What to expect Finding God in everything ............................ 1 Bongani C. Nkosi | Witbank
1
Laudato Si’ at Work...................................... 1 Mitchell M. Cloete | Keimoes-Upington
1
Keeping in touch with real life? .................... 2 Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
2
Easter Amongst Seminarians....................... 2 Ziphozakhe Ngwenya | Johannesburg
2
Formidable Formation Staff.......................... 3 S'busiso Ncube | Ingwavuma
3
Does the monastic life of the seminary prepare men for parish life? ...................................... 3 David de Caires e Freitas | Cape Town
3
To My Brothers Unknown............................. 3 Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
3
Life of the Seminarians ................................ 4 Mitchell M. Cloete | Keimoes-Upington
4
No man’s an Island: Solidarity..................... 4 Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
4
The Praises of Fr Peter-John Pearson ......... 4 S’busiso Ncube | Ingwavuma
4
Practical Pastoral Experience ...................... 5 Siyabonga Khumalo | Mariannhill
5
“No experience of nurturing the spirituality of others” .......................................................... 5 Siphesihle Manci | Durban
5
Monastic ‘Order’ ........................................... 6 Frank van Velzen | Pretoria
6
Celibacy Workshop: a Reflection ................. 6 Ziphozakhe Ngwenya | Johannesburg
6
The Lion’s Head Mountain: ‘my princess’ .... 7 Nkazimulo Shange | Durban
7
“Servant of Servants” ................................... 7 Siphesihle Manci | Durban
7
Blessed Benedict Daswa's Beatification: a Reflection ..................................................... 9 Sydney Raju Tefu | Tzaneen
9
Holy Simplicity: a book review ..................... 9 Mphathi Siyabonga Mlambo | Dundee
9
Brother Toiletries ....................................... 10 Siyabonga Khumalo | Mariannhill
10
Popular Sayings of the Year ...................... 10 Sydney Raju Tefu | Tzaneen
10
Slow food: you are how you eat ................. 11 David de Caires e Freitas | Cape Town
11
Ladies and a Gentleman ............................ 11 Cebolenkosi Mazibuko | Dundee
11
Fr Chris challenges the seminarians with his homilies ..................................................... 11 Bongani J Mativandlela | Tzaneen
11
Life Discovering ......................................... 12 Aleki Celestin M. | Scalibrinian
12
In the Service of Others ............................. 12 Sydney Raju Tefu | Tzaneen
12
Our Lecturers ............................................. 13 S’busiso Ncube | Ingwavuma
13
The Long Awaited Soccer Match, Finally Here ................................................................... 13 Asanda Maduna | Mariannhill
13
Colourful Cultural Day................................ 14 Peter Philani Fodo | Kokstad
14
The Journey of a Capuchin Postulant ........ 14 Jared Jamie | Capuchin
14
Calling Timeout: Day of Recollection ......... 15 Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
15
Expect the Unexpected .............................. 16 Sanele Msomi | Durban (Archdiocese)
16
Formators .................................................. 16
Allow Formation to Form You....................... 8 Mphathi Siyabonga Mlambo | Dundee
8
Catholic and non-Catholic Views on a Seminarian ................................................... 8 Berry Mathulwe | Rustenburg
Special Features
Students’ Pictures and Quotes ...... Centrefold More articles in E-Letters 1 to 5 ................. 17
8
Chief Editor: Fr Chris Chatteris S.J Layout & Design (b&w): David de Caires e Freitas Graphic Design & Layout: Chandré T. Stevens Editing & Quality Control: Frank van Velzen Undercover journo: Bongani J Mativandlela Deadline manager: Siyabonga Khumalo Proofreader (nguni): Siphesihle Manci
D.R.E.
Editorial Team
Finding God in everything Bongani C. Nkosi | Witbank
Our God is powerful. He is present in the whole universe. He is present even on the little things we tend to ignore or take for granted. How you connect with him depends on the situation in which you are facing at that particular moment. Who has ever thought that God could be found in soccer match? Look at the way people unite during the game; the way they sing together, the way they rejoice when they are supporting who is winning and some of them would be even praying when their team is losing. Since God is love, I therefore think he is always around those people in the stadium who are showing love to one another. `There is something that put a smile on someone’s face. Just gaze outside and look at the street, see the movement of the people. Embrace the love that walks among them even though they do not see it. Now remember that is how God walks among us and we tend not to see Him because of our busy schedule. Just look at the movement at your feet, know that one foot is God and the other is you carrying a load, which is your body, but you keep on moving. Embrace what you see, who you walk with and you will never go worry.
difference in the long run. Here at the seminary we do our best to care for our common home that is why we recycle paper, glass, metal and plastic. However, we recycle other materials as well, like wood and organic offcuts for compost. We have two seminarians, one from each corridor, who is in charge of recycling. These elected make sure that the fellow seminarians are disciplined when it comes to recycling. Each corridor has two bins: one for rubbish and the other for recycling materials. On Saturdays we must separate the items to the respective bins. When the items are enough we will then put them into black bags to be taken away to the depot. Moreover, we would like to urge everybody to take this issue serious and that each one of us will do our best to care for our common home. Pope Francis calls us to be people who care for and whom loves creation. The earth is God’s handy work and He made it for us to live in it, to take care of and to use its resources for the common good of all. If I do my bit today and you do your bit tomorrow, everybody will join in and do their bit. Therefore, together we will make the world a better “home” for all. “In the meantime, we come together to take charge of this home which has been entrusted to us, knowing that all the good which exists here will be taken up into the heavenly feast.” (Laudato Si’ par 244.) The staff and seminarians put Laudato Si’ at work, because we care. Do you care?
Laudato Si’ at Work Mitchell M. Cloete | Keimoes-Upington
In May 2015 Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter, Laudato Si’ on care for our common home, was published. Since then the Encyclical Letter became popular, not just amongst the Catholics but even non-Catholics and even amongst secular people. This Encyclical Letter is all about caring for the environment and how we as human beings are failing in this regard, but there is still hope and we can still make a difference in small things, like reusing and recycling. Furthermore, at St Francis Xavier Seminary, the staff and we the seminarians takes this very serious. We believe by doing our part even if it’s just a small part we can make a
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
1
Keeping in touch with real life? Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
T
here is the initial attraction. There is something about an ordained man. Something different. It is usually some noteworthy characteristic of a priest or something that he does for the people in his community that enkindles in the hearts and minds of young men the desire to follow in that way; to imitate that kind of life.
thusiasm I believe that it is an ideal time for him to reach out to the youth. The youth may feel that they are able to approach the seminarian and relate to him with greater ease. They are able to experience the ordinariness of the young man who has chosen a counter-cultural lifestyle and who is completely joyful in having done so. They get a glimpse of that which hints at the alternate life, the other option. “I think young people want the challenge, of being called to something more than just mediocrity. All young people [I think] have that deep desire to do something remarkable, to be someone remarkable”[2]. A priest once told me that a candidate for priesthood should be visible. When the youth see the joyful young man, seeds of vocation may fall into the good soil of youthful curiosity. The possibility and example to laid bare to them.
There is a great interest in this state of the priesthood; a great curiosity encircles it. Catholics and non-Catholics alike are intrigued by the priest or a seminarian. Priests are seen as a rare breed. Although it is a vocation and an office which is general highly esteemed, priests are often perceived as being rather peculiar, having made the choice to live difThe world needs heroes and seminaries have the potential ferently. Hidden, in a sense, from the world by the seminary, they are trained and formed to live a particular life. But to produce really extraordinary men. They need to be real and they need to be granted the opportunity as well as the what does this life entail? guidance from their superiors and formators to integrate all aspects of the life they have chosen to be truly “fully alive for It is one thing to be attracted to the life of a priest. It is a the glory of God.”[3] This life that they have freely chosen completely different ball-game to actually live it. There are should not make them lose touch with the realness of life many sacrifices involved. Commonly, seminarians spend a total of seven or more years in the seminary. These are years but rather be the fertilizing soil from which good fruits of of academic study and living with other people of the same the priesthood may be enjoyed for the good of all the Peogender. Seven years devoid of broader social interaction and ple of God. limited pastoral involvement. It is like cooking a meal with[1] Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis by Pope John Paul II concerning the formation out tasting any of it to test the desired flavour. of priests, (March 15, 1992)
Seminarians are encouraged to watch the news and to read articles on matters which are current in the world outside the walls of the seminary yet, they often feel that they are missing out on the ‘real world’ in a tangible, practical way. Does this monastic structure within the diocesan seminaries truly help mould the well balanced, fully human priests the Church would like to see today? The four pillars of development and formation are laid out before the candidate in black and white from the outset. In the Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis[1], one the facets discussed is the importance of pastoral formation. The candidate for priesthood should be exposed to real life engagement with the laity and also with those from other Christian communities and ethnic groups so as to be able to cultivate a good and healthy, wholesome sense of service. It is important for the seminarian to learn from an early stage that the priesthood entails rolling up one’s sleeves and putting ones shoulder to the grindstone. Coming back from their holidays, seminarians often speak of their involvement in pastoral work. Some priests make it very clear that the very term pastoral work denotes the function and activity of a pastor, which, in the strictest sense of the term, a seminarian is not; or at least not yet. Perhaps a more comprehensive element should be embroidered into the fabric of pastoral formation in the seminary, regardless of the stage or level the student may be at. The theory and the practice are meant to complement one another. Many seminarians enter the seminary as young men, in the prime of their lives, full of energy and enthusiasm. These qualities are essential to inspire new vocations. With his en-
2
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
[2] Quote from Fishers of Men DVD (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation) [3] “The glory of God is the human fully alive” – Irenaeus of Lyons, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
Easter Amongst Seminarians Ziphozakhe Ngwenya | Johannesburg
Easter is a special time for all Catholics as we are taken back to the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, Seminarians reflected on what Easter meant to them. All explored their dark spaces in life and confronted those spaces, so that there would be fewer burdens to carry in our lives. We celebrated the Paschal Meal, Washing of the feet; acted out the Stations of the Cross and chanted alleluia along with choruses on Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday and Easter Octave we continue to understand how to be prepared to evangelize as well as accepting the risen Lord in our lives as young men. Jesus says to us “I am the Bread of Life; he who comes to me shall not hunger.” We still strive to live our lives with Integrity and to prosper in our Vocations.
Formidable Formation Staff S'busiso Ncube | Ingwavuma
Father Thomas Plastow, S.J. the Rector of the Seminary, is teaching us Scripture and Morality. Is a man who is always smiling and is an approachable man. He is always opening our minds to know important things that are happening around the world. He is always updated about new things in life. Father Chris Chatteris, S.J. is teaching us Faith Development and is our spiritual father at the seminary. He is always conducting days of recollections. Tuesday and Thursdays he makes sure that we are doing outdoor work, to make our garden look nice and also fruits and vegetables. He is very humble and treats everyone at the same level. Also, he is the man that is good in slide shows. Does the monastic life of the seminary prepare men for parish life? David de Caires e Freitas | Cape Town
“What do you do when you don’t have to do anything?” Fr Chris Chatteris S.J. puts this question to candidates for the religious life. If you want to find out anyone’s interests, this is an effective question. It is said that where a man spends his time and how he uses his energy, that is where his heart is. How this question is answered will make it evident that which is of importance. Those in the monastic life have a certain amount of free time available – this is a commonly held belief about those in the religious ministry. I won’t delve into that idea any further, but let’s work with the basis that everyone has a certain amount of free time available. Moreover, we all have a similar decision to make surrounding our moments of leisure: where do we spend that time? Looking at how someone who lives the monastic life spends his time can tell us a lot about the person. Part of the seminary formation process is also to allow men to have some degree of freedom surrounding what they do in their “down time”. This can be on the yearly level such as long semester holidays, down to the weekly level where some afternoons are available to use as the student sees fit. What is this free time good for? Leisure time gives us the chance to reflect on life without getting into the distractions of duties and responsibilities. The space allows us to consider what is important, to ponder on whether we are in the right space for ourselves, and to take stock of whom we can spend our time with should an opportunity arise. Could the seminary lifestyle be conjuring the perception that students are perpetually busy, just in their own opinion? The risk is there that students feel very busy, but in
Father Hugh O' Connor, is teaching us Methodology and Liturgy. He is a good man and observant and knows each and every student very well. He is always encouraging seminarians to take care of themselves. He is the one who makes sure that we have enough healthy food, fruits and vegetables. It is the main of integrity and living a simple life. Father Peter-John Pearson, is teaching us Spirituality and teaches us to reflect or mediate on certain prayers to deepen our faith with Jesus. He is always asks us to share and speak out the word or phrase that strikes us. He is encouraging us in the way to make good communication with God and to stay in touch with our journal.
comparison to the parish life, it’s a relatively sheltered way of living; mostly devoid of unplanned distractions and calls from the needy. When a scholar leaves school, he imagines unlimited freedom from the chains of the education system, only to be wishing to be re-admitted once he realises that the working world doesn’t have quite as much free time as the student days. In the same way, we can imagine ordained priests reminiscing in the same way about their seminary days.
To My Brothers Unknown Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
Not just flesh and bone are you and I, a deeper reality do these disguise. For beneath what we see there lies a unique soul, the significant other of the entire whole. Slow down your life and ponder a while, Breath in creation as you journey the miles. There's never a rush when you're strolling with God, He's wisdom to bring you is greatest reward. Discern and reflect, O listen to his voice, He's a trustworthy friend when you've got a tough choice. To make it to the end, or to embrace the whole ride, Your greatness in humility is what God will decide. To live a life of JOY, you'll have to get the order right Service through love, keep always in sight. Jesus first, Yourself in last, second place for Others, Your face will show the face of God, edifying all your brothers. So dear seminarian who dares tread next, Know that your God, has chosen the best. Kneel in good times, and when there's some danger, And remember you're always in the prayers of this stranger.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
3
Life of the Seminarians
La Famiglia: Black & White Stripes, Levites: Blue
Mitchell M. Cloete | Keimoes-Upington
We, seminarians, are so very privileged to be at St Francis Xavier Orientation Seminary in Cape Town. We come from different parts of South Africa and we are from different cultures and backgrounds, but still we are “one big family” (as we sing in the Chapel during the sign of peace at Holy Mass.) This does not mean that there are no conflicts. In an ordinary family there are conflicts and fights, but that does not mean that they don't love one another. So, it’s the same in our family; we fight and afterwards we laugh about it. We have two formation groups here, one called La Famiglia (my group) and the other The Levites. These two families have their own difficulties and struggles, but in the end these formation groups make one SFX family with the formators as our fathers. They are the ones who nurture us to become the best seminarians that we can be. We are different, but still the same because we have one goal, to become priests in the Catholic Church.
No man’s an Island: Solidarity Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
The phrase “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu” is one that has cropped up quite often throughout this year. I've heard it before but was never quite exposed to its deeper essence and its importance to the people of South Africa until now. The ideal is a beautiful and one which is worthwhile of perpetually pursuing. Our country has had a very dark and painful past, but by the strength of God working in men and women who laboured tirelessly for liberation and equality, we see today a vision of the future which is as bright as the colours reflected in our chatoyant national flag. 17 October saw the Levites of SFX setting foot on the soil where many of our freedom fighters were imprisoned: the famous Robben Island. There was a great excitement on the day. The island, which is today largely only inhabited by people who work there, is a national heritage sight which attracts many people from all around the world. The brothers were all very intrigued by the information presented by the tour guides. The island is a fascinating place rich in history and steeped in lessons for moral fiber. Although every corner of the island bares its own significance, we were shown those sites that are most often seen inside tourist brochures and internet sights: Sobukwe House, the Lime Quarry where the prisoners were forced to work in most unfavourable conditions, and of cause (perhaps the most dominating attraction of all) the prison cell of our legendary former president, Mr Nelson Mandela. Visiting the island was certainly a privilege and the brothers felt that it was a trip that was worthwhile in learning more about what others had to endure so that we may have a better life today. “For in this case the saying is true, ‘one sows and another reaps.’” (Jn 4:38). Our tour guide of the day was a former inmate of the prison. He’s description of his experiences truly placed us inside the suffering of the time. The ambience often fluctuated from somber contemplation on the lives of the iconic men, to awe and excitement of the diets they were fed and the ways in which they were allowed to enjoy some recreation. One of the most remarkable phenomena that happened amongst the inmates was the “each-one-teach-one movement”. This was how the prisoners and detainees were
4
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
educated. All learned information (and even some books) was shared amongst themselves. They had created a network of empowerment. They looked out for each other. They united as one and even amidst the struggle and suffering, they made sure that they used their time on the island productively. No man is an island. We do not and were never meant to exist in isolation. Even God exists as a community, as a family: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We all need each other. It is what makes life colourful and together, with all our different talents, we can make the world a better place to live in. “I am what I am because of who we all are.” God bless Africa!
The Praises of Fr Peter-John Pearson S’busiso Ncube | Ingwavuma
Very Reverend Father Peter-John Pearson: the spirituality lecturer, the spiritual director. The priest in the line of Melchizedek of old, the giver of the Holy Spirit. The chairperson of Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, the lawyer, the man of three point sermons. ''Come, come, come, do I see hands in the pockets?'' The only priest who met the Queen of Spain, the man who is travelling all over the world. The friend of John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, even Nelson Mandela. The man who drives the humble car. The Vicar General in the Archdiocese of Cape Town; one of the biggest Dioceses in South Africa. The great preacher, each word has a meaning to him.
Practical Pastoral Experience Siyabonga Khumalo | Mariannhill
Is the Church ordaining priests who will go out to the vineyards to work or who will stand like supervisors who can’t stand getting their hands dirty? When one looks at the “monastic” life of the seminary, where students are trained for Catholic priesthood, one can easily notice that the training programme there involves a number of essential things which help to form a well functioning priest, but what would make the formation better for even better priests? For eight years students focus only on the academic side and just when the end is near they are sent to a six month internship where they get experience of pastoral work which is expected to help them for the ministry they are being formed for. Can six months be relied upon to help a student who is about to start a life time mission? Perhaps Pastoral work should be an ongoing thing throughout formation, something that is regular. It should possess the whole being of a student so it can become part of each one, enabling one to be an effective labourer of the vineyard. Not all dioceses have such pastoral programmes for seminarians. It is the work of the seminary to train students, to work well in all aspects of the priesthood. Hence, academics and pastoral work should be both balanced. It’s no good to have a well taught doctor who has no practical experience; not many people would trust him. We know that most people are scared to be around sick people and are terrified to be around corpses, but such are the real life situations that a priest has to face in his ministry. People call priests when faced with sickness or death, only because they want to be consoled by them, not because they to witness a scared priest crying or shivering because he can’t face a sick or dead person. One of the ministries a priest has to exercise is visiting the sick. Many have found themselves in tough situations when they exercise it. One would find maybe an old sick granny left alone in a smelly unclean house with nothing to eat. Now, one could just give the holy Eucharist and leave but no, priests are called to more than that. Time must be given to sick people, if possible to organise something to eat, clean the house a bit and then feed them with the spiritual food. This brings healing to people and strengthens them. But it cannot be done unless students are exposed to the situation.
“No experience of nurturing the spirituality of others” Siphesihle Manci | Durban
Jesus told us to wash each other’s feet, but does this happen in the seminary? In the seminary do we actually do anything for people other than seminarians? In the seminary one tends to focus a lot on oneself. It is your duty to ensure that your spiritual life is at a good level. That can be good in itself, but what if seminarians helped each other in their spiritual lives? I ask because once we get to the parish we will have to help other people in their spiritual lives? In a parish you can get someone who comes to you and says, “Fr, I have a problem with my prayer life...” What do you say to him or her? In the seminary we don’t get people who come to us with this kind of problem because we have spiritual directors to whom we speak, but people in a parish will rely on us to be their spiritual directors. Although people will rely on us to help them with their spiritual lives, we are not getting much experience of nurturing the spirituality of others because we are not ministering to anyone but ourselves. There are many different kinds of ways to nurturing other people’s spirituality. Things like being there for a person, preaching or even giving advice are effective ways of nurturing other people’s spirituality. Although these ways are well know, we as seminarians only get a limited number of opportunities to preach to each other here, let alone to people in neighbouring parishes. How are we supposed to learn how to preach if we do not get an opportunity to preach? If we get visitors who are Xhosa speaking, a priest will preach to them in English. Why not give the Xhosa speaking seminarian a chance? If we, as seminarians, are not given the opportunity to spend time with different people of different race, culture, age and gender, how are we going to learn how to approach their spiritual problems when it is time to minister to them? The seminary could give seminarians more chance to help nurture other people’s spiritual life so that by the time they get to parishes they will have enough experience to minister to people who are under their care.
An important question is, how much initiative do seminarians take during the holidays to gain experience in pastoral work in order to be good labourers of the vineyard who work and not loiter?
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
5
Monastic ‘Order’ Frank van Velzen | Pretoria
It is often said that much can be deduced about an individual by merely observing his or her personal spaces (bedroom and living room) and how they spend their free time. This begs the question – does the state of a seminarians’ room, their filing system of class notes and their orderliness or the lack thereof define how their presbyteries and parishes will be? Having lived in a parish environment for two years and now in St Francis Xavier Seminary for about seven months, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no fixed or universal way of defining order and normality. Where people have grown up, their cultural customs, their level of education, amongst other things form a person’s habits. Everyone has unique methods of doing tasks and conducting their lives. What one person may see as being organised is often totally different to how someone else would. Young men go to seminaries to discern the path for their lives and how they can utilise their God given talents most effectively. Their formation focuses on the four pillars of human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral development; yet these institutions are also places where men learn and unlearn certain habits. It is often through the process of ‘unlearning’ various habits and character traits that they face their greatest challenge. One does not easily unlearn nor forget that which you’ve already learnt or what you have come to believe to be normal. We as human beings, particularly as we come of age, unfortunately can get quite set in our ways. It takes humility to change the mentality of “I/We’ve always done it this way, so why change?” How individuals spend their free time in their day is another interesting component of formation to explore. Some people find watching mind numbing television as the perfect relaxant, while for others getting stuck into a decent piece of literature is a desired pass time. Spending time working in the garden or doing exercise is a productive way of releasing endorphins, and are often both ways in which leisure time can be enjoyed. On the other hand, these sorts of activities and all sorts of physical deeds are seen as ‘work’ by certain people in society. It is therefore critical for people to continually reflect on their lives in order to discern if the way they are doing things and what they’re doing with their time is productive; ultimately life-giving. Time is ultimately as aspect of life that cannot be reversed, and just like non-renewable commodities, time can’t be replenished. This type of continual analysis of one’s life is referred to as the examen in the world of spirituality, and was made famous through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. There is a great deal of wisdom in the Catholic Church, the seven year long (sometimes longer) formation process
6
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
is just one of her pearls of wisdom. This extended amount of time spent surrounded by a group of men from different cultures, backgrounds and racial groups is bound to challenge a man to refine his ways. Every human being has a unique personality, interesting idiosyncrasies and their own way of doing things. We will not be liked and appreciated by everybody, what is important however is that they learn from each other, whether they like us or not. This takes much humility. As it says in the twenty seventh chapter of the book of Proverbs - “Just as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another man.” Ultimately formation is lifelong journey which does not end when a seminarian is ordained a priest. Parish life will have its own challenges which he’ll need to adapt to. Blessed John Henry Newman once said, “To live is to change, to be perfect is to have changed often.”
Celibacy Workshop: a Reflection Ziphozakhe Ngwenya | Johannesburg
Celibacy is a freely chosen dynamic state, usually vowed, It involves an honest and sustained attempt to live without direct sexual gratification in order to productively serve others for a spiritual motive. As seminarians, we were made to understand this state through a workshop which enabled us to view life in a broad way, but more on homosexuality, asexuality, intimacy, lust and sexuality in general. We viewed relationships by looking at the meaning of our lives and why do we exist. Celibacy is not an overnight decision and certainly Priesthood is not either, we were advised on how to live with integrity and not be ashamed of the decisions we have made to serve God in this kind of way also to understand, what being celibate means for Seminarians. This workshop which was held by Fr. Keith Gordon left us thinking about ourselves and led us to make a choice on whether we really want this kind of life, or whether it is a transition for some of us to truly find what the Lord really wants us to do. Interesting opinions were shared among ourselves about gay people and their marriages, how society views seminarians and the assumptions of them being afraid of girls or being gay. The one topic that also stood out was how we would want to be remembered when we have passed on and this had to be demonstrated by drawing your own tombstone and writing on it what you would like to have on it. Celibacy is not only for us as Seminarians or Catholic Priests but also for everyone who is not married. Being celibate reduces chances of contracting any form of disease especially sexual diseases. Over all we understood that celibacy is something that needs to be embraced daily and which is in line with human dignity.
The Lion’s Head Mountain: ‘my princess’ Nkazimulo Shange | Durban
I have heard people talking about her which made me even more zealous to meet her. She looked so peaceful from afar. Her name is ‘The Lion’s Head Mountain’. I recall the first day I saw the Lion’s Head Mountain. I felt like I was in the seventh heaven. As I gazed on her beauty, covered with a dazzling white cloud on the peak, her shape like a lioness, made up of huge rocks; so strong yet attractive. My heart melted and I fell in love with her that very moment. I was fortunate to get a chance to meet her. It was a beautiful sunny day when we seminarians, led by formators, climbed Lion’s Head. Everyone was filled with excitement and enthusiastic to make it to the pinnacle. We climbed eagerly, regardless of the heat until we made it to the peak. Suddenly, the whole world changed as I looked down and around at the beauty of nature from up there. People from different parts the world had come for this wonderful experience; for she is princess of unity. My fellow seminarians gave a feast of the ear by singing some joyful songs; sitting down I could sense the fragrance of the flowers and the stunning view of the sea was too beautiful for words. I sat still while the waves sang peacefully to the rhythm of the wind that was blowing smoothly all over the scene. It was my first time connecting with nature in such an intimate way. I wish I could have spent my whole day there, but unfortunately I couldn’t. However, I will never forget that day, it was a red-letter day; the day I met my princess, ‘The Lions head Mountain.’
“Servant of Servants” Siphesihle Manci | Durban
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” –Lao Tzu It was an honour to be named as one of the coordinators in the seminary in the year 2015. I was chosen as a coordinator in the second semester. When I was asked if I accept this position or not, I stood up, raised my right hand and said “I do.” I made these gestures to show my
brothers, the seminarians, and formator how serious that position was. The description given by the seminary of a coordinator was that “he keeps discipline, animates and encourages the brothers on his corridor. He cares for them when they are sick, helping Fr Hugh as an infirmarian”. I then interpreted being a coordinator as ‘journeying with seminarians, step by step, in good and bad times and also being a mediator between seminarians and the formators.’ Being a coordinator does not make you more than other seminarians but instead it makes you less because if you want to serve other people well, you must make yourself less than them. This opening quote from Lao Tzu is what pushed me to be the coordinator I was. It was my motto. This quote made me take a decision of not leading from the front but rather from the back. If you are leading from the back, it is easier to see when people in front of you are going astray or when things ahead are getting tough and then you help where you possibly can and then go to the back again and let people continue going forward. Therefore if you are leading from behind, people do not really see you but they see things going well. They also see problems coming, they try facing those problems, which is when the leader comes to assist, but all of a sudden they realise that those problems have been solved and then they say “we did it ourselves.” In that way the leader’s work is done, his aim is fulfilled and the people he is leading will say “we did it ourselves.” If you lead from the back you also help people grow. The reason I say this is because you let people attempt fixing problems they encounter on their own and only help where necessary. Therefore in them facing those challenges helps them grow. I believe this is one of the best leadership styles that one can use, especially in a seminary. In the seminary we are being formed to be future priests. As priests we will encounter challenges but what we have learnt in the seminary will then come into play and help us face those challenges. One may see being a coordinator as just being a leader of seminarians but in a way it is also another way of formation. The position of being a coordinator if used well, helps the coordinator to grow but also helps the seminarians to mature. Being a coordinator forms you to be a great leader in future. Priests are expected to be leaders. Therefore with the help of formators, a coordinator is formed to being a great leader in future who will be able to lead the people of God.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
7
Allow Formation to Form You Mphathi Siyabonga Mlambo | Dundee
“And yet he knows every step I take, let him test me in the crucible I shall come out pure gold” (Job 23:10). Allow yourself to be formed because this is a long journey to the Priesthood which begins here in Cape Town. Gather the knowledge in your youth so that you will be a walking encyclopaedia in old age. There are lot of fallacies about formation, the most common one is that formators wait for your downfall and capitalise on that at times. Perhaps this happens sometimes, but largely it is false. Some people say, if you show your true colours that could be harmful to your formation. This also is not true. Furthermore, formators are classified as very intolerant people and that is just another false statement. Humbleness is a virtue and my advice would be that humble yourself before your elders, open yourself to formation and don't allow people to mislead you so that your formators will lead you from infancy to manhood. Formation brings one to transformation and maturity through their openness to it and that is a fact. In order to deepen your discernment at the orientation seminary you need to take formation seriously. A wise priest once told a story and said there are two types of seminarians, one being a cabbage and the other a flower. When a cabbage is planted, during the first stages of its growth the leaves open, but later when it has fully matured they close up, and the flower closes up during the first stages of its growth, but opens up when it has fully matured, starting to show its beauty and attractiveness. He then asked us, out of the two which one do we choose to be? As seminarians we should not be motivated to be like cabbages. We should not open up to formation during the first years, but later resist it and close up. Rather we are called to be like flowers. We are called to humble ourselves with the little knowledge we have and to open up to formation so that we may bear fruit. This image is an eyeopener to those in formation and those who are still yet to join the seminary. They are urged to be like flowers, to be open to formation in order to grow and be transformed to better and wise men who, one day, will hopefully make good priests. The four fundamental aspects of formation are Human, Spiritual, Intellectual and Pastoral Formation and they take place in our lives daily. They are very helpful and can be met only through prayer, which is the cornerstone of formation, and also through listening which is a sign of in-
8
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
terest and willingness to live well. So my words to you are, allow formation to form you and you will be transformed.
Catholic and non-Catholic Views on a Seminarian Berry Mathulwe | Rustenburg
A seminarian to both parties, Catholic and non-Catholics alike, is a courageous being, who has taken hold of God`s yolk; leaving earthly pleasures. A seminarian is a brave person who has entered the lion`s den and sharpeners of life. The non-Catholics might not understand the celibate life, but they see a seminarian as a motivation to their children and their community. Every time you meet with them, they are always eager to hear about life at the seminary and how one is coping with the studies and fellow students, as well as being far from home. But again, they would always ask, “How can you become an unmarried pastor?” Seminarians used to come to my diocese, for pastoral work, and every time I met with them, it was my concern about their ordination and the years that they had spent at the seminary. The same thing is happening to me at the moment. Catholics are concerned about the years and time required. There are those who see or expecting good things from a seminarian and there are those who are always expecting bad things. Despite all the negative thoughts about seminarian they respect this vocation and they are praying for more. All the positive and negative thoughts really help one and it is another formation outside the seminary. It builds one`s patience, behaviour, mentality, strength, courage and stability. At the beginning of the year Fr Peter John said that spirituality is about connecting the dots in your life, so when I hear a negative thought, one of the behaviours comes to my head and it helps me to deal with that present situation and it always accompanied by the Holy Spirit.
~ One of Frank's doodles
Blessed Benedict Daswa's Beatification: a Reflection Sydney Raju Tefu | Tzaneen
In 2009 after the Africae Munus synod in Rome, Emeritus Bishop Hugh Slattary of Tzaneen Diocese took the advice of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI to the African Bishops and made a plea for the beatification of Benedict Daswa, as a man who died for his faith. The very same year the new bishop of Tzaneen, Bishop Joao made sure that the cause continued with the help of emeritus Bishop Hugh. Early this year, Pope Francis gave the go ahead for the beatification after nine theologians voted his as a martyr. And this is how it went. On Friday, 11 September, hundreds of pilgrims went to the Church where Daswa's bones are reburied to make their personal prayers and ask for Daswa's intercessions. On Saturday, thousands of pilgrims who arrived for a prayer service thought it would not be a pleasant beatification because it was raining. I even heard someone saying, “This rain is backstabbing Daswa.” In the evening there were variety of prayers, we had confession, praise and worship and benediction which was led by Fr Andrew Shinganga. On Sunday, we had visitors from the tribal centre and the Government. These were: the King of Venda and his advisers, the Deputy President of South Africa Mr Cyril Ramaphosa and the President of COPE Mr Mosiwa Lekota. Tzaneen diocese is a multi-cultural diocese, so this big ceremony was opened with different cultural dances, dramas and poem, followed by Morning Prayer of the Church which was led by Emeritus Bishop Hugh and two seminarians from Tzaneen. It was a good experience for those two seminarians who are studying at St Francis Xavier Seminary. The Mass procession was lead by ten seminarians from St John Vianney Seminary. The Pope's representative, Cardinal Angelo Amato, arrived late and caused the Morning Prayer to stop. When he arrived I heard someone next to me saying, “Rome is in South Africa” (Tzaneen). He read the letter which was written by Pope Francis declaring that Daswa is now a Blessed and Bishop Joao showed the certificate to prove that. It would be wrong not to mention the choir. Their efforts assured the success of the beatification because they had
been practising since the Pope gave the go ahead for this beatification. The choir was being prepared with the help by Fr Vicky Rikhotso and Fr Emmanuel Marwale. The man who made sure that everything was ready for Mass Fr Boitumelo, who was also the master of ceremonies with Fr John Selemela. From next year onwards on the first of February it will be the feast day of Blessed Benedict Daswa. It will be celebrated in a big way in Tzaneen and the whole of South Africa. The Archbishop of Pretoria told the South Cross, “Cardinal Amato, said this was the best beatification, I have ever attended.” Will we have more people like Blessed Benedict Daswa to die for their faith or be faithful to their faith? What about us? Blessed Benedict Daswa pray for us.
Holy Simplicity: a book review Mphathi Siyabonga Mlambo | Dundee
Holy Simplicity was written by Joel Schorn, an author and editor from Chicago. He is also the author of God’s Doorkeeper. This book is about the spirituality of Blessed Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day and Thérèsa of Lisieux. These people all practised a simple spirituality that deeply changed their lives and the lives of those they worked with. Working with poor people and drug addicts, they tried to change the world to being a better place and also drew people to Christ. These three women felt they could help everyone, but eventually realized that it was impossible, so they decided to help one person at a time. Blessed Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day gained much understanding from Theresa of Lisieux and her spirituality, which is called the little way. Joel Schorn tells the stories of these three women and events in their lives to show how they practised the little way in their lives. The writer has shown that, engaging in a simple or little way of life can result in holiness. He has also shown that serving the poor and the underprivileged is a special way of serving God. This book is good for spirituality, meditation and seeing how God works in other people. It also shows that we do not necessarily find God in rich people but also in the less fortunate and those that we take for granted. This book has inspired me to live or engage in the simple spirituality which will help me move towards holiness. It has probed in me the need to live a life of simplicity and not seek material wealth, but rather spiritual nourishment. It has also helped me realize that I have to care for the poor and the vulnerable in the range of my abilities and as a way of serving God.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
9
Brother Toiletries Siyabonga Khumalo | Mariannhill
When you are far from home there are things that you start worrying about, things that hardly bothered you when you were at home with your family. Being at the seminary has formed us in many ways and one in particular is to be independent; to be able to look after yourself without your mother, aunt, granny or anyone else to look after you.
pits he has been there for our brothers. In plagues of not showering in the mornings he has fought and defeated the enemy 'smell', from those suffering and saved the rest from suffocation. Who would not admire such a wise and caring friend who knows how to destroy the enemy and who comes to the aid of those in need without the cost. If I forget you O most loving and powerful 'BRUT' let my armpits be malodorous.
Toiletries are a vital necessity for hygiene purposes in one's Popular Sayings of the Year life. The Church needs hygienic priests and so it is imSydney Raju Tefu | Tzaneen portant to start learning to be hygienic while still in the seminary. Apart from serving our cleanliness, toiletries make our Fr Thomas (Rector): “Dudes” and “We don't know.” lives much simpler. I would like to share with you our jour- Fr Hugh: “Normal, normal, normal” and “R-R-Right!” Fr Chris: “Here we are.” and “Lespray” ney we had with toiletries this year. Fr P.J.: “I have 3 points”, “I don't think so” and “Do I Our journey with toiletries has been a fun, convenient and see hands in the pockets?” healthy one. Through out the year we have been blessed to Mrs Aaron: “Now let’s have you standing” and “Good get more than enough toiletries; thus the stress of having to go and buy the toiletries was eradicated. It was just a matter morning and God bless You.” Mrs O'Leary: “Relationship spaces.” and “In you Lord of going to our most benevolent formators and asking for we live and move and have our being” them. Frank: “Ah, That's a lie” and “Shap” and “There’s a lot Local generous people have come to visit at different times left hay guys” through out the year, when they did, none of them came empty handed. When we went out to visit them none of us Chandré: “Sho' Buddy” and “Brah did you study? Okay now I feel better because I didn't either” returned home empty handed. It was always awe-inspiring Mitchell: “You see keh now?” when the faithful shrouded us with tender love as they brought us presents. Toiletries always filled up the storePeter Philani: “Bhutiza” room; from face cloths to big towels, skin jelly to body loSydney Raju: “Isn't it” and “Nje” tions, roll-on to deodorants and shoe polish to toothpaste S’busiso: “Is powerful.” and “According to you, yes. But and brushes. All these occupied our storeroom and cupaccording to me, no” boards in our rooms. David: “Mkhaya” and “eita majita” The toiletries, which were freely given to us, did not only Jared: “My bad.” and “you know?” keep us clean, fresh and healthy or keep our cupboards oc- Nka: “Yeah Man.” cupied, but they also made it possible for us to get some Asanda: “Number One.”, and “Please man” little 'extra pocket money' because there was no need to Siyabonga M: “The More” and “drama” spend the little we had when the storeroom was overflowSiyabonga K: “Oh Yes!” ing with toiletries. Bongani C: “Eh Ndoda” and “Wenzani?” Like friends who come and go, some products from the Bongani J: “Ahem, it’s Kind Of...”, “like”, “I think” toiletries have left us. Colgate left us and Aqua-fresh joined Berry: “Are you avoiding me?” and “Calm down.” us; Nivea left us and Shield came along; Sunlight left us and Zipho: “Eh wena!” Protex became one of Aleki: “Ehhh.. Father?” us. And out of them Theophile: “Ehh S...Sorry?” all, only one companSihle: “Eh Monna” ion has remained faithful to us and h e Sanele: “Ey sharrap” and “eeeh sorry Madam.” has been faithful even Cebolenkosi: “My Brothers.” to our predecessors from all ages. His peers though, try to take him down by claiming to be more useful than he is, but even then he stand firm for he knows what is best for us. In floods of sweaty arm-
10
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
Slow food: you are how you eat David de Caires e Freitas | Cape Town
Ladies and a Gentleman Cebolenkosi Mazibuko | Dundee
We were thrown into a new world, a silent world with no gadgets or smartphones. For five days we were to live in silence and contemplation. No communication, but lots of time to focus on the moment and to take stock of our journeys thus far. We were advised by the adept retreat directors to try do everything in our days more slowly and more mindfully, from our bathing to our walking. I decided to take up the challenge in a practical way – I decided to eat slower than usual. Here is what I learnt from the experience. I noticed that it’s quite possible to physically eat our food very quickly. There’s food on the plate and it’s a breeze to get it down our throat in a small amount of time. It’s our first instinct as a baby to put everything in our reach into our mouths. A full meal can be downed faster than a hotdog eating champion. But, how do we fill all the empty space and silence after the plate is emptied and the cutlery is laid down? The next chore is awaiting yes, but, we have 30 minutes at the lunch tables to share with each other. Is it acceptable to blank our plates as fast as we can? The saying, “we are human beings and not human doings” comes to mind. So here we are on a “slow, silent retreat”, yet I was seeing food moving fast. It felt like the personification of instant gratification was coming to life all around me. The next moment, I was thinking about the cow that died to provide me with a meal. I couldn’t help to stop and consider the cow’s long life that lead up to his death, and all the energy that went into it growing bigger for my gain, only for me to swallow him in whole un-chewed chunks in a few inattentive minutes. We have many holes in our existence, but I realised that we don’t have to fill them as much, or as quickly, or as often as we can, just because that’s how “the rest of society” or the rest of the group is doing it. And as students of the priesthood, we have some idea of what being counter-cultural looks like. We were given marvellous teeth to chew, to break down and to extract the goodness and energy from our blessed food; all in the aim of improving our existence and making us feel more fully alive, more fully human by maximizing our nutrition uptake. I realised I need to think more about where I am now, where this meal came from, where it is taking me and with whom I am sharing this food; these ruminations take a little more time. Slowing down doesn’t mean enjoying my food or my life any less. It means I am extending the joy I experience, savouring the flavours in the manner for which we are designed- all towards the end of making the journey sweeter, and our days fuller.
Whenever a child leaves home to another place the parents worry about: who is going to cook, wash the bedding and be there for their child as a mother figure. This is so in the case of boys who are going to University or to Seminary. The management of SFX Seminary have all those questions answered as there are five remarkable ladies who cook, wash our bedding once every week and clean part of the house every day. They’re also good people to relate to and give us the love that a mother gives to her children. Mr Victor makes sure that the garden is constantly kept tidy. With all their needs taken care of, seminarians are able to focus on their academics and spiritual life. Seminarians like it that the staff have been working at SFX for a long time and have experience in keeping seminarians happy and healthy. The staff have dedicated their time to help the church form better priests, and for that we salute them. Thank you, baie dankie, syabonga!
Fr Chris challenges the seminarians with his homilies Bongani J Mativandlela | Tzaneen
Woe to lazy seminarians! Woe to those who eat without labour! Woe to us if we misuse our privileges! A Seminarian is someone who becomes famous, just for being a seminarian! The title alone gives him status. This is not enough. Seminarians must labour for what they receive. Seminarians have to prove that they will become good future priests. Seminarians need to start living the ideals that they pursue. They need to serve the people around them and the whole Christian community at large. They need to be competent in academics and correctly behaved. The People of God want seminarians who pursue holiness, not “king” seminarians. They desire “servant” seminarians. This is a new age and things need to change. We need not to hold on the traditions of the past but carry forward the mission of Christ. People out there need Jesus in their lives, but the carriers (seminarians) must really bring him. People want seminarians who can offer service. This is your time, your kairos to change the world; use the opportunity, make the best out of it, make the world a better place by making Jesus’ name known there.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
11
Life Discovering Aleki Celestin M. | Scalibrinian
I Aleki Celestin Mupanzi (26 years old) lived a life without knowing what my potential was. I was living just because I found myself in this world. When I finished Catechism classes in 2004, I tried to live and behave as I was taught about Christian life, but still I did not realize whether I was living a healthy life or not. It is through this introductory year that I am doing at Saint Francis Xavier Seminary that I discovered myself, who truly I am.
J. Krishnamurti said that,” Only in relationships can you know yourself, not in abstraction and certainly not in isolation.” Tom Stella said,” Everyone is someone through whom something resonates.” Teilhard de Chardin said,” We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
Finally, I found that being Christian is not the name that we are called, but the life that we live among our brothers and sisters. I am very happy for discovering my true identity because I was living a prayer life that was fruitful without realizing it. I would encourage everyone to invite other In fact, when people to play a role in their lives. My gratitude to all who I left Congo had contributed in my life discovering, especially the Staff (DRC), I of Saint Francis Xavier Seminary and my Scalabrini comlived in Durmunity. ban for about four May almighty God bless you, Thanks. years, without knowing myself or who truly I was. Even though I had fun with many friends Sydney Raju Tefu | Tzaneen from different cultures At the seminary there is always a way to make things easy and by serving others, it makes it easy to share duties. It's and lannot easy to wash other guages, no one of them people's clothes but in was able to tell me about my role in life. Sometimes it hap- doing so there are two things involved, first is pened that I experienced the necessity to adapt to a different language and communication or build a trustworthy re- service and then charity. Sometimes when lationship that myself I couldn’t understand easily. people make funny comments this can A man is well known by other people than himself. Some people were approaching me and trusting me from the very make us sad. first time of our contact. I was always asking myself questions that were without answers. In order to keep those rela- In serving others there tionships alive, I followed the motivations and advice that I are two things which received from closest friends. I made many friends and rela- make our job easier; we commit ourselves to respect other people's clothes and tionships that are important in my life. serve the Lord with gladness. “We are the stewards of God, so let us do as if is done for God,” says Saint Paul. “When It is when my Scalabrini Congregation sent me at Saint you do the work, which others don't like, you are growing in Francis Xavier Orientation Seminary, that I became aware of myself. Through the Workshops, Retreats and Recollec- one way or another,” said Bishop Risi. This is very true; we can sometimes find ourselves folding clothes and saying, tions that we had I became to know who really I am. Through some sharing that we had in groups during classes “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy and the work on family tree that we did in Human Growth Spirit, Amen.” and Development, I realized the place and the role that I Did you know that Pope Francis was once a rector and his play in my family and in society. seminary didn't have enough money to pay the staff workers and he decided to share duties with his seminarians in the When my superior Father Gerardo told me to look for a Spiritual Director, this challenged me because it was my first service of other? He was the first to work in the laundry as a time to share my secrets with someone else. It was not easy rector. Maybe he was the last! If pope can do it, what will stop us? Remember that you don't just do it in the service for me to share my experiences of life with other one. But of other but you do it for God. “I can do all things through now I can do it and without any fear. Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13)
In the Service of Others
12
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
Our Lecturers S’busiso Ncube | Ingwavuma
Mrs Frances Aaron is our English lecturer and is seen by some as ‘another’ mother. She is quite strict but also makes some jokes. She is always smiling, kind and treats everybody on the same level. When teaching she is very patient and makes sure that everyone understands everything being taught. She loves her work and commits herself fully with love and care. At the beginning of her period and at the end she always greets us, saying “Good morning and God bless you”. Mrs Elsabe O' Leary, is the lecturer of Human Growth and Development. She is the one who makes us grow in our minds and see things in the different way, and to understand other people’s emotions. Before her class begins we have different kinds of meditations. She is teaching us to know one another better, and always asks us to make conversation partners. All her assignments are about paying attention and listening as she gives us movies to watch on Friday nights and after that we have a discussion and write an assignment. She is a prayerful woman and also gives us powerful advice for the future.
The Long Awaited Soccer Match, Finally Here Asanda Maduna | Mariannhill
It was on a Wednesday, within the Easter octave when time finally came for the two corridors, 'La Famiglia' and 'Levites' to fight on the soccer field for the coveted trophy that their sport manager had promised. Everyone had long waited for this game to prove their football skills, with some individuals having high expectations of themselves. Without realising, one of the Levites had confided their game plan to a La famiglia player. However, looking at the way LA famiglia played the first half, this seemed to have not helped them. In fact, both teams were very careful in the first half and defenders played a significant role in protecting their goalkeepers. Hence, this took the game to halftime with 0-0 as the score. Filled with anxieties, the players had to return to the field for second half to recommence. Now Levites came back with a different methodology which was more about short passes and indeed, it paid off. Sphesihle scored the first goal of the match following a mistake by La Famiglia defender failing to clear the ball at the back. For quite some time, Levites managed to hold on their lead until Nka scored a magnificent equalizer towards the end of the match. Just when everybody was convinced that only penalties were going to decide on the winner, La Famiglia captain, Asanda, scored a prominent goal which separated the two teams. Final score: La Famiglia (2) – Levites (1)
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
13
Colourful Cultural Day Peter Philani Fodo | Kokstad
Cultural day at the seminary, this was a day set apart by the authorities giving us a chance to express ourselves in whatever we can do. Well spent indeed and very tiring however we started our celebration on a very low key, because the weather was not really good in the morning and some were still preparing their things. It was cloudy and there were rain showers but as time went by it started to warm up and the sun came out. People came out with their bright colourful cultural attire that was when we started to hear some singing as we were surrounding the braaing stand, waiting for the hour. We started a song Ingonyama that led us to the class where the ceremony was held. Everyone showed a great enthusiasm, we even saw the formators dancing and singing, which was a little bit funny but good. Everyone couldn't wait to go up front and present his culture. It was such a great moment where you could see the real unity among people of different cultures. We opened with the clans of King Shaka, by one of the Zulu students. The Zulu group surprised us with isicathamiya from the beginning followed by their cultural songs and dances, which I think most of the students got courage from their performances because they had confidence in what they were doing. Many cultures were presented that day, but some didn't really present their cultures. I presume they were not quite sure, but we saw some dancing there. What I liked is that everyone performed something, which showed that SFX has got talent. We ended our celebration with style sitting outside doing some brain teasing while others were preparing the meat for us. As we were doing all that the exceptional Xhosa beer umqomboti was served and everyone loved it as it tasted like a yogi sip. Thanks to the lady who taught me how to do it. However, that brought us together sitting a circle sharing umqomboti. Everybody was happy singing and dancing, which means umqomboti was playing its part even the mlungus were drinking this wonderful drink. We really enjoyed everything that was prepared for that special day. Hence, we embraced our different cultures in unity, showing that “my culture your culture one Church.”
“Yiyo le le Ngonyama! Yiyo le le Ngonyama! Yiyo le le Ngonyama! Francis Xavier yi ngonyama.
The Journey of a Capuchin Postulant Jared Jamie | Capuchin
As a young man coming into formation for the first time, the reality of going to the seminary was an exciting one. I fondly recall the ‘butterflies’ present in my stomach that first day I walked up to St Francis Xavier. I was pleasantly surprised to see another postulant at the gate that arrived at the same time that I did. From the very first day of orientation I was pleasantly intrigued by the daily happenings at the seminary. I fondly remember the assessments we did after our orientation and getting to know all my brothers. I feel that I was blessed to be with these brothers and to listen to their stories of how God called them. I remember our first outing to Muizenberg, and how we all took the train. That sunny day in February was indeed a joyous one. I treasure all I’ve learnt in our various classes that I attended this year. We’ve had a number of subjects which included introductions to Liturgy and Faith Development, and an in depth course about Human Growth and Development. There was always something happening in each of my classes, never a dull moment to be honest. We were either very vocal or very quiet! I enjoyed my daily trips to and from the seminary, and at times felt that the walk to SFX was like walking through the outskirts of Assisi. I remember my many pleasant walks in the garden of the Seminary, a real paradise of nature! At times I got lost in the pure beauty of God’s creation, whether it was the birds, the butterflies or ‘brother’ Bunny. I felt particular close to God and His creation in this very paradise during the days of recollection, and felt I could’ve stayed there for extended amounts of time if I had a good book in my hand. Overall my experience of St Francis Xavier has been a joyful one! I thank God for all the lecturers, brothers and staff of SFX Seminary. This has been a year that I will always cherish in my heart.
14
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
Calling Timeout: Day of Recollection Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
Coming to the orientation seminary here in Cape Town meant that many adjustments had to be made. For some, it was the infamous, unpredictable weather. To others, it could have been anything from getting up before the break of dawn in winter to having to perform some manual labour twice a week. Others may have found the challenge in the thirty minutes meditation sessions every morning to meeting deadlines on assignments whilst having to prepare for tests. Things could become chaotic and, ironically, seminarians often found themselves feeling disorientated in the orientation seminary. This is, after all, what they came here for; to develop healthy, wholesome lifestyles through learning to manage their time well. Basketball coaches call a timeout when they feel that their players need to rest a bit in order to get refocused and recommitted to the game plan. He calls them off the court in order to compose themselves once more through listening to the words of their leader, their teacher. This is what the Day of Recollection is meant to be for seminarians. A timeout. A breather. A time to become still and to listen to the Master. If you do not remain aware and in control of what you are doing at all times, you might become derailed along the way. It happens to us all though. We can become distracted and unknowingly stray into labyrinths of disorder and disorientation. That is when we need to become aware and claim once more the helm of our formation journey. …..”After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.” Elijah heard the voice of God speaking to him not in the noise of the strong and heavy wind, not in the earthquake and not in the fire but in the gentle breeze; in silence. A Day of Recollection is set aside every month for seminarians and what a wonderful time it is. A full day without our smartphones and computers may seem as the most unattractive and unreasonable prerequisite for the day, but it is in the very act of giving up these things that we start to realize who and what is truly important to us. In the beginning, the experience of the Day of Recollection seems odd, and preparing for it knowing that it’s imminent may even cause some anxiety. But once you’ve had an encounter with silence, you’ll begin to see things in a different light. You will begin to reflect ever more deeply on things which have always been before you, things that have always been a part of you but has not always had your attention. They are often the things that are vital for our lives and also the things we hardly give a second thought to. Like those smartphones and laptops we own, we too need time to recharge to be able to function optimally. When we look at nature and the way things grow, we notice that they grow in silence. From a baby in the womb to the flower in the field; they grow in silence. And a vocation is the same: it is a relationship with God that grows in silence;
in an environment where one’s inner ears are open to hear God who only speaks in silence. In our lives we have so many voices which influence and inform us. We live in a noisy culture and for a reason such as this, the seminary formators in their wisdom provide the seminarians with this blessed, grace filled day to become still and allow God’s voice to be heard: Day of Recollection. The Day of Recollection is invaluable to every seminarian. It is like the spiritual currency during his time in the years spent in formation. It is like a cheque which can be cashed at a later stage so my advice would be to invest it well. “ O that today you would listen to his voice…”
Prayer to the Carpenter Most loving Carpenter, by your merciful and skillful hands, carve my life into the beautiful masterpiece you had in your heart and mind before you formed me in my mother’s womb. Most gracious Carpenter, my brother and my friend, teach me how to love God the Father more perfectly through loving my own earthly father. Most diligent Carpenter, help me to find joy and consolation in all the work entrusted to me. Oh hardworking Carpenter, strengthen me to work tirelessly for the salvation of souls. Blessed Carpenter, do with me what You will. Amen.
Chandré T. Stevens | De Aar
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
15
Expect the Unexpected Sanele Msomi | Durban (Archdiocese)
You will never know something until you experience it. If all truths were told, all secrets revealed, nothing was going to remain beautiful. If we were told everything before we left our homes, who would come to seminary then? Sometimes secrets are good, but what about the product that comes from the secret? Once you find out what was hidden from you, it then becomes your choice whether you embrace it or not. Now let’s get straight to the point and think about this. I’m not going to give a report about the seminary, but a reflection of what I’ve experienced. Firstly, let us reflect on these following questions. If you are in the church and think of the clergy and the seminarians, what comes to mind? Is it not the holiness? Obvious it is. If you think about their conversations, what would you think about? I think of the religious matters that they are always discussing together. If you think of their chat mates on Social Networks, who would you think of? These are few of the many questions that you might have. I can’t say a lot about priests, because I am not a priest yet. But I believe that I can say much about the seminarians. These past months have been long enough for me
to reflect on what I have experienced. When we arrived here, we were all happy I presume, even now, we are still happy. We all had great expectations. The question is what if those expectations are not fulfilled, or noone is willing to work on them, what would one do as an individual? Would one go back home? We came from various dioceses, but we all have the same vision of becoming priests one day. Therefore, it’s supposed to be easy to work together on making our visions come true. Pride and selfishness versus unity and trust. Sometimes the variety of cultures and beliefs clash or contradict, which commonly leads to conflict. I don’t think anyone had ever thought of cliques, tribalism, gossip, favouritism, conflicts, or any other negative thing if one thinks of the seminary; whether these things are implied directly or indirectly. It is not only the negatives, but also the positives events as well, such as: outings, recreation, events, manual labour and so on. That is why I said “Expect the unexpected”. We are also human beings like everybody else, we are living in flesh. There is no living Saint on this earth, but they are only found in Heaven. However, we are still brothers who are enthusiastic about priesthood. We are ONE, BIG FAMILY, just as other families. We face challenges and conflicts, but they pass. We live with our imperfections, with a hope of being made better than before. Be realistic, we do not pray and read Bible 24/7. If that was what you expected, sorry.
Formators I, Theophile NIYONSENGA, coming to St Francis Xavier Seminary as a Scalabrinian candidate for the introductory, I was nervous and worried wondering if I would cope with studies I had to embrace. I was inspired by the formators and life became easy and smooth in the seminary. I was astonished by their warm hearted and hospitality on the first day, and I fell in love with my subjects before I even knew them, through the kindness of the formators on that first day. They were well prepared to offer me high education in a friendly approach. They were always open to share with me honestly, whatever I needed to know. They have a sense of humor, are understanding, caring and loving. They implanted in my heart and mind the sense of community and belonging. They encouraged me in all aspects of life. They never cease to support me physiologically, academically and spiritually. They made sure that I always had the work to do, and they never ceased to advise me how to become my best self. They are my role models, by their leadership qualities such as; patience, hardwork, faithfulness, commitment, honesty, trustworthiness, communication, respect, integrity, acceptance, unity, consideration and self-giving. Beyond intellectual level, they helped me to find myself and discover my purpose on this earth. They helped me in building my self-confidence; they are passionate, full of patience and forgiveness. Not only giving me knowledge, but they also showed me how to live worthy life and to pass it to others. Do you think I should call them my Lecturers? Though they taught me, they were my friends, my parents, my life-guiders and future builder. They informed me so that I may live a life of integrity and be transformed in order to embrace my vocation fruitfully. They were more than teachers. Apart from the Priests, through our English teacher, you can never understand how my English was raised high just within a year! Through our Human Development teacher, now I know who I am and I can identify my different psychological states. I’m able to make healthy and wise choices, able to embrace the good values and to change. I’m able to build my emotional wellness and to build a healthy relationship with others.
16
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
St Francis Xavier e-letter No 1 2015
It is just a month since St. Francis Xavier’s welcomed its new batch of students and some have already put together the first of what we hope will be a regular newsletter to all our friends. I hope you enjoy their contributions and that you will keep them all in your prayers. Thomas Plastow, S.J. – Rector. The Rector’s 50th Birthday Siyabonga Khumalo - Mariannhill
Seminarians and formators of SFX had a feast celebrating the Rector’s 50th birthday. Fr Thomas Plastow SJ, the ‘birthday boy’ was prayed for during the intercessions at Mass. At breakfast, champagne was served and Fr Peter-John Pearson proposed a toast with an eloquent speech which touched the Rector who simply replied: ‘I don’t know what to say after that powerful speech...’ A birthday card signed by all was presented to him. Expressing his gratitude he promised everyone cake at lunch time, specially baked by his mom. The dining room was decorated in time for lunch with the cakes on display. As usual, the kitchen staff served tasty food. The Rector then invited those whose birthdays had Left to right: Muzi, Asanda, Fr Thomas, Bongani and already taken place within the year to share the spotlight with Sanele sharing the spotlight. him. The afternoon was spent as each one chose until evening prayer. ‘What a superb day we had’ said one seminarian. The first day of recollection Bongani J Mativandlela – Tzaneen
It was on a Friday after a long week of orientation when seminarians finally had their time to connect with God. It was led by Fr Chris Chatteris SJ and its theme was the reason for being in the seminary and that we have to bear fruit to the world. We began on Thursday night with compline and scriptures for reflection and continued on Friday morning with morning prayer and meditation. There were reflections throughout the day which enabled the smooth flow of the time. There was total silence and everyone had detached themselves from all disturbances (including their phones) to connect fully with God. The recollection ended with an evening mass and supper and that was a time of joy where seminarians shared their experience of the day with their friends. Ad Sum Ard Labor Frank van Velzen - Pretoria
With the Church historically having placed great importance on the value of all types of work, students at SFX regularly spend afternoons attempting small tasks with great love. Every alternate weekday the human formation of the seminarians involves various outdoor chores. Their responsibilities include pruning trees, replacing light bulbs, washing cars, amongst others. The formators take great interest in observing their new recruits sanctifying ordinary tasks. Notable Catholic individuals who’ve articulated this profound spirituality include St Thérèse of Lisieux who labelled it “the little way”, St Josemaria Escrivá (Opus Dei) and Dorothy Day.
With many initially seeing the labour as time wasted away from their books, they’re now valuing the lessons being learnt. One student commented “I’ve never spent time in the garden digging up vegetables or trimming trees, yet I’m realising why St Francis of Assisi appreciated nature so much.”
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
17
Brushing up on Dental Health (the way the tooth and the life) David de Caires e Freitas - Cape Town
Twenty four smiling seminarians sheepishly lost their first-week smiles while listening to the Seminary’s dentist describing in detail how to tend their teeth. To ensure that dental health is a priority from the very beginning, the talk from Dr Kezia Dunn, was planned for the semester's first week. Should one use floss? Is it recommended to drink fruit juice? How long do we brush? Do we clean our tongue? These were some questions in the minds of the men at SFX. It was also their first lecture from an “outsider” i.e. from a non permanent staff member. We were told that we should brush with our bristles at a 45 degree angle in order to reach under the gums. And also, that we should floss in order to clean the other two out of five surfaces of our teeth. The students were smiling again at the end as free samples of toothpaste were received by all. Men About Town Chandré T. Stevens - De Aar
The mother of all cities welcomed a group of seminarians as they embarked on their first field trip to the City as part of their orientation week. Representing different dioceses, the group of 21 young men are from various parts of the country. The excursion was arranged by the rector of SFX, Father Thomas Plastow SJ. Joined by his fellow formators, the group scurried up and down the busy streets of this famous city. The Golden Acre, Grand Parade, City Hall, the Catholic Cathedral and Parliament were places of interest, to name but a few. Fr Thomas, a Capetonian and a historian, gave valuable historical input. Some of the students took the opportunity to indulge in a local favourite; fish and chips. Others bought cultural souvenirs. Students said they enjoyed the experience of Cape Town as it gave them deeper insight into the history and heritage of their native soil.
the Catholic priesthood.
This year forms part of the first phase of formation for these men aspiring towards
Trip to Muizenberg Beach Siphesihle Manci - Durban
SFX Seminarians wrapped up their orientation week by visiting the Muizenberg beach led by the formators. It was a bright shiny day when the Seminary family embarked on this excursion to the beach. They were fiendishly excited as the train took off from Crawford Station. At the beach the sight of seminarians and formators being tossed and turned together by the waves, while the sun was smiling upon them, was worth millions. On this trip seminarians were able to get to know each other more since they are from different parts of the country. Fr Chatteris S.J started to administer food well before the stomachs could start grumbling. Suddenly everyone had the same thought: “Time flies when you are having fun” as it was time to leave. Back at the Seminary, seminarians were ready to tackle the year with the aid of their lecturers and formators.
18
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
St Francis Xavier e-letter No 2 2015
Dear friends. Here is an account of some of our activities in March. We wish you all a blessed Easter! Thomas Plastow, S.J. – Rector.
Visit of Archbishop Brislin Bongani Mativandlela - Tzaneen
It was on a Tuesday that the Rector informed the students that the Archbishop of Cape Town would be visiting the seminary. We ensured that everything was thoroughly prepared and when the Archbishop arrived, he celebrated mass and joined the students, priests and lecturers for supper. One of the students said “these guys are dressed as though they are going to a wedding” because everyone was formally and smartly dressed. We got a chance to converse with the Archbishop and he wanted to know how we had settled and if we were enjoying Cape Town. The students bombarded the Archbishop with several questions regarding his lifestyle and the work he does and he answered them eloquently. The archbishop made it clear that he is a normal human being. The most memorable moment of the visit was when he advised the seminarians to live a life of integrity and maintain a healthy prayer life. Music for the soul Siyabonga Khumalo - Mariannhill
Liturgical ministries celebrated at SFX nearly always run smoothly and uplift the soul. This is achieved by good preparation by the seminarians beforehand with great enthusiasm. The two groups (called La Famiglia and The Levites) alternate duties every week. This involves preparing hymns sung in different languages, practising readings and the psalms of the Office. When the seminarians practise hymns, excitement overwhelms them. This becomes a chance to showcase singing talents and to learn vernacular languages. Learning to pronounce “Molimo” as “Modimo”, and not as it is written, has been a privilege for us non-Sotho speakers. “Choosing hymns hasn’t been an easy thing to do in past years”, say the formators. This has resulted in them having to keep an eye on us. I guess their presence has put us on our leashes and made it easier for music sung at liturgical ministries to uplift the soul. Heatwave Frank van Velzen - Pretoria
Cape Town’s weather which is known to be unpredictable and inconsistent has taken SFX seminarians by surprise, with some saying they’re struggling to acclimatise. Through rigorously structured lifestyles, seminaries create an environment for contentment and stability. This new way of life was disturbed in early March due to the erratic local climate patterns in the greater Cape Town region. Thermometers hit a record high for this century when the mercury rose to 41ºC on the 3rd; it however plummeted to just over 20ºC with scattered rainfall on the 4th. Add into this equation strong winds and the occasional dust storm (which often occur throughout the Cape Flats), and you have a formula for unhealthy, nauseous students. Drowsy, sweaty students took more refreshment breaks than normal, outdoor physical labour was cancelled twice within a week and the seminary swimming pool was often seen filled with sunsoaked scholars. One seminarian remarked that he wasn’t yawning in class owing to the content being presented, but merely from exhaustion caused by this bizarre weather.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
19
Developing a Spiritual Life Kgothatso Spider - Johannesburg I never thought that meditation was so important in the life of a Christian. SFX has made me aware of the importance of meditation and growing spiritually. Meditation is like communicating with God, listening to Him, inclining the ear of the soul. I learnt that spirituality is about joining the dots we have in life; meaning our challenges and prayer life. Reflection touches an important part of a person’s life. Looking on how you got where you are grooms a person to always be aware that things don’t just happen but they happen because God sees a need for them in your life. The types of meditation which I feel are helping me are guided meditations where someone has prepared something; perhaps a theme for that day or week. Self introspection and meditation is a way of looking into oneself more profoundly. I feel blessed and free to explore more in my spiritual life as I have got used to meditating at the chapel of the seminary every day. Even when I am free, I just go to be with myself and the Lord just to meditate and read a spiritual book. It builds and motivates me. It has taught me to be ready for God and to never think that I own this life but rather to have time for God and thank Him for his presence in our lives. Let us always avail ourselves to God as we say we trust in him always remembering that He will never abandon us. Week 1 in the Kitchen - “How hard could this be, eh?” David de Caires e Freitas - Cape Town
So you arrive at the seminary hoping that you can just sit around meditating all day long. Then reality hits you, “Today, group 1 is on kitchen duty.” That one cryptic sentence sparks many questions in the minds of the wide-eyed seminarians amid an anxious murmur. “The kitchen? I've never cleaned a dish in my life”, some are thinking. “How can I get out of this as quickly as possible?” thinks another freshcollared student. Then it all begins. We are marched into a valley of shiny silver counter-tops, buzzing kitchen appliances and never ending rows of porcelain. Where to start? This festering mountain of dirty dishes isn't going anywhere on its own at any rate. “I just had the best meal of my life, I didn't know that it involved cleaning up afterwards too, if I had only known, perhaps I would have used less cutlery”. A few indefinite instructions come echoing in from the entrance, which sputters the hands of some students into discernible, (and some would say) even useful, action. “It's my first day; I need to make sure I appear to be somewhat willing to take part in this perceived servile work.”
If only they knew what lay inside that kitchen; not in terms of delicious dinners, but in terms of a much deeper riches. What are these treasures, and will the seminarians discover them? Stay tuned for Part 2. MIRACLES IN OUR LIVES S’busiso Ncube - Vicariate Apostolic of Ingwavuma
The book that I am reading is called ‘Miracles do Happen’ by Sister Briege McKenna O.S.C. In this book, Sr Briege talks about healing and calling. (The gifts that are given to us by God, tell us that God has given us responsibilities and that, we must ask God for guidance at all times to do his will). Spiritual healing is about believing that Jesus works through us. She writes about how we sometimes feel that our prayers are not being heard and the emptiness we feel, but the proof of the power of prayer comes later. Prayer is when we keep in touch with Jesus. It makes us aware of our call to holiness, it helps us discern what from God the gifts that he wants of us. In Luke 8: 40-48, we find a little woman in a crowd looking at Jesus with great hope. For years, she had been desperate for healing. No one had been able to heal her. She had heard of Jesus. She said to herself, ‘If I could just touch Jesus. I know I will be healed.’ We can see that woman has faith, hope and trust. We as Catholics are very fortunate to receive Christ himself in communion. Sr Briege tells us to trust God and believe in his work.
20
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
St Francis Xavier e-letter No 3 2015
Dear friends, April has come and gone, so it’s time to bring you another batch of reports. Thank you for all the feedback you have been sending. In Christ, Thomas Plastow, S.J. The Fishpond, my Daily Dose of Medicine Mitchell M. Cloete – Keimoes-Upington
As human beings we are so busy at times that we forget to sit back and reflect on the nature that God gave us. We tend to take God’s nature for granted and it is such a pity that we do. It is a gift from God and we need to appreciate it by giving thanks to God for the nature that we enjoy today. Sometimes we do not pay much attention to the nature. So one day while I was a bit down and lonely, I went to the fishpond, which is located right in the centre of the seminary’s backyard. I stood there for a while and I felt myself looking at the goldfish that are swimming in the water. Although I had no particular reason for going there, I found myself thinking about God’s creation and how wonderful and great it is. This is now one of my favourite spots in SFX, because I can stand there and reflect on the natural world, which is ours to take care of. I also think about my own short comings and difficulties. Now every time when I have time to spare I’ll find myself next to the fishpond. It’s there where I get my daily dose of medicine. It helps me to carry on and to meditate on creation that we are grounded in. I love the fish and it is so hard for me to take out fish that died. I hope and pray that one day, we as human beings will truly appreciate the gift of nature, that we will spend time loving it and in taking care of it. The great St Augustine said that we must find God in everything. The incumbent Seminarian David de Caires e Freitas - Cape Town
I saw him sneaking out the front gate. He thought that no one saw him, but out of the corner of my eye I caught him disappear around the corner. I wonder where he is going. I hung around and waited to see if he returned. Sure enough he did. I told no one. I've seen him receive personalised attention before. I felt a bit jealous; he was getting better food than the rest of us. He even had his portions especially prepared. Only the best I noticed. Still, I said nothing. Then, what really got me suspicious of his special status was when I found Fr Hugh out in the garden at dusk, having a little conversation with him. Odd, what makes him so special I thought to myself. He wasn't replying though, perhaps he was caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing. Nonetheless, the swooning resumed and I left at that point to carry on with my business. Frankly, I can start to understand why people flock to spoil him; when I see him dashing majestically through the garden a blur of feet and hair, when I see him nibbling nicely on his gourmet meals, and when he comes up to greet me with those sweet eyes. I then finally understand. This is why they call the rabbit, Bunny. A WIDE RANGE TO CHOOSE FROM Siphesihle Manci - Durban
SFX has a wide range for seminarians to choose from for their sports and Seminary Games room recreation which is on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and on the weekends. Seminarians are often heard complaining about sore arms after pumping the weights in the gym while others are heard fighting over who won the in Soccer and Squash challenges as they go to cool off in the swimming pool. BUT the seminary, on the other hand, also provides an alternative for physical and tiring games by giving seminarians choices between 3 tables: table soccer, table tennis and pool table which leaves the seminarians stuck between a rock and a hard place. Those who like to keep up to date with what’s happening in the world are not left out either as a student lounge with fully installed DSTV is provided. You thought mathematics was confusing? Try choosing what sport to play in SFX.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
21
HAVING FUN IN THE CREEPY CRAWLIE’S TERRITORY
Siyabonga Khumalo - Mariannhill In their child ego state seminarians are seen in the swimming pool playing games while swimming the heat away. Poor creepy crawly is put on the side and forced to watch these old men chase each other. Most people perceive seminarians as young smart men who do nothing but pray and study all day long. I’m afraid to tell if you’re one of those people that you are wrong! These men do engage themselves in fun activities, if they didn’t I’m sure many would retire during the first quarter of the year. It’s unfortunate that you wouldn’t see them chasing each other like little 8 year olds at a pool party laughing their lungs out and racing with each other unless if you were a fly wandering around because trust me, all that is dropped even at the sight of the formator. Recreation time has come to be known as ‘swimming time’ if there’s no soccer that day. You see them rushing to change to their swimming kit high as a kite, but after swimming it’s all just the opposite. They forget about the poor creepy crawly that has been giving them attention all this time; they leave it there on the side all alone drying up in the sun turning to an old wrinkled pipe not being able to crawl again. Have you ever seen how tired children can be after a long swim in the pool with all those games they have been playing? So do the seminarians of SFX, they walk at a snail's pace dragging their feet. It almost like seeing that high kite coming down in slow motion resting gently on the ground. Studying time evolves to sleeping time, if only the formators knew! Who would’ve thought that being with people you’ve never known all your life in just two months would build a strong relationship like you’ve known each other for years. One picks up a good reflection of a family of God when these men have fun together. CHOIR WARS Bongani Mativandlela - Tzaneen
It’s show time! Saturday evening and that time has come. Classroom number 2, where the choir wars are waged. Clash or pray that’s your choice to make. That’s the place to be. Angelic voices versus the bass. That’s when they give birth to discord. A clash of two tribes – world war 3. Survival of the fittest. A great tension that worsens the discord. It’s all about expressions of emotions and grudges. A conflict stokes and adds fuel to the fire. It’s a vital time to prepare for a better Eucharistic celebration. Choir practice is actually a piece of cake but the clash makes it a life long journey. The tension is like a bomb planted during the week and ‘boom’, it explodes on the Saturday
evening. A test of who can go louder ends with every one being choked. The bass vibrates windows and the tenor blocks his ears. The underdogs can’t cut the mustard so they remain silent. The top dogs want to show off but they are all bark and no bite. Choir wars are not the intention. Expressing emotions is not the business of the day. Not even time for prejudice. They are just part of the package. Saturday evening is a time for choir practice. Even though it takes a great deal to accomplish, it’s still time to prepare for a better liturgical celebration. Holy Mother Church - a Reflection Sydney Tefu - Tzaneen
Seminary Chapel
22
Every time a child needs something, the first person he speaks to is his mother. A mother's heart is always open to her children even when her child has done something wrong. The Church is called the Holy Mother because she does the same thing as a mother does for her children. She brings us nearer to the father, who is God, even if one has done many bad things in one's life. The Church nourishes us as a mother does. The Church as our Holy Mother brings us closer to Jesus and Jesus brings us closer to God, the father. Even if your mother is imperfect, she is still your mother. We must remember that she always nourishes us and welcomes everyone who wants to come to her.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
St Francis Xavier e-letter No 4 of 2015
Dear friends, it has been a while since our last newsletter. The midyear break, a workshop and a retreat have all taken place since then. Our Tzaneen students, fired up by our new Blessed, provide the bulk of this issue. God bless you! Thomas Plastow, S.J. Beatification of Benedict Daswa
Part of the crowd at Tshitanini
Bongani Mativandela - Tzaneen
Thousands of people were present. Hundreds of thousands were listening on radios. Probably millions were watching on television. It was great day for Catholics and the world at large. A great family man was being remembered for his great deeds. Individual pilgrimages began on Friday and crossed over to the Saturday night communal pilgrimage. Bishop Hugh Slattery and Bishop Joao Noe Rodrigues had made a plea for Daswa’s beatification and it was approved. His Holiness, Pope Francis, sent his representative Cardinal Angelo Amato to preside at the beatification, and when the cardinal arrived one man said “Rome has come to South Africa.” It was also honoured by the secular authorities as the Vice-President of South Africa was present. It had a great influence on the people and it is also an inspiration to follow the life that Daswa led. He stood against witchcraft and he didn’t let the fear of death overshadow him. He stood for the truth, do you? He died for R5, would you? Beatification of Benedict Daswa on TV Mitchell M. Cloete – Keimoes-Upington
After Mass on Sunday, while we were busy eating our breakfast, Fr. Rector came in to tell us that the two seminarians of the Tzaneen Diocese were on TV. We were so excited to see our fellow seminarians that we almost ran out of the dining hall without saying grace. After grace we ran to the Student Lounge to take our seats to watch this historical event for the Catholic Church of Southern Africa. The feeling amongst us as we watched the Beatification of Bl. Benedict Daswa was electrifying; it just showed how much we appreciate our Catholic faith. As we watched the history-making event one seminarian said that he was very proud to be Catholic. One could see the excitement on the faces of the seminarians, I particularly felt really blessed to be in the Roman Catholic Church. I pray that through the intercession of Bl. Benedict Daswa, we will stand up for our faith and that we will stay true to our vocations and say no to all that is wrong. Blessed Benedict Daswa, pray for us. As I see it Sydney Tefu - Tzaneen
The Seminary is a place of prayer and study for the Catholic priesthood. However, when a man, whether old or young, goes to the Seminary, that does not automatically mean he will become a priest. This place is not only for praying and studying every day; it is a place of growth. Although the formators are interested in our academic reports and our prayer life, the important thing that makes them and the bishops happy is to see their students maturing. What is more important? Is it to have intelligent priests who cannot control themselves, who are not men of integrity, or to have men who are intelligent but also men of integrity and maturity? Once you enter a seminary you pray, learn and grow spiritually and mentally. It is up to you as an individual to do all those things because no one can force you. That’s where selfdiscipline comes in.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
23
From St. Philip Neri’s to St. Francis Xavier’s Bongani Mativandela – Tzaneen
“Is it worth it?”, many ask. “Is it beneficial?”, many wonder. St. Philip Neri is a bridging year which upgrades one’s matric, and St. Francis Xavier is the orientation year which admits one into the major seminary (continued at St. John Vianney). The chance to experience both places is the best privilege that one could ever get. They each offer different atmospheres which are necessary for a seminarian’s formation. A lack of one of the two years might affect one’s formation or approach to seminary formation. Subjects that are done bear the same name, but contain different depths. It is never a waste to take a student through both years, but rather a benefit to his formation. St. Philip Neri helps one to detach from their past life and engage in the life of discipleship, and St. Francis Xavier in continuation helps one to settle into one’s life of discipleship. Both years also teach one about a good prayer life, but from different perspectives. The Standards in St. Francis Xavier are higher and thus prepare one for the studies of philosophy. Both places are good seedbeds to nurture a seminarian. A seminarian who experiences both St. Philip Neri and St. Francis Xavier bears good fruit. MY NEW FRIEND IN ST FRANCIS XAVIER SEMINARY Mpathi Siyabonga Mlambo - Dundee
At the beginning of my seminary life I was given the task of taking care of a pet. I quickly fell in love with the pet; its name is Bunny. This pet is a ‘touch-base’ of my life as I have taken it as my friend because I give him food every day, water to drink and I bond with him. Bunny made me realise that I am not the only person who cares for him as I read a book called “THE VELVETEEN RABBIT”. In this book a boy took care of a rabbit by giving it food, water to drink, enjoyed brushing it and he even let it sleep alongside him. Bunny is like a friend to me and even though it doesn’t talk, its actions speak louder than words and I feel we have a strong bond. One of its actions is to crawl to me. It makes me realise that it can see or even sense that I am next to him. It also tells me that it acknowledges everything I do for it, so by jumping it shows its happiness and appreciation. What a wonderful creature! God has created an innocent and interesting pet to know and see its simple lifestyle; it enjoys eating red apple – an apple is finished within minutes after being given. Let us take care of one another; love God’s creatures and we will be rewarded by God. In some ways they live as we human beings do - they eat as we do, drink as we do. They have their unique approach to life as we have our own unique way. They bring joy to other people and one thing for sure, a Bunny has peace. Called to be Holy by Timothy Dolan S’busiso Ncube - Ingwavuma
This book is about the things that are needed to be holy and to get an understanding about holiness in our lives. To be holy you must have faith, hope, humility, love, chastity, human formation, patience, penance, joy, perseverance and devotion to our Lady. These are the important things which help us to be holy and to be holy is not easy. All of us are called to be holy, especially those who believe in the existence of God. Prayer is important to all of us because that is where we get the power to fight off demons. “You shall be holy, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.” Leviticus 20:26. The thing I like most about this book is that it encourages us to do things that are good in the eyes of Jesus Christ. It asks us to grow in our love for Jesus and his Church. I liked the book, because it is also clear about the things that we supposed to do in our lives in order to be holy. In the book everything is well organised and clear. My favourite part of the book is about patience, “Let
nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God alone does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.” These words of St Teresa of Avila give me encouragement in
life because I face so many challenges and I lose hope, but if we put our trust to these words we will succeed in everything that we do. I would recommend this book because there are very important insights in it. Each and every chapter gives you get words of wisdom and encouragement.
24
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
Looking at Relationships Workshop
In August, Father Keith Gordon Davis of the Movement for a Better World came to give a workshop on sexuality and celibacy. At the end of the week students gave written feedback:
What have you learnt? I see that I have not given myself enough time to reflect on the challenges concerning celibacy that I might face one day. I have been very ignorant when it comes to matters of living a celibate life. I need to be aware of my feelings and deal with them appropriately. I’ve also learnt that in order to have a happy priesthood, I should obey the rules at all times and not get involved in things that might cause a scandal. I must always ask advice when I meet predicaments and be honest to myself. Running away doesn’t help. There are still issues and feelings that I need to resolve. I have to reflect more and live a more organised life. I’ve discovered that I’m worthy and special and that God is calling me to be something greater than what I am. Celibacy is a free choice: nobody forces me to choose it and if I find that it is not my calling, I have still got a chance to redirect my life in a way that will bring me happiness. Sometimes we just join priesthood and we don’t think much about celibacy. It is possible, life-giving and energizing, but celibacy isn’t an easy road. It needs prayer and a balanced life. Healthy friendships are necessary and one should have clear boundaries. It is a daily choice. Suggestions for future workshops I feel that we should deal more with the issue of pornography. That would be helpful for those of us who struggled with it in the past. We want to know more about how to deal with issues regarding sex and celibacy: what do you do if you happen to break the vow of celibacy? What should you do if you were already in love when you came to the seminary? I suggest we look at the dignity of women in the Church and society, in order to understand and respect women more. It would be beneficial if a woman helped present the course. I want to know how to handle loneliness. I think such workshops should be given throughout our formation.
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
25
St Francis Xavier e-letter No 5 of 2015
Dear friends, here is our final newsletter of the year... and what a good year we have had, with some great guys! Our 17 diocesan seminarians and four candidates for religious life have learnt how to build community and have deepened their prayer. Now exams are almost upon us, and these will show how much they have been able to learn! Keep them in your prayers as they go forward to philosophy. Yours in Christ, Thomas Plastow, S.J. (Rector). Saturdays in the Seminary
Asanda Maduna – Mariannhill
After a very long and rather exhausting week of lectures, the much awaited Saturday, the day most popular to all seminarians, finally arrives. You can feel the atmosphere from early morning as individuals and small groups plan a lot of different exciting things. Everyone needs some leisure in life. Who then can blame poor seminarians for rejoicing over a day in which they have almost the whole day to go out and spend their time as they choose? However, there are prerequisites prescribed by the seminary for this day which include attending morning Mass Asanda and friends at the V&A Waterfront and breakfast, and then seeing to Saturday duties. The amount of energy put into house duties has never failed to fascinate me. Sometimes people will go as far as to help each other finish quickly so that they can get ready for different outings. Not all seminarians go out on Saturdays. Some stay in to rest while others use the time to finish assignments. In the meantime, the others will be enjoying themselves in different places around this beautiful city. They say time flies when you are enjoying yourself. It certainly does! A glance at the watch sends a very short yet profound message: “It’s time to go home.” As we approach the end of this day, we all gather together in the chapel at 6.15pm for the Evening Prayer of the Church which is followed by supper, singing practice and Night Prayer. The day having ended, we go and rest, tired but refreshed. Finding God in All Things
Bongani C. Nkosi – Witbank
Our God is powerful. He is present in the whole universe. He is present even in the little things we tend to ignore or take for granted. How you connect with him depends on the situation which you are facing at that particular moment. Who has ever thought that God could be found in a soccer match? Look at the way people unite during the game, the way they sing together, the way they rejoice when they are winning, and the way some pray when their team is losing! Since God is love, I think he is always around those people in the stadium who are showing love to one another. Something that puts a smile on Bongani (left) finds God in soccer! my face is just to gaze outside and see the movement of people in the street. Love walks among them even though they do not see it: embrace that love! Remember that God walks among us though we tend not to see him because of our busy schedules. Or just look at the movement of your feet. If one foot stands for you carrying your load, the other stands for God who enables you to keep on moving. Embrace what you see and the One you walk with and you will never need worry.
26
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
The Annual KUILSRIVER Soccer Tournament
Mitchell M. Cloete – Keimoes-Upington
One of the big events of this busy year has been our visit to the Parish of St Ninian in Kuilsriver which took place on 30 August 2015. The day started off with the celebration of the Eucharist. Our rector, Fr. Thomas Plastow, was the main celebrant accompanied by the parish priest, Fr. Thaddeus Oranusi, and two formators from the seminary, Fr Hugh O’Connor and Fr Chris Chatteris. The church was packed with parishioners from different cultures and backgrounds. We could see that the Catholic Church is really for all cultures and that she really cares about inculturation. After the wonderful Mass, we the seminarians and the parishioners of Kuilsriver, went to Sarepta Sports Grounds for the Annual Soccer Tournament. In former years, lunch had followed the Mass, but not this year. We had heard that the parishioners feed the seminarians with a lot of delicious food and then get them to play with full stomachs! We told them that we preferred to play the match first. Unluckily for us our strategy did not work, we lost the match 4-2. Still, it was an outstanding game against their youth group which we really enjoyed. We didn’t allow our day to be spoiled by our loss, but had an amazing day with the parishioners. They served a lot of food which we couldn’t resist. After lunch, we were invited to join the children and the youth to play some games, which were lots of fun. But the day didn’t end there. There followed an awards ceremony in which we received a trophy and medals, and some were named best player, best goal keeper and best goal scorer of the match. Good music was provided throughout the day and, with some incredible dance moves, we showed the people that even seminarians enjoy life. The people were so impressed by our dancing skills, and even Fr. Rector and Fr. Chris joined in the fun. What an awesome moment it was! In conclusion, we the seminarians had an awesome Mitchell & Fr. Chris - incredible day and we can’t express our gratitude enough. Our thanks goes to the parish priest and parishioners of St Ninian’s for the invitation dance moves! and for all the gifts: we really enjoyed spending time with you. We pray that through the intercession of St Ninian the parish will grow from strength to strength. Heritage day
S’busiso Ncube – Ingwavuma
Heritage Day is a South African public holiday celebrated on the 24 September. On this day everybody celebrates his or her culture. The formators and seminarians went into the Cape Town city centre where we viewed different cultural dances. We also visited different places like: the Castle of Good Hope, the Iziko South African Museum, the District Six Museum, the old Slave Lodge, and the South African National Gallery. The main thing I realised that day is that there are people who struggled and died for the beauty that we see in our days. To have places like these in our country makes us think back to our roots. It was a good to see lots of people from different cultures celebrating their beliefs and traditions. Everyone got to see at least two museums so as to experience the beauty that our great grandparents passed on to all future generations. We also looked at the beauties of nature and the environspecial display of the works of ment that we live in. Heritage Day unites everyone in love, peace and Moses Tladi (1903-1959) who first unity. I found out that everybody was participating without discrimination. Everyone there was feeling joy and happiness. Steve Biko once exhibited there in 1931. said: “In time, we shall be in a position to bestow on South Africa the greatest possible gift, a more human face.” It was a good experience to see unity among once separate nations, especially in Cape Town which is now a place of different people and different cultures. At the National Gallery we saw a
St. Francis Xavier Seminary 2015
27