albert asked me to The Southern Cross in a telephone inter - participate because I am from South Africa view from Monaco. and it would be a way to welcome the At the time, Fr Adams said, he was little South African guests, and would be special aware of the European principality in the a thing for the princess.” Fr Adams added southern corner of France, but he thought that it was a very special moment for him, “why not?”, and moved to Monaco. too. “It never crossed my mind that I might Fr Carlo Adams OSFS on the day of Monaco’s royal wedding, at which he concelebrated and And it was a special moment for the be sent overseas and I never expected to spoke in Afrikaans. The priest from the Northern Cape prepared Princess Charlène of Monaco, local Monégasques who have “fully be sent to Monaco and be involved in a former South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, for her reception into the Catholic embraced the new princess”, said Fr royal wedding!” he said. Church. (Photo courtesy of Fr Carlo Adams) Adams. Ordinarily Fr Adams celebrates the Eng - “I spoke to some parishioners after the lish Mass at St Charles, one of five ceremony and when they saw her their Catholic churches in the principality. He in Monaco in 2000. That was the same year in preparing her to join the faith. A hearts went out to her. They love her!” Fr was asked last year to help prepare the year she represented South Africa at the palace statement at the time said she was Adams said the locals describe Princess then Ms Wittstock to be received into the Summer Olympics in Sydney where she “admitted by free and personal choice Charlène as having grace, “which is amaz - Church. was a member of the women’s 4x100m into full communion with the Catholic ing”. “I met her in 2007,” said Fr Adams, but medley team which placed fifth. Church”. While her swimming days are behind it was not until the former South African After becoming engaged in June 2010, Fr Adams said the South African con - her, the princess has said she will concen - swimmer became engaged to Prince Albert Princess Charlène converted to Catholi - nection made their interaction more com - trate on her new life and the various char - that “I got to know her”. cism, even though she was not obliged to fortable while preparing for her reception. ities she has adopted. On her marriage, Born in Zimbabwe and raised in by the Catholic state’s constitution. Fr Adams was also part of the ceremony in she became Princess Consort of Monaco Benoni, Princess Charlène met the prince Fr Adams was an integral part of the which she was received into the Church. and gained the title and style of Her at the Mare Nostrum swimming meeting process and worked with the princess for a The royal family of Monaco, the Serene Highness the Princess of Monaco. Priest ‘bailed’ for Spain STAFF REPORTER 7:00 Sunday morning until noon,” Mrs Julius said. HE Catholic Women’s League (CWL) This covered all weekend Masses. The of St Anne’s parish in Sydenham, relieved priest was allowed to spend the TDurban, jailed their local priest with night out of his jail cell, having been tem - a view to getting him out of the country. porarily released at 9:45, after the Saturday Fr Siyabonga Dube was put behind bars evening Mass. as part of a “jail-and-bail” fundraising Parishioners enjoyed the event, but, effort to support the priest’s pilgrimage to World Youth Day in Madrid in August. said Mrs Julius, “the biggest shock of all Led by Wendy Daniels and Brenda was when Father was handcuffed”. Tomlinson, St Anne’s CWL placed the ini - The “jail-and-bail” event raised R3 2 000 tially handcuffed Fr Dube in a cage outside for the priest, whose orange t-shirt sported the church. the logo of the Association of Catholic “Posters were placed on pillars showing Tertiary Students. Father asking to be ‘bailed’ out,” said Nita “I think that it was worth having Fr Julius of the CWL. The priest was dressed Dube ‘jailed’,” Mrs Julius said, noting that in a bright orange shirt, resembling typical the event needed no outlay of money. prison uniforms, with the target amount St Anne’s CWL is already planning the of R3 5 000 written on a sign around his parish’s next event: a fundraiser on August neck, representing his prisoner’s number. 9—Women’s Day—for the Mater Dei “As parishioners arrived, they were Home in Sydenham. asked to pledge an amount to get Father “The day is intended to make women Fr Siyabonga Dube was placed behind bars by his Durban parish’s Catholic Women’s League in out of jail. We started at 18:30 until 20:00 speak out if they are being abused by their a jail-and-bail fundraising event staged to help finance his pilgrimage to World Youth Day in on Saturday evening, and again started at husbands,” Mrs Julius said. Madrid next month. (Photo: Nita Julius) 2 The Southern Cross, July 13 to July 19, 2011 LOCAL State of South African education ‘shocking’ BY CLAIRE MATHIESON South Africa scored in internation - tional Early Childhood Develop - enough, Mr Pasensie said, adding caring environment; use a system - al tests as well as the 2008 Annual ment and Adult Basic Education that while interventions by the atic programme; mark the pupil’s HE Annual National Assess - National Results (which the educa - and Training systems of the department were welcomed, the work regularly and give consistent ment results released by Min - tion department did not publish). department and the poor perfor - success rate has been low. feedback. Most importantly, pupils Tister of Basic Education Angie “In fact a comparison between the mance. Many children enter He referred to former education need to be solving maths problems Motshekga in late June have been 2008 Grade 3 learners and this school without ever having minister Naledi Pandor who in and be writing in literacy.” described as “shocking” by year’s Grade 6 learners [who are encountered reading materials 2008 launched a campaign to Mr Potterton said there were Catholic education role players. the same group of learners] suggest because their parents themselves increase the performance in litera - obviously serious shortcomings in Catholic Institute of Education that the scores have actually may be functionally literate and cy/language and numeracy/mathe - the majority of South African director Mark Potterton said the declined in some areas,” Mr Pasen - the ‘joys of reading’ are never matics to no less than 50%. Three schools. “As South Africans we results were “not at all great” and sie said. encouraged.” years later this campaign has not need to stand together to develop showed the serious shortcomings Mr Potterton added that, as Mr Pasensie said the way for - reached its target. “Until the sys - better educational opportunities in the country’s education system. many other tests have shown, “our ward involves improving these sys - tem is comprehensively over - for all children. Fixing things is The average percentage score in primary school pupils do not per - tems, the promotion of mother- hauled the interventions will come going to take time, but we owe it literacy in Grade 3 was 35% and form well in external tests”.