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April 24 to April 30, 2013

German bishop: We must keep funding SA Church

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Mary: Our guide to evangelisation

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What it means to pray with the pope

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Modern slavery in the spotlight BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

Londiwe Jali (back), Malose Mothiba and Tshepiso Medupi were among the youngsters who dressed in clerical and religious garb at St Joseph the Worker parish in Pretoria West for Vocations Sunday. “The future of the Church’s vocation relies on the support that parents and the parish give to young people,” said parish priest Fr Mathibela Sebothoma, who took this photo. “The catechists from St Joseph the Worker parish are providing opportunities for boys and girls to realise their full potential,” he added.

Pope Francis: Don’t be hypocrites BY CINdY WOOdEN

HE credibility of Christianity is undermined by pastors and faithful who preach one thing and do another, Pope Francis said. “One cannot proclaim the Gospel of Jesus without the tangible witness of one’s life,” the pope said in a homily at Rome’s Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls. Before the evening Mass, Pope Francis walked down to St Paul’s tomb under the main altar. He blessed the area with incense, and then bowed deeply in prayer for several minutes. In his homily, Pope Francis said people outside the Church “must be able to see in our actions what they hear from our lips”. “Inconsistency on the part of the pastors and the faithful between what they say and what they do, between word and manner of life, is undermining the Church’s credibility,” the pope said. Pope Francis said St Paul teaches Christians that following Christ requires a combination of three things: proclaiming the Gospel; bearing witness to the faith in one’s life, even to the point of martyrdom; and worshipping God with all one’s heart. The proclamation of the faith made by the apostles, he said, was not merely or primarily in words. Their lives were changed by their encounter with Christ, and it was through their actions and their words that Christianity spread. In the day’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells

Peter to feed his sheep. “These words are addressed first and foremost to those of us who are pastors: We cannot feed God’s flock unless we let ourselves be carried by God’s will, even where we would rather not go, unless we are prepared to bear witness to Christ with the gift of ourselves, unreservedly, not in a calculating way, sometimes even at the cost of our lives,” Pope Francis said. “The testimony of faith comes in very many forms,” the pope said. “In God’s great plan, every detail is important—even yours, even my humble little witness, even the hidden witness of those who live their faith with simplicity in everyday family relationships, work relationships, friendships.” While most Christians are called to the “middle class of holiness” of fidelity and witness in the normal business of everyday life, Pope Francis noted how in some parts of the world even average Christians suffer, are persecuted and even die for their faith in Christ. Looking at what it means to worship God with all one’s heart, the pope said it, too, has a very practical, concrete expression. Worshipping God is not simply a matter of prayer—although that is a big part of it—but rather it means demonstrating in one’s life that God alone is God. “This has a consequence in our lives: We have to empty ourselves of the many small or great idols that we have and in which we take refuge, on which we often seek to base our security,” he said.—CNS

E know that human trafficking is the third most lucrative criminal activity in the world, second to the drugs and arms trades, and that South Africa has been identified as the main destination point for human trafficking within the Southern African Development region. What we don’t know is the “actual extent to which human trafficking is flourishing”, said Holy Family Sister Melanie O’Connor, coordinator of Counter Trafficking in Persons Office (CTIP) of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The CTIP held a conference on the issue to mark five years since its inception. Among the conference’s primary purposes was to bring together those who had taken part in CTIP workshops over the years so that the office and activists could be brought up to date about the current human trafficking realities and discuss a way forward for the next five years, said Sr O’Connor. The conference was also an opportunity for the participants to share on all the work they had done in the fight against human trafficking, she added. Sr O’Connor said victims from sub-Saharan Africa account for a large share of the victims detected in Western and Central Europe, but the exact extent is unknown. “We have no national statistics on the number of people being trafficked,” Sr O’Connor said, adding it is difficult to gauge how many perpetrators were involved as there is no specific legislation on human trafficking yet in South Africa. Offenders are charged under other related crimes. “Victims of trafficking have been reported to be exploited largely for domestic servitude, agriculture, prostitution and muti purposes. The globalised commercial sex industry has greatly expanded. Traffickers capitalise on the demand for a constant supply of women and children in the industry,” Sr O’Connor explained.

he said recent trends show that East Asian victims have been detected in relatively large numbers in South Africa, many of them Thai nationals rescued from strip clubs. “Participants reporting at the conference, especially from Lesotho, Swaziland and Zambia, noted how very poor parents sell their children to traffickers thinking their children are going to be well educated and looked after,” she noted. The CTIP conference saw the launch of

the “Truckers against Human Trafficking” campaign. Sr O’Connor said she was encouraged and congratulated Fruit Spot for being the first trucking company to engage in the project. “Various speakers exposed the dangers of human trafficking, pointing out that truckers can play a significant role in safeguarding victims and potential victims in the transportation phase by reporting offenders sometimes encountered at truck stops.”

he conference also emphasised the role of the Church in the pastoral care of truck drivers who face long and hazardous journeys. “Benedict XVI had already pointed out that Africa has become a continent where millions of people are either willingly or unwillingly daily on the move, thus transforming African roads and streets into privileged places of evangelisation and education. Therefore our Church should be seen as the Church on the move.” Among the participants of the conference, which was held at Good Shepherd retreat centre in Hartbeespoort, Gauteng, were 15 religious sisters from South Africa, Lesotho, Zambia, Botswana and Nigeria; Frs Matt Gormley and Hermes Paononga, who had conducted numerous workshops on human trafficking in the Eastern Cape; and 15 police from the Northern Cape who have done much education on human trafficking at border posts. Sr O’Connor said the presence of the police unit was “highly appreciated by all present as a source of strength in the fight against human trafficking”. She said with many of the participants coming from different African countries and representatives from as diverse agencies as the National Prosecuting Authority, the US embassy and Mariannhill Press, “it became obvious that networking is central to success in the fight against this hydra-headed evil of our time”. A Counter Trafficking Network Committee was established for easy and effective communication. In addition, each member of the conference committed to further the “Truckers against Human Trafficking” campaign in their various regions and countries. “Whether human trafficking is on the increase or whether it is only now that we are recognising it for what it is, that is difficult to determine,” said Sr O’Connor. What the conference did show, however, is how real the problem is and how it affected people in various ways.

Sudan expels Church official

UDAN’S security force has expelled the secretary-general of the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference and two other religious brothers. Fr Santino Morokomomo Maurino told the Sudan Catholic Radio Network after arriving in Juba, South Sudan, from Khartoum that security officials ordered him to leave the country for undisclosed reasons. The priest said he was called to National Intelligence and Security Services headquarters in Khartoum where he was briefly detained and given three days to buy an airline ticket. He said he was not given a chance to defend his work at the conference.

Br Michael Fleury of France and Br Hossam, an Egyptian, both members of the De La Salle Christian Brothers living in Khartoum, were also expelled, Fr Maurino said. The two men had been working with children in the Sudanese capital. The radio network reported that the brothers had been under surveillance by the Sudanese government. The Sudanese regime of President Omar al-Bashir, who made his first official visit to newly independent South Sudan this month, has a long record of actions against non-Muslims and South Sudanese residents working and living in Sudan.—CNS

The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

LOCAL

Convert praises RCIA STAFF REPORTER

CONVERT to Catholicism has endorsed the Rite Of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) process, saying that through it he has “seen the beauty and depth the Catholic faith offers”. Mark Kisogloo was one of eight people received into the Church during the Easter vigil at St John Bosco parish in Robertsham, Johannesburg. They had been guided for two years by Salesian Sister Patricia Finn, with further aid from Deacons Victor Ho and Mike Nolan as well as Iris Seabrook. “I decided to join the group on a

whim one day after looking at a notice in the parish newsletter announcing the date of the next RCIA intake,” Mr Kisogloo said. “The first month was quite trying since I wasn’t very religious prior to this,” he said. “Even though I had been baptised as an Orthodox Christian, I was never catechised or attended church. So all the praying and singing at class every Thursday evening was a bit daunting at first but I soon settled in, and a month later found it all very intriguing. I guess I was hooked.” He also appreciated meeting “a

new and eclectic mix of people” whom he otherwise might not have met. Most importantly, “it has brought me closer to my Creator and to Jesus Christ and I have found great peace and solace in it”. He described the RCIA course as “well worth the effort” adding that “for very little investment you’ll get a lot in return”. Mr Kisogloo said he was “ecstatic to be a fully confirmed Catholic”, and spoke of his admiration for two companions on the RCIA journey who came from a non-Christian background, and who persevered with the course for four years.

Mark Kisogloo of Johannesburg found the texts and teachings of the RCIA course of great benefit. (Photo: Kevin Kisogloo)

New Year of Faith booklets available BY STEPH JORdAN

Notre dame Sister Elizabeth Chinamo at her social work graduation at Unisa. With her (From left) are Sr Biddy Rose Tiernan, Sr Marie McLoughlin and Sr Meltah Thaka.

ARFAM publications has released the second in a fourpart series of pocket-size booklets focused on the Year of Faith, specifically centred on the “theme of the year” which for 2013 is “Family Moments and Faith Moments”. The contents of the series, in the form of “Thoughts for the Day”, is in part a way of developing into a means of holistic family life education and links to a large extent with the liturgical year as well as the national calendar of the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) Family Life Desk. According to Toni Rowland, SACBC Family Life Desk coordinator, “the series is intended for family enrichment and education and is addressed to any adults or teenagers, ideally within families or

family groups as a means of family catechesis”, yet because of the format the booklets can be used by anyone, lay or religious. She said the booklets come in a basic See-Judge-Act format, linking life and faith as a catechetical and formation tool. Although the reflections may be short, they encourage more indepth thought through reading fuller scripture accounts of the chosen passages or more from the catechism or Church documents to see the context in which the passages were written, she said. Mrs Rowland said as much as anyone should focus on the Year of Faith, these booklets can be used at any time as another means of deepening the reader’s relationship with Jesus, who is after all the heart of the Church as the Family of God. “Pope Francis is reported to have been a member of the Pontifical

Council for the Family while a cardinal. This, with his obvious pastoral approach, is encouraging for those involved in the family apostolate. However, whether his focus will be mainly on the poor and disadvantaged, or on all families, remains to be seen,” Mrs Rowland said. Booklets are supplied by MARFAM in Johannesburg, who print about 2 000 copies, with some parishes having regular orders and some Catholic bookshops also carrying stock. The cost is R10 if bought in a shop or parish, R20 if posted individually. Although posting individual copies is done promptly, it is less cost effective and the purchase of these booklets from a parish or bookshop is encouraged, Mrs Rowland said.

The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

LOCAL

Oblate reunion at Ngome BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

Idols winner for youth BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

HAT was meant to be a pilgrimage for one Johannesburg parish turned into an unexpected Oblate reunion as four groups ended up at Ngome on the same weekend. Pilgrimage leader Sandi Ngcongo of St Anne’s parish in Belgravia, Johannesburg, said she had not planned the pilgrimage with any other parishes. “It was a coincidence that all the other parishes met at Ngome and were being led by Oblate priests!” The Marian shrine in the diocese of Eshowe is a popular pilgrimage destination for South Africans. “The pilgrimage was arranged for the parishioners’ spiritual growth and revival of prayerfulness,” said Ms Ngcongo. Many of the St Anne’s pilgrims had travelled to Ngome in 2012 and wanted to return “to thank Our Lady for the intentions that have come true and believe that it was through their intentions placed at Ngome”. Ms Ngcongo had arranged the pilgrimage for 29 people led by Fr Ron Houreld OMI, but was surprised when they met with a group from Durban led by Fr Donovan Wheatley OMI, and a vigil group from Pietermaritzburg led by Fr Vusunuzi Penyane OMI. The groups met with the shrine’s resident priests Fr Wayne Weldschidt OMI, Fr Nkululeko Meyiwa

Oblate Fathers from around the country had a surprise reunion at Ngome, Eshowe. Pictured (from left) are Fr Wayne Weldschidt, Fr Andrew Knott, pilgrim leader Sandi Ngcongo, Fr Nkululeko Meyia, Fr Ron Houreld, and Fr donovan Wheatley. OMI and Fr Andrew Knott OMI. Ms Ngcongo said it was an “unexpected” and “exciting surprise” for the Oblate-led pilgrims. She said it made the pilgrimage even “more special” than they had expected. “Ngome has grown to be a special

place of prayer, a message from Our Lady which challenges pilgrims to be tabernacles as she asked to be called Tabernacle of the Most High. “Travelling to Ngome shuts a person off from the busy schedules of the city.This is a weekend where

people concentrate on their spiritual journey and some make certain promises from the benefits of the journey.” Ms Ngcongo said the St Anne’s pilgrims have already asked to return next year.

HE eighth annual “Youth Fiesta” day for Durban will this year operate under the theme “Youth for You; United in Faith”, inspired by the Year of Faith. Organiser Ronelle Govender said the special event will involve the liturgy of the Eucharist celebrated by Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban, praise and worship, games, dancing, live bands, top DJs and guest artist Khaya Mthethwa of South African Idols in 2012. Ms Govender said each of the seven deaneries in the archdiocese will present two items at the event —an exciting opportunity, she said, where the youth will be able to share their talents. “Your entrance to this event is your Youth for Youth [wrist] band which can be bought in advance and costs R10,” the organiser said. “This is another initiative from the Archdiocese of Durban Youth Commission,” she added. All youth are welcome to attend the event which takes place at St Anthony’s School, ML Sultan road on May 11. Registration starts from 07:30 and the event will run from 8:00-16:00. Wrist bands can be ordered from Matthew Sprong on sprongie21@gmail.com or 079 895 0018 or Ronelle Govender ronellebianca@gmail.com and 083 632 7841.

Ethiopian-Eritrean community holds retreat STAFF REPORTER

HE Ethiopian-Eritrean Catholic community in South Africa held a three-day retreat in the native language of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Amharic, at the pastoral centre, Phokeng, in the diocese of Rustenburg. According to event organiser Hailu Adalo, the aim of the retreat was “spiritual renewal and to get to know one another as Catholics”. The participants came from three diocesan parishes in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Rustenburg.

“The programme started with evening prayers, and ended with the visiting of sick brothers and sisters in the hospice.” The retreat also included two days of Masses presided over by Fr John Melhuish, who is in charge of the pastoral centre. “On the third Sunday of Easter, the message was about how we as Christians should follow Jesus as St Peter, the first pope, and all popes after until our current Pope Francis, have agreed to do. This should be reflected by our faith wherever we are in the world, whether in

Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa or anywhere else, as our Saviour is always with us,” said Mr Adalo. During the retreat, special guest Br Kidane Ashuro Abebe, a Consolata Missionary student from the diocese of Dundee, shared his experiences of the difficulties in coming to a foreign land and the differences in worship from his home country, Ethiopia. “The community participated in the same way by sharing how their own personal, spiritual and social life has been affected by coming to work in South Africa. They also dis-

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cussed the importance to them of having a priest from their native country who has an understanding of the Ethiopian-Eritrean way of life, worship and language who can share the sacraments with them,” said Mr Adalo. The retreat was attended by more than 50 people—an “encouraging number” for the community to see future growth, the organiser said. Mr Adalo said there is a plan in action for all members of the Ethiopian-Eritrean community in South Africa to be able to ask for as-

sistance in the organisation of special occasions from the community coordinator. Help could be provided for occasions such as weddings, fundraisers, welcomes to families into the community, and memorial services. At the end of the retreat, the community echoed the words of Mary by saying: “For the Mighty One has done great things for us, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:49). n For more information on the community, contact Hailu Adalo on 072 357 7185.

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Our Lady of Fatima DCS is looking for an experienced educator with appropriate teaching qualifications. It is essential that the successful candidate fits the following profile and is registered with SACE: • Senior school trained educator (preferably a BA Graduate & a PGCE) with recent experience teaching History, Grades 8 – 12. • Extensive knowledge of the GET and FET curricula. • Recent experience in an IEB school will be an advantage. • An appreciation of the School’s traditions and Catholic ethos. • Sound interpersonal skills and an ability to communicate effectively with learners, staff and parents. Duties will include: • Attendance at related workshops and parent interviews. • A full and active role in the co-curricular life of the school.

Failure to meet the advertised minimum requirements for the post will result in applicants automatically disqualifying themselves from consideration. Applicants are required to ﬁll in a covering information form which is available from Mrs Bennison. She can post it to you on request (Tel. 031 563 5390) or you can email her at fatimacs@fatima.co.za for an electronic version of this form. Detailed CV to be submitted with the information form to: The Principal, Our Lady of Fatima D.C. School, 155 Kenneth Kaunda Road (Northway), Durban North, 4051. cloSing daTe: 17 May 2013.

The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

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MID rising concerns about corruption and mismanagement in the central administration of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has named an international panel of cardinals to advise him on the latest reform of the Vatican bureaucracy. The Vatican Secretariat of State announced that the pope had established the group to “advise him in the government of the universal Church and to study a plan for revising the apostolic constitution on the Roman curia, Pastor bonus”. Pastor bonus, published in 1988, was the last major set of changes in the Roman curia, the Church’s central administration at the Vatican. It was largely an effort at streamlining by reassigning responsibilities among various offices, rather than an extensive reform. Complaints about the shortcomings of Vatican governance increased markedly during 2012 following the “VatiLeaks” of confidential correspondence providing evidence of corruption and mismanagement in various offices of the Holy See and Vatican City State. That affair prompted a detailed internal report, which Pope Benedict XVI designated exclusively for the eyes of his successor. The College of Cardinals extensively discussed the problems in meetings preceding the conclave that elected Pope Francis last month. According to the Vatican statement, the suggestion for an advisory panel on reform arose during those meetings. Only one member of the new panel is a full-time Vatican official: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the commission governing Vatican City State. All

The pope’s reform team: (Top, from left) Cardinals O’Malley, Monsengwo, Gracias, Rodriguez, (below) Errazuriz, Pell, Marx and Bertello.

of the others currently serve as diocesan bishops. The group’s coordinator is Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who is also president of Caritas Internationalis, the Vaticanbased umbrella organisation for national Catholic charities around the globe.

he other members are Cardinals Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; Sean O’Malley of Boston, USA; Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, retired archbishop of Santiago, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, India; Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany; and George Pell of Sydney, Australia. They will meet for the first time from October 1-3, 2013, the Vatican statement said, but are “currently in contact” with Pope Francis. The panel’s membership represents five continents, with the largest number—three mem-

WYD may get neo-papal boost BY LISE ALVES

EMBERS of the local organising committee for World Youth Day say that, with the recent election of an Argentine pope, they expect up to 2,5 million young people at the international event in Rio de Janeiro. “We currently have 200 000 pilgrims already registered, but registrations go on until the last day of the event,” said Carol de Castro, press coordinator for the local organising committee. She said the committee expects 800 000 pilgrims to have registered by the start of the event, which runs July 23-28. The Vatican has not announced the exact dates Pope Francis will attend but has indicated it will be his first international trip. Ms de Castro said that although registration is not required for most of the events planned for World Youth Day, is it recommended, since with the registration pilgrims will have access to free transportation to

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A young woman raises her arms during a Mass this month to mark the start of the 100-day countdown to World Youth day in Rio. (Photo: Ricardo Moraes, Reuters/CNS) many of the events, help in finding accommodation and will receive a pilgrim’s kit with important information about the event and the city. Argentinians make up the largest group of foreign nationals chosen to be volunteers during the six-day event, although volunteer registration had already closed when the name of the new pope was announced in March. About 15% of the 60 000 volunteers chosen are from Pope Francis’ birth nation.

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bers—coming from the Americas. Three members, more than any other linguistic group, hail from English-speaking countries (counting India). Two members are native speakers of Spanish. Only one member shares the Italian nationality of the majority of Vatican employees. Both Popes Paul VI and John Paul II also named international panels of cardinals to advise them on curial reform. A 1986 commission of six cardinals, whose recommendations contributed to Pastor bonus, included two Italians, an Austrian, a Canadian, a Venezuelan and a Nigerian. Unlike Pope Francis’ panel, all were serving as Vatican officials at the time. The Holy See—whose major organs consist of the Secretariat of State, nine congregations, 12 councils and three tribunals— employed 2 832 employees as of the end of 2011. The commission governing Vatican City State, which is not part of the curia, employed another 1 887 people.—CNS

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Organisers say they expect that, by July 23, more than a million beds will be made available for pilgrims in family homes, schools, recreational centres and churches. The pilgrims will be able to stay free of charge in these locations from July 21-31, said Vinicius Arouca, volunteer on the hosting committee. Officials say security in Rio de Janeiro should be tighter than normal in June and July, since the city is also hosting the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 at the end of June. For security, Brazil’s defence ministry has made available 8 500 armed forces members. The ministry said these and an expected 4 000 to 5 000 police officers will patrol areas where pilgrims will visit. The Brazilian government is also easing visa requirements for those who have registered for World Youth Day. South African passport holders do not require a visa for Brazil.—CNS

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The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

Russian government raids Catholic offices BY JONATHAN LUXMOORE

R Martin Richard, the eight-year-old boy who was killed in the Boston Marathon attacks, attended St Ann’s parish in Boston. His mother and younger sister were seriously injured in the blast. The Richard family has been described as very involved in their community, in children’s sports, local redevelopment and their parish. (Photo courtesy of Bill Richard)

USSIA’S Catholic Church has expressed surprise and concern after a wave of raids on its parishes and charities, part of a government clampdown on organisations with foreign links. “The Catholic Church is classified as an organisation benefiting from foreign funds,” explained Fr Kirill Gulbunov, spokesman for the Moscow archdiocese. “We can’t help feeling surprised that associations linked with our Church are viewed as possible sources of extremism or terrorist activity.” Earlier this month, government agents “inspected” Caritas headquarters in St Petersburg. Fr Gulbunov said the archdiocese had not been notified of the

planned raid. He said a Catholic parish in Orel had been told it was to be “checked” just before the raid took place. “The people responsible have evidently received a very broad list of organisations to watch as part of this nationwide operation,” Fr Gulbunov said. “Although we can’t say whether local authorities are deliberately using the operation against the Catholic Church, it has caused surprise and consternation.” In February, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered checks on thousands of nongovernmental organisations and the seizing of computers and documents, under a July 2012 law requiring groups with outside funding to register as

“foreign agents”. On March 15, a Catholic parish in Novocherkassk was ordered to pay a 450 000-rouble (about R130 000) fine for allegedly failing fire safety standards. Fr Aleksi Polisko, rector of the city’s Most Blessed Virgin Mary Parish, which has just 50 regular Massgoers, told Agence FrancePresse the fine was around 150 times the parish’s weekly income, but said the local procurator had threatened to close his church unless it was paid within a month. The director of Caritas in St Petersburg, Natalya Pevtsova, told the Interfax news agency that officials had “examined everything... from the state of our toilets to our charity documents”, during the

raid of her offices. Russia’s million-strong Catholic Church has long complained of discrimination in Russia and protested when a Moscow charity house belonging to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity was bulldozed in 2011 and a Catholic parish in was Pskov barred from building its church because of “legal technicalities”. German-born Bishop Clemens Pickel of Saratov told Germany’s KNA news agency he believed the raids were legal but predicted they would place the Catholic Church, “intentionally or not, in a bad light in the eyes of the people”. Russian newspapers said the Russian Orthodox Church had not been affected by the raids.—CNS

Pope: We can’t tame Holy Spirit BY CINdY WOOdEN

HILE some Catholics would like to undo the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, others basically are trying to build a monument to it rather than fully live its teachings, Pope Francis said in a homily at an early morning Mass in the chapel of his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The pope said Christians must struggle with the temptation to tame the Holy Spirit. “To speak plainly: The Holy Spirit annoys us,” he said. The Spirit “moves us, makes us walk, pushes the Church to move forward”. But, too often, he said, Catholics are like the Apostle Peter on the mountaintop when Jesus is transfigured. They, like Peter, say, “Oh, how nice it is to be here all together,” but “don’t bother us.” “We want to domesticate the Holy Spirit, and that just won’t do because he is God and he is that breeze that comes and goes, and you don’t know from where.” The Holy Spirit is God’s strength, the pope said. The Holy Spirit “gives us consolation and the strength to move forward”, and the moving forward part is what can be a bother. People think it’s better to be comfortable, but that is not what the fire of the Holy Spirit brings, Pope Francis said. While Catholics today might be more comfortable speaking about the Holy Spirit than they were 50 years ago, the tempta-

Pope Francis accepts an autographed jersey of Spain’s national football team from Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Brey. With them is the the prime minister’s wife, Elvira Fernandez Balboa. The pope has said that we cannot “domesticate” the Holy Spirit (Photo: Paul Haring, CNS) tion to tame the Spirit has not diminished. Pope Francis said reactions to the Second Vatican Council are a prime example. “The council was a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit,” he said. “But after 50 years, have we done everything the Holy Spirit in the council told us to do?” The pope asked if Catholics have opened themselves to “that continuity of the Church’s growth” that the council signified. The answer, he said, is “no.” Catholics seemed willing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the council’s opening in

1962, he said, but they want to do so by “building a monument” rather than by changing anything. At the same time, Pope Francis said, “there are voices saying we should go back. This is called being hard-headed, this is called wanting to domesticate the Holy Spirit, this is called becoming ‘foolish and slow of heart’,” like the disappointed disciples on the road to Emmaus. The same phenomenon can be at work in Christians’ personal lives, he said. “The Holy Spirit pushes us” to live the Gospel more seriously, but often one’s reply is resistance.—CNS

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Vatican to build centre in Jesus’ hometown BY CINdY WOOdEN

ONSTRUCTION should begin soon on a large guesthouse for families on pilgrimage to the Holy Land and an international centre dedicated to promoting Catholic teaching on the family. Pope John Paul II approved the idea of building the International Centre for the Family in Nazareth, Israel, in 2000, and Pope Benedict XVI blessed a cornerstone for the building when he visited the city in 2009. “After long and not always easy-to-reach agreements with Church, civil and political authorities in Israel, the project has been approved,” Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, announced at a Vatican news conference. Auxiliary Bishop GiacintoBoulos Marcuzzo of Jerusalem told reporters the centre will give Christian families in Nazareth another opportunity to demonstrate that they have been blessed by God in order to be a blessing to others.

While Christians make up only about 2% of the total population in Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories, they account for more than 35% of the population of Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up. Muslims make up most of the rest of the city’s population. “The holy places speak of Jesus,” Bishop Marcuzzo said. “The Christian community of the Holy Land continues to speak of Jesus. This community is composed of direct descendants of those who had a direct experience of Jesus, who listened to him and spoke to him, who knew him and followed him.” Archbishop Paglia said the centre, like the Pontifical Council for the Family, will help others recognise the concrete truth of the importance of the family for the good of both individuals and societies. In October, Pope Benedict formally approved the establishment of the International Family Centre of Nazareth Foundation under the auspices of Archbishop Paglia’s council. Salvatore Martinez, president of the

Catholic charismatic movement in Italy, was named president of the foundation, and the movement has been entrusted with the daily operation of the centre. Mr Martinez told reporters he expected construction would be completed in late 2015 or early 2016. The facility will include a community residence for the staff; 100 rooms and a restaurant designed to host families on pilgrimage; a 500-seat church; a playground; a large auditorium; diocesan offices; and meeting rooms. The foundation, he said, will promote “the spiritual formation and evangelisation of families as well as support pastoral outreach to families throughout the world, but particularly in the Holy Land.” “In Nazareth, where it all began, it can begin again,” he said. The model of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary and Joseph—cannot be repeated, “but can be appreciated and emulated by all”.—CNS

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The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor: Günther Simmermacher

Reflection on a joke

UMOUR, it barely needs pointing out, is entirely subjective. A joke that causes one person to laugh may leave the next one cold, or even cause offence. So it was with the “Church Chuckle” published on the back page of our Easter issue (March 27). In it, Mary Magdalene reports to Peter that she had encountered the risen Christ, and that he was still “miffed” about the events a few days before. Some readers took the trouble to inform us that they believed the joke to be offensive, even “bordering on blasphemy”. We published two such letters, but also received responses to the complaints, suggesting in effect that those who took offence ought to “lighten up”. We take the view that those who object to the joke should not be asked to “lighten up”. In their understanding, the joke was in poor taste and perhaps even diminished their Easter joy. This view must be respected. In as far as a joke or any comment printed in this newspaper causes genuine and reasonable offence, we take sincere note of the objection and extend our apology. It is not the purpose of The Southern Cross to create controversy, least so in the most trivial feature of the newspaper. We do, however, reject the notion that we might carelessly introduce borderline blasphemy into the content of The Southern Cross, even in the joke section. Blasphemy requires intent in malice—specifically with the purpose of insulting or otherwise showing contempt for God—or a crudely formulated rejection of God. Clearly, these conditions were absent in the printed joke. Those who object to the joke may agree that it was not in itself blasphemous, but that it was nonetheless irreverent. This would return us to the forum of the subjective. The punchline might also, conversely, invite us to reflect on the nature of God, of sin and of forgiveness (it probably is no accident that the joke has appeared in some form or other on several Christian websites). Specifically, we might reflect on the third post-Resurrection

appearance of Christ at the shore of the Sea of Galilee, reported in John 24. Having secured the disciples a good catch of fish, Christ enters into a remarkable conversation with Simon Peter over breakfast. He asks the disciple three times: “Do you love me?”—a sharp echo of Peter’s triple denial of Christ on the night before the crucifixion. The printed word gives no indication of the tone in which these questions were asked or answered. It is not unreasonable to interpret the exchange as one in which Christ pointedly reprimands Peter for his act of disloyalty. Understood that way, one might say that Christ was, in the colloquial term of the joke, still “miffed”, or displeased. Of course, Christ has already forgiven Peter for his cowardice, feeds him and even appoints him the leader of the new movement. This episode encapsulates our relationship with God, who loves us but whom we encounter frequently as angry and punitive in the Old Testament. The New Testament presents God as gentler, but even the God of the Gospel suffers no fools. We sin against God and displease him, and yet God is ready to forgive our sins, much as good parents are ready to forgive the trespasses of their children, as Jesus explained in the parable of the Prodigal Son. In the joke, Christ is “miffed”, but even in that narrative, this is secondary to the Good News of his Resurrection. Although we commit sins or disregard his laws, our disappointing conduct does not change God’s unconditional love for us and the fruit of Jesus’ sacrifice, the hope of eternal life. There is no inconsistency in Jesus being supposedly “miffed” about the cowardly reaction of his disciples on the one hand to his arrest and the glory of the Good News of his Resurrection on the other. It is legitimate to regard the joke we published with distaste or even feelings of hurt or anger, especially with reference to its timing. At the same time, even a joke that might offend us can lead to deeper, fruitful reflection.

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.

Homilies need listeners too ICHAEL Shackleton’s point in sion for understanding and apply“Do poor homilies lose parish- ing the Word of God. as put forth in M ioners?” (April 16), that Catholics Scripture. lack attention span beyond 10 minutes because the “preacher’s message is nowadays measured against the countless short messages in the social media” resonates with Forbes and Mahan’s observation (2005): “When preaching workshops for ministers include advice that sermons should be shortened to accommodate the television-influenced attention span of seven to eight minutes between commercials, popular culture apparently affects the shape of institutional religion.” There is no quick-fix for “better preaching”, either by cutting time or one-sheet guidelines. A process of renewal starts with a mutual pas-

Resurrection tale

ANY people nowadays feel that Easter is no longer relevant. On the contrary, I feel that the knowledge of the resurrection has altered our attitude to life, and not only for believers. This is shown by the comparison of two stories. The first comes from the Bible, and tells of Jethro, who was one of the leaders of the Israelites when they first crossed the Jordan into the Holy Land. They had to fight to establish themselves among the tribes already there, and before an important battle, Jethro made a vow. He promised, if he was victorious, to sacrifice to God the first living being that he met when he returned home. The first to meet him was his daughter. He had to fulfil his vow, so she had to die. Jethro's honour required he make the sacrifice. The Christian story based on this tale is Beauty and the Beast. The merchant, caught stealing a rose from the beast’s garden, can only escape death by promising to bring him the first living being to greet him on his return home. Once again, it is the beloved daughter who runs out to greet the returning father, and who has to be offered to the beast. Like Jethro, the merchant will not dishonour himself by breaking a promise. But the ending is quite different, instead of death and tragedy, beauty's love and faithfulness redeem the beast, and they “lived happily ever after”. All Christian fairy tales end with “and they lived happily ever after”, all pagan tales, Greek myths or Nordic sagas end tragically. The hope of the resurrection has permeated our thinking, and even the children of unbelievers are brought up with stories telling of “happy ever after”. Monica Giles, Cape Town

Preachers cannot give what they haven’t got, that being a deep conviction of the necessity for such a homily, and the congregation cannot listen if they are not interested in hearing what the preacher has to say, but rather thinking of what shopping to do at the mall on the way home. So effort is required, as a desire, one that is a fruit of evangelisation and faith education. Preachers know what is required of them and congregants should be embracing a reading and listening culture. It is not that Catholics don’t read or can’t listen. They read, watch, and hear as much as anyone else. But when it comes to religious writ-

Evangelisation

E are now in the fourth pontificate (that of Pope Francis) since Pope Paul VI wrote his masterly apostolic exhortation Evangelisation in the Modern World in 1975. We have to ask ourselves, as Catholic Christians, what progress we have made in regard to evangelisation 40 years later, where the newer phrase the New Evangelisation is bandied about, and ambitious initiatives set up. The reason for the Church’s very existence is to evangelise. Do we Catholics really know the meaning of that word? To mention evangelisation in the past was for many Catholics something peculiar to non-Catholics. The word had a Protestant ring to it. In 1975 it was admitted by Pope Paul VI that there were a very large number of baptised Catholics who had not formally renounced their baptism but were entirely indifferent to Catholicism and not living in accordance with it. Are we guilty of ecclesiocentrism? Is the centre of our faith the pomp, ceremony and magnificence of the liturgy, rather than faith in Jesus Christ? There were upwards of 1 million people in St Peter’s Square on that joyous occasion recently when the announcement of the election of 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. Letters can be sent to Po box 2372, Cape Town 8000 or editor@scross.co.za or faxed to 021 465-3850

ROMAN UNION OF THE ORDER OF ST URSULA

ing—unless light-hearted or frivolous—everything is “above” and “beyond” them, only to be measured out a thimbleful at a time. Listening to a homily after the reading of the gospel can be taxing if it is not easy to follow and cannot be heard. Preaching from an outline rather than a script may allow for more eye contact but can easily lead to digression, repetition and padding. The homily/sermon—either by script or outline—needs clear diction, audibility and sharp focus if it is to be taken home by the hearer. Will the day come when besides the Sunday homily there will be weekday paraliturgical preaching lasting for 30 minutes or longer? What’s more, DVDs of the homilies/sermons will be available at the repository. Margaret Mollett, Piketberg, Western Cape our new pope, Francis, was proclaimed. One is tempted to ask: How many in that crowd are Massgoers? It is no secret that only about 10% of Catholics (including Italian Catholics) are evangelised, that is, committed to a vital personal relationship with Jesus Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit. Where the name of Jesus Christ is not spoken, there can be no evangelisation in the true sense. We have to know Jesus personally, not only about him. Catholic spirituality at its best has always promoted a deep personal relationship with Christ. We can only give what we have experienced within. John Lee, Johannesburg

Don’t slam Mugabe

IKE Maidment’s letter (April 3) contains some inaccuracies. He writes that President Robert Mugabe is not a democrat, yet Mr Mugabe has been repeatedly re-elected by the people of Zimbabwe. I was born in Zimbabwe and have benefited from the president’s legacy, from the emancipation of the country through to education, health and social delivery. We know the economic problems of Zimbabwe, which were caused by the sanctions of the West, and the failures by the IMF and World Bank to help as a form of punishment for Zimbabwe’s land heritage repossession, started in the early 2000s. Mr Mugabe is a Catholic, and one cannot deny or block whom he associates with. Zimbabwe’s problems should be left to those born in Zimbabwe. James Matondo, Johannesburg

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The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

PERSPECTIVES

God’s ways are not ours G OD shows that his ways are not those of humans when he chooses David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, to be the future King of Israel (I Samuel 16:7). A serious reflection on the story of Jesus will show that he came to show us a very different approach to life from the approach we humans are ordinarily inclined to follow. The Son of God came to show us the way to the Father, not just by dying for us and being sacrificed on our behalf, but by showing us how to conduct ourselves in relation to the Father—how to develop godly values, in other words. First, we see how Jesus, in obedience to the Father, denies himself the glories of heaven and coming down to be born as a human being; and, as if to be human was not enough, he chose to be born in a stable as a poor, helpless and vulnerable baby. This is expressed beautifully in Paul’s letter to the Philippians: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (2: 6-7). Jesus’ act of obedience to the Father by not clinging to his equality with God is the opposite of the behaviour of Adam and Eve. The two sinned against God by succumbing to their appetite for a delicious fruit and their desire for wisdom and ambition to be like God (Gen 3: 1-6). They chose to follow their ambitions and bodily desires at the expense of God.

In Matthew 4, we see Jesus undergoing similar temptations: • The temptation for instant bodily gratification by turning stones into bread (2-4); • The temptation to do the spectacular by throwing himself down from the highest point of the temple (5-6),and • The temptation for power and control (8-10). If Jesus had done what the devil was asking him to do, he would have challenged the power and will of God the Father as Adam and Eve had done. The greatest test for Jesus was at the end of his life when he was tempted to avoid the cross: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Mt 26:39). However, he immediately submitted himself to the Father: “Yet not as I will but as you will.”

“Jesus was innocent and yet accepted all this humiliation and suffering for the sake of humanity.”

Mary, our guide to evangelisation

AY is traditionally the month of Mary. It is a time to renew our relationship with Mary, the star of evangelisation. In this Year of Faith in particular, her company is essential if we want to remain faithful to the mission of taking Jesus to people. She had manifold qualities of a good evangeliser. In Mary we see how to be followers of Christ in the midst of challenges. Mary is a heroine who moves with Jesus to the cross. She sees her son being subjected to all injustices, even being killed like a criminal. We live in a world where there are different manifestations of injustice. Scandals and different levels of dishonesty are pitching their tents everywhere. The promotion of justice has to be part of our evangelisation efforts, starting within our own churches. The evangeling mission belongs to all. One need not be a priest or religious to take Jesus to society. Mary was not clergy. She fulfilled her mission as a lay person and as a woman. In this month of Mary we need to repent for neglecting the laity and especially women who are still, in some societies, seen as a second-class people. Mary’s vocation was to bring Jesus to the world. Evangelisation is about taking Jesus to the world. This is our call as missionaries. Mission is not about building magnificent churches, nor about baptising crowds of people, nor even about establishing vibrant communities; mission is

Fireworks are set off at the inauguration of a new statue of the Blessed Virgin near Oruro, Bolivia. In his article, Anthony Gathambiri argues that Mary is essential in evangelisation. (Photo: david Mercado, Reuters) first of all about bringing Jesus to the world. Missionaries who move around telling everyone what they have built or what projects they have founded are mistaken. Mary never boasted about being the mother of God. She understood well that her vocation belonged to God. As missionaries, how serious are we when we take Jesus to the world? How discreet are we when we start projects? When hearing that Elizabeth has conceived a son, and she is in her sixth month, Mary immediately rushes to serve her. Evangelisation without service is inauthentic. We touch people’s lives only when we emulate Mary, taking her as our model of service. People will accept Jesus if the carrier of the Gospel is a servant like

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Christian Leadership

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Pray with the Pope

Fair justice True enough, the Father’s will was that he should die. But as Paul puts it, Jesus humbled himself to the point of dying on the cross: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Not only was it a painful death—it was a shameful, disreputable death. It was bad enough abandoning the glories of heaven and being born in a stable, but nothing was as humiliating as this: He who had been a great preacher and teacher drawing huge crowds, was now stripped naked, a public display, dying a shameful death between two criminals! He was innocent and yet accepted the responsibility of undergoing all this humiliation and suffering for the sake of humanity. Paul goes on to explain that it was this very act of painful and humiliating selflessness, this complete reversal of common human values and expectations, that earned him the greatest name and the highest position in heaven. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord...” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Anthony Gathambiri IMC

Point of Reflection

Mary. The “boss attitude” cannot work in evangelisation. Taking Jesus to the world demands from us serious commitment and witness. People cannot believe us if we are preaching one thing and living another. Evangelisation is also about proclaiming the faith that we live, much more than standing at the pulpit pumping abstract doctrines to the people in the pews. Scripture should be our daily bread if we want to know Jesus and live like him. Mary is a good example for those who seek to understand things. She wondered: “How can this be since I am a virgin?” To evangelise in various cultures, this attitude of wanting to know about things is needed. The “I know it all” style of carrying out God’s mission can’t accomplish much. We need to be humble enough to learn even from those whom we seek to teach. Mary began her mission by being full of grace. The Holy Spirit descended upon her as announced by the angel. The principal agent of the mission is the Holy Spirit. A missionary without the Spirit is lifeless. We have fire within us when we have the Holy Spirit. And, of course, Mary was present in the Upper Room when the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, the birth of the missionary Church. Hail Mary, pray for us.

REMEMBERING OUR DEAD

“It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins” (II Macc XII,46) Holy Mass will be celebrated on the first Sunday of each month in the All Souls’ chapel, Maitland, Cape Town at 2:30pm for all souls in purgatory and for all those buried in the Woltemade cemetery.

For further information, please contact St Jude Society, Box 22230, Fish Hoek, 7975 Telephone (021) 552-3850

General Intention: That administrators of justice may act always with integrity and right conscience.

SENSE of equality before the law is vital for the creation and maintenance of social stability. This is common sense. If I know that to get the judge to do the right thing I have to bribe him, then I will feel victimised and resentful. If I don’t have the money then I am will be angry and alienated and see myself as a second-class citizen. It is from such anger and frustration that revolutionary movements are born. On the other hand, a society in which people feel fairly treated by the processes of the law is more likely to be cohesive because people are happy to belong to a society in which their equality is honoured and safeguarded. Failure here can take many forms, not just the form of corruption. If judgments are simply arbitrary because of incompetence, this will induce a similar sense of insecurity. The same will happen if judgments discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity. Ethnically biased judgments drive the members of the group which is discriminated against into bitterness which can erupt in violence. Therefore, if we want people to feel “at home” in their own country, we need to ensure that “the administrators of justice” administer it with impartiality, or, as the intention puts it, “with integrity and right conscience”. In praying for this intention we are praying for the very fabric of our society.

To form priests Missionary Intention: That seminaries, especially those of mission Churches, may form pastors after the Heart of Christ, fully dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel.

OD promises us: “‘I will give you shepherds after my own heart” (Jeremiah 3:15). The text is the title of Pope John Paul’s 1992 apostolic exhortation on the formation of the clergy, Pastores Dabo Vobis. Well, God will give us shepherds after the heart of Christ, but it’s up to people like me, who teach in seminaries, to cooperate with the Lord in the process! To form a frail human being into a selfless servant of the Gospel, dedicated to the Lord in faithful obedience, celibacy and simplicity of lifestyle, is a long and daunting task. That is apart from the academic training in philosophy and theology and the business of transforming the academic knowledge into practical, pastoral skills—the ability to preach well, hear confessions wisely and compassionately, foster unity in the parish community and so on. First one has to find candidates who have the right motivation and who demonstrate the potential to realise the ideal. They must be bright enough and balanced enough. There must be that deep sense of vocation, a profoundly felt knowledge that God is inviting them to this, in complete freedom. They must be capable of developing a life of prayer which will give them the intimacy with the Lord that will keep them going in season and out of season. They must know themselves with their strengths and weaknesses, so that they can grow stronger and learn to resist the temptations particular to the clerical state such as ambition and the abuse of power. And they must realise that once they are ordained, there is a sense in which their formation is only just beginning and that becoming a pastor after the heart of Christ is a lifetime’s work. The usual joke is that the seminaries are looking for Jesus Christ on a good day. But when you look at the immense challenges faced by priests today, the joke is uncomfortably close to being serious. Pray for our seminarians and their mentors.

The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

COMMUNITY

A large crowd of about 400-500 people were at King Shaka airport in durban to welcome Cardinal Wilfrid Napier home after the papal conclave. Cardinal Napier thanked his well-wishers, saying: “What a fantastic welcome home! It was a truly heart-warming expression of support Bishop José Luis Gerardo Ponce de León and solidarity, which was much appreciated. In a very real way you IMC blessed congregant at a Mass in durmade God present.” ban’s Emmanuel cathedral to celebrate the election of Pope Francis. The main celebrant was Bishop Barry Wood, auxiliary of durban. Bishop Ponce de León, the Argentine-born bishop of Ingwavuma, has met the new pope. In introducing the bishop, cathedral administrator Fr Stephen Tully said that the congregation would be able to shake the hand of someone who had shaken the hand of the new pope. Long queues of people took up the offer at the end of Mass with many also requesting to have their photos taken with the bishop.

The SACBC Youth department held a national meeting. Pictured are (front from left) Education for Life coordinator Sr Victoria Sibisi, Neo Rakoma of the archdiocese of Pretoria, Fr Balizo Makgetha of Bloemfontein, and Mthunzi Manda, from the diocese of Witbank.

Send your photos to pics@scross.co.za or post to box 2372 Cape Town 8000

St Patrick’s parish in East London hosted a youth Mass for all the parishes in the region. Mass was celebrated by Fr John Pullokaren and assisted by the East London youth chaplain, deacon Wayne Lawrence. St Patrick’s holds the youth Mass on the third Sunday evening of every month.

The SACBC Aids office organised training conducted by the Foundation for Professional development, for health workers in the Eastern Cape. It was attended by 30 health workers from Masebalane, Aliwal North, Queenstown and Port Elizabeth. Training was held at Mount Carmel farm in Aliwal North.

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HOLY SPIRIT CENTRE CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL – WESTERN CAPE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR: Reverend Father Emmanuel Siljeur

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FRANCISCAN NARDINI SISTERS

Will be hosting the annual archdiocesan life in The Holy Spirit Seminar 2013

venue: Christel House School, Swallowcliﬀe Drive (oﬀ Old Strandfontein Rd), Ottery. Time: 7.30pm to 9.30pm. date: Friday 10th May to Saturday 18th May 2013

content

date

Speaker

Jesus saves and sets you free

Sat 11 May

Fr albert gonsalves

you are called to be His disciple

Mon 13 May

god the Father loves you Personally Fri 10 May Jesus is the lord of your life

I shall always strive for the one goal: For JESUS CHRIST to be my centre. Blessed Paul Joseph Nardini

P/Bag X9309 Vryheid 3100

For more information, contact the Vocation Team at PO Box 194 Wasbank 2920

PO Box 12 Nkandla 3855

Tel: 034 981 6158 Fax: 034 983 2012

034 651 1444 034 651 1096

035 833 0033 035 833 0317

E-mail franasi@bundunet.co.za

E-mail: nardini@trustnet.co.za

E-mail: nardinis@mweb.co.za

Jesus sends us His Holy Spirit

Sun 12 May

Tues 14 May

you will receive the Holy Spirit

Wed 15 May

you shall be my witness

Fri 17 May

you then are the body of christ

Pentecost celebration Holy Mass

Thurs 16 May

Sat 18May

Fr emmanuel Siljeur

Fr ralph de Hahn

Fr Peter Ziegler

Fr Mari Joseph

Fr Sean Wales

Fr John Keough

His grace the

archbishop Fr Kizito/

celebrant Fr. emmanuel

Come with an expectant heart to receive the Holy Spirit Tel: 27 21 021 510 2988 or Karen adriaanse 083 215 8105 e-mail: hscentre@telkomsa.net

PERSONALITY

The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

German bishop: Keep supporting SA When Bishop Stephan Ackermann travelled to South Africa he found a country full of faith. CLAIRE MATHIESON interviewed Bishop Ackermann.

ISHOP Stephan Ackermann of Trier, Germany’s oldest city in the Palatine region, visited South Africa in April to examine the progress of Hope Cape Town, an Aids organisation co-founded by Fr Stefan Hippler with Cape Town’s German-speaking Catholic parish but he found much more. Like Fr Hippler—who arrived in Cape Town in 1998 to serve as the chaplain to German-speakers and ended up spearheading an organisation that provides services to those infected by HIV and to contribute to the medical and social research around the disease—Bishop Ackermann found more than he initially expected. “South Africa is a land that is very rich—rich in people, landscape and natural resources,” said Bishop Ackermann in an interview with The Southern Cross. “It’s also rich in religion; an openness to God and faith. This is very different to Germany,” he observed. But despite the country’s wealth, South Africa is also rich in “challenges and problems”, noted the 50year-old bishop, who is seen by many in the German Church as a rising star. He has headed the diocese of Trier since 2009, following predecessor Cardinal Reinhard Marx’s transfer to Munich. Bishop Ackermann said he was made aware that the South African Church wants to be self-sufficient, “but it is happening very slowly”. In light of decreasing funding from Europe for the projects of the Catholic Church, Bishop Ackermann said: “There is no question: we must continue to help South Africa.” The German Church supports the South African Church in various capacities. Some fund emergency relief, while others provide sustained and long-term support in various

The

areas including health care, advocacy, and education. The German bishop made it clear that foreign funders must continue to support the country with its highly polarised challenges and differences between rural and urban issues. “South Africa is not a classic nation that needs development,” said Bishop Ackermann, “and it has been impressive meeting with the role players and seeing the work done.” But, he added, “it is still an area of priority.”

uring his short visit to various areas of South Africa, he met with Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria, Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg, various SACBC offices and Justice & Peace groups. These meetings composed a picture of a county battling with poverty, crime, education problems, unemployment, health and corruption. “In Germany, we are aware of your country’s problems; we see it as a third world country,” he said, but added that he also saw some similarities with Germany. In a meeting with Anglican Archbishop-emeritus Desmond Tutu, the fall of the Berlin Wall was compared with the end of apartheid. “There are many people from the former East Germany who still need to find the truth about what happened” during the years of the communist regime, a time when the secret police kept files on many citizens, spying was rampant and people often denounced opponents of the regime,” Bishop Ackermann said Many former East Germans still need to reconcile with the past, he noted. But the process of reconciliation between Germans from the East and West has improved. “Ten years ago there was a noticeable difference between those in the East and West, but today there is far more equality between the two halves,” Bishop Ackermann said. The younger generation, mostly those born after the fall of the wall, sees Germany as a whole, but older Germans still hold on to a different way of thinking. The post-reunification experience of the German Church found

Bishop Stephan Ackermann in Cape Town. (Photo: Günther Simmermacher) an echo in that of South African Justice & Peace role-players he met with. “We shared with Bishop Ackermann the experience of how J&P seemed to have lost its way after the fall of apartheid, with no ‘enemy focus’, Mr Ntabeni said. Bishop Ackermann said a similar thing happened in Germany after the fall of Berlin Wall,” said Mphuthumi Ntabeni, J&P representative for Constantia parish in Cape Town. Bishop Ackerman said that he learnt that Christianity, and religious faith in general, acted as a common ground for many South Africans. “Religion is part of your identity. It’s nothing extraordinary here, but in Germany it is very special and very different” to be openly Christian. While there is much Christian tradition in German culture, there is little place to express it in public. The bishop also gained a deeper

insight into the socio-cultural-economic factors which drive the HIV/Aids pandemic in areas of South Africa. He visited Freedom Park informal settlement with Bishop Dowling who has run a major primary health and HIV/Aids programme in the Rustenburg diocese since 1997.

ishop Dowling told The Southern Cross that the visit opened reflection on questions of moral theology. “I think the visit enabled the bishop and his team to reflect with me on the Church’s role and mission, not only in terms of care for the sick and dying, but in terms of prevention,” Bishop Dowling said. “The complexity of the social situation faced by desperately poor women in particular gave rise to an interesting debate on the possibility of making moral decisions related to prevention in situations where the ideals we hold to as Church are ex-

tremely difficult to put into practice,” Bishop Dowling said. Bishop Dowling said he also learnt something from his German visitor: “That in facing the complexity of the challenges in the HIV/Aids pandemic in such a situation we need not begin a discussion at the level of the ideal, or on principles which normally guide our approach as Church. We need to begin by listening deeply and non-judgmentally to the suffering and hopelessness of very vulnerable people, allowing God to speak to us through them, and also to accept the invitation from God to ask the question of ourselves: how do we protect life in such a situation, and how do we preserve and promote the dignity of people whose only thought is how to survive for the next 24 hours?” The J&P delegates in Cape Town also learnt something from the German bishop. The German delegation was impressed “that we had J&P commissions in parishes because for them J&P exists only on a national level” under the Central Committee of German Catholics (known in Germany by the abbreviation ZdK), Mr Ntabeni noted. The ZdK is a representative body of lay people that unites diocesan councils, Catholic associations, institutions of lay apostolates, lay movements and communities. Mr Ntabeni said the J&P representatives were intrigued by the concept and expressed an interest in establishing something similar in South Africa as it looked as if it “was a good forum for dialogue and fountain of sharing new ideas”. Mr Ntabeni said local J&P learnt that Germany is “preoccupied with the battle against secularism and disconcert of most people in religious and spiritual matters. Matters of protecting the environment are high in their campaigns, and the issue of gay marriage.” But in South Africa, J&P is concerned with “new struggles for economic emancipation of the majority, gender crimes, and an alarming rate of economic inequalities,” said Mr Ntabeni. “It’s very interesting to see the Continued on page 11

Souther n Cross on Pilgrimage 2014

HOLY LAND • ROME • PADRE PIO HOLY LAND YOUTH PILGRIMAGE 11 – 23 May 2014 with

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and Holy Land Trek author Günther Simmermacher Join The Southern Cross and the Archbishop of Cape Town (right) on a special pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Meet with local Christians before travelling to Italy to see the Pope in Rome and to pray at the places of Padre Pio.

HoLY LAND: Jerusalem (with Via dolorosa, church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mary’s tomb). Bethlehem. Nazareth. Cana (with an opportunity to renew marriage vows). Mount of Beatitudes. Capernaum. Boatride on the Sea of Galilee. Mount Tabor. Jordan River Baptismal Site. Ein Kerem. dead Sea. And much more.

ITALY: Rome with PAPAL AuDIENCE, the four major basilicas (including Mass in St Peter’s), catacombs, ancient sites. Monte Cassino. San Giovanni Rotondo (where Padre Pio spent almost all of his life). Lanciano (site of the first Eucharistic Miracle recognised by the Catholic Church).

ISTANbuL: as a bonus, enjoy a day of sightseeing in the capital of Turkey, the ancient Constantinople. Both pilgrimages will be accompanied by licensed local guides on luxury tour buses and accommodated in 3-star hotels or better.

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HoLY LAND: Jerusalem (with Via dolorosa, church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mary’s tomb). Bethlehem. Nazareth (with visit to a recreation of 1st century life). Cana. Mount of Beatitudes. Capernaum. Boatride on the Sea of Galilee. Mount Tabor. Jordan River Baptismal Site. Ein Kerem. dead Sea. And much more.

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The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

FAITH

Why we must pray with the pope Starting on May 1, the Jesuit Institute will be using modern media to inspire those who want to support the work of the Church and the pope with their prayers—the Apostleship of Prayer is entering cyberspace! RAYMOND PERRIER explains.

‘I

WANT to go to the Missions!” This is the reason the Apostleship of Prayer exists. These words were cried out by enthusiastic Jesuit students in Paris in 1844. These young men were fed up with their studies and instead wanted to be ordered by the pope to head out to “the missions”, especially, at that time, to Africa. Admiring their zeal—but also recognising how important it was for them to complete their studies—the pope came up with a solution: even when we cannot act, we can pray. So why not get the young students to focus their prayers each month on some aspects of the missions? Thus, the Apostleship of Prayer was born and over the past 160 years it has grown into a worldwide movement which has extended beyond Jesuit students, and indeed beyond Jesuits, to involve millions of ordinary Catholics worldwide in praying for the pope’s intentions. Fr Chris Chatteris SJ, the national promoter of the Apostleship of Prayer, explained that the idea is very simple. “While our prayers can be general—after all, God already knows what we desire—by making them specific we can focus on understanding what the needs are of the Church and of society,” he said. “The pope is uniquely placed, as the visible focus of unity for the universal (Catholic) Church, to see what these needs are worldwide. Thus, for each month he announces a General Intention and a Missionary Intention and asks those who follow the Apostleship of Prayer to focus their prayers on these specific themes; hence, the subtitle ‘Praying with the Pope’,” Fr Chatteris said. The Jesuits have always had the task from the Holy Father to promote the Apostleship of Prayer. For example, every month Fr Chatteris writes a column in The Southern Cross (see page 7) listing and explaining the next month’s intentions, a task he took over from Fr James Fitzsimons SJ. The Jesuit Institute started imagining how a modern pope might respond to students such as those in Paris in 1844. We have had a

pope in Benedict XVI who started to use social media. We now have a pope in Francis—and a Jesuit moreover—who in so many ways has shown he is not afraid to engage with the modern world. It struck us therefore that there were four main innovations a pope today would make if he was responding to a similar call from students: Firstly, the pope would be responding not just to Europeans who wanted to work in “third world” missions but rather challenging all Catholics worldwide to respond to the whole Church as a missionary Church. Secondly, it would be taken for granted that modern media, and in particular tools like the Internet, email, Twitter and Facebook, would be used. Thirdly, the pope would want people not just to “pray the intentions”, but also to understand more about the situations they describe. And fourthly, while the role of the hierarchical Church would be at the forefront, there would be a recognition that in so many areas the Church works alongside “people of goodwill” (inside and outside the Christian community) to help build the Kingdom of God.

rom May 1 the Jesuit Institute will be putting some of these innovations into practice. As well as explaining what the intentions are for that month, we will also give personal insights into the intentions, ideas for background reading to help deepen understanding, extracts from Church teaching that support the intention, links to organisations that work in the fields under discussion and even inspiring images and music that help us to focus our prayers. As well as the monthly article by Fr Chatteris, there will also be monthly Scriptural reflections by Fr Fitzsimons, who is now 94 years old, to help us pray even more deeply. For example, the General Intention for May is focused on those who are “administrators of justice” (lawyers, judges, police officers and so on) that they will “act always with integrity and right conscience”. So we might have an insight from a Catholic magistrate, a link to the Catholic police guild, extracts from the Catechism explaining the Church’s understanding of justice, or a reflection on St Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers. The Missionary Intention focuses on seminaries, praying that “they may form pastors after the Heart of Christ, fully dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel”. So we might hear from some seminarians about what prayers they need, pro-

vide a picture of current seminary students so we can focus our prayers on them, give a summary of the Vatican II document that sets out a model for priestly formation, or give access to a reflection from an American or European apostleship of prayer ministry that connects with our own situation. Fr Gilbert Banda, a Zimbabwean Jesuit working on this project, explained the importance of using modern media to make all of this accessible. “We are responding to the challenge of Vatican II to use ‘all the wonderful technological discoveries which people of talent have made with God’s help’.” The side bar explains more about the different ways of “praying with the pope”. One of the advantages of social media is that communication is not just one way. So one innovation will be to provide, on Facebook, a discussion topic and encourage readers to share their own thoughts and experiences.

n May we will be asking people to share their examples of good conduct by administrators of justice (to use Radio Veritas’ slogan: “The Good News for a Change”). The second discussion thread in May will be to ask readers what they are looking for in their new priests (“formed after the heart of Christ”) or what advice they might give to the rector of a seminary. Fr Sammy Mabusela CSS, the national chaplain to Catholic youth and to the Association of Catholic Tertiary Students (ACTS) is enthusiastic about the project. “Students today have the

chance to follow in the footsteps of students in past centuries. There has been a lot of interest in the new pope—now students have a specific way of engaging with him and praying alongside him,” he said. “But the important thing is that they can do this using the social media which for them are the normal way of communicating now.” Rui and Chris, seminarians at St Francis Xavier orientation seminary in Cape Town, said they empathised with those Jesuit students in the past. There’s a real zeal in the seminary to get out there into the ministry, they said, adding that by signing up to the Facebook page, and praying with the pope every day, the seminarians will be able to contribute something straight away. Students at the Catholic chaplaincy at the University of Johannesburg are also keen. Psychology student Betty Chiyangwa told Fr Banda that in praying she felt “in union with the pope; students are able to form a better vision of a world they hope for”. Third-year accounting student Rudo Nyakatembo said: “The pope has a difficult task ahead of him. When we pray with him, we encourage him to live up to the challenge.” Chanda Sampa, IT administrator at the Jesuit Institute and the brain behind the use of social media said: “This is new territory for us—mission territory. So please do sign up, but also please be patient with us as we try out new things!” n Raymond Perrier is the director of the Jesuit Institute in Johannesburg. Tel 011 482 4237

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ur way to respond to the Holy Father’s invitation is to pray the intentions every day using the Morning Offering. Morning Offering O Jesus, through the most pure heart of Mary, I offer you all the prayers, work, sufferings and joys of this day, for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in the holy Mass, and for the pope’s intentions. On the last weekend of each month, Jesuit Father Chris Chatteris has a column in The Southern Cross explaining the pope’s intentions for that month (see page 7). In addition in South Africa one can: • Like the Apostolate of Prayer on Facebook and read and share comments about the pope’s intentions: www.facebook.com/Prayingwith thePope • Follow the apostolate on Twitter @PrayPope and read more about the pope’s intentions and what lies behind them. • Go to www.jesuitinstitute.org.za/ apostleshipof prayer to read more and to contact the apostolate. • Send an e-mail to prayingwiththe pope@jesuitin stitute.org.za to receive an email reflection every Monday which, in the spirit of the Apostleship of Prayer, links topical issues to our faith. You will also be kept informed about new developments and receive links to further deepen your understanding of the intentions. “To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope.” (Pope Francis—Inaugural homily, March 19, 2013)

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The Southern Cross, April 24 to April 30, 2013

Sr Mary Sheila Bell

German bishop on South Africa

CHOENSTATT Sr Sheila Bell died in Cape Town on March 26, after a long struggle with cancer. She was 84. On the morning of Sr Sheila’s death, Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence Henry, who celebrates daily Holy Mass with the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, anointed her and also gave her a plenary indulgence. He reminded us and Sr Sheila that it was the 19th anniversary of Cardinal Owen McCann’s death, whom Sr Sheila had served faithfully for so many years. Sr Sheila was born on April 28, 1928 in Johannesburg, the eldest of two daughters. After matriculating from Loreto Convent, Skinner Street, Pretoria, at the age of 18, she worked as a typist and clerk for various firms until she entered the Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary. She was highly appreciated wherever she worked. It was in her final years at high school that Sr Sheila felt the urge to convert to Catholicism but was advised to wait with her decision until she had left school. She became a Catholic shortly after her 21st birthday and later became an active member of the Marian Sodality, becoming its president in 1957. In 1959 Sr Sheila moved from Pretoria to Cape Town and stayed at Villa Maria Ladies’ Residence in Cape Town. This is where she came into contact with the Schoenstatt Sisters and decided after some time to enter their community. She was accepted as a postulant on April 18, 1960

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 547. ACROSS: 1 Crib, 2 Amicable, 7 Reigned, 9 Focus, 10 Matriarch, 12 Author, 14 Missal, 16 Fiery bush, 19 Agent, 20 Reels in, 21 Flautist, 22 Espy. DOWN: 1 Cardinal, 2 Idiom, 4 Madrid, 5 Bacchus, 6 Erse, 8 Not honest, 9 Furniture, 11 Slovenly, 13 Taffeta, 15 Cyprus, 17 Hosts, 18 Calf.

Liturgical Calendar Year C Weekdays Cycle Year 1 Sunday, April 28 Acts 14:21-27, Psalm 145:8-13, Revelation 21:15, John 13:31-33, 34-35 Monday, April 29, St Catherine of Siena Acts 14:5-18, Psalm 115:1-4, 15-16, John 14:2126 Tuesday, April 30 Acts 14:19-28, Psalm 145:10-13, 21, John 14:2731 Wednesday, May 1, St Joseph the Worker Genesis 1:26, 2:3 or Colossians 3:14-15, 17, 2324, Psalm 90:2-4, 12-14, 16, Matthew 13:54-58 Thursday, May 2, St Athanasius Acts 15:7-21, Psalm 96:1-3, 10, John 15:9-11 Friday, May 3, Ss Philip and James 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Psalm 19:2-5, John 14:614 Saturday, May 4 Acts 16:1-10, Psalm 100:1-3, 5, John 15:18-21 Sunday, May 5 Acts 15:1-2, 22-29, Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8, Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23, John 14:23-29

and was clothed on September 11, 1960. She made her solemn final incorporation on September 15, 1969. Sr Sheila went to work in the Cape Town archdiocesan chancery straight after her novitiate in 1962. She remained in the chancery working in different positions until she retired in January 2012. She served as secretary, archivist and as chancellor under Archbishop Henry and Archbishop Stephen Brislin. She worked with four archbishops: one of Cardinal McCann, Archbishop Stephen Naidoo, Archbishop Henry and lastly Archbishop Brislin and also Auxiliary Bishop Reginald Cawcutt. Sr Sheila was known for her confidentiality and her conscientiousness and was appreciated by everyone. Sr Sheila was pleasant and trustworthy and also very sisterly. She was marked by a deep loyalty towards her Schoenstatt family and never wavered in her vocation. She had a deep religious attitude and a great love for Our Lady and the Schoenstatt shrine. She loved to pray the rosary, praying it for years every evening at 17:00 in the Villa shrine with anyone who would want to join her. Submitted by Sr M Iona Mackenzie

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: Mimosa Shrine, bellville (Place of pilgrimage for the Year of Faith) Tel: 076 323 8043 May 11: 9.00-10.00am Holy hour and benediction, confession available. May 16: 7.30pm Rosary. May 30: Vigil of the Feast of the Visitation - 7.00pm Rosary, 7.30pm Holy Mass Padre Pio: Holy hour 3:30 pm every 3rd Sunday of the month at Holy Redeemer parish in Bergvliet. Helpers of god’s Precious Infants meet the last Saturday of the month except in december, start-

ing with Mass at 9:30 am at the Sacred Heart church in Somerset Road, Cape Town. Mass is followed by a vigil and procession to Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Bree Street. For information contact Colette Thomas on 083 412 4836 or 021 593 9875 or Br daniel Manuel on 083 544 3375

KWAZuLu_NATAL: The youth of the Catholic church of St Mary’s are having a pilgrimage at a mission station in donnybrook, KwaZulu-Natal from May 4-5. For more information call 032 00 204 (Mariannhill diocese)

do you feel called to the Franciscan way of life?

Continued from page 9 different J&P groups in the individual parishes. They are bringing Catholic Social Teaching to the ground,” Bishop Ackermann said in the interview. He also commended the work of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office. The bishop noted there is a great level of integration through faith in South Africa. “There seems to be a cultural division but not a racial division in the South African Church.” In Germany, due to the decline in the number of priests, pastoral ground was growing, making it increasingly difficult to bring people together. “There is a struggle in the Church in Germany. How are we to react to a

secularised society? How do we bring the Gospel into our lives? ” Bishop Ackerman said he was amazed at the spread of South Africa’s “mushroom churches”—evangelical and Pentecostal places of worship that spring up in new suburbs. “This simply does not exist in Germany. There are people leaving the Church but not entering new faith communities,” whereas in South Africa Catholics tend to leave the Church to join other denominations instead. “People in Germany are living without faith; without God.” Bishop Ackerman was encouraged by the presence of faith in South Africa. “God is a reality in South Africa!”

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IN MEMorIAM

SMITH–—Br Gert, Oblate St Francis de Sales, Keimoes and Namaqualand. In loving memory. Passed away on May 4, 2009. A loving brother gone to rest, for all of us he did the best. Rest in peace. Remembered by his family, Mary da Silva (Pillay) god-child, all friends and The Oblates of St Francis de Sales also Koelenhof.

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PrAYErS

o MoST beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me where you are, Mother of God. Queen of heaven and earth I

humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. There is none who can withstand your power, O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands. “Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days and then publish. Special thanks to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saints Jude and daniel for prayers answered. A Oppel. You, O eternal Trinity, are a deep sea into which, the more I enter, the more I find. And the more I find, the more I seek. O abyss, O eternal Godhead, O sea profound, what more could you give me than yourself? Prayer of Awe—St Catherine of Siena. For You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139 ST MICHAEL the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

HoLIDAY ACCoMMoDATIoN

LoNDoN, Protea House: Single per/night R300, twin R480. Self-catering, busses and underground nearby. Phone Peter 0044 208 748 4834. bALLITo: Up-market penthouse on beach, self-catering, 084 790 6562 CAPE ToWN: Fully equipped self-catering, 2 bedroom apartment with parking, in Strandfontein R400 or R480 (low/high season) (4 persons per night) Paul 021 393 2503, 083 553 9856, vivilla@ telkomsa.net FISH HoEK: Self-catering accommodation, sleeps 4. Secure parking. Tel: 021 785 1247. KNYSNA: Self-catering accommodation for 2 in Old Belvidere with wonderful lagoon views. 044 387 1052. MArIANELLA: Guest House, Simon’s Town: “Come experience the peace and beauty of God with us.” Fully equipped with amazing sea views. Secure parking, ideal for rest and relaxation. Special rates for pensioners and clergy. Tel: Malcolm Salida 082 784 5675 or mjsalida@gmail.com SEDgEFIELD: Beautiful self-catering garden holiday flat, sleeps four, two bedrooms, open-plan lounge, kitchen, fully equipped. 5 min walk to lagoon. Out of season specials. Contact Les or Bernadette 044 343 3242, 082 900 6282. STrAND: Beachfront flat to let. Stunning views, fully equipped. One bedroom, sleeps 3. Seasonal rates. From R525 p/night for 2 people—low season. Garage. Ph Brenda 082 822 0607.

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6th Sunday of Easter: May 5 Readings: Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29, Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8, Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23, John 14:23-29

Pray for gift of the spirit

Nicholas King SJ

EXT Thursday is the feast of the Ascension in this country, and on Sunday the Church starts to think about the mysterious force to which the New Testament gives the name of the “Holy Spirit” or “Paraclete”, and whose coming we shall be celebrating in two weeks’ time. In these times especially, perhaps, it is important to think what the function of this Spirit might be, and how the Church can offer itself to be guided by the Spirit. In the first reading for next Sunday we see the Spirit’s action expressed in dramatic form. There is trouble in Antioch, because Paul and Barnabas have been bringing gentiles into the Church, and “some people came from Judea and started teaching that ‘You can’t be saved unless you get circumcised in accordance with the custom of Moses’.” Not surprisingly this sets the cat among the pigeons, and so a meeting is called in Jerusalem to deal with this challenge from the conservatives: Paul and Barnabas and one or two others are to meet with “the apostles and elders” to defend their heretical innovations. The account of what was evidently quite a lively debate, with contributions from Paul and Barnabas, Peter, and James, currently the leader

Sunday Reflections

of the church in Jerusalem, is omitted in our reading (but it will be perfectly in order for you to read the remainder of chapter 15 of Acts, to see what was said). The Spirit is always present when we are working to overcome tensions and disagreements, and to find the way ahead, and eventually that is what happens: a deputation, consisting apparently of Judas Barsabbas and Silas, as well as Paul and Barnabas, is sent to Antioch, with a letter, giving the verdict. Noticeably they say that “it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to add no further imposition”, and simply ask for the Gentiles of Antioch to “steer clear of food offered to false gods, and from blood, and from [eating] animals that have been strangled, and from fornication (which could mean either sexual immorality or idolatry)”. How much of this letter was ever put into practice is another matter; but for us the key

point is that the Spirit was there, clearing up a painful question in the early history of the Church, one that could have torn it apart. The same Spirit, we have to remember, is at work among us today. In the psalm for next Sunday the Spirit is not mentioned, but we can see what the Spirit does; in the first place, it enables us to see God at work in the world: “Let God be gracious and bless us, let God’s face shine upon us, so that we may know your way on earth, and your salvation among all the peoples.” Secondly, as in the first reading, the function of the Spirit is to take God’s word beyond merely Israel to the “peoples”. “Let the gentiles be glad and rejoice [and joy is always a sign of the presence of the Spirit, we should recall], for you govern the nations with righteousness.” In the second reading the Spirit is the atmosphere in which John the Elder and seer is taken up “onto a great and high mountain”, and granted a vision of “the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God”. It is a breath-taking vision: a wall with “twelve gates...twelve angels...twelve names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel...twelve foundations...twelve apostles of the Lamb”.

Stone jars and softer containers I

N his novel A Month of Sundays, John Updike presents us with a character, a lapsed vicar, who, though struggling himself with faith, is extremely critical of his young assistant whose faith and theology he judges to be fluffy and lightweight. He describes his young assistant this way: His is a “limp-wristed theology, a perfectly custardly confection of JungianReichian soma-mysticism swimming in soupy caramel of Tillichic, Jasperian, Bultmannish blather, all served up in a dime-store dish of his gutless generation’s give-away Gemütlichkeit.” None of that for the lapsed vicar, of course; that mixture offends his sense of aesthetics. For him, it’s: “Let’s have it in its original stony jars, or not at all!” That sounds brilliant and clever, and it is. But is it wise or is it merely another of those things that sounds brilliant but doesn’t necessarily compute into wisdom? I confess that there was a time in my life when I would have grabbed that kind of statement and run with it. I too nursed that attitude: Let’s have it in the old jars, stone, solid. Don’t give me some fluffy Gemütlichkeit—the German word which translates roughly to congenial cosiness— where you sit around in small groups, holding hands and affirming each other! But, as I age, I grow more sceptical of my younger self and of some of the wisdom of my generation. We were fed a lot out of stone jars and our religion, our politics, our economics and our attitudes reflect that. We were taught to be tough, pure in doctrine, uncompromising, loyal

Conrad

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final Reflection

to your own, to not accept anything that we didn’t earn, and to be proud of the hard knocks we had to endure. We were taught too to have an innate distrust for anything that appeared soft, unearned, and as not coming from a solid looking jar. And that had its upside. For the most part, we grew up strong, independent, tough, entrepreneurial, not looking for any unearned handouts to fatten our wallets or our self-esteem. We didn’t believe in affirmative action, in holding hands, or in saying “I love you” very often. We learned to dig deep inside ourselves and to harness our own strengths. Stone jars nourish that way. But our tough skins, our uncompromising character, and our pride in never taking anything we didn’t earn also has a dark underbelly. We tend to be aggressive and competitive in ways that make it hard for us to ever bless anyone, particularly the young or those who are more talented than we are. We’re overly prone to jealousy, don’t easily let go of centre stage, and we can be narrow and too-easily given over to false patriotism, racism, sexism, and

other types of arrogance and superiority. Recently, on the radio, I listened to an interview of a young woman, herself already a mother, who shared how she needs to phone her own mother daily and have her mother affirm her and how she hopes to affirm her own young child in that same manner. My spontaneous reaction was negative: How saccharine! What a pampered generation! A grown woman still needing that kind of affirmation from her mother! I didn’t grow up like that! My generation didn’t grow up like that! What soft sentimentality! But, for all our distrust of sentimentality, we didn’t turn out all that well, when all is said and done. For all our toughness and disdain of sentimentality, we find it hard to affirm and bless others. And so I look at those lines from Updike (keeping in mind that these are thoughts put into the mind of a fictional character that don’t necessarily reflect Updike’s own attitude) with a critical eye. I acknowledge they’re brilliant and I respect the instinct behind them. They’re ultimately rooted in a refined taste, in a desire for proper aesthetics, and in a concomitant disdain for any sloppiness and sentimentality that would try to pass themselves off as depth. We can all appreciate why Updike’s vicar might feel that way because we would all feel a similar indignation were a cheap soft-drink trying to peddle itself as a vintage wine. All of us have our own favourite stony jars. Bu, with that being acknowledged, we need to admit as well that philosopher Tillich, psychologist Jung and mysticism hardly make for a cheap, over-sweet soup. And, more importantly, we also need to admit that among those persons who feel the need to meet in small groups and hold hands, and among those young people who need to phone their mothers daily for affirmation, we often find a warm embodiment of God’s love that is not nearly as evident within some of our more-elite circles where we prefer our nourishment from stonier jars, ache for a higher aesthetics, feel offended that standards seem to be coming down, long for a purer orthodoxy, and, like Updike’s vicar, cast a bitter judgment on our colleagues. Embittered moralising, no matter how valid the indignation enflaming it, takes many forms and is always recognisable in its lack of warmth and its inability to bless others.

Then the Spirit-led vision gives us a remarkable insight: “no Temple in the City, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its Temple...the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb”. In the gospel, we are still in the Upper Room, listening to Jesus’ discourse at the Last Supper, comforting those lonely apostles with the promise that his Father and he will “come to them and make our dwelling-place with them”. And how are they to know this? At this point the evangelist brings forward his great gift to Christian theology: “the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit”. And what is the function of this great force? “The Father will send...in my name and [the Paraclete] will teach you and remind you of all that I have said to you”. Then he bestows on them the great gift that the Spirit brings: “Peace I leave for you, my peace I give you...Don’t let your hearts be disturbed or afraid.” So the Spirit means that we can cope even with Jesus’ apparent absence: “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” And the gospel reading ends with the promise that looks ahead to the coming of the Spirit: “Now I have spoken to you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.” Let us pray, during these two weeks, for the gift of the Spirit, on ourselves and on the Church as a whole.

Southern Crossword #547

ACROSS 1. Slyly copy the Nativity scene (4) 2. Claim Abe is friendly (8) 7. Ruled in wet weather, we hear (7) 9. Photographer’s centre of interest (5) 10. The patriarch’s mate? (9) 12. Writer (6) 14. Islam’s Catholic book (6) 16. Fish buyer sees what Moses saw (5,4) 19. Silver precedes about ten for a broker (5) 20. Brings the fish to the bank (5,2) 21. Flat suit for one in the orchestra (8) 22. Catch sight of (4)

DOWN 1. Not an ordinal number in the conclave (8) 2. Mode of expression in what Heidi omits (5) 4. Prado gallery’s city (6) 5. Roman god of the grape? (7) 6. Gaelic language of the verses (4) 8. Untrustworthy (3,6) 9. Movable property in church and home (9) 11. Untidy about lovely compass points (8) 13. Silk put through fat feta (7) 15. Barnabas was from this island (Ac 4) (6) 17. Wafers for the multitudes (5) 18. Young animal at back of your leg (4)

Solutions on page 11

CHURCH CHUCKLE

NUMBER of priests from different orders gathered in a church for prayers. While they were praying, all the lights went out. The Benedictines continued praying from memory, without missing a beat. The Jesuits began to discuss whether the blown fuse means they were dispensed from the obligation to say prayers. The Franciscans composed a song of praise for God’s gift of darkness. The Dominicans revisited their ongoing debate on light as a signification of the transmission of divine knowledge. The Carmelites fell into silence and slow, steady breathing. And the Salesian went to replace the fuse. Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.