The Southern Cross - 110810 by The Southern Cross

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August 10 to August 16, 2011

r5,50 (incl vAt rSA) reg No. 1920/002058/06

Focus on Our In new books, Lady’s Assumption, art nun ‘comes patronal feast of SA out of closet’ Pages 7 & 10

No 4738

SA volunteer ready to help stage WYD

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Cardinal thankful for ‘lovely day’ By SyDNey DuvAL & CLAire MAthieSoN

response to these fundamental truths and values,” Archbishop Slattery said. Archbishop Slattery described Cardinal Napier as a man who has no time for downgrading or soft-mouthing our faith. He has the courage to withstand the political correctness of a society that has become totally relative and subjective—to challenge a media that wanted to dominate our thinking. He is both immediate and direct in defending the Church and proclaiming its message. Though he may annoy certain people he has continued to assert the teaching of the Church he loves and defend the Holy Father, Archbishop Slattery said. The programme included messages from George Augustine, chairman of the archdiocesan pastoral council, who thanked God “for our cardinal and genial shepherd who has been blessed with several milestones”. Stella Khumalo of the Department of Arts and Culture brought greetings on behalf of KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkhize: “Government knows all about your powerful and unapologetic comments—criticising where necessary, disagreeing where necessary, agreeing and supporting when necessary.”

ARDINAL Wilfrid Napier, archbishop of Durban, has thanked the faithful of his archdiocese for the “unforgettable celebration” of his multiple anniversaries at Kingsmead cricket stadium. Some 9 000 came to celebrate the anniversaries of the sports-loving cardinal, which the cricket score board summed up: “Top score: W Napier 70 not out; Best partnership: W Napier and OFM 50 not out; Most sixes: W Napier and SACBC 30 not out,” referring to his 70th birthday, 50th anniversary as a Franciscan and 30th anniversary as a bishop, all celebrated this year. The cardinal also celebrated the tenth anniversary of his elevation to the College of Cardinals. The cardinal told The Southern Cross that he maintains a vision of becoming a church that is committed and faithful to the scriptures, encouraging active parishioners, enhancing prayer life and sharing the “little we have with those who have less”. Recalling the celebration, he said: “It was a lovely day!” Elizabeth Mkame, a Catholic Women’s League member for 41 years, described the event as a “huge celebration!” She said some of the highlights included the procession of the Bible into the stadium, “the wonderful participation of the young Indian Catholics”, the Rwandan dancers and the Nigerian singers. The Clermont parishioner, who is also a patron of the archdiocese’s Denis Hurley Centre, said it was “outstanding” to see so many different cultures coming together to honour the cardinal and give praise to God. With the laity, who filled the stands at the Umgeni End, were the cardinal’s family and friends, his fellow bishops and many priests and religious of the archdiocese—a gathering as colourful with children’s balloons as it was glorious in rousing song, spirited in liturgical dance and rich in symbolism. Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg and President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference in his tribute said: “Today we celebrate a milestone in the life of Cardinal Wilfrid Napier. By virtue of being a bishop, pastor, teacher and prophet for a staggering 30 years, and a cardinal as well, this makes him the most senior Catholic Church leader in Southern Africa.” He noted Cardinal Napier’s support for inter-religious and ecumenical dialogue and cooperation, especially during apartheid when the SA Council of Churches and Diakonia were determined to bring about the collapse of the regime. The cardinal has been among Church leaders who monitored elections in some African countries—most recently in the

I Cardinal Wilfrid Napier kneels before the papal nuncio, Archbishop James Green, as he renews his episcopal vows during a Durban celebration of the cardinal’s various jubilees this year. (Photo: Sydney Duval) South Sudan secession referendum in January—in a genuine effort to ensure that democracy takes root in Africa, Archbishop Tlhagale said. “Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, a compassionate pastor, teacher and prophet, has never wavered in giving a firm moral and spiritual leadership, Archbishop Tlhagale said. “We take off our hats to you.” He then lifted his mitre to the applause of the gathering.

he homily by Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria—who succeeded his fellow Franciscan as bishop of Kokstad in 1993—used stirring oratory, historical sketches and anecdotes, with flashes of humour and wit. He recalled some crucial influences in the cardinal’s journey from his early years at Matatiele to high rank and peace missions: the family rosary and family life, his serving

Mass every morning before school, his Catholic education at Matatiele and Ixopo, his formation as a Franciscan in Ireland, his leadership of the bishops’ conference at a time when the Catholic Church was mobilising against apartheid and injustice, his engagement with the ecumenical movement, and his speaking the truth to those with power in public and political life. The cardinal’s life has been characterised by his great love for the Church, service to it and concern for the foundations of society: the well-being and wholeness of the family, the local community, the poor and helpless, the weak and vulnerable, Archbishop Slattery said. “We have to remind ourselves that a democracy can’t be real without valuing human life from conception to the grave, without truth, honesty and transparency, integrity and moral values. This is the role of the Church—to challenge society on its

n his address, Cardinal Napier was warm, embracing and inclusive, saying he had been overwhelmed by the multitude of graces God had showered on him He listed all the people and institutions which have affirmed and supported him. He thanked Church authorities, the successive popes, for appointing him to various positions. He thanked his family—his late parents as well as his siblings, cousins and in-laws, relatives and friends. There were warm thanks for the overwhelming love and support of his fellow bishops, fellow priests and fellow Franciscans who had given him what was necessary to live out his episcopal motto, Pax et Bonum (Peace and Goodwill). “In the struggle to throw off apartheid, the motto became an inspiration and a challenge, and which sadly will continue to be a call for action in the new struggle to throw off racial categorisation and classification which is tainting our new democracy and the Constitution which gives it meaning.” Loud applause greeted the cardinal’s next words: “We should simply be all South Africans.” For the laity, there was a special appreciation: “I thank you, dear lay faithful, the reason why the Church is what it is...your love, support and many sacrifices and hardships you endure because of your love and fidelity to Christ and his Church are there for all to see.” Affectionate thanks went to his auxiliary, Bishop Barry Wood, and the chancery staff, Continued on page 11

Three new priests ordained in Mariannhill By MAuriCio LANGA

ISHOP Pius Dlungwane of Mariannhill ordained three young men to the priesthood and three others to diaconate. Frs Lufeyo Mpaha CMM, Khumbulani Mngadi and Nhlakanipho Mvelase were ordained in Mariannhill’s St Joseph’s cathedral. Mthetho Ndlovu, Mlungisi Emmanuel Maphumulo, and Sibongiseni Joseph Msomi were ordained to the diaconate. Addressing the newly ordained priests and deacons in the packed cathedral, Bishop Dlungwane said there is an urgent need to

revive the spirit for the priests to regularly visit the homes of the faithful. Visiting the faithful in their homes cements a lasting and mutual respect between the priesthood and the faithful, he said. “Try to inform yourselves about the people’s life situation or condition,” said the bishop. “Such an approach will not only serve to show that you as a priest are concerned with their situation, but also that you are available to them to hear or address their problems or needs.” Bishop Dlungwane said the priesthood is facing a serious challenge of the neglect of the cultural values and norms in communi-

ties. The manner in which people are being raised and educated today contributes to the loss of respect as many people were living outside the framework of cultural values and norms, the bishop said. Some of the cultural values and norms that ensured respect and support among people in the past are now almost non-existent, he said. Priests have the great task of ensuring that values and customs are inculcated to instill hope and respect among the people. “You are not being ordained for yourself, but to render service to the people of God,” Bishop Dlungwane told the new priests.

Bishop Pius Dlungwane (second from right) presents the newly ordained priests: (from left) Frs Lufeyo Leo Mpaha CMM, Khumbulani Mngadi and Nhlakanipho Mvelase. (Photo: Mauricio Langa)

LOCAL

the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

Sri Lankan bishops to learn from the TRC

Our Lady to be crowned StAFF rePorter

HE Schoenstatt Community in Cape Town is organising an archdiocesan liturgical celebration for the feast of Mary Assumed into Heaven, as they have done every year since 2002. The celebration of South Africa’s patronal feast will take place on August 21 at 15:00 at Our Lady Help of Christians church in Lansdowne. “There will be a significant difference this year as a crown will be offered to our Blessed Mother and she will be petitioned by the youth of the archdiocese in their needs,” the organisers said in a statement. “Our Lady’s statue will be deco-

rated with flowers in the form of a crown, and as each of the eight petitions is presented, a lit candle will be placed around that statue. The petitions will be around the themes of the World Youth Day, decisions and challenges, unemployment, education and self esteem, help from the Church, good governance in our land, respect for human life and Health.” The liturgy will be preceded by singing of Marian and other hymns, starting at 14:30. The service will be conducted by the vicar-general, Fr Peter-John Pearson. Retired Archbishop Lawrence Henry will give the closing Benediction.

By CLAire MAthieSoN

Archbishops Stephen Brislin of Cape town, Buti tlhagale of Johannesburg and Jabulani Nxumalo of Bloemfontein receive hope&Joy cards that were prepared by Mariannhill Mission Press and the Jesuit institute. the cards, a set of 12 covering different themes, were officially launched at the Catholic Women’s League’s national conference on August 6. the cards can be used by Small Christian Communities, convert and confirmation classes, Catholic schools and so on, a hope&Joy statement said. A set of 12 cards, with guidelines for use, can be bought at r50 from the Paulines Multimedia Centres in Johannesburg and Durban, the Catholic Bookshop in Cape town and at other Catholic bookshops. they can also be ordered, at a minimum of ten sets, by contacting Zelda at Mariannhill Press on 031 700 8978 or artwork@mariannhillpress.co.za

SPRINGFIELD CON › VENT SENIOR SCHOOL

DELEGATION of seven bishops from Sri Lanka travelled to South Africa in late July to learn from the different ways in which South Africa has managed to emerge from its apartheid past and begin the journey towards reconciliation and peace. The bishops were brought to the country by Caritas South Africa, also known as the Siyabhabha Trust. A delegation of Sri Lankan and South African reconciliation role players took part in a round table, hosted by the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, to discuss the positive and negative outcomes of the way that South Africa dealt with its post-conflict era—specifically the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Bishop Joseph Vianney Fernando of the central Sri Lankan diocese of Kandy gave a brief history of the Asian island which has, like Southern Africa, seen colonisation from the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Shortly after independence in 1972, Sri Lanka broke out in an ethnic civil war. The civil war raged from 1983 until 2009 when the Sri Lankan military defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (better known as the Tamil Tigers) who were fighting to create an independent Tamil state. “After independence there was a huge resurgence from Buddhist Sri Lankans who had suffered deep wounds from colonialism,” Bishop Fernando said. Feeling discriminated against, ethnic Tamil youth took up arms as they felt their education, land and language were being compromised. “The country became a battleground,” the bishop said. “War is over now, but the post-war situation is not good.” Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar said that even though bishops within the Sri Lankan Bishops’ Conference had a difference of opinion on many things, “we all knew we had to work together for one

AFRIKAANS TEACHER Grades 8 - 12 January 2012in 1871, is a Catholic school Springfield Convent Senior School, founded for girls in the Dominican tradition, situated in beautiful gardens on Wynberg hill, Cape town. the school has a caring atmosphere, a proud academic record, vibrant Music and Art Departments and excellent facilities for Sport.

Fr Peter-John Pearson, Bishop Joseph vianney Fernando of Sri Lanka, Keith vermeulen from the SA Council of Churches and Sr Aine hughes took part in a round table discussion about the positive and negative outcomes of apartheid. country and unity. We worked together despite the difference in dioceses,” he said. Bishop Joseph said the rehabilitation of the people would be important. “Even in ‘no-fire zones’ we know there was firing. In May 2009 the war was over. An estimated 100 000 people were killed during the period but there are still 146 569 people not accounted for. The government has to deal with this to help the people heal,” the bishop said.

outh African mediator and resolution professional John O’Leary called the TRC “enormously profound for its time”. He said the commission’s intention was very wide and practical. Officially, 5 392 applicants were refused and 849 granted amnesty. But, Mr O’Leary said there were a variety of shortcomings. He said the TRC was not entirely effective due to the speed at which cases were dealt with. “I suggest to the Sri Lankan bishops that they take a longer time to establish a format in which to deal with the crime. Speed might not be effective. South Africa is only at the beginning of its road to healing.” Jesuit Father Matsepane Morare of Cape Town said there was no victor at the end of apartheid, but there was agreement that it was time for conflict to end. “The South African transition has not produced what the people fought for. There is still an economic imbalance, land inequalities and many other issues that

have not yet been resolved,” the Nyanga parish priest said. “We need to focus on the people. The TRC did not tell millions of stories but became an ideal for healing. Civil society needs to create spaces for those people with those stories to begin healing,” Fr Morare said, adding the greatest work is to be done with the average man on the ground. Fr Peter-John Pearson of the CPLO added that while the TRC was positive in that it gave a voice to those that had never had voices before, it also encouraged confession. However, in a Catholic sense, confession has various phases, he said. “The TRC left out contrition and penance—key aspects of the act of confessing.” Vanessa Padayachee from NICRO, a national crime prevention NGO, was involved in debriefing victims who testified at the TRC. “There was very limited support for the victims. These people had suffered deep psychological trauma and validating that trauma was not enough for their healing. Far more support was needed,” she said. The TRC was groundbreaking for the time, the delegation found, but did not go far enough. South Africa and Sri Lanka share a similar past and with the help of its Catholic bishops, Sri Lanka will be able to learn from the short comings of the South African commission and put a reconciliation model in place that will suit the Sri Lankan peace effort.

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the successful applicant will: • Be a qualified teacher with appropriate experience, able to teach Afrikaans 1st Additional Language (Grades 8 – 12) • have SACe registration • have a talent and passion for teaching children • Be able to subscribe to the Catholic ethos of Springfield A competitive salary package will be offered. Please apply in writing to: the Principal Springfield Convent Senior School St John’s road WyNBerG 7800 email: postmaster@sfc.wcape.school.za giving details of qualifications, experience and names of two contactable referees. Closing date: 31 August 2011 The School reserves the right not to proceed with the filling of the post. An application will not in itself entitle the applicant to an interview or appointment, and failure to meet the requirements of the advertised post will result in applicants automatically disqualifying themselves from consideration. Please note no faxed applications will be considered and only those applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.

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LOCAL

the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

Helping the homeless StAFF rePorter

HE Catholic lay community of Sant’Egidio in Johannesburg has called for the support and protection of the homeless in the Braamfontein area, who are most vulnerable at this time of year. Recognised by the Pontifical Council of the Laity, the international community of Sant’Egidio works closely with the poor. The community’s Gomolemo Bokgwathile said the movement’s spirituality is “based on prayer and friendship with the poor as a practical way of putting the Gospel into practice in our everyday lives”. The community in Johannesburg started a service to the homeless in Braamfontein in 2009. “The homeless have become close friends of ours in the past two years as we meet them every Tuesday to give them supper and offer our friendship and solidarity,” said

Ms Bokgwathile. However, not everyone treats the homeless with the same caring attitude. Ms Bokgwathile, who is also a parishioner at Holy Trinity in Braamfontein, said the homeless are mistreated by many, including officials, and it is time to sensitise the community on the problems facing the homeless. She said the community has noticed that the homeless are often chased away and their belongings confiscated. Over the two year involvement with the homeless, the community of Sant’Egidio has been able to “enter [the homeless’] lives deeply and understand the complex problems which led them to live on the streets”. Ms Bokgwathile said the community has learnt the homeless are not on the streets out of choice nor because of rebellion in the case of street children. “The homeless are many South Africans who are unable to find

employment, or children who lived in terrible situations of violence at home. Some are elderly people who did not find care and help in their families in their time of weakness and need, while the rest are immigrants who come from different difficult situations in their countries of birth.” The lay organisation said violence and ignorance are unacceptable when dealing with those on the streets. “We firmly believe that the homeless are citizens as we are and deserve respect as we do. We believe in a South Africa that treats all people with dignity, particularly the weakest. We believe in a society that fights against poverty and not against the poor,” said Ms Bokgwathile. The Community of Sant’Egidio, with 50 000 members in 70 countries, hopes others will be inspired to do something positive for those on the street in other communities around the country.

Bishop Coleman Of PE retires CLAire MAthieSoN

FTER 25 years of service to the diocese of Port Elizabeth, Bishop Michael Coleman (pictured) has retired due to ill health. In a statement issued by the diocese, Bishop Coleman said that although he was “shocked by the news [of his illness] and sad that he had to retire so soon after celebrating his

Silver Jubilee, he was grateful for the privilege of having been able to serve the diocese of Port Elizabeth for 25 years”. He thanked the many bishops, priests, religious and people around the country and in his diocese who have offered Masses and continue praying for him. He also appreciates the telephone calls, emails and personal

visits, the statement said. The 72-year-old bishop dedicated his tenure to improving education, establishing new and renovating old churches, enhancing lay formation and giving the youth a special place in the Eastern Cape diocese. The bishop has retired with immediate effect in order to receive treatment for his illness. Future involvement within the diocese will be depending on his medical results.

La Salle College principal Jill Milne with competition winner Meelan Patel, previous winner David Cruikshank and Malusi Fuphi, communication officer of the South African Post office at the award ceremony for Meelan’s prizewinning letter.

La Salle learner wins SA post office award StAFF rePorter

GRADE 9 learner from La Salle College in Discovery, Johannesburg, has won the regional prize in the South African Post Office annual international letter-writing competition—winning prize money for the school and for herself. Meelan Patel won for her letter on the 2011 topic “Imagine you are a tree living in a forest. Write a letter to someone to explain why it is important to protect forests.” Meelan was awarded R5 000, and a further R15 000 was awarded to her school.

La Salle College principal Jill Milne said the prize money would be used to plant indigenous trees on the college’s property, thereby perpetuating the concept of greening the environment. The competition encourages learners up to the age of 15 to talk and debate issues of global concern. “This is the second year that La Salle College has won a prestigious award from the South African Post Office,” deputy principal Jenny Potgieter said. “Last year David Cruikshank was the national winner of this competition.”

the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

INTERNATIONAL

People starve while harvest rots in fields, says bishop By FrANCiS NJuGuNA

A Women pray at the hill of Crosses near Siauliai in Lithuania. the crosses were set on the hill to recall the suffering of Christians under communist rule. Pope John Paul ii prayed at the site in September 1993. (Photo: ints Kalnins, reuters/CNS)

Vatican’s scrutiny on diocese’s gay ministry By DAviD AGreN

MINISTRY for gay men and women operated by a northern Mexican diocese has come under scrutiny from the Vatican and might revert to its original status as an unaffiliated non-profit organisation. Bishop Raúl Vera López of Saltillo said that he is responding to questions from the Vatican about Comunidad San Aelredo, which began as a youth group for gay Catholics and recently became a diocesan ministry. “I’m looking to resolve all of these kinds of questions and will do so gladly because I’m a Catholic bishop,” said Bishop Vera, a Dominican. “I have to respond to all of the questions that they put toward me and the doubts that there are.” Specific concerns of the Vatican were not outlined. Bishop Vera said the most recent controversy came after a Catholic news organisation, ACI Prensa, reported information “that has nothing to do with kind of ministry we’re carrying out”. The bishop defended the diocesan ministry, saying it was based in the Gospel and meant to promote expanded human rights protection while helping gay people develop a sense of belonging especially because they are not always made to feel welcome by the

Church as a whole. The ministry, he explained, “is based in personal attention, in spiritual attention...to see that they have a place in the Church, that they’re treated as dignified people.” The group sponsors a monthly Mass and has promoted a film festival, sexual diversity forum and lobbied for a same-sex civil partnership law, which was approved in the state of Coahuila, where Saltillo is located, in 2007. Bishop Vera supported the civil partnership law as an extension of human rights and a focus of his pastoral work. His stance has been a source of controversy that has even brought death threats. Last month, anonymous banners were hung in a plaza facing the St James cathedral in Saltillo saying, “We want a Catholic bishop”, and, “We want the bishop to only speak about religion”. The practice of hanging anonymous banners draws heavily on the tactic of violent drug cartels— who have threatened Bishop Vera—for intimidating rivals, politicians and the public at large. Bishop Vera said attitudes have softened somewhat towards his outreach for gays and that Comunidad San Aelredo was made a diocesan ministry after broad consultations on forming a wideranging work plan for the diocese of Saltillo.—CNS

CATHOLIC bishop has heavily criticised the Kenyan government for what he described as its ineffectiveness in handling the hunger crisis developing in the East African nation. Bishop Cornelius Arap Korir of Eldoret said he was disturbed to see that some people in Kenya are starving, while in other parts, such as his diocese, people are harvesting plenty of produce with some vegetables reportedly rotting in fields. “This, for me, would seem to mean that the left hand of the government is not aware of what its right hand is doing, which is very unfortunate”, the bishop said during a news conference the Catholic Church called to announce an appeal for food on behalf of Kenya’s growing hunger crisis. Archbishop Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisumu, chairman of the Kenyan bishops’ Commission for Justice and Peace, joined Bishop Korir, the commission’s vice-chairman, at the conference and said the crisis was worsened by the rise in basic food prices, deteriorating drought conditions for farmers with livestock and the high rate of inflation. “There have been reported deaths due to famine in various parts of the country,” the bishops said in a prepared statement.

The current debate in the Kenyan parliament on food security and allocations for national intelligence should be guided not only by social structures, but also by the immediate need to protect and promote human life and dignity, the bishops said. In response to a question from journalists, Bishop Korir challenged the claim of a government spokesman who earlier denied that any Kenyan had died from starvation. “On the contrary,” Bishop Korir said, “the Church has information to the effect that some people have died out of bodily complications, linked with starvation. Some of our sources in dioceses such as Lodwar within the country’s semi-arid area in the north had it that some people had died out of starvation.” In May, Bishop Dominic Kimengich of Lodwar told Catholic News Service that he buried two parishioners in Todenyang, near the Ethiopian border, who died of starvation. “The government denial on the issue is quite unfounded as some reports from some of our dioceses have enough evidence to prove out this,” Bishop Korir added. “In any case, how many people must die before the government moves in to do what it is supposed to do in car-

ing for its people?” Archbishop Okoth urged the government to correct imbalances in its food security policies. “How come the government has not yet taken trouble to ensure that all good land for food production is being fully utilised and that issues such setting up of dams for irrigational purposes and water harvesting are put into practice?” he asked. “Food donations, though central in caring for the needy at a critical time like now, will not be panacea for the feeding of the nation,” he explained. “We must, on the contrary, ensure that all matters pertaining to food policy and security are prioritised.” Meanwhile, Pope Benedict has said that Christians cannot be indifferent to the suffering of hundreds of thousands of people starving in the Horn of Africa. “It is inadmissible to be indifferent in the face of the tragedy of the hungry and thirsty,” the pope said. When Jesus fed the multitudes by miraculously multiplying loaves and fishes, he gave his disciples an example to follow, the pope said. “He encourages us to give them something to eat and to share bread with the needy. Following Christ, we must be sensitive to people’s poverty,” he said.—CNS

Vatican editor: Media coverage of abuse promoted Church’s purification By CiNDy WooDeN

EDIA coverage of the clerical sex abuse scandal helped Catholics come to terms with the need to purify and renew the Church, although the coverage was not always fair, said the editor of the Vatican newspaper. Giovanni Maria Vian, editor of L’Osservatore Romano, said the newspaper’s 150th anniversary and, especially, the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to its offices last month were occasions to reflect on the role of the media in the modern age. Writing in the newspaper, he said the need for reflection is prompted not only by competition for readers’ attention from televi-

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sion and the Internet, but also by episodes such as the charges of telephone and computer hacking by employees of Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper, News of the World. Unethical actions and questionable reporting styles “can explain, in part, the disaffection of an increasingly large number of readers, who are disgusted or disillusioned”, he said. Media reporting about the Catholic Church has increased significantly since the Second Vatican Council, Mr Vian wrote, although there does not always seem to be a desire to understand the Church or find ways to accurately convey the meaning of any religion.

“Along with the misunderstandings, there have been the waves of information—for example, about the abuse of minors committed by priests—that, while not benevolent and which sometimes degenerated into unjust or summary press campaigns, in fact have aided the always necessary process of purification and renewal of the church, as Benedict XVI has recalled with exemplary courage,” Mr Vian wrote. The responsibility of the media is enormous, he said. The Vatican newspaper, the Catholic press and all media not only must intensify and expand their efforts to inform, but they especially must help people understand what is truly important, he wrote.—CNS

INTERNATIONAL

the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

Interfaith relations: the 9/11 effect By MArK PAttiSoN

A man stands amid debris inside holy Family Syrian Catholic church in central Kirkuk, iraq. A car bomb and two unexploded bombs targeted three churches in northern iraq in coordinated attacks that wounded more than 20 people in the ethnically and religiously mixed city. (Photo: Ako rasheed, reuters/CNS)

In new books, art nun ‘comes out of closet’ By SiMoN CALDWeLL

FTER decades of studying iconic paintings and hundreds of works of fine art, British art historian and author Sr Wendy Beckett (pictured) said her two recently published books are her most explicitly Catholic works yet. The 81-year-old Carmelite has simultaneously published The Iconic Jesus, a study of icons of Christ’s life, death and resurrection, and The Art of the Saints, which reflects on the religious significance of the images of 16 saints. Sr Wendy said the books are important personally because they mark the point when she speaks unashamedly as a Catholic. “When I began writing many years ago, it was simply about art itself because I didn’t want the people who never looked at art and thought it was beyond them to be deprived of such a wonderful gift given us by our artist brothers and sisters,” she said. “And I never used religious language [so as] not to put off the atheists and the non-Christians. “But I knew that if they really

looked at art they would see it drew them to something greater than themselves, something beyond, something other, and that something is God,” she explained. “They would be looking at God anonymously.” After decades of studying and writing about art, Sr Wendy said she has “come out of the closet and now I can feel I can write about God in his own name”. “That is what I have done with these books. I write as a Catholic.” The Art of the Saints, published by the Britain-based Redemptorist Publications, is a collection of meditations on religious art written for weekly Mass. The Iconic Jesus, published by the Society of St Paul, features 42 icons of Jesus, each of which was “painted as an act of prayer”, Sr Wendy said, adding that reading icons is also an act of prayer.— CNS

N the ten years since terrorists launched their attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, relations among Christians, Jews and Muslims have improved by some calculations, but worsened in other ways. “On the one hand, I think with some people they’ve never been better,” said Atonement Father James Gardiner, whose order focuses on reconciliation and dialogue with other faiths. “We’ve made friends, we don’t suspect one another, in many places we’re welcomed even if we’re just snooping on how one another worships. Corey Saylor, a Muslim layman who is spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, concurred. “Most [Americans] were introduced to the Islamic faith on September 11 when planes began to fly into buildings,” he said.

“Media coverage has highlighted a warped version of Islam. The good guys doing the work aren’t getting the coverage.” The American Muslim community, according to Mr Saylor, is “totally indebted to people in the Christian, Jewish and other interfaith dialogues who have been very vocal in standing up for American principles. I don’t know how long it will take us to repay that debt”. Rabbi Arthur Schneier, chief rabbi of Park East synagogue in New York City, which Pope Benedict visited in 2008, holds a determinedly optimistic view. “After 9/11 it’s become of greater importance to engage in the broader sector of Islam for better understanding,” said Rabbi Schneier, a Holocaust survivor. “I think there’s more knowledge today of what Islam is all about, both in the United States and in Europe.” The founder of the Appeal to

Conscience Foundation, which specialises in interfaith work, Rabbi Schneier said he figured that because he survived the Nazi concentration camps, “the Lord saved me for a purpose. So I energised religious leaders of all faiths. We swim together and we sink together. On the other hand, one should not be naive.” Imam Yahya Hendi, a campus minister at Georgetown University in Washington—believed to be the first full-time Muslim campus minister at a Catholic college—said: “You can talk about the pastor who wanted to burn the Qu’ran in Florida. You can talk about some rightwing ministers who made negative comments about Islam. “But I believe these are isolated cases when you look at the bigger picture. Christians and Muslims are much more intensely engaged after September 11 than I have ever seen or have even expected.”—CNS

UN nuncio: Family central to forming youth

OUNG people deserve to live their lives free of violence and in stable family settings, the Vatican’s UN nuncio said on the last day of a meeting on youths. “Each and every child, for the full and harmonious development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding,” Archbishop Francis Chullikatt said at the conclusion of the UN general assembly’s high-level meeting on youths. The archbishop said a safe, loving and peaceful environment for children will promote responsible

citizenship, an essential characteristic for the common good of humanity. Highlighting the role of family as the fundamental unit of society, Archbishop Chullikatt urged world leaders to support the concept of marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Archbishop Chullikatt also called on delegates to the meeting to develop programmes benefiting young people that take into account the special role parents have in the development of children. Parents he said, cannot withdraw from their essential role to help children become “virtuous citizens and leaders”. Cautioning that the philosophy

of relativism is becoming more widely embraced, the nuncio suggested that not having absolute points of reference upon which to build society will lead to “instability, confusion and blind conformity to the fads of the moment with which certain cultures around the world tempt our youth.” “Young people are entitled to receive from previous generations solid points of reference to help them make choice on which to build their lives,” he said. He pointed to World Youth Day as an event where young people can foster the importance of the spiritual dimension in their lives “rooted in the truth of the human person”.—CNS

the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor: Günther Simmermacher

Empowering the Catholic youth

S you read this, some 1 200 young people from South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland are enthusiastically preparing to participate in the World Youth Day celebrations in Madrid, Spain. The international event, held every three years, will bring together hundreds of thousands of young Catholics from all over the world, culminating in a vigil and Mass with Pope Benedict. Organisers anticipate that the attendance figures for the papal Mass will be close to a million. These figures and their context ought to give us pause for thought. A million young people are coming from afar to be at a Catholic Mass led by an octogenarian whom the secular establishment has declared irrelevant (or worse), on a continent where the obituaries for the Christian have already been written. The secular media—the same media that give prominence to protests against the Catholic Church attended by a handful of people—will mostly ignore this remarkable event. The numbers and the energy created by hundreds of thousands of young Catholics simply does not correspond with the secular narrative that the Christian faith is becoming extinct in Europe. Of course, there is no denial that Catholicism in Europe is facing profound challenges and, in some places, a very real crisis. For that reason, Pope Benedict has made the re-evangelisation of Europe (and, by extension, all societies affected by aggressive western secularisation) a priority of his pontificate. The choice of Spain—a traditionally Catholic country which is rapidly secularising— as the host country of this year’s WYD forms part of the programme whereby the Holy See aims to revitalise the faith in Europe—a process in which the youth, as recipients and sources of that catechetical process, is central. Pope Benedict notes this in his message to the youth for WYD 2011: “The Church depen ds on you! S h e n eeds

your lively faith, your creative charity and the energy of your hope. Your presence renews, rejuvenates and gives new energy to the Church. That is why World Youth Days are a grace, not only for you, but for the entire People of God.” World Youth Day is a good time for the Church on all levels to consider its relationship with youth. The key question is this: Does the Church succeed in taking advantage of the fruits of the World Youth Day for the good of all the faithful? Many other questions will emerge from the answer. On the diocesan and parish levels there must be acute reflection on whether the youth are being served adequately in existing structures. We must be alarmed when the vibrancy (or even existence) of parish youth groups is dependent on the engagement of a few individuals or, more importantly, on the quality of support provided by a transient pastor. However, the engagement of young Catholics in the Church must not be reduced to youth groups and special events, essential though these are. Pastoral care for the youth is a necessary specialised ministry, but at the same time young Catholics must not be seen as a separate interest group. Young Catholics must be seen as an intrinsic part of the Church’s life. They must be integrated in the Church’s structures, and consulted in parochial decisions that affect them. They must be given a voice, not be condescended to. To that end, this newspaper has taken a deliberate decision not to run a regular youth section. Instead, the ideas, experiences and aspirations of young Catholics occupy a place in the mainstream of our content, acknowledging the Catholic youth as full members of the Church community. The youth is, of course, the future of the Church. But as we will observe in Madrid this month, the youth is also very much the present of the Church. Let young Catholics be treated accordingly.

The Editor reserves the right to shorten or edit published letters. Letters below 300 words receive preference. Pseudonyms are acceptable only under special circumstances and at the Editor’s discretion. Name and address of the writer must be supplied. No anonymous letter will be considered.

Darwin’s contribution to humanity

HARLES Darwin was neither a theologian or philosopher, but a naturalist who devoted his life to the study of plants and animals. He often referred to “our Creator” and thus could not have been an atheist. His huge intellect enabled him to garner an understanding of how all living organisms have derived from a common ancestor. The recent advent of molecular biology points accurately to Darwin’s astute observations. Bacteria, which were prevalent on our young planet for the first two billion years, live today in our bodies as mitochondria and in plants as chloroplasts, converting the sun’s

energy into organic food, and releasing oxygen as a byproduct which sustains most life forms on earth, including us humans. St Augustine’s thoughts on creation are interesting but tell us very little. The late Archbishop Denis Hurley was more accurate in his special Christmas editorial that appeared in The Southern Cross in 2002 (reprinted in 2009). But Belgian Fr Georges Lamaitre in the 1930s presented a theory to eminent scientists in America (including Einstein) that 20 years later became known as the Big Bang theory, being widely accepted today. Fr Lamaitre was also a scien-

Witness to the truth in Christ

the “mysteries” when reciting the prayers. This taught me to know at a deeper level that Christ had been in an even worse place before me! Somehow a relationship—very lopsided—was formed. Now I am committed to centering prayer and Lection divina on a regular basis. I look back on my prayer life as one where my prayers were never answered (only the “forgive me” ones, but it took me to nearly 60 years of age to realise that). Yet I am graced with hindsight to recognise the golden thread; fine as that spun by a spider yet unbreakable. The thread is woven all through my life, originating with my Creator who never lets go. I thank the Hope&Joy network for their initiative. It would be nice if they expanded their website to one where we, the faithful, from all walks of life could interact on this platform which appears to be one-sided. In fact, the initiative may be fruitful only if the voices of all could be heard—and in our modern world, this is possible. Rosemary Gravenor, Durban

HAVE read with interest the Catholic Link’s publication of the Hope&Joy series of articles. I wish to comment on the article for July 3. If we are to “witness to the truth”, it is a truth that is not provable. We can only live “witnessing”—live our witness—by loving others as we love ourselves. We do this imperfectly, so we have to be in a sound relationship with the risen Christ, letting him be our light, allowing him to turn our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. This is the crucial message of Jesus’ call to repent (change of mind, attitude or Metanoia) to get rid of our dualistic mindset: them versus us! We have to begin by “going out of ourselves” to allow Christ in. A good way of initiating this is by committing to the discipline of a regular practice of prayer (meditation, contemplation, Lectio or Oratio—the pool is vast). When I was a child, I prayed like a child; at the dawn of the age of reason, I seem only to remember praying that God would make things “right”; when I was a teenager I prayed “gimme” and “forgive me” prayers. All through this, I learnt to recite the Rosary (thanks to my mother who “forced” us to pray together as a family). I can see with hindsight that there was a great comfort in this practice of trying to meditate on opinions expressed in The Southern Cross, especially in Letters to the editor, do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor or staff of the newspaper, or of the Catholic hierarchy. the letters page in particular is a forum in which readers may exchange opinions on matters of debate. Letters must not be understood to necessarily reflect the teachings, disciplines or policies of the Church accurately.

History of humility

RECENTLY came across the following piece of Church history which could be of interest since Robert Mugabe’s reception of Holy Communion at the Vatican during the beatification ceremony for Bl John Paul II. “Theodosius the Great, Roman Emperor, although a just ruler, once ordered the massacre of about 7 000 people of Thessalonica in revenge for a tumult that they had caused in the year 390. St Ambrose, then archbishop of Milan, thereupon forbade the emperor’s entrance into the church. “Theodosius acknowledged his sin, and humbly stated that King David had likewise sinned. St Ambrose rebuked him, answering

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tist. It was only after the “dark ages” that education in Europe began to take hold which produced exceptional people such as Faraday and Volta (electricity), Pasteur (antibiotics), Roentgen and the Curies (Xrays), Copernicus, Kepler and Galileo (astronomy), Newton (gravity), Lyell (geology), Lamarck and Wallace (naturalists), and many others whose contributions to humanity are well documented. Let us not forget what Jesus said when he pointed to the head of Caesar on the coin. Religion and science both have their places and for either one to downplay the relevance of the other is fruitless. Pat Dacey, Johannesburg

that the emperor must then imitate David in his penance. “Theodosius made reparation to the Thessalonions and did an eightmonth’s severe canonical penance, thus giving satisfaction for his crime.” This is an extract from My Catholic Faith, published by the Catholic Truth Society. Somehow being sent to the International Court of Justice in The Hague for crimes against humanity seems a lot easier. But penance meted out by the Church, in this instance to Mr Mugabe, would afford some comfort to the suffering people of Zimbabwe. Pat Brand, Cape Town

Help the hungry people of Somalia!

READ your article (July 27) in which Pope Benedict asked us to help the people of Somalia. In order to do this, could The Southern Cross urgently assist us by publishing the following information: • Any Catholic organisation that is coordinating the effort to assist the people of Somalia; • Details of what the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference are organising. This matter is urgent. We must help as practicing Catholics, but we don’t know where to go to give help. Cordelia Kirk, Polokwane

n Contact Caritas South Africa/Siyabhabha Trust at Khanya House, 399 Paul Kruger Street, PO Box 941, Pretoria, 0001. Tel 012 323 7010, 012 323 7025 or 012 323 6458. e-mail: cathdev@sacbc.org.za, www.caritas.org. The Southern Cross will run an article about the Catholic role in the relief efforts in Eastern Africa.—Editor

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PERSPECTIVES

Empowering women brings peace

AYBE I have a hang-up about empowered women; a concern that they will abandon their families and go off on their own mission. We have seen that happening. In fact, the research about the state of the family published recently by the South African Institute for Race Relations, reporting on child-headed households, acknowledged that in the majority of child-headed households, there are parents living somewhere. Fathers are the ones mostly absent, but focusing specifically on women we ask what their motivation is? Are they just desperate job-seekers in order to provide for their children? Are these mothers working for the improvement of society, or are these mothers taking up positions in the public sector, where opportunity exists, where there is a concerted effort towards gender equity and where there are visibly more women in leadership positions than anywhere else? Women in power in politics however is not necessarily a world phenomenon, as any group photo of world leaders clearly indicates. The idea that has been incorporated into the 2011 family calendar, “empowered women, carers for all” provides the kind of holistic vision I embrace. Those are the words of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese pro-democracy activist who has been jailed or held under house arrest for 15 years and was recently released. She was not fighting a battle for women’s rights, but for all—including women. The following statement of hers was the inspiration for this month’s theme: “The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all.” We, women and

men, young and old, doubtless can all say Amen to that. Whether we would all be prepared to suffer detention and house-arrest for our belief is a moot point. The youth of the time of 1976, boys and girls, were involved in a political struggle. The women’s march in 1956 to protest against carrying of passbooks was the inspiration behind Women’s Day as we celebrate it now. Much has changed in society and in family life since then for women as well as men. The women in South Africa may still be disadvantaged, but they are not as oppressed as women in many other African and Middle Eastern countries.

ur concern here is for the bigger picture, the families of our region and the women as mothers of those families. In some of my discussions around commemorating grandparents in July we noted that one can be a grandmother in one’s thirties. Having a child in one’s teens and, with history repeating itself, a grandchild by a teenage daughter is not uncommon, mainly in poorer depressed communities. How does one empower those women, the older mother who becomes, or still is, the carer for all, as well as the young mom who should be at school and living the more carefree life of a teenager? Identifying the specific family needs of communities through completing a profile of the reality of its families is one of the aspects of Parish Family Ministry, a programme developed by the SACBC Family Life Desk. Parenting is clearly one of the challenges and some programmes are offered in different areas. Parenting a teenage

Family Friendly

mom should be an aspect of such a programme too, and of course the teenage dad shouldn’t be excluded either, bearing in mind as I have been told, that in many communities the women are the stronger ones and the men need to be empowered to take greater responsibility for themselves and their families. Marriage preparation from early childhood should include the belief that male and female were created equal by God, different but with equal rights. Justice demands that this fact be recognised. Peace demands that their different qualities should be a source of complementarity rather than competition, power struggles and discrimination. Pope John Paul II in his letter to the Bejing World Conference on Women in 1995 greeted women in different circumstances; mothers, wives, daughters and sisters, women at work and consecrated women. He concluded by saying: “Thank you every woman for the simple fact of being a woman. Through the insight of your womanhood you enrich the world’s understanding and help to make human relations more honest and authentic.” May the women of our region in a particular way bring these qualities into their family relationships, pass them on to their children for the future wellbeing and happiness in all families and so bring peace to the world. After all family matters more than money matters, doesn’t it?

son of God is deeper than my family roots and what I do. In the same way that you couldn’t answer my initial question fully without all the information, many young people around us are finding it hard to recognise their true identity as they haven’t got all the information about what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God. We all have a desire for love, acceptance and community. It’s a part of who we are. We are created to search for something bigger than ourselves. We’ve known that for centuries. But the full story is deeper than that— we are the image of a God who is love; the image of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who are in an eternal relationship of love. And so we cannot live without relationship; we cannot live without true love. Bl Pope John Paul II said in his first encyclical, Redemptor Hominis, that “man cannot live without love” and he answers these vital questions about our identity, which young people are struggling with in our world today, in his profound teaching on the Theology of the Body (TOB). We can learn the real identity of who we are by getting to know Christ and the

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Steven Edwards youth and Mission God whose image we are created in as sons and daughters by diving into the Theology of the Body. I’ve met a whole lot of Catholics both in the United States and in South Africa who are learning their true identity through this message. Dumb Ox Productions, with whom I have trained while in the US, is dynamically spreading the TOB through media, retreats and talks. People like Marie-Anne teBrake in Johannesburg (Foundation for the Person and the Family) and Natasha Couto in Durban have seen amazing fruit by breaking open the TOB with young people. Have you seen young people around you and in the Church who really know who they are or are they searching for meaning in many different places? Do you agree that understanding our true identity as men and women is the key to true and lasting relationships? How much do you know about the Theology of the Body?

Sihle Magubane Point of reflection

Toni Rowland

What zebra print says about ourselves HAT do zebra print, beaded necklaces and dancing have in common? Well, you might say a school cultural play. You might also say a traditional ceremony. And you’d be right because that’s your best judgment from the information that I’ve given you. But it’s not necessarily the best answer… A lot of young people in our Church today are facing the same obstacle of making a judgment on something without having all the information—but with a much more pressing subject: finding the identity of who they are. At some stage in our lives we all ask these same questions: “Who am I?” and “How can I live in a way that will bring me true happiness?” I’ve met many young Catholics who are looking to what they see first and most of—celebrities, music, movies and the media—as a model of how they should live. The real answer that I was looking for in the above story was the Zulu parade which I experienced in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras celebrations in February. As a South African amidst a city full of Americans, my different accent and culture brought to light that my identity as a

the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

Daughter, mother and bride of the trinity

QUESTION that often arises, not only in Protestant circles, is that of the Catholic Church’s solemn invocation and veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The simple response to that would be to reflect on the unique relationship she has with the Godhead, and the virtues each represents, and how that has merited her the full spiritual and bodily assumption into heaven. Perhaps most important is to recognise the relationship she has with God the Father: she is his daughter as we too are sons and daughters of the Father. Moreover, she is a faithful daughter, one who was able to say freely and completely: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” That kind of trust is evidence of Mary’s humility. It’s a humility based on her self-awareness, something to which we are all called. The question she asks, “How can that be”, is not evidence of any doubt on her part. Rather she was comfortable in her own skin—she was a virgin and she knew it. She never boasted of it. That is the kind of children we should be to God. He created us and therefore he knows us more than we know ourselves. Why not be honest with him? Mary is the mother of our Lord. Her acceptance of God’s will allowed her to be the best she could have been: a mother to God himself. She is the only biological parent to Jesus. As the mother of Christ she had displayed an awe- inspiring love and faith in her son: the faith at the wedding in Cana, the love trough her enduring presence beneath the cross. It was at the cross that she assumed this role of motherhood to the entire human race. No doubt, our Lord’s nature created enemies for him. God he is, and God he said he was. This truth, perhaps more than the other unpleasant truths he spoke, led to his crucifixion. Painfully, almost all his disciples left him, in his greatest hour of need. His mother, more than any other, was there with him. Every breath he took, she took with him. Every painful blow he suffered, she felt in her heart. She endured through all the pain. How many times do we endure? And finally, Mary is called the “spouse of the Holy Spirit”. The Spirit descended on to her, in a special way that no other human ever has experienced. She conceived of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of wisdom, gentleness and courage espoused her in a special way when she conceived of him. She was pure enough for the Holy Spirit to dwell in her. And so she is a child, mother and spouse to the Holy Trinity. As we explore this relationship of Mary to God, one fact becomes clear: Mary becomes the queen of heaven because her whole life is centred around her king— her son. The same life we are called to live—built around Christ. When we enter heaven, we do so because our life has been a living sacrifice to God. And in no other way do we see this more clearly than in Mary.

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the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

Children receive warm clothes for winter at the shrine of our Lady of Bethlehem. the clothing was donated by the diocese of Bethlehem and distributed through the St Kizito Children’s Programme which takes care of orphaned children. (Submitted by Fr Dikotsi Mofokeng)

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Salesian Father Stanislaw Jagodzinski of randvaal in Johannesburg blessed a stone from the grave of St Faustina Kowalska of Poland.

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Maria regina parish in Lyttleton, Pretoria, celebrated the feast of our Lady of Fatima by participating in a rosary procession through the streets around the church. the procession was organised by cathechism coordinator Celeste Smit and attended by 150 kids. (Submitted by tina de Nobrega)

Send photographs, with sender’s name and address on the back, and a SASE to: The Southern Cross, Community Pics, Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000 or email them to: pics@scross.co.za Editted by Lara Moses 31 children received their first holy Communion at St timothy’s parish in tafelsig, Cape town. they are photographed with Fr raphael thomas. (Submitted by Michael Brown)

FEATURE

the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

Volunteering at World Youth Day: Bringing Catholic craze to the World By CLAire MAthieSoN

ORLD Youth Day kicks off on August 16. Pilgrims from around the world are getting their passports, euros and bibles ready for the international event in Madrid—but one South African is ahead of most of the rest. Denzel Swarts is one of South Africa’s 25 volunteers for WYD, and he is already in Madrid preparing the way for others. The 25-year-old, who will be celebrating his 26th birthday in the Spanish capital, hails from Holy Spirit parish in Koelenhof, Stellenbosch and is the Cape Town archdiocese’s only volunteer. After having attended WYD in Sydney, Australia in 2008, Mr Swarts decided to attend this year in a different capacity. “I believe that we are called to serve one another in various ways. Volunteering at WYD gives me an opportunity to fulfil my duty in serving our Church and in doing so serving God the Father,” he said. Preparations for WYD started in 2009 when Madrid made a call to international volunteers via their website. Mr Swarts said he was excited to be one of 25 from the country to be selected. WYD organisers have enlisted the help of nearly 30 000 volunteers from around the world— many of whom will be from the local archdiocese of Madrid. “Our duties will be a range of different things: from making sure that venues are prepared, cleared and assist with direction to the venues and distribution of backpacks and food,” said Mr Swarts who was to know his official designation only on arrival in the Spanish capital.

Denzel Swarts is one of South Africa’s 25 volunteers for World youth Day which kicks off in Madrid, Spain on August 16.

All volunteers are assigned to a department once they arrive, and then undergo training with local Church officials. Mr Swarts will be based in Madrid along with international volunteers. “Many of us will be based in school halls and classrooms, churches, community halls and, if you’re lucky, even host families.” Mr Swarts is no stranger to volunteering. “I volunteer at the Edmund Rice camps where we partake in a ‘big brother/big sister’ capacity to children over the festive season. I started volunteering because I was one of those children in 1994 and 1996.” He was later employed by the Christian Brother camps that are based in

the Stellenbosch area, outside of Cape Town. The volunteering attitude and passion for youth has taken Mr Swarts far. He has travelled to Europe to attend conferences promoting volunteering and will soon return to do exactly that. Today Mr Swarts works for Youth Unlimited, a Catholic organisation that deals with the development of youth through sport. “Everyone has unique gifts to offer and when we use these gifts to change or make a difference in the life of others, we find that we become more valued, joyful and passionate about life. I also believe that God’s teachings call us to action and therefore are not fulfilled without action,” Mr Swarts said. He added that volunteers can help to turn injustices and obstacles in our world, which can be driven by money or greed most of the time, into opportunities by promoting peace, equality and stewardship. “Volunteerism also draws you to give unselfishly with the knowledge that you will not be rewarded in monetary value but in the impact you will be able to see in those whose life you have touched.” The WYD volunteer said he is most looking forward to being in a place where the “youth comes together in solidarity to promote, learn, share and support one another on their spiritual journey”. Mr Swarts said his experience at WYD Sydney in 2008 represented a big change in terms of the passion both he and other pilgrims experienced for the Catholic faith. “We could feel excited about being Catholic and celebrate our faith.”

He said he wants to be a part of helping others to celebrate their faith this year in Madrid. Catholic social teaching, he said, “doesn’t always make sense at home. Youth live their lives without understanding the teachings and are not always able to link their actions to the teachings.” But being at WYD means living the Catholic faith, he said. “The lessons made sense and we learnt how to really live out our faith.” Mr Swarts hopes to further his commitment to Christ and the Church and his country. He added that it would be a great opportuni-

ty to learn from others but also “to give of my knowledge, commitment and passion to those that I encounter”. And, of course, Mr Swarts expects to have “fun, fun, fun!” The Cape Town Catholic hopes to return with even more passion for the youth and the Church. “Catholics at home are lacking passion. I want to promote and celebrate Catholic ethos and its social teachings,” he said. Mr Swarts expects that WYD 2011 will impact him in a big way and hopes that he can return and impact his country in a big Catholic way.

young Catholics dip a cross into the sea at the Great Barrier reef off the coast of Cairns, Australia, at the last World youth Day in 2008. Catholic youth from all over the world will again meet in Madrid, Spain, in August. (Photo: Nancy Wiechec, CNS)

75 years after civil war, youth comes to Spain By MADeLiNe WAtKiNS

ORLD Youth Day 2011 will open after the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, a national event that many young people may know little about, though it profoundly impacted the Catholic Church in Spain. During the bitter three-year struggle between the Nationalist forces, led by General Francisco Franco, and the established leftist Republican government, nearly half a million Spaniards were killed over ideological differences that had increasingly divided the country. The Nationalists won, and General Franco’s far-right, authoritarian government ruled until his death in 1975, after which Spain became a democracy. “Everyone was forced to take sides, whether they knew much about the causes of the war or not,” said José Sanchez, an expert on the Spanish Civil War and professor emeritus at St Louis University. “The Church hierarchy was faced with the most intense crisis in Spain’s history and for the most part supported the Nationalist cause, primarily because of the anticlerical fury that occurred when the war broke out,” he said. With the establishment of the leftist Second Spanish Republic in 1931, discriminatory laws against Catholics were

put in place—nationalising church properties, instituting obligatory public education, which would ban nuns and monks from teaching by 1933, and forbidding public displays of Catholicism. Convents were burned in Madrid, Malaga, and elsewhere in the early 1930s, followed by the dissolution of the Jesuits and sporadic killings of religious. From 1936-39, thousands of Catholic institutions—churches, monasteries, convents and schools—were burned and destroyed. Close to 7 000 bishops, priests and nuns were martyred, along with thousands of laity for the simple fact they were Catholic. Carrying religious objects, such as a medal, crucifix or rosary, was enough of a reason to be killed. Nearly 1 000 of the Spanish Civil War martyrs have been beatified during the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Bishop Rutilio del Riego, an auxiliary in California, grew up in a small northern province in Spain. Born a year after the war ended, Bishop del Riego recalled: “Even after the war you knew who was on which side in the village.” He had two uncles who fought in the civil war, both on the side of the Nationalists, “because that’s where we lived”. Bishop del Riego said it took time for a country torn by contrasting ideologies to find healing and unity again. Neverthe-

less, a strong secularism and anti-clericalism still pervade the country, the bishop said. According to a recent study, only 19% of Spanish Catholics attend Mass weekly. The numbers have waned especially in the past 15-20 years. Pope Benedict commented on the crisis of secularism in Spain on his last trip to the country in 2010. “Spain has always been, on the one hand, a foundational country for the faith,” the pope said in an interview with the Zenit news service. “But it is equally true that in Spain a laicism was born, an anti-clericalism, a strong and aggressive secularism, as we saw precisely in the 1930s, and this dispute, more, this conflict between faith and modernity, both very lively, occurs today too in Spain.” One hopeful sign can be seen at one Spanish convent. Iesu Communio, a community formerly associated with the Poor Clares of Lerma, two hours north of Madrid, has experienced a steady increase in vocations since the 1980s. Most of the women entering are in their 20s and early 30s and have college degrees and are even doctors, accountants or lawyers. A large number of them have said their vocations were inspired at or through World Youth Day. This year’s World Youth Day in Spain is set to kick off on August 16 with a Mass in Madrid’s Cibeles Square.—CNS

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the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

FAITH

Assumption gives us hope The Assumption of Our Lady, South Africa’s patronal feast on August 15, is one doctrine that divides Christians. Fr evANS ChAMA SMA explains why the Assumption gives hope to all the faithful.

ASTERN Churches and some Anglicans are one with the Catholic Church in the belief that Mary was assumed body and soul to heaven, while for many other Christians this is a point of divorce. The ghost from age-old polemics is yet to be put to rest. However, the choice is ours to really want to break free. It is not too much to say that with just a little broadening up, one may be surprised to appreciate that the Assumption of Mary, in its deeper sense, isn’t just a Catholic devotion, but fundamentally a part of Christian faith and hope. The celebration and teaching of the Assumption goes back to the traditions of between the 4th and 5th centuries, first in Palestine, then to Alexandria in Egypt from where it spread to the monks in Gaul, in today’s France. We hear of the Assumption in Rome only between the 7th and 8th centuries. Yet, it was more than a millennium later that it became an official teaching of the Church. In 1946 Pope Pius XII consulted bishops, priests and the lay faithful if they desired that the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary be defined as dogma. Nearly all bish-

ops desired it. And so, on November 1, 1950, in his apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus, Pius XII declared: “The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.” Did Mary die before being taken to heaven or was she taken up without tasting death? The teaching offers no definition. The Orthodox Church takes the position that Our Lady died before being taken up, and thus, from early centuries, celebrated the Dormitio, the falling asleep of Mary. Questions have been raised regarding this dogma. For example, Scripture mentions nothing about Mary’s Assumption, and the first three centuries of the Church’s tradition seem to be silent about it. And some object that the exalted place of Mary in heaven attracts more devotion, somehow placing Christ in the shadow. Well, Catholics nourish their faith from both Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Besides, if a teaching is not stated in the Bible, it does not necessarily mean it’s unbiblical. Granted, the first three centuries are silent about the Assumption (hence providing a point for research). However, it’s equally significant to note that the Assumption had been celebrated for more than a thousand years before being officially defined. This living tradition, the celebrated and lived faith of the people, is also an important source of the Catholic teaching. Understanding the distinction between the Ascension and the Assumption can clarify Mary’s place

before God, as well as give a depth to what we celebrate in the Assumption. Ascension refers to Christ’s going back to the Father. Christ ascended to heaven by his own power as incarnate son of God, which is not the case with the Assumption. Mary was assumed, that is, she was taken up or received into heaven. It was not by her own power, but God’s own doing. She remains a creature and a beneficiary of God’s grace for which she availed herself to receive in plenitude by her total assent to her vocation as mother of the incarnate son of God. Just a little reflection is enough to be able to detect, from the declaration of the dogma, what has been the point of God’s action in the history of salvation. He has been beckoning humanity to communion with him, and so Christ became man in order to assume human beings into God’s life. That’s why most of the Eastern Church Fathers would thus speak of salvation as “divinisation”. The Byzantine rite brings this out remarkably through the Good Friday liturgy—the burial of Christ. Christ descends into hell in order to redeem humanity from death to life in God. This is loud and visible in the icon of Adam and Eve in hell, fettered. Christ breaks the chains and extends his hands to draw them out from the shackles of death. This goes well in line with John Paul II’s perspective of the Assumption. He linked the Assumption to Jesus’ promise to his disciples: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be

Grieving apostles surround Mary before her Assumption, in the Benedictine hagia Maria Sion (Dormition) Abbey on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion. (Photo: Günther Simmermacher) with me that you also may be where I am” (Jn 14:3). Hence, the solemnity of the Assumption is not just a celebration of a superficial admiration of what God has done for Mary. More than

that, it’s a celebration of faith and hope that what God began and accomplished in her, he will also accomplish in the rest of humanity. And this isn’t just Catholic but a Christian faith and hope.

the Southern Cross, August 10 to August 16, 2011

Fr Donal Cashman

ATHER Daniel (Donal) Cashman of Port Elizabeth died on July 4. Born on February 29, 1932 in Limerick, Ireland, he was ordained on June 17, 1956 at All Hallows College in Dublin and arrived in Port Elizabeth in October 1956. He always preferred working with disadvantaged communities and ministered first in South End and then in Izeli and Woodlands Mission where he was chaplain to the St Thomas school for the deaf. Fr Cashman served on their school board for many years and together with the Dominican sisters worked for the upliftment of the lives of the deaf children. He was transferred to Mdantsane, where he lived at Mount Ruth with Fr Hugh

Magorrian. After the murder of Fr Magorrian in 1990, he continued with the building of St Mary’s church in his memory. In Mdantsane he was wellloved and respected. He spoke Xhosa fluently and carried the plight of the people in his heart. In 1996 Fr Cashman was transferred to Grahamstown to minister to the various communities with Fr John Nolan and the Assumption Sisters. He served on the school board of Ntaba Maria and ensured that the Catholic ethos was upheld in the school. He was also involved in the renovation of St Patrick’s church. From 2004 until his retirement in 2008, Fr Cashman served the communities of Port Alfred. He retired to St Pius cen-

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BIRTHDAYS

tre in East London and remained chaplain to the Dominican Sisters until his final journey to Nazareth House in Port Elizabeth in May. Fr Cashman is remembered as being happiest when serving the poor—a most generous priest and true gentleman.

Jubilee: Cardinal Napier gives thanks Continued from page 1 the cardinal’s “day-to-day family”. He commended the diocesan priests, the religious, the deacons and their wives who had a special place in his heart. “Among you I thank the sodalities, the youth, altar servers, lay ministers, catechists, RCIA evangelisers, caregivers et cetera, but in order to encourage them as much as to affirm them, I mention in a special way the men who in order to restore or reaffirm the proper place, role and responsibility of men in the family, the community and in society in general, are working hard to set up men’s groups and

movements in their parishes, so that eventually under the umbrella of Catholic Men Together, we men will begin again to carry our weight in the family, the Church and in society.” Cardinal Napier concluded by sharing the vision and dream for the archdiocese and for the Church in Southern Africa: “I could use big words like evangelisation, but the reality I have in mind would remain the same. It is a vision and dream of us becoming the kind of Church the Scriptures hold up to us in the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2.

Liturgical Calendar

“We want to become a Church that is faithful to the teaching of the Apostles—by reading, praying, sharing the Scriptures; to the community— by being active and loyal parishioners; to the Breaking of Bread— by receiving the sacraments regularly; to the prayers—by praying along, with the family and with the community; and to holding all things in common—by sharing the little you have with those who have nothing.” As the celebration ended, there was a brief meeting with Mark Wardell, who Bishop Wood described as “the mastermind behind all this”.

Family Reflections

Year A

Sunday, August 14, 20th Sunday Isaiah 56:1,6-7, Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6,8 Romans 11:13-15, 2932, Matthew 15:21-28 Monday, August 15, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10, Psalm 45:10-12, 16, 1 Corinthians 15:20-27, Luke 1:39-56 Tuesday, August 16, St Stephen of Hungary Judges 6:11-24, Psalm 85:9, 11-14, Matthew 19:23-30 Wednesday, August 17, feria Judges 9:6-15, Psalm 21:2-7, Matthew 20:1-16 Thursday, August 18, feria Judges 11:29-39, Psalm 40:5, 7-10, Matthew 22:1-14 Friday, August 19, Ss John Eudes & Louis Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16, 22, Psalm 146:5-10, Matthew 22:34-40 Saturday, August 20, St Bernard St Bernard of Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17, Psalm 128:1-5, Clairvaux Matthew 23:1-12 Sunday, August 21, 21st Sunday Isaiah 22:19-23, Psalm 138:1-3, 6, 8, Romans 11:33-36, Matthew 16:13-20

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO #457. ACROSS: 5 Kind, 7 Procession, 8 Numb, 10 Umbrella, 11 Titans, 12 Endows, 14 Guided, 16 Enigma, 17 Stickler, 19 King, 21 Witchcraft, 22 Isis. DOWN: 1 Spin, 2 Scabbard, 3 Issues, 4 Nibble, 5 Knee, 6 Noblewoman, 9 Ubiquitous, 13 Drink dry, 15 Delete, 16 Earthy, 18 Cows, 20 Goth.

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August 14, 20th Sunday. Mercy to all Mankind. The readings highlight how God is the God of all the world. There are many places in the world where—possibly because of other religious beliefs— women are still suffering serious oppression and discrimination. Discuss this together, dialogue with other religions too and see if in small ways something can be done for the good of all families.

Community Calendar To place your event, call Claire Allen at 021 465 5007 or e-mail c.allen@scross.co.za, (publication subject to space) CAPE TOWN: International Food Fair, August 22 from 14:00 to 21:00 at our Lady of the Assumption church, Brooklyn. With big screen for rugby, karaoke. Contact 084 551 5255 for details KIMBERLEY: The St Boniface Past Students’ union is preparing to celebrate its 60th anniversary on September 24. Past students are requested to contact union’s Pro &

Chairman of the Board, Mosalashuping Morudi 073 768 3653, John Siyoko 079 181 5716 or Kagisho Mogamisi 082 451 5893 or sbonifa@iafrica.com MAFIKENG: Annual diocesan music festival, September 3, admission r350, closing date for booking August 27. Choirs throughout Kimberly Diocese are eligible to take part. Contact 072 569 7531or 058 861 4411.

Word of the Week Triduum: A liturgical celebration of three days duration Application: The Easter Triduum takes place over three days: the Last supper (Thursday), Passion (Friday) and Resurrection (Sunday).

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DEATHS DOWLING Alfred Sydney, 1929-2011. My dear husband, Alfred passed away peacefully on July 30, 2011. Will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, thelma. DOWLING Alfred. our thoughts and prayers are with Aunty thelma at this time. uncle Alf will always be fondly remembered. With much love, Aidan, Cheryl and Family. DOWLING Alfred. God bless you uncle Alf, rest in peace. Love always, Nina, Kenny and Family. DOWLING Alfred Passed away peacefully; deeply mourned by Bridget and Family.

us on 14/8/2002. “A mother is a blessing we will never outgrow.” Missed and fondly remembered by daughter-in-law Maureen, children and grand children. WILLIAMS—rita Mary. in memory of rita, my dear daughter, sister and Aunt who passed away 12 years ago on August 1, 1999. Still lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her mother, sisters, brothers and their families.

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21st Sunday: August 21 Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 1-3,6,8; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20

NE of the constant challenges in the history of the Church is our tendency to think that because we have a function or a title, or a role of some kind, in the church we must therefore be superior to others. That is not the way that Jesus operated, and once we start insisting on “proper respect for my office”, we are drifting away from the message of the gospel. In the first reading for next Sunday, Shebnah has been getting above himself, and building an elaborate tomb for himself, on the Egyptian model. Isaiah gives him the sack; this is a brave thing for the prophet to do; but that is prophets for you! “I will thrust you from your office, and pull you down from your station”, and someone else is to be appointed, “Eliakim son of Hilkiah”, who, instead of going making megalomaniac provision to be remembered for all time, “will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah”. His new ministry is described in terms of “keys”: “I shall give the key of the House of David on his shoulder; he will open, and no one shall close; and close and no one shall open.” Then, in a slightly different metaphor: “I shall fasten him as a peg in a secure place, and he shall be a throne of honour in his father’s house.” We cannot reconstruct much of this

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The Lord is at the centre of all things Nicholas King SJ Sunday reflections story here; but the point is that God is very much in charge, not the local officials. The psalmist knows perfectly well that God is in charge, and starts with a cry of sheer gratitude: “I shall thank you with all my heart; before the gods I shall bless you; I shall worship towards your holy temple.” Here there is no doubt at all but that it is God who is the centre of gravity, “for the Lord is lofty, and gazes on the lowly”. And the singer’s view is filled with the presence of God: “O Lord, your love is for ever; do not forsake the work of your hands.” Once we see things in this way, there is little danger of our being over-impressed by the grandeur of our status. In the second reading , Paul is likewise overwhelmed by what God has done; and, in fairness, it must be admitted that Paul was no better than the rest of us when it comes to self-aggrandisement. But here, at the end of some difficult argumentation, in which he insists that both Gen-

tiles and Jews belong in the church of God, he is simply overwhelmed by God, and we hear him exclaim, hardly understanding what he says: “O the depth of the wealth and the wisdom and knowledge of God! How untraceable are his judgements! How unsearchable his ways!” And just in case we thought that we might be especially important in the church of God, he says “For who has known the Lord’s mind? Who ever became his adviser?” (for all of us have at times presumed to give God the benefit of our advice), “who ever gave him anything on loan?” Then comes the reminder of our situation: “Everything is from him, and through him, and for him—to him be the glory, forever. Amen.” Now in the gospel, we hear Peter speaking up for the rest of the group, and then getting appointed as “Rock”. It is the famous story, set at Caesarea Philippi, which begins with Jesus assessing the “impact” of his “product”: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They attempt various answers, of a vaguely religious sort: “John Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” Then the searchlight is turned on them: “What about you? Who do you say I am?” Peter goes right to the top of the class with his (perfectly correct) response: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Let’s pursue some things trival T HE encroachment of television, video games, iPads and smartphones on family life by offering so many platforms for entertainment, seems to have resulted in everyone doing their own thing in place of those wonderful family games such as Monopoly and, my personal favourite, Trivial Pursuit. Now there was a challenge for you. Having to use your mind and memory, and even if you didn’t know the answer, to use common sense and logic to seek out the trivia. So I thought it appropriate to test the ability of Southern Cross readers with this fascinating version of trivial pursuit. Can you guess which of the following are true and which are false? Think carefully about each one; I will provide the answers at the end of this column. 1. Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning 2. Alfred Hitchcock didn’t have a belly button. 3. A pack-a-day smoker will lose approximately two teeth every ten years. 4. People do not get sick from cold weather but a lot more from being indoors. 5. When you sneeze, all bodily functions stop, even your heart. 6. Only 7% of people are left-handed 7. Every minute 40 people in the USA are sent to the hospital for dog bites. 8. Babies are born without kneecaps. They don’t appear until they are 2-6 years old. 9. The average person over 50 will have spent five years waiting in queues.

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10. The toothbrush was invented in 1498. 11. The average housefly lives for one month. 12. Some 40 000 Americans are injured by toilets each year 13. A coat hanger is more than a metre long when straightened. 14. The average computer user blinks seven times a minute. 15. Your feet are bigger in the afternoon than at any other time of day. 16. Most of us have eaten a spider in our sleep. 17. The real reason ostriches stick their head in the sand is to search for water. 18. The only two animals that can see behind themselves without turning their heads are the rabbit and the parrot. 19. John Travolta turned down the starring roles in the hit movies An Officer and a Gentleman and Tootsie. 20. Michael Jackson owned the rights to the South Carolina state anthem. 21. In most television commercials advertising milk, a mixture of white paint and a little thinner is used in place of the milk. 22. Prince Charles and Prince William never travel on the same airplane, just in case there is a crash.

Classic Conrad

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23. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle, built in 1903, used a tomato can for a carburettor. 24. Most hospitals make money by selling the umbilical cords cut from women who give birth. They are used in vein transplant surgery. 25. Humphrey Bogart was related to Princess Diana. 26. If colourings weren’t added to CocaCola, it would be green. While you are pondering the fact and fiction of these questions, I thought I would indulge my fascination with true to life stories about ageing with this tale of a group of 40-year-old girlfriends discussing where they should meet for dinner. Eventually they agreed they would meet at the Ocean View Restaurant because the waiters there were all very good looking. Ten years later, at 50 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View Restaurant because the food there was very good and the wine selection was excellent. Ten years on, at 60 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View Restaurant because there they could eat in peace and quiet and the restaurant had a beautiful view of the ocean. Ten years later, at 70 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View Restaurant because the restaurant was wheelchair accessible and even had an elevator. Ten years on, at 80 years of age, the group once again discussed where they should meet for dinner. Finally it was agreed they should meet at the Ocean View Restaurant because they had never been there before. And now, the moment you have all been waiting for, the answer to my trivial pursuit: They are all true. Now go back and think about #16. Having done a little more research, I discovered that while all of us have actually eaten a spider at some stage or other, there is a fairly long list of equally nasty nasties that we have swallowed as well. Another reason, I believe, to make sure that we never forget to say our prayers before going to bed at night. I really have to wonder whether or not it would be appropriate to say grace before getting into bed.

Just in case, however, Peter were to think that he had got it right under his own steam, he has to be reminded that “it wasn’t flesh and blood that revealed it to you, but my Father, the one in Heaven”. Nevertheless, he is given a nickname: “You are Rock” (possibly because he was not very rock-like!), and a function: “On this rock I shall build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not be strong against it.” Not only that, but, like Shebnah and then Eliakim in the first reading: “I shall give you the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens”, and that will have implications: “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you untie on earth will be untied in heaven.” Does that mean that Peter can gaze admiringly at his reflection in the mirror? Not at all. Just read what happens next in the story, and the terrible things that Jesus says to Peter as a result. No human being can ever flaunt themselves in the face of God; we have, all of us, all of the time, to recognise that any gifts we have, any office we are invited to carry, is done for God, and not for any merit of ours. None of us is superior to anyone else, and all of us must contemplate the greatness and the beauty of God, if we are to perform our function in the service of the Church.

Southern Crossword #457

ACROSS 5. Class that is considerate? (4) 7. It may move into church ceremonially (10) 8. Having no feeling (4) 10. Did Noah use one in the deluge? (8) 11. Giant gods (6) 12. Bequeaths (6) 14. Sort of Holy Land tour (6) 16. It’s mysterious and puzzling (6) 17. Trickles around disciplinarian (8) 19. Monarch (4) 21. Boat for the practice of magic? (10) 22. Egyptian goddess who lives twice? (4)

DOWN 1. St Catherine got into one at fireworks show (4) 2. Where Peter kept his sword (Jn 18) (8) 3. Comes from topics for debate (6) 4. Eat in small bites (6) 5. One touches the floor in genuflecting (4) 6. Mabel won on turning out to be aristocratic (10) 9. Everywhere, like God (10) 13. Take in wine, leaving nothing (5,3) 15. Erase (6) 16. Resembling soil in a coarse way (6) 18. Cattle (4) 20. One who invaded the Roman Empire (4) Solutions on page 11

CHURCH CHUCKLE

FTER the fall in Garden of Eden, Adam was walking with his sons Cain and Abel. They passed by the ruins of the Garden of Eden. One of the boys asked: “What’s that?” Adam replied: “Boys, that’s where your mother ate us out of house and home.” Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to the Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, Po Box 2372, Cape town, 8000.