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Why we are so self-centred
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The fruits of world bishops’ synod for SA A boy swings on a bungee trampoline during a festival at Nazareth House in Cape Town to mark the 130th anniversary of the arrival of the Sisters of Nazareth in South Africa. (Photo: Claire Mathieson)
Archbishop who stood for peace dies at 90 BY CLAIRE MATHIESON
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ROMOTER of peace, justice and prayer, Archbishop Henry Karlen of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and before that of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape died on October 28 at the age of 90. Born Ernst Heinrich Karlen in Törbel, Switzerland, the late bishop joined the Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries and was ordained a priest on June 22, 1947. In 1951 he was transferred from Europe to Africa; his first assignment was at St Peter’s seminary in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa where he lectured in moral theology and canon law. His first appointment as a parish priest was in 1959 at Qhumbu mission, Umtata until 1963 when he was appointed the administrator of the cathedral in Umtata. He became the bishop of Umtata in 1968. “They still talk of him in Mthata. He implemented the local liturgy shortly after Vatican II,” said Fr Peter Nkomazana, the provincial of the Missionaries of Mariannhill in Zimbabwe. “He worked hard to empower the laity, and instituted the translation of the Mass. He was instrumental in bringing the words of the Church to the people.” Fr Nkomazana said the bishop would do the same, translating text into the vernacular, when he was appointed archbishop of Bulawayo, serving the archdiocese from May 9, 1974 until his retirement on October 24, 1997. “Prayer was a very important part of his life. He was deep and spiritual and was known for encouraging priests to cultivate and develop their prayer lives,” said Fr Nkomazana. “He had a deep passion for the poor. He facilitated those affected by and infected with HIV, helping and assisting orphans.” The archbishop brought much needed funding to Zimbabwe to help combat the plight of those affected by the disease. “He always shared. He lived a simple life and never spent a lot on himself.” Fr Nkomazana described the late bishop as very popular. This was not only because of his work on the ground with the locals and his efforts to make the language of the Church, the people’s language, but also because “he realised there was a great need for justice in Zimbabwe”.
“He spoke out strongly against oppression. He mobilised the bishops’ conference into acting against the injustices in the country.” In the 1980s, Archbishop Karlen reacted strongly against the Fifth Brigade, an elite unit of specially trained Zimbabwean soldiers involved in atrocities against cit- Archbishop Henry izens in Matabele- Karlen (Photo: Andreas land, where some Rohring CMM) 20 000 people were killed. “The archbishop met with the prime minister, Robert Mugabe—a meeting that lasted five hours. He challenged the actions of the brigade,” said Fr Nkomazana, adding that this made him popular across the country, well beyond his diocese. He wrote a book, The Way of the Cross of a Diocese, to chronicle the murders of missionaries and civilians and what he had done to bring comfort to the families and recognition of these happenings to the international community. He would go on to play a vital role in the establishment of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace which would further investigate the atrocities. Fr Nkomazana said there were many times when Archbishop Karlen placed himself in dangerous situations. “The archbishop would say often how he did not know where the courage to do such things came from,” said Fr Nkomazana. He could have been killed many times, but attributed his safety to his devotion to Mary. Archbishop Karlen constructed Marian shrines around the diocese, popularising the devotion. He encouraged others to pray to Our Lady for peace. The archbishop died following abdominal complications at Mater Dei hospital in Bulawayo, and was laid to rest in the archdiocese’s main cemetery, Athlone.
BY CLAIRE MATHIESON
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UR faith “is not just a matter of fact, but must be an experience”, said Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban on his return from the Synod of Bishops on New Evangelisation in the Vatican during October. “There must be a new ardour and enthusiasm in the Church,” the cardinal told The Southern Cross. He said the synod was an opportunity to discuss new and necessary methods of evangelising. “Times have changed and the Church must stretch itself beyond the structures of the parish.” Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria, the liaison bishop for evangelisation, called the synod a most enriching experience with 439 interventions presented during the three week gathering of Church leaders. “It was a real experience of the Catholic Church today,” the archbishop said, adding that there were representatives from all around the world, including bishops from non-traditional Catholic countries such as Iraq, Iran and Turkey. “The exchange of experiences was a personal highlight for me. Talking to bishops from countries that are quickly secularising; talking to bishops from countries where their faith has been suppressed; I even met a bishop who had been a soldier in the Russian army—a Catholic, who couldn’t practise his faith at the time.” Cardinal Napier, who was a moderator of one of the discussion groups, noted “a lovely spirit of openness and dialogue. There was a wonderful spirit of brotherhood. I had the sense that this was a real family business.” Cardinal Napier said the New Evangelisation is a way for those who already believe to start anew in their faith. “The Church exists for evangelisation, but we’ve been doing that for more than 2 000 years. The New Evangelisation is a means to bring Christ to the forefront of our lives.” He said it is especially aimed at reviving those in the Church, or those who had strayed from it.
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he synod was called for the Church to encourage a personal encounter with Christ, said Archbishop Slattery. “How do we let Christ into a world where people are looking for meaning? How do we put people into contact with the Good News?” “Just like the woman at the well who met Jesus in John 4:1, who found life when she met him, people today are looking for a well. The Church must be a well where people can find meaning.” The synod provided the bishops with clear areas in which to work and clear objectives, however, the archbishop said, it did not focus much on methodology. Archbishop Slattery said he was excited by the synod as there is a movement to look back at the basics. “We want people to find
A bishop reads the Vatican’s L‘Osservatore Romano newspaper with the headline “How to be evangelizers” during the Synod of Bishops. (Photo: Paul Haring, CNS) Jesus. Sometimes our rituals can take over, but the New Evangelisation is a call to go back to the life of Jesus and to find the real presence of Jesus—reaching out to the needy, caring for loved ones—that is where the spirit of God is.” “We have to rediscover this, get back to this simplicity.” The archbishop said prayer and practicing to really listen will bring us closer to the Lord. “We need to meet Jesus in all areas of life—where the real experience is. Being with Christ in life is what we want.”
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rchbishop Slattery said the Catholic faith needs to manifest itself more in the life of Catholics. “We want the Sunday Eucharist to become a real celebration, and to see real witnessing to the Church.” This manifestation must include the many great Catholic projects and charities doing valuable work in South Africa, however these are not seen to be witnessing clearly to the Church. “We need to reanimate Catholic charities,” the archbishop told The Southern Cross. “Humans need something more in life. That more in Jesus.” Archbishop Slattery said he hopes this simplicity in faith through the New Evangelisation would result in all Southern African Catholics becoming active witnesses of Christ. Cardinal Napier added that many speakers at the synod referred to the value in the simplicity in faith. “It was clear that there was a need for new expressions in the Church. How can we bring out the fruits of our faith?” said the cardinal, adding that there was great discussion about the benefit of small Christian communities where people are able to engage in contemplation, the liturgy and to share in scripture and prayer. “The Holy Spirit was evidently present at the synod,” said Cardinal Napier. “The Church is going through difficult times, but we are doing this together and the Lord is leading the way.” n See also a round-up of the synod’s message and propositions on page 9, and the experience of the South African representative of Catholic Alpha at the synod on page 3.