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The

S outher n C ross www.scross.co.za

July 10 to July 16, 2013

A visit to Mthatha’s cathedral

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Why Church must invest in the youth

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Pope might visit Africa next year

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2014 election ‘most important yet’

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

N

EXT year’s election could be the most important election since 1994—and it’s not because of the introduction of two new political parties, according to a Catholic political analyst.

“I actually don’t think we need new political parties,” said Mike Pothier, research coordinator of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) on the recent launch of Agang and the proposed launch of Julius Malema’s political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

“In principle, it’s a sign of a healthy democracy when new parties can be formed.

However, our electorate is not starved for choice,” Mr Pothier told The Southern Cross.

The fact that the new parties have no new policy contestation means the parties are bringing nothing new to the table. “The problem comes down to the weakness of implementation, not the intention to do something,” Mr Pothier said. “If either of these parties come to power, will we see a change? I don’t think so.”

Far more likely to have an impact in the 2014 elections is the Democratic Alliance’s performance, he said. If it does significantly better than in 2009, then we will see an overall improvement—not necessarily because the DA is a better party, but because the threat of an encroaching DA “really scares the ANC”, Mr Pothier said.

This results in the ruling party giving better service delivery in an attempt to hang on to voters. He said the improvement of service delivery in Gauteng over the past five years could be a direct correlation to the gains the

DA has made in the province.

“If polls and statistics show that the DA could take the province, the ANC’s service delivery in Gauteng would immediately improve.”

New parties to the country’s political scene are nothing new, Mr Pothier noted.

The emergence of Cope was a reaction to the defeat of Thabo Mbeki at the ANC’s Polokwane conference in 2007. “People jumped ship,” Mr Pothier said. The formation of Cope had nothing to do with siding with the opposition and if “a more ‘acceptable’ person, without the baggage of Julius Malema and Schabir Shaik had taken over, Cope wouldn’t have happened”.

Mamphela Rampele’s reason for launching Agang is a result of the deterioration of South Africa due to corruption and “this government’s complete inability to stop corruption”, Mr Pothier said. He likened the current administration’s management of corruption to the way the Catholic Church initially handled the sex abuse scandal—through coverups and re-designations.

Dr Rampele, he said, looks at it from a different background. As a former managing director of the World Bank, a former vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, she comes with “a justifiable attitude that she has what it takes” to make a difference.

Mr Pothier said it was positive that Dr Rampele has little baggage and has had no political affiliation with either the DA or the ANC. “But again, there are no new policies or ideologies. It’s very aspirational and so far Continued on page 3

Veritas raises funds with pilgrimage STAFF REPORTER

Catholics, Jews gather at Auschwitz for concert

R

ADIO VERITAS is currently on a fundraising drive which will see one lucky donor take a place on the station’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Jordan in October.

The pilgrimage, which is already fully booked, will be led by station director Fr Emil Blaser OP. It is priced at around R25 000, plus R5 000 spending money. It includes all travel and accommodation costs, entrance fees, and three meals a day.

Entry into the draw for the place on the pilgrimage is R200, which will go to support the South Africa’’s only radio station.

“It’s very easy to enter,” Fr Blaser said. Send an SMS to 41809; begin with the word HOLY; give the age of Pope Francis and your name.

“You will receive back an SMS from Radio Veritas indicating the bank account into which you should deposit your R200, and then just follow the simple instructions,” he said.

“Those who wish to enter the draw must act quickly, because entries close at the end of July,” the priest urged.

Fr Blaser said that the campaign is attractive to sodalities, parish groups or congregations which might wish to use a winning ticket to send a member who otherwise could not afford it on the Holy Land pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage programme includes such highlights as Jerusalem’s Via Dolorosa and church of the Holy Sepulchre, Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee (with a boat ride), the River Jordan and the Dead Sea, as well as sites in the kingdom of Jordan such as Mount

An audience of 15 000, including cardinals, bishops and rabbis, listen to a concert of a symphony composed by Kiko Argüello, co-founder of the Neocatechumenal Way, whose orchestra and choir performed, in front of the “Door of Death”, the entrance to the concentration camp of AuschwitzBirkenau. (Photo: Catholic Church of England and Wales)

S The church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, which covers Calvary, is on the itinerary of the Radio Veritas pilgrimage in October. (Photo: Debbie Hill, CNS) Nebo and Petra. There will also be an excursion to the pyramids and Sphinx in Cairo.

“In today’s world, R200 is not a lot of money. We spend that on a couple of fast food meals, or on the Lotto, or on some or other little luxury,” Fr Blaser said. “But for us it is a small way of helping Radio Veritas, which is desperately in need of financial assistance.”

Radio Veritas broadcasts on 576AM in Gauteng and on DStv audio channel 870.

The draw for the winning pilgrimage ticket will be made live on air on July 31, adjudicated by auditors Ernst & Young. n For more information on how to help Radio Veritas visit www.radioveritas.co.za or phone 011 663-4700.

IX cardinals, 50 bishops, 35 rabbis and some 15 000 people gathered in front of the so-called “Door of Death”, the entrance to the concentration camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau, to attend a symphoniccatechetical celebration.

Entitled “The Suffering of the Innocent”, the musical work was composed by Kiko Argüello, co-founder of the Neocatechumenal Way. It was performed by the Symphonic Orchestra and the Choir of the Neocatechumenal Way. It presents the Virgin Mary, subjected to the scandal of the suffering of the innocent in her own flesh. Mary is portrayed in a profound union with all the many mothers who have seen their own children die as innocent victims, and who, while crying, sang the “Shema Israel”, the sacred Jewish prayer which Jesus presented as the synthesis of all the Law: ”Listen Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one”.

Rabbi Bryan Opert from the Milnerton shul in Cape Town was present at the event.

“The highlight of the event for me has been the singing of the Shema,”, he said. ”At the invitation of the orchestra director, all the 15 000 people gathered in front of the

Door of Death joined the choir in this holy Jewish prayer. This has been for me something unprecedented, something that goes beyond mere emotions of joy or sadness, something truly transcendent.”

Looking at the crowd walking away from the camp, Rabbi Opert noted: “It is incredible to experience this love and this unity here, in this same European context where less than 70 years ago the Shoah took place”.

Rabbi Opert was accompanied by Marco Cavagnaro, a missionary for the Neocatechumenal Way in South Africa.

“One of the greatest gifts of this experience has been the chance to deepen the dialogue with the representatives of the Jewish community,” he said.

He notes that ”it has been truly surprising to discover, in our dialogue with Rabbi Opert, how much the Catholic and Jewish communities have in common. We are both religious minorities in the midst of a secular world, facing the same challenges of transmitting the faith to the next generations and of forming a mature adult laity that may render our testimony more and more authentic”.

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The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

LOCAL

Gauteng’s security cluster called to pray

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

C

ATHOLICS working in Gauteng’s security cluster are called to meet with Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria in an open dialogue to find ways of creating a support structure.

Fr Jordan Ngondo, prison chaplain to Gauteng’s Leeukop prison, said officers working in Gauteng’s security cluster—which includes the South African Police Services, Correctional Services, the National Defence Force and the Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metro police—are often faced with challenges.

“Some are physical [challenges] but most are psychological and spiritual,” Fr Ngondo told The Southern Cross. He said it was often difficult for security cluster Catholics to attend Mass regularly or to receive the sacraments.

As chaplain, Fr Ngondo manages the faith activities and rehabilitation programmes for the prisoners and ministers to staff, prisoners, victims of crime and families of the victims.

“I do a lot of counselling, debriefing sessions and death notification, and I minister to the emergency staff,” he said, adding that all Christians working in the security cluster are faced with similar challenges.

It was therefore imperative, he said, that Catholics take the opportunity to meet with Archbishop William Slattery, who as archbishop of Pretoria is also the military ordinary to the National Defence Force.

Fr Ngondo, who has been a permanent chaplain to Leeukop for more than 15 years, said it was envisaged to create a support structure

At a Mass celebrating the golden jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood, Mgr Brendan Deenihan (far right), administrator of Port Elizabeth diocese, proceeds to the altar with Deacon Lawrence Augustine carrying the Book of the Gospel, with Bishops Dabula Mpako of Queenstown and Adam Musialek of De Aar behind him. They are followed by Bishop Frank De Gouveia of Oudtshoorn (left), Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town and Mgr Deenihan.

Participants at a prison ministry workshop at Holy Trinity parish in Midrand included people from different Christian communities. The chaplaincy will host an open dialogue in July for those already working in the security cluster to help form support groups. that will “assist us on various levels of our work”.

“We will have Mass followed by dialogue with the archbishop as the man in charge of the office for specialised ministries. We will look at the support structures and spirituality aspects of our work as chaplains in these government departments,” the chaplain said.

“The focus of the day will not be on the prisoners, but those working with the prisoners.”

The invitation for security cluster workers follows a recent series of prison ministry workshops to help enhance and broaden the prison ministry in parishes around Gauteng.

Fr Ngondo said these workshops

attracted a large turnout from other Christian communities wanting to make a difference, which he called “positive and encouraging”.

“Prison ministry is one of the Church’s most important ministries,” said Fr Ngondo, adding that our support must be extended to all involved in the security cluster.

The open dialogue takes place on July 27 at 10:00 at Christ the King cathedral in Johannesburg.

The World Day of Prayer for prison ministry takes place on August 25 and is an opportunity for the greater Catholic community to pray for and give support to those incarcerated, victims of crime, families of those affected, as well as chaplains, service providers and volunteers.

PE priest celebrates golden jubilee Mass

BY KAYE HENRICK

T

HE administrator of Port Elizabeth, Mgr Brendan Deenihan, celebrated the golden jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood with a Mass in St Augustine’s cathedral.

The Mass for the priest, who has served the cathedral parish for almost 21 years after periods of ministry in other parishes of the diocese, was concelebrated with Fr Ted Molyneaux and Fr Jerry Browne.

Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, and bishops Dabula Mpako of Queenstown, Adam Mu-

sialek of De Aar and Frank de Gouveia of Oudtshoorn also took part in the Mass, as did most priests of the diocese.

Parishioners decorated their cathedral especially for the jubilee occasion.

A photographic display documented Mgr Deenihan’s ministry from his ordination day.

There was even a three-tier cake as a replica of the one served at his ordination celebration.

Mgr Deenihan has been the apostolic administrator of Port Elizabeth diocese since the retirement of the late Bishop Michael Colman in August 2011.

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Archbishop Buti Tlhagale raises the arm of Salesian Father Vincent Hoang Quang after his ordination to the priesthood at St John Bosco parish in Robertsham, Johannesburg.

Imbisa bishops visit Angola STAFF REPORTER

T

HE Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (Imbisa) election observation team was welcomed by José Eduardo dos Santos, president of Angola, during a meeting to discuss the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe.

The delegation has already met President Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, the bishops of Zambia, and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. They believe that peace in Zimbabwe means peace in the region.

“The bishops voiced their worries relating to the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe and asked President dos Santos, together with other statesmen of the SADC region, to intervene so that Zimbabwe holds free and fair elections, without intimidation and violence,” said Imbisa’s Simon Jeffery.

The spokesman for the delegation, Bishop Germano Grachane, said the meeting was very good. “The bishops

told the president that it is not sustainable to hold the Zimbabwean elections on July 31 and that they should be held later.”

Bishop Grachane added that current issues in Mozambique were also discussed. The bishops called for further dialogue between Mozambique’s opposition party, Renamo, and the Mozambican government.

The delegation included Bishops Antonio Jaca of Caxito, Angola; Germano Grachane of Nacala, Mozambique; Alexio Muchabaiwa, of Mutare, Zimbabwe; Giuseppe Sandri of Witbank and Patrick Mvemve, retired of Klerksdorp.

The director of Imbisa, Fr Richard Menatsi, and Fr Claudio dos Reis, Justice and Peace delegate for Imbisa, also attended.

Imbisa is made up of bishops from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, São Tomé e Príncipe, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

LOCAL

Faith and reason on tour STAFF REPORTER

T

HIS year’s Winter Living Theology programme got off to a good start in Port Elizabeth.

Fr John Moffatt, a British Jesuit, is leading the programme under the title of the “Faith Delusion”.

Over 50 people—bishops, priests and laity—attended the first threeday course hosted at the St Luke’s Retreat and Conference Centre.

In addition, Fr Moffat led evening workshops in KwaZakhele, Newton Park and Windvogel so that parishioners could also get a taste of what he was teaching.

“Many people feel that faith is under attack from the forces of the modern age—science, psychology, evolution, changes in morality,” said

Fr Moffat.

“They are worried that they cannot defend their faith or that it comes across as delusional. In this course I am hoping to give people the tools and the confidence so they can go out and talk about faith as ‘wisdom for the modern age’.”

Fr Moffat continues in a line of talented and challenging speakers who have been brought to South Africa by the Jesuit Institute each winter. Previous speakers include Fr Gerry O’Collins SJ on the person of Christ and, last year, Fr Laurenti Magesa on the African Church. Those who cannot attend the talks can still hear them by buying a set of CDs. Raymond Perrier, director of the Jesuit Institute, said: “We are grateful to the various pastoral offices around the

country with whom we organise the programme and also to the bishops’ conference for supporting it. This is a unique opportunity for South Africans, clergy and lay, to learn from some of the latest thinking in theology in a way which is accessible and enjoyable.”

The programme continues in four more cities: Johannesburg: July 16-18, Paulines Centre, Kensington Bloemfontein: August 13-15, Donovan Hall, cathedral Cape Town: August 20-22, Schoenstatt, Constantia Durban: August 27-29, Glenmore Pastoral Centre n For further information or to book contact admin@jesuitinstitute.org.za or call 011 482-4237.

Pew help needed

W

HEN St Ninian’s parish in Kuils River, Cape Town, was damaged by an electrical fire in 2011, the church lost a large number of pews.

The church building has since been repaired, rebuilt and extended to accommodate the growing number of parishioners.

“To further accommodate the parishioners, people are needed to repair some of the fire-damaged pews as well as some new ones for extended part of the church,” said parishioner Allistair Matthee. n If anyone is able to assist, please contact parish secretary Cemelia on 021 903 2617 or Allistair on 083 625 1200.

The Sacred Heart Sodality of the diocese of Umzimkulu gathered at Our Lady of Lourdes cathedral for its annual general meeting as well to to crown the silver and gold jubilants. The celebration saw more than 1 000 members of the sodality gather.

The celebration was presided over by Bishop Stanislaw Dziuba of Umzimkulu with assistance of Frs Ntlalontle Dlamini, David Dlamini, Raphael Phiri and Cyril Ngubane.

(Photo: Br Piotr Patrzalek)

Bishops’ ordination date set

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

M

EN’S ministries in the archdiocese of Cape Town have embraced the Year of Faith and will hold three retreats during the year.

The first retreat was held in February and was “blessed to have Tony dos Santos, Fr Peter John Pearson and Fr Paul Taylor to guide us through the day,” said organiser, Wayne de Smidt.

“The day was blessed and awesome, with a full house of 50 men attending.”

The second retreat is set to take place on August 17 and will be hosted by Fr Craig Holmes at St John the Evangelist in Fish Hoek.

Mr de Smidt said an inspiring full programme of prayer and reflection

2014 poll: what to expect Continued from page 1 we’ve only heard her point out key problem areas of this current government—we can all do that,” Mr Pothier told The Southern Cross.

With eight to nine months before the next general elections, the party can certainly gain momentum, but it is unlikely to make any major dent in the outcome.

“Julius Malema as a personality has enough currency and fame and notoriety to win enough votes to get into parliament,” said Mr Pothier.

Mr Malema would need roughly 35 000 votes to win a seat. “He could certainly get that, but that’s not to say he’d bring any substance to the table,” Mr Pothier said.

Before his party is launched, Mr Malema will need to get signatures of registered voters, a deposit to register his party, and finally, he would want to be cleared of all criminal charges he is currently facing. One cannot be a Member of Parliament within five years of being convicted of fraud or being insolvent.

Mr Pothier said while Mr Malema would promote nationalising companies, this would be purely populist and illogical. The parastatal companies already in existence, which include the Post Office, Eskom, Telkom and the SABC, are dysfunctional and highly troubled.

“Why would we want more?”

Mr Pothier asked.

“But he would certainly liven debates in parliament.

Other parties would have to work harder to sell their points.

He would be a pot-stirrer. He would keep others on their toes,” said Mr Pothier.

“South Africa’s politics is not based on policy, it’s based on personality,” he said.

Both Dr Rampele and Mr Malema would bring a new dimension to parliament and they “would certainly make a difference”, but this does not translate into improving the country.

Mr Pothier said the true power struggle in the country is not between the DA and the ANC but between the factions in the ANC. “It’s those with long-term, responsible plans versus those with short-term, self-involved thinking,” he said.

“This will be the most important election since 1994,” said Mr Pothier. “This is where the DA could make a significant breakthrough. Both the Northern Cape and Gauteng are on the cards. It’s not impossible, and it would show a maturing of our politics—where voters are no longer voting historically.”

Mr Pothier said even if the DA gets more votes in Gauteng, the ANC would have to work really hard to keep control.

“They’d have to perform,” said Mr Pothier. “The provincial outcomes will be significant and the shift could be interesting.”

But Mr Pothier said such changes could only come from the voters.

“A vote is not a reward; it is a tool for change. One must not withhold a vote because one is unhappy, it must be transferred,” he said.

The Prayer of Parents to St Joseph for the Children

to you God committed the care of His only begotten Son amid the many dangers of this world.

Bishop-elect Zolile Peter Mpambani familiar with the local cultures” but that “we are happy for the diocese of Kokstad with its fine people”.

He said the bishop-elect was described by locals as a “people’s person” and a man “for all seasons”. n The ordination will take place at 10:00 at Kokstad College, The Avenue, off Hope Street. RSVP by July 15 to Fr Lizo Nontshe on lizonontshe@gmail.com or Lorna Wicks on wicklo@telkomsa.net

Cape men’s ministry grows

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

3

O Glorious St Joseph,

B

ISHOP-elect Zolile Peter Mpambani will be ordained bishop of Kokstad on August 3 at Kokstad College.

The principal consecrator will be Archbishop William Slattery, his predecessor as bishop of Kokstad. Co-consecrators will be president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, and Bishop Michael Wüstenberg of Aliwal North, the bishop-elect’s home diocese.

“Fr Mpambani is known in the diocese of Aliwal for his commitment to reconciliation and his qualities in conflict management. He has a clear judgment and discerns well right and wrong. Loving the truth he gives an example of integrity and loyalty,” said Bishop Wüstenberg.

He said the diocese and Bishopelect Mpambani’s home-parish of Umlamli are happy that “a son of this area of former Transkei was appointed bishop”, adding that it was a sign of the maturing local Church.

Bishop Wüstenberg said Aliwal would feel the sense of loss of “a friend and balanced consultor who is

The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

has been planned for the day. “We expect this day to be better, bigger and spiritually more enriching as this one is open to all men of God in Cape Town.”

The men’s retreat day is open to all parish prayer groups and men in Cape Town.

“Please be encouraged to attend and spend a day of reflection, spiritual enlightenment and sharing of testimonies with each other,” said Mr de Smidt, adding that as servants of “our family, our community, and our brothers”, men of Cape Town could do something special for God in this Year of Faith. n For further information about the men’s ministry or the men’s retreat, contact Wayne de Smidt on 071 218 3153 or upfront.live123@gmail.com

We come to you and ask you to take under your special protection the children God has given us born and unborn.

Through holy baptism they become children of God and members of His Holy Church.

We consecrate them to you today, that through this consecration they may become your foster children.

Guard them, guide their steps in life, form their hearts after the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

St Joseph, who felt the tribulation and worry of a parent when the

Child Jesus was lost, protect our dear children for time and eternity.

May you be their father and counsellor. Let them, like Jesus, grow in age as well as in wisdom and grace before God and men.

Preserve them from the corruption of this world and give us the grace one day to be united with them in heaven forever.

Amen.

4

The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

INTERNATIONAL

Archbishop: Pope might come to Africa next year

BY CINDY WOODEN

C

HILEAN Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello of Santiago told his people that he hoped Pope Francis would visit Argentina on a South American tour in 2015, as the pope told him the 2014 trip schedule was already full.

Pope Francis will travel to meet Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, will then make “another trip, to Africa, and another to Asia” in 2014, Archbishop Ezzati said in an interview published on his arch-

diocesan website.

The Vatican press office said it had no information to release on the pope’s 2014 schedule.

Archbishop Ezzati said he spent 45 minutes talking with Pope Francis in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guesthouse where the pope lives.

He said he asked the 76-year-old pope if he would visit Chile next year; there had been rumours of a papal trip to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.

“The pope told me that this year he had no plans to visit South America, other than Brazil” for

Pope Francis: Coming to Africa?

(Photo: Paul Haring, CNS) World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro from July 22-29, the archbishop said.

“And next year, he already has

several trips planned,” including a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, the archbishop said.

While at the Vatican for Pope Francis’ inauguration Mass in March, the patriarch reportedly invited Pope Francis to go with him to Jerusalem in 2014 to mark the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting there between Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras.

Archbishop Ezzati said: “He told me it would be difficult to go to Latin America in 2014, but he hoped to do so in 2015 and, if so, the trip would include Argentina,

Uruguay, Chile and possibly Peru.”

The archbishop said he thanked the pope for accepting the papal office, “knowing what it can mean for a person who had other plans”.

“He told me, ‘When I saw the votes pointing toward me, I put my heart at peace. I am very happy to do what the Lord has asked me to do,’” the archbishop said.

“He is a great example for all of us. Sometimes it feels like the waves are very high and we’re going to sink, but the pope calls us to trust, to enjoy the ministry of serving others and to do so with peace in our hearts.”—CNS

DRC bishops’ Constitution warning

T

HE bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have called on Catholics to reject any attempts by the current government to modify the constitution and jeopardise democracy.

A campaign of national consultations led by Aubin Minaku, president of the Congress, will review the DRC’s Constitution’s Article 220, which sets out the principles of universal suffrage, the representative nature of government, the number and length of mandates of the president, and independence of judicial power and the multiparty system.

Fr Leonard Santedi, secretarygeneral of the Congolese bishops’ conference, told journalists at the end of the bishops’ general meet-

ing that these principles should not be subject to any constitutional revision.

In a statement, the bishops called on Catholics “to remain vigilant and ready to thwart any eventual manoeuvre to modify these articles of the constitution”.

They added: “Respect for our country’s fundamental law is the cornerstone of our young democracy and the gauge of stability of our country.”

Church leaders, including Kinshasa’s Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo, criticised President Joseph Kabila before the 2011 general elections when he revised the constitution to remove the requirement for a second round of voting if a candidate did not have at least

51% of the votes.

They also announced their decision to fire a priest as director of a major Church institution because of his successful bid to become president of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The bishops announced that Fr Apollinaire Malumalu, commission president, would be dismissed from his role as director-general of the Cardinal Martino Pan-African Institute, a body established by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace to promote the Church’s social teaching.

The bishops said they were “chagrined” by Fr Malumalu’s decision and said any sanctions would be applied by his bishop.— CNS

Tourists ride their bicycles past a signpost for the Notre Dame des Cyclistes (Our Lady of Cyclists) chapel near the village of Labastide-d’Armagnac in south-western France. Fr Joseph Massie, a cycling enthusiast, founded the chapel in 1958. It was declared a national shrine for cyclists under the protection of Mary by Pope John XXIII. The chapel is a popular stop for pilgrims who cycle through France on their way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

(Photo: Regis Duvignau, Reuters/CNS)

New York cardinal recalls March conclave in book

I

N a new e-book, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York offers his personal insight into a momentous time in the Church’s recent history, from the resignation of Benedict XVI to the election of Pope Francis.

The cardinal said he wrote Praying in Rome in response to the many requests he has received to share his experience of the transition from one pope to another.

On February 11, the day Pope Benedict announced his resignation, Cardinal Dolan was just finishing his morning prayers by reading the pope’s Jesus of Nazareth.

“Every time I’d read a paragraph, I’d say to myself, ‘This guy [Benedict XVI] just keeps getting better.’”

Just then, Cardinal Dolan’s communication director, Joseph Zwiller, called to inform him of “rumours”

that the Holy Father had announced his resignation.

“We both had a chuckle,” Cardinal Dolan wrote, “agreed that the news was highly improbable, and I told him, ‘Go get a Bloody Mary and go back to bed.’ I returned to my prayers.”

Minutes later, Mr Zwiller called the cardinal to confirm that the rumours were in fact true. The cardinal thought: “OK, Dolan, better get going. This is going to be a big day.”

Weeks later, Cardinal Dolan was present at the conclave to elect a successor to the man who had appointed him archbishop of New York and who made him a cardinal just one year earlier.

While in Rome, Cardinal Dolan said many people—including himself—were unsure as to what would happen next.

Cardinal Dolan at the Mass for the election of a new pope in St Peter’s basilica on March 12. (Photo: Jeffrey Bruno, CNA) “The first step for me was prayer,” he wrote. “I felt some calm in knowing that it’s actually the Holy Spirit who chooses the next pope.”

As the ballots were counted on the afternoon of March 13, Cardinal

Ursulines Ursulines of of the theBlessed Blessed Virgin Virgin Mary Mary

Dolan said, “it became clear that Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was accumulating more and more votes”.

“Naturally, we all snuck a look at him to gauge his reaction,” he wrote. “I tried not to be too obvious, but I don’t think I was successful.”

Pope Francis “quickly proved to be a man comfortable in his new role,” the cardinal said. Even as an ornate chair was placed on a platform for him to receive the cardinals, he remained standing on the same level saying, “Oh, I’ll stay down here.”

Minutes later, Cardinal Dolan revealed, Pope Francis “suddenly bolted”, leaving the cardinals thinking that he must have been headed to the balcony to greet the Church.

However, Pope Francis was actually headed to greet two of the infirm cardinals rather than have

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The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

5

Catholic concern over UK plans for ‘genetically modified children’

BY SIMON CALDWELL

Jockey Giovanni Atzeni celebrates next to the silk “Drappellone” after winning the Palio race in Siena, Italy. Almost every July 2 and August 16 since the mid-1600s, ten riders have competed bareback in a bid to win the Palio, a race that marks an apparition of Mary. (Photo: Stefano Rellandini, Reuters)

Monk not beheaded; died defending nuns

A

MASS was said in Rome on July 4 for Fr François Mourad, a monk who was killed in the ongoing violence in Syria.

The Mass was presided over by Bishop Matteo Zuppi, an auxiliary bishop of Rome, in the church of Ss Fabian and Venancio.

Fr Mourad was killed on June 23 at the Franciscan monastery of St Anthony of Padua in Ghassenieh, a village near Jisr Ash-Shughur in northern Syria.

Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Franciscan custodian of the Holy Land, told Vatican Radio that “Syria has now become a battleground not only between Syrian forces, but also between Arab countries and the international community. And those paying the price are the poor, the young and the Christians.”

Fr Pizzaballa said Ghassenieh had been attacked by Islamist rebels and the St Anthony of Padua Monastery gave shelter to Fr Mourad and to some Franciscan friars, four religious sisters and ten lay Christians.

When Fr Maroud tried to defend the sisters and others from the rebels, he was shot and killed.

A few days later, a video was posted on YouTube showing three men being beheaded. Those posting the video claimed that one of them was Fr Mourad.

Vatican sources have confirmed that reports of the priest being be-

Fr François Mourad, who was murdered by Syrian rebels. headed are “false”.

Fr Mourad was well known in the region, where he had retired several years ago to live the life of a hermit.

The 49-year-old priest had helped start construction of a monastery in Ghassanieh. After the monastery was bombed at the start of the Syrian civil war, he moved to the Franciscan monastery.

Syrian Catholic Archbishop Jacques Hindo told Fides News Agency that he had been in contact with the priest.

“Lately, Fr Mourad sent me some messages that clearly showed how conscious he was of living in a dangerous situation, and [he] offered his life for peace in Syria and around the world,” the archbishop said—CNA

Double canonisation for John XXIII and John Paul II this year?

T

HE Italian news agency ANSA has reported that the cardinals of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes have approved the miracle needed for Bl John Paul’s canonisation. They also took steps to advance the sainthood causes of Bl John XXIII. The canonisation would be scheduled after Pope Francis approves the publication of a decree recognising the miracle and after he consults with members of the College of Cardinals.

Although early reports had expressed optimism about a canonisation ceremony in October to coincide with the 35th anniversary of Pope John Paul’s election, news reports said there was not enough time to organise the event. Instead, the dates under discussion were November or December, or even spring 2014. Apparently, the idea would be to canonise Popes John Paul II and John XXIII at the same ceremony.—CNS

576AM 870

A

CATHOLIC bioethics institute has criticised plans by the British government to create “genetically modified children” free of a hereditary disease, saying the treatment could affect the child’s descendants in unknown ways.

The Department of Health announced in late June that later this year it will publish draft regulations on two mitochondrial replacement techniques.

The techniques can result in the creation of a single baby by several genetic parents, and one of the processes has been nicknamed “three-parent IVF” by the British media. No country in the world so far permits the procedure, meaning that Britain would be the first to create the first babies using the technique, probably by 2015.

The government has said there is general support for the techniques among the public, but the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, an Oxford-based institute serving the Catholic Church in Britain and Ireland, said it was disturbed by the proposals.

A statement posted on the centre’s website said that the technique would genetically alter not only the baby but also the child’s descendants. Government proponents say descendants would also be free of the genetic disease because of the altered DNA. “Mitochondrial replacement is

an extremely radical step that affects future generations,” said Helen Watt, senior research fellow at the Anscombe Centre.

“It bears little resemblance to legitimate gene therapy affecting a born individual alone. Mitochondrial replacement treats no one—it merely manufactures a new child, who will then be at risk of unknown harms of various kinds, as will his or her descendants,” she said.

Two methods are being proposed, one of which—pronuclear transfer—is “particularly objectionable”, according the Anscombe statement.

Potential parents would go through the procedure for in vitro fertilisation, and part of the embryo would be combined with parts of a donor embryo—which actually could involve four parents, not just three.

Both embryos are destroyed in the process, and the mother’s embryo is effectively cloned and repackaged before the cells begin to multiply and grow into a baby.

“The wish for a child to whom one is some way genetically related—as opposed to an adopted child, for example—cannot be used to justify cloning, embryo destruction, genetically modifying the child or altering the germline,” the statement said.

An earlier briefing paper prepared

by Anscombe and posted on its website also raised the potential of

generations of genetically modified children against a broad range of potential diseases.

“If alteration of the germline is allowed for mitochondrial disease, then it will certainly be requested for other diseases,” the briefing paper said. “Do we want genetically modified children?”

Mitochondria are the biological power packs that give energy to nearly every cell of the body, according to a statement on the Department of Health website. Defects can leave the body cells starved of energy, resulting in muscle weakness, blindness, heart failure and death in the most extreme cases, it says.

The British government estimates that defective mitochondria affect one in every 6 500 babies.

Dame Sally Davies, the government’s chief medical officer, predicted that between five and ten healthy babies would be born each year using the techniques.

“Mitochondrial disease, including heart disease, liver disease, loss of muscle coordination and other serious conditions like muscular dystrophy, can have a devastating impact on the people who inherit it,” she said in a June 28 statement.

“People who have it live with debilitating illness, and women who are affected face passing it on to their children,” she said.

The regulations are expected to be presented in parliament in 2014.—CNS

Pope: Conscience told Benedict to quit

BY CAROL GLATZ

P

OPE Benedict XVI’s resignation was “a great example” of what it means to follow one’s conscience through prayer, Pope Francis has told pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square.

Following one’s conscience doesn’t mean chasing after one’s own self-interests; it calls for listening to God, understanding his will and carrying out his plan with determination, Pope Francis said.

Pope Benedict provided a “recent

The

marvellous example” of following one’s conscience, Pope Francis said.

“Pope Benedict XVI gave us this great example when the Lord led him to understand, in prayer, what was the step he should take,” Pope Francis said. “He followed, with a great sense of discernment and courage, his conscience, that is, the will of God, who spoke to his heart.”

Jesus provides many examples of how important it is to follow one’s conscience by “listening to his Fa-

ther’s voice in his heart and following it,” he said.

Jesus, who is God-made-man, had free will and wasn’t “remotecontrolled” by God. Because he acted after careful consideration “together with his Father” and in line with the truth, Jesus was able to be decisive and sure, and “found the strength and light for his journey”.

“We, too, have to learn to listen to our conscience more,” the pope said.—CNS

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6

The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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.

Intellectual faith part of truth Editor: Günter Simmermacher Unity within the Church I

T

HE internal division in the Catholic Church, and the acrimony that often accompanies it, are a scandal, in both senses of the word: they are a public disgrace and they can tempt people to sin.

The polarisation of the various Catholic tribes is driven by the paranoid suspicions of “the enemy is within”, as the narrative often puts it. Instead of acknowledging the good faith of others and working together for the common good, many Catholics are strangers to one another. They fight for precedence in the Church, and fail to hear Christ’s rebuke (Mk 9:35).

In June Pope Francis made this point forcefully: “Unity is a grace we must ask from the Lord so that he would free us from the temptation of division, fights among us, selfishness and complaining about each other—how much damage, how much evil that chatter creates.”

We must not do damage to the Church by our division— within the Catholic Church and between Christian communities—but “try to bring unity”, the pope urged.

“How can we have Christian unity if we are unable to find unity among us Catholics? To have unity in our families? How many families are fighting? Seek unity.”

Unity in this sense does not mean conformity of thought—as if such a thing could exist—nor a While consensus. forced Catholics are required to subscribe to a set of doctrines, many of these doctrines are licitly understood and applied in diverse ways.

Disagreement and debate go back to apostolic times, and the Church has been arguing within itself ever since. Throughout history Christians have failed to express their differences with mutual charity, placing pride and power before being in true service to the Lord. The inevitable result has been division and schism. Sometimes much blood was shed for this.

The days when Christians would resort to arms over matters of theology or doctrine are gone, but the warfare tends to continue, with polemic as the weaponry.

The truth is that the Catholic Church cannot truly exist without its pluralism of perspectives.

There must be room for both,

those who open the windows of the Church to the world and those who seek to foster a strong Catholic identity.

Both functions can be reconciled, as we see in Pope Francis and in movements such as Focolare and Catholic Voices, which are thoroughly orthodox yet consciously respectful of diverse viewpoints.

Factionalism in the Church impede the common purpose of service and mission. We cannot fruitfully evangelise when our faces are distorted by anger, hatred and triumphalistic arrogance—the very antithesis of the face of Christ.

Catholics of goodwill should therefore regard it as intolerable when internal conflict and the resulting disunity find accommodation in the Church. The incessant poison which some Catholics target at fellow Catholics is impairing the Body of Christ.

It is indefensible when the self-appointed guardians of orthodoxy, some of them answerable only to themselves, go as far as to pass judgment over whether practising and loyal members of the Church may be regarded as Catholic.

This becomes especially toxic when these chattering classes question the Catholic credentials of shepherds of the Church whose ministries are deeply rooted in Christ’s preferential option for the poor, an apostolate that is an obvious priority to Pope Francis.

It is perfectly licit, of course, to interrogate and debate public positions taken by members of the hierarchy or, indeed, members of the laity. Such debate may be robust, but it must also be respectful, granting all perspectives a fair hearing. Above all, such debate may never subjugate the love to which Christ commands us.

The Church is not served in any way when Catholics cast aspersions on others, question their loyalty to the Church, violate the conscience of those who interpret the teachings of the Church differently, or otherwise impugn the good character of others.

As Pope Francis makes clear, such “chatter” creates evil because it is an obstacle to the unity of Christians to which Our Lord commands us (Jn 17:21).

WOULD like to comment on two issues highlighted by Paul Modupe in his opinion article “The trouble with intellectual faith” (June 19).

Firstly, I’d argue that the problem is not so much with “intellectual faith” as the author described it, but with the practical application of that faith in our liturgy and the life of our Christian communities.

A well-known saying tells us that “knowledge is power”. So often we see knowledge misused as a weapon of power over those who do not possess that knowledge. Christ, however, teaches us a different way: “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Lk 12:48).

It is important for our priests to have a thorough understanding of the teachings of the Church, teachings which are often presented in a complex language because they are the product of 2 000 years of rich history and discernment. If not studied properly, then yes, there is great potential for these teachings to be misinterpreted.

But much is also demanded of them in that they have the responsibility to share what they have learnt with their communities.

What does this responsibility en-

Church correct on e-tolling issue

N

O, Alick Costa (“Keep out of e-toll case”, June 26), the Catholic Church—and any other church for that matter—has the right to voice its opinion on issues of national importance. We live in a democracy, do we not?

Has Mr Costa forgotten the vehement opposition by people like Archbishop Denis Hurley to the evils of apartheid and how the security police hounded him?

Mr Costa states that “e-tolling is not a justice issue as it does not affect the poor”, and further that “the poor are people who do not own cars”. What arrogant poppycock.

E-tolling will have a major effect on transportation costs and thus the cost of basic foodstuffs and other everyday items will rise.

This will affect the poor even if they rely on a rickety bicycle for transportation.

Has Mr Costa ever noticed the driver who, almost apologetically, hugs the left-hand lane driving an aged vehicle belching blue smoke.

These are poor people, and a number of them do own cars.

Yes, taxis are exempt from e-tolling, but this was no concession to the “poor”. SANRAL (read government) is fully aware that the taxi industry would have turned

tail? It certainly shouldn’t be used as a weapon to impose some kind of personal agenda, where one priest will do one thing and the next one comes along and does something different. As Mr Modupe said, this confuses the people.

A good and holy priest (and I have been blessed to know a few such priests) uses his knowledge and faith as an instrument of unity, consistently showing parishioners that we are “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church”.

This unity has its expression in the liturgy of the Mass. As a lay person, there is nothing more beautiful than to attend Mass celebrated by a priest who loves the liturgy, gives it its rightful place and respect.

It is also the priest’s duty to unite us to the heart of the Church whose faith we profess by explaining it to us, so that we too may grow in knowledge and faith, drawing us closer to the heart of God. This responsibility requires knowledge and use of the intellect, but it is a knowledge that empowers, not a knowledge that overpowers.

There is something else that we need to remember. We are one Church, share one faith. But this Church is also made up of individ-

e-tolling into a circus.

The appeal to “render unto Caesar” is trite. Over the past 42 years I have rendered to numerous Caesars. Verwoerd, Vorster and Botha squandered my taxes on the madness of apartheid. De Klerk and Mandela did their best to normalise our country.

Their efforts have unfortunately been severely undermined by corruption, cronyism and cadre appointments which are symptomatic of our current Caesars.

Finally, let’s get to the nub of why most people oppose e-tolls.

The real issue is that SANRAL’s plan is to export the huge amount of money required to collect the tolls to a European country.

This process, as I understand it, is not subject to the normal checks and balances as applied to the fuel levy. I find this worrisome.

Mr Costa admonishes the Church for urging Catholics to “act unlawfully”.

I respectfully suggest that Mr Costa reconciles his legal training with a layman’s understanding of just how corrupt our beloved country has become.

John Wills, Johannesburg

Tolls will hurt all

A

LICK Costa has taken up the cudgels on behalf of his client SANRAL. He is appalled that the Catholic Church is taking action which he regards as irresonsible.

In his letter he argues that the tolls will not affect the poor—they don’t own cars and should they use taxis on the tolled roads, they will not be affected as such taxis will be exempt from paying tolls.

This argument ignores the impact tolls will have on millions of law-abiding citizens who struggle to meet the ever-rising cost of living and need to travel on the tolled roads to get to work each day.

In addition, such toll costs will have an impact on consumer goods (in particular food) transported in large volumes on our roads to retail outlets. The toll cost will in all probability increase the cost 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

uals, each of whom comes equipped with different charisms and talents. The same applies to our priests and the ways in which they exercise their ministries.

For example, one priest might be an excellent confessor but may lack attention to the small details of the liturgy. Another priest may be a wonderful preacher but his interpersonal skills may be poor.

And this is where our priests need the help of the laity. We need to pray for them in their ministry, yes, but we can also help them in practical ways, such as offering our time to prepare the altar for Mass or help with the administrative running of the parish, so that our priests can focus on what is really important.

Secondly, I disagree that the Church has “lost her spiritual wellbeing” and become “secularised”.

Vatican II called on the Church to open its doors and go out into a world that is often complicated and messy, largely because people have forgotten that they are made in the image and likeness of God. The Church must never stand down from her duty to tell the truth, even when it is difficult. But it must also tread gently and with love if it is to be successful in winning hearts back for God. Sarah-Leah Pimentel, Pretoria

goods which, in turn, will definitely have an effect on the poor.

South Africans have been paying toll fees in many parts of the country for some years now.

The proposed “e-tolls” are generating a lot of comment and emotion because the proposed fees are regarded as excessive.

The fees are “justified” as being necessary to meet the cost of the selected tolling system which in turn will generate R600 million in profits for the Austrian toll operator.

Many South Africans suspect this is a scheme which will allow a rapacious state organisation to skim off money for the connected party elite.

All South Africans would like full disclosure on how toll fees will be utilised, and seek assurance that their suspicions are unfounded— until then Mr Costa will in all probability remaain involved in a protracted legal battle on behalf of SANRAL. JFM Barbarovich, Benoni

E-tolls: price hike

T

HE letter from Alick Costa on etolling was certainly impressive with its legal explanations and justifications objecting to Catholic involvement in the fight against e-tolling.

Unfortunately, he missed two vital aspects.

First, the poor may not own cars, but they do need food, clothing and other neccesities, all of which will automatically increase in price as the cost of road transport for these goods is increased by e-toll fees.

The only way this could be avoided would be if the vehicles used for this purpose were exempt from e-tolling—resulting in the ludicrous situation where private vehicles pay for the damage done by heavy-duty commercial trucks.

There is something very wrong with that picture!

Second, the other cause for concern is the frightening lack of transparency in the way in which the e-tolling system was initiated.

The level of corruption in South Africa is overwhelming and surely there should be cause for concern among those fighting for justice?

If facts are hidden from public exposure, something is not right—we also have a duty to expose, question and oppose to the bitter end.

Mr Costa’s loyalty to the firm that helps pays his salary is truly commendable—but the rest of us must be allowed to follow our consciences as we see fit.

Briij Buchanan, Johannesburg

The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

PERSPECTIVES

Keep respect for elders T HE Second Vatican Councils’ constitution Lumen Gentium reaffirmed the family as the little church of the home, and subsequent documents frequently refer to the domestic church, the little church, and its important role in the bigger scheme of things.

Add to that the image of “the Church as Family of God” of the 1994 African Synod, and retained in the second African Synod of 2009, and one would think that a family focus should feature quite powerfully in the bigger Church.

But that isn’t universally true. Different reasons can be given, probably in different parts of the world because of different realities.

Check it out by reading through any Catholic newspaper or report about Church activities. These deal almost exclusively with what happens in the big Church: celebrations, liturgy, catechetics, workshops, sodality meetings, Aids campaigns, men’s or women’s or youth groups, and so on.

While members of families obviously do engage in all these events, the identifying factor of family seldom features. You see, the little church of the home is not just an offshoot of the big Church; it should and does have its own identity, liturgy and spirituality: a liturgy of the home, family prayer, a marital and parental spirituality or possibly a spirituality of grandparenting.

Looking therefore into the other matter of “big family, little family”, what is the relationship there? Putting aside the more abstract idea of the whole Church as one big family, consider the human family in its big extended form and its little nuclear form.

Where is the emphasis or focus these days?

The African model of an extended family is still a common reality, but in a very watered down form. The elders often live in a

village back home in a rural area and may be caring for grandchildren there or living alone. In urban areas accommodation makes it difficult for extended families to live together, as once was the norm, but grannies still often look after children.

The more Western model of a nuclear family is widely recognised and is, according to Statistics SA, the most common form of family in South Africa today. But nuclear families are not necessarily made up of a married couple who are father and mother to the children with whom they live, and these little families can take a variety of forms too.

Our family focus this month—chosen because of the feast of Ss Joachim and Ann, Our Lady’s parents—however is more on the elderly, the grandparents, of whom Pope Benedict XVI wrote in Africae Munus.

“In Africa the elderly are held in particular veneration,” Pope Benedict wrote. “They are not banished from families or marginalised. They are esteemed and perfectly integrated within their families of which they are indeed the pinnacle. This should inspire

In the month of the feast of Our Lady’s partents, our family focus is on grandparents and the elderly. (Photo: K Connors)

The rights of the person

T

HE Catholic social teaching is centred on the human person, especially in promoting human rights and dignity.

Besides the Church, there are other organisations equally engaged in promoting human rights. The question is, what is the basis of human rights? Is it a matter of human decision though political declarations or legislations?

In this article we are going to explore the foundation of human dignity and rights, and also put in its proper perspective the meaning of the centrality of the human person in society.

Every person is created in the image of God in which lies his inalienable dignity.

That is why in her social teaching, centred on the human person, the Church calls all people to recognise in every person a brother or sister, despite whatever differences there might be. A human person is the centre of every sector and expression of society. From there we draw the consequences.

Firstly, a human person is the subject and never a mere object of society, and so “every expression of society must be directed towards the human person” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 106).

Unfortunately, not every person is conscious of this truth, leave alone respecting human dignity even by those who know it.

In her role as prophet, the Church warns society against tendencies that risk distorting and violating this dignity of the human person. There are lessons from history.

“History attests that it is from the fabric of social relationships that arise some of the best possibilities for ennobling the human person, but it is also there that lie in wait the most loathsome rejections of human dignity” (CSDC, 107).

The human person’s position in society is compromised by sin that damages relationships—in particular, the social sin

which is a structure of injustice that gives rise to forms of relationships contrary to the plan of God for human society.

God intends that there be peace, justice and freedom between individuals, groups and peoples. Such structures of sin risk polluting the entire world where injustice and all sorts of social evil are accepted as normal (CSDC, 119).

“Every political, economic, social, scientific and cultural programme must be inspired by the awareness of the primacy of each human being over society” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2235).

Hence, a person cannot be reduced to a means for carrying out economic, social or political projects.

When we talk about rights, some people will think of declarations or legislations regarding human rights, countries that are signatory and those that are not. This betrays the mentality that human rights are a matter of human decision. Yet, promotion of human rights is nothing more than a mere recognition and response to the demands of the dignity that already properly belongs to a human person.

O

f course, we cannot ignore the great revolution in the universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations on December 10, 1948, which is “a true milestone on the path of humanity’s moral progress”, as John Paul II told the UN general assembly in 1979.

However, it is also important to bear in mind what Pope John XXIII said in his 1963 encyclical Pacem in Terris: “The ultimate source of human rights is not found in the mere will of a human being, in the reality of the state, in public powers, but in man himself and in God his creator”. These rights are universal, inviolable, and inalienable.

A true recognition of a human person’s

Toni Rowland

Family Friendly

Western societies to treat the elderly with greater dignity. ‘Rich in experience is the crown of the aged and their boast is the fear of the Lord’ (Sir 25:6).”

This is a nice but very idealistic picture of the present. It is greatly challenged by the younger generation who do not necessarily see things in this way, thinking they know better and wanting to do things their own rather than the traditional way.

So this is an opportunity to reflect, and hopefully express thanks for the sacrifices and care of those elderly members. Let us all be conscious that they have often done more than their bit for the good of their families, and while some enjoy having a large family around others may yearn for a well-earned rest.

Elderly abuse is a very real issue, too.

They do not deserve to be exploited, abused, neglected and abandoned as, for practical reasons, families have tended to become smaller and the younger ones move away. The wisdom of the ancients should still be appreciated and they do have a role to play.

While living arrangements for families may have become smaller, their hearts are still big. One grandfather shared with me that he has 27 grandchildren and prays for each of them by name every night. I’m pretty sure that Pope Francis has the big Church and the little church, the big family and the little family in mind when he says his prayers for us all.

Reflections on the elderly and grandparents and a prayer movement of grandparents for their grandchildren can be found in the MARFAM booklet Family Moments & Faith Moments for July to September.

Evans K Chama M.Afr

Catholic Social Teachings

dignity and centrality should also take into account man’s deference to his Creator.

There are two errors to beware of: firstly, the tendency to absolutise man as if his life depended on himself, and secondly, to consider man as a simple tool whose value depends on his function in the system (CSDC 125).

The human person as corporeal is “linked to this world by his body, and he is a spiritual being open to transcendence and to the discovery of more penetrating truths of mind” (CSDC 129). Just like society can dehumanise a human person, one can also dehumanise oneself by forgetting one’s constitutive relation with God, “a relationship that exists in itself…The whole of man’s life is a quest and a search for God. This relationship with God can be ignored or even forgotten or dismissed, but it can never be eliminated because the human person has a capacity for God. Therefore the human person should use the things of the world without forgetting his fundamental relationship with God. As St Augustine puts it in his Confession: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

The dignity and rights that one expects others to respect oblige him with the same duty towards others. Hence, rights go with duty.

Here, I find no better words to conclude the article than the words of John XXIII in his Pacem in Terris: “In human society to one man’s rights there corresponds a duty in all other persons.” And he adds, “those, therefore, who claim their own rights, yet altogether forget or neglect to carry out their respective duties, are people who build with one hand and destroy with the other.”

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7

Point of Reflection

Church must invest in young people

A

S the Church prepares for World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, my mind turns to Catholic youths who have dropped their faith. There certainly is a need for a ministry to lapsed youth.

Today many youngsters attend the “church” of Beyoncé or Justin Bieber. We have a generation that misses Mass when Manchester United is playing Liverpool, and a society that adores pop-stars like Rihanna more than their Creator.

But young people who are spiritually well-nourished could be the best proclaimers of the Gospel.

The witness of a young person has a massive impact on the society, more so than an old person.

Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria once said that an attractive young doctor is a much more effective media presence on medical issues than an elderly, unmarried bishop.

The Christian communities must acknowledge the need to invest in their youth. But how much of the parish budget goes into the youth ministry?

What spiritual nourishment do young Catholics receive, besides the Mass?

The many talents of the Catholic youth remain mostly untapped—but where they are nourished, their apostolate blooms. Families and Christian communities should midwife those talents by encouraging and engaging them.

Before the youth can put into practice Jesus’ command to “go out to the whole world and proclaim” to their lapsed friends, they have to be connected with Jesus. An evangelising youth must have a deep intimacy with Christ. One cannot give what one doesn’t have. Discussion of Scripture should be included in youth meetings, tailored to their needs.

In Africae Munus, Pope Benedict VXI spoke to the African Church, saying that “we need to help young people to gain confidence and familiarity with sacred Scripture so it can become a compass pointing out the path to follow, teaching them to love the Gospel and to share it, especially with their peers, and thus to become authentic and credible messengers”.

We have a huge responsibility of grooming our youth to the leadership positions in our churches.

We can begin doing so by delegating important tasks to them. Let them make announcements in church, appoint them to be the master of ceremonies at our functions, appoint them heads of groups such as the ushers, and let them take part in liturgical and even financial committees.

Young people love sports. They talk sports; they dream sports, dodge Mass for sports. Just as schools have sports programmes, parishes need sport programmes for the youth. This could be a cheap way of finding our lapsed brothers and sisters, and one that builds community.

Let parishes, through their youth, reach out to those lost in drugs and other lures of the secular world. They can win back their friends hooked on drugs by regarding them not as criminals but as friends in need of help. Church communities can play a huge role in this by initiating programmes to help youth who are abusing drugs, and by accepting them.

Young people can be agents of peace and reconciliation in Africa. In Kenya the young people from Tangaza College, the Catholic University of East Africa and Kenyatta University went around preaching peace before the elections in March, which was feared would reproduce violence akin to that which followed the 2008 elections.

Politicians manipulate young people to foment political and ethnic violence; the Church should invest in young people to foster peace and community.

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8

The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

COMMUNITY

Anna Bertasso celebrated her 100th birthday at Casa Serena old age home in Bedfordview, Johannesburg. Pictured with Mrs Bertasso are (from right) Fr Melese Tumato MCCJ, her daughter Lucia (78), son-in-law Luigi, son Piero (75), grandson Paolo and his girlfriend Liliana.

Pope Francis hugs four-year-old Mahaylia David of Bryanston’s parish of the Resurrection in Johannesburg. Mahaylia’s family—dad Conrad, mom Michelle and brother Declan—had just bought rosaries. As Pope Francis passed the family during his general Wednesday audience in St Peter’s Square, he spotted Declan holding out the rosaries, and blessed them and the boy. “I was holding my daughter out into the path, as she was holding a scarf given to her by an elderly lady we had met in the crowd, who had hoped to give it to the pope,” Mr David recalled. “As the pope blessed the rosaries, he saw my daughter holding the scarf and instructed the driver of the popemobile to stop whereupon one of his security took my daughter from me and carried her to the pope. Pope Francis then kissed her and thanked her for the scarf.”

Twenty-one candidates from St John the Evangelist church in Michausdal, Cradock, Port Elizabeth, were confirmed at a Mass celebrated by Mgr Brendan Deenihan and assisted by parish priest Fr Simon Gavu. (Back from left) Fr Gavu, Alton Claassen, Lucian Perring, Moneap Arends, Ruwandré Taai, Leonard Adams, Myron Joubert, Morgan Adams, Navan Fish, (middle) Chanté Bouwer, Shastri van Rooyen, Macnay Taarks, Heinrich Jacobs, Luanne Miners, Katie Perring, Marchall Steenkamp, Trishana Davids, (front) Manwillichia Koffie, Brendon Claassen, Frans Kemp, confirmation cathecist Dora Koffie, Raylene Jansen, Amelia Cherry and Mgr Deenihan.

THE HOLY LAND TREK

The Association of Catholic Tertiary Students Gauteng provincial committee held a meeting at Rand Campus in Pretoria West to speak about the campaign of “ACTS Going Green”, using the ABCD (abstain, be faithful, change your lifestyle, danger) lifestyle campaign with regard to issues of climate change and the plight of planet Earth. With them is chaplain Fr Sammy Mabusela CSS.

Archbishop Stephen Brislin and Deacon Lester May are pictured with parishioners at the consecration of St Barnabas’ church in Villiersdorp, archdiocese of Cape Town.

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier hosted a golf day on behalf of the archdiocese of Durban, held at Durban Country Club. St Henry’s Marist College fielded a staff and a student team. (From left) Daniel Francis, Cardinal Napier, Davide Ferreri and deputy principal Sean Ackermann.

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The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16 2013

CHURCH

9

A visit to Mthatha cathedral Mthatha’s cathedral is home to a parish that is focused on uniting a diverse community through evangelisation as well as seeing parishioners embrace Catholic news and media. CLAIRE MATHIESON learns more.

B

EFORE 1922, the territory of Mthatha formed part of the Natal vicariate. For the next eight years, it would be part of Mariannhill, and in 1937, it became an independent vicariate.

But throughout its administrative confusion, All Saints cathedral has stood tall for the people of the Eastern Cape region and today it is equally prominent.

The cathedral was built in 1882, the oldest church in the diocese.

“Mthatha, being the capital city of the former Transkei, attracted a lot of people around Transkei and beyond the borders,” said cathedral administrator Fr Mbulelo Qumntu. With Walter Sisulu University for Technology and Science situated a few kilometres away from the cathedral “it meant that the parish also attracted a lot of people both as students and lecturers.”

The church building was extended in 1942 to accommodate the growing number of parishioners from the burgeoning town which was “blossoming every minute commercially”.

Fr Qumntu said Mthatha, and it’s cathedral, attracts people from all walks of life.

But with urban sprawl, the surrounding areas of the city have become home to a lot of informal settlements “bringing with it a lot of socio-economic issues”, he said.

“The pastoral challenges we have as an urban parish are dynamic. Having to identify a common pastoral path for a highly diverse parish is proving to be a daunting task,” said Fr Qumntu.

That being the case, he said a concerted effort is made by 17 Small Christian Communities (SCCs) to witness to the Gospel of Christ in their neighbourhoods.

Due to All Saints’ parishioners

Parishioners and religious stand on the steps of All Saints cathedral with Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha (top, middle) after raising money for the bishop’s fund. coming from diverse backgrounds “it has always been difficult for us to come up with the exact number of our members due to the fluid nature of our parish,” Fr Qumntu told The Southern Cross.

The cathedral holds 450 people and looking at the numbers at three weekend Masses, Fr Qumntu estimates that there are 300 families at All Saints.

Mass is celebrated in English on Saturday evenings at 17:00 and Sunday morning at 8:00, following by a 10:00 Mass in Xhosa.

“Eucharistic celebrations, as the unifier of the parish, enable us to become a family of God and to celebrate our life and oneness.” The priest added that All Saints sees the variety of cultures, traditions, genders, age, disciplines and gifts of the Holy Spirit, as a blessing.

O

utside Mass, parishioners are involved in either SCCs or other activities and are passionate about putting Christ at the centre of daily activities and continuing his mission. “Sodalities and other parish groups do their best to be protagonists of the evangelical project of the Church. The youth with their various challenges are also doing their level best to

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use their youthful exuberance to spread the Gospel,” said Fr Qumntu.

Christ-centred life enables the parishioners to build highly effective families and committees, sodalities and other effective organs of the parish and is promoted in every area of life at All Saints.

“As the ‘salt of the earth and the light of the nations’, parishioners are called to continue the mission of Christ,” said Fr Qumntu.

In addition, All Saints has seen a surge in Southern Cross sales, something which the priests have been promoting with great success.

“We are in an age of information, with many literate people in

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the area interested in news— whether local, national or international—related to the Catholic faith, and The Southern Cross fits in and aids with this need.”

Fr Qumntu said that along with the local parish news, a notice was also placed in the parish’s weekly bulletin to announce that the newspaper will be on sale.

“Nowadays it is not just the priests who should have knowledge of the Catholic faith and processes, all parishioners should also have this knowledge, and The Southern Cross is a very useful and reliable source of this information, which is why we promote the newspaper, and also why more of our parishioners have started buying a copy,” he said.

All Saints operates under a list of fundamental beliefs that govern and help direct the Mthatha church. “Gospel principles are timeless and universal, and are the foundation of lasting effectiveness in the families and communities,” the Church’s mandate states. In every area of life, the parish promotes prayer. “To be effective we strive to balance prayer with work in our families and communities,” Fr Qumntu said.

All Saints is set on accommodating the growing numbers of parishioners and ensuring the quality of their spiritual growth. Fr Qumntu said the parish is using the processes and pastoral tools available to see a “pastorally growing parish”.

“We do our best to be enthusiastic agents of the Lord despite all the challenges we have. Our parish and our diocese at large owes its origin to the generosity and selflessness of the missionaries who were here before us. It is therefore the duty of the current crop of indigenous priests to carry forward the lofty work that these men and women of great faith started.”

For that reason, Fr Qumntu said priests in the diocese dedicate all their time to ensure that “our people are served and cared for”. The same attitude is ever-present among the parishioners at All Saints.

“As a cathedral parish under the able guidance of our Lord, we do our best to be a family united in its diversity striving to care and to work,” the priest said.

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10

The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

CHURCH

The Catholic Church in Brazil As Rio de Janeiro prepares for World Youth Day this month, LISE ALVES looks at the state of Catholic life in Brazil today.

O

N a Saturday night in a small community on the outskirts of the Brazilian city of São José dos Campos, parishioners flock around the entrance of a church in the parish of St Lucia, waiting for Fr Vitor Mendes to arrive. Fr Mendes is one of the two priests who take care of parishioners in the parish’s five churches.

“The other father and I usually each conduct a Saturday night Mass and three Masses on Sunday,” he said.

Although it is a heavy schedule, Fr Mendes was not complaining. He said there are other places in Brazil where priests have to scramble and travel hours and even days to tend to their flock.

Recent Brazilian Church data reiterates the priest’s feelings, showing that although there has been an increase in the number of priests, they are not spread evenly throughout the country. As a result, ministry differs in different parts of the huge country, which varies geographically and socially.

“There are regions, such as the south-east and south, where there are a lot of priests and other regions, like the north, where there is one priest to serve an enormous area,” said Fr José Carlos Pereira, who has analysed some of the data.

For instance, Fr Geraldo Ferreira Bendahan of Our Lady of Grace parish, just outside the city of Manaus in Brazil’s Amazon region, is in charge of 12 churches, with no other priest to help him. He often has to travel hours by boat or car on dirt roads to celebrate weddings, baptisms and Masses.

“Here in the north of Brazil, parishes have a much greater area than in other parts of Brazil, be-

cause parishioners are more spread out. The low demographics in many areas result in parishes that extend for many kilometres,” said Fr João Sucarrats, chancellor of the archdiocese of Manaus.

He said parishioners in remote locations see a priest only two to four times a year.

“The presence of laypeople within the Church organisation in these parishes is very strong,” said Fr Sucarrats. “They conduct celebrations during the weeks the priest is unable to attend their church.”

The chancellor said attempts to bring in priests from other parts of the country are not always successful.

“Priests from other regions have to embrace different cultures found in this region and try to get their message across in many different ways. Sometimes this is difficult for some religious to understand,” he said.

Fr Sucarrats said the more active participation of laypeople within the day-to-day workings of the parish causes tension between the new priest and his parishioners. He said it takes two to three years for priests to adapt to the Amazon’s way of life, and that many who come enthusiastically return home before their first year is up.

T

ension between religious and laypeople is also felt in Brazil’s basic ecclesial communities, which combine scriptural reading with everyday issues.

Célia Aparecida Leme, one of the coordinators of base communities in the São Paulo archdiocese, said these grassroots groups are usually involved in issues such as housing, violence and health and, like other Church groups that deal with social issues, sometimes face opposition from priests and bishops.

“In the centre of all our discussions is the word of God. Our social activism is a consequence of the study and reflection of the Scriptures,” she emphasised.

“It is the people of these communities who, through group discussions, find solutions to specific

Pilgrims display a banner with an image of Christ as they travel in a boat while accompanying the statue of Our Lady of Conception on the Caraparu river in Santa Izabel do Para, Brazil. The practice of the Catholic faith varies according to geographical and social divisions in the world’s largest Catholic country. (Photo: Paulo Santos, Reuters/CNS) problems and promote change in their neighbourhoods,” she said.

Although the Brazil Census Bureau has shown a reduction of Catholics in Brazil, from 91,8% of the population in 1970 to 64% in 2010, in the latest survey, Catholics still represent the largest religious group in the country, approximately 123 million.

Fr Pereira said people answering earlier censuses were “embarrassed to admit that, although they were Catholics, [they] also worshipped the Afro-American religions such as Candomblé or went to Macumba rituals”.

Before such Afro-Brazilian religions became more accepted, people “told surveyors they were Catholic so as not to admit they practised religions that, at the time, were marginalised by society”.

“Now, as those religions have become more accepted, said Fr Pereira, the number of Catholics has declined.”

If, on the one hand, the data

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shows a quantitative decline of Catholics in Brazil, there has been a qualitative increase in those who have remained, said Cecilia Mariz, sociology professor at Rio de Janeiro State University.

“Although the data shows that there was a real decline in those claiming to be Catholic, those who remained seem to be more practising, more involved, more committed,” she said.

One of the reasons for this resurgence is the embracing of other, less traditional forms of liturgy, such as that of Fr Marcelo Rossi, who sings, dances, appears in movies and fills football stadiums for his Masses. In north-eastern Brazil, Fr Glênio Guimarães ministers inside churches and on his surfboard.

But not all agree that megaevents are a positive way to attract followers. Ms Leme said one challenge for Brazil’s Church is to create a model more focused on small community groups and their accomplishments and less focused on

mega-people celebrations.

“It is in small local communities that one can promote change, not with thousands of people together,” she said.

Capuchin Father Carlos Rockenbach, former executive secretary of the Department of Mission and Spirituality at the Latin American bishops’ council (CELAM), and currently a parish priest in Marau, said recent changes in Brazil’s Catholic Church began after the fifth general conference of the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean in Aparecida, Brazil, in 2007. The document produced at the conference called bishops to a more missionary stance.

“The Brazilian Church is now attracting some of those who had no religion as well as bringing back lapsed Catholics,” said Br Rockenbach.

The Capuchin said the Church is bringing back the teaching of Jesus Christ and a Church more integrated with today’s world.—CNS

The Church’s call to justice

BY LISE ALVES

L

ATE last year, retired Bishop Pedro Casaldàliga was forced to leave his home in São Félix do Araguaia because of his work against squatters who had invaded indigenous land in Mato Grosso state.

Bishop Casaldàliga, 85, known for his defence of the Xavante indigenous group, was whisked away by members of CIMI, the Brazilian bishops’ Indigenous Missionary Council, to a safe house for an undetermined period.

Bishop Erwin Krautler of Xingu, CIMI president, has been under police protection since 2007, when he was put on a hit list for his work with landless peasants and the indigenous communities.

The bishop often has spoken against the construction of a hydroelectric plant along the Xingu river in Belo Monte. He also has strongly opposed advances made by farmers and loggers into the Amazon rain forest and was one of the main figures to bring to justice those who killed land activist Sr Dorothy Stang in 2005.

Brazil’s Catholic Church has always been known for its strong social stances. In the 1970s, when Brazil was under military rule, the Church created the Indigenous Missionary Council and Pastoral Land Commission, or CPT. Today these two Catholic social commissions, or pastorals, still exert a great deal of political and legal pressure on landowners and conglomerates in the northern, north-eastern and central re-

gions of Brazil.

“It is the politicisation of faith which has been carried on since that time,” said Sérgio Ricardo Coutinho, professor of Church history and president of Brazil’s Commission for Studies in History of the Church in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Since the return to democracy, Catholic pastorals have had to share this space with other social groups, but they continue to be a major social force in some regions of the country.

“Social justice has always been a focus of Brazilian social pastorals,” said Prof Coutinho.

In Mato Grosso, CIMI is still one of the strongest voices to speak out against massacred indigenous populations. Brazilian priests continue to make international headlines when they protest against government mega-projects they claim will hurt the lives of peasants, indigenous communities and small, family-run farms.

“The CPT and CIMI continue strong,” said Wagner Lopes Sanchez, professor of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. “They are part of the resistance groups within the Church, which continue to insist on a greater participation by the Church in social issues.”

This more active participation by social pastorals has faced criticism by some parts of the Church.

“There are some, mainly diocesan bishops, who oppose this more active participation in the social struggle, but they are a minority,” said Fr Flavio Laz-

zarin, one of the national coordinators of the Pastoral Land Commission.

Fr Lazzarin disputes those who say pastorals such as the CPT or CIMI are not acting as Church representatives.

“Our inspiration is ultimately and primarily evangelical. The CPT works with evangelisation based on the local scenario and God’s words,” he said.

Fr Paulo Suess, theological adviser at the Indigenous Missionary Council, agrees. He said the council follows the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, where “the mission of the Church starts ‘outside the walls’ among those who live on the outskirts of our respective societies”.

“The indigenous reality and scenario change, and we try to adapt to the demands of the indigenous people and the challenges which emerge from agribusiness and government policies,” said Fr Suess.

Fr Lazzarin said the resistance to these pastorals is sporadic and shifts according to the circumstances. “The simple change of a bishop in Tocantins state, for example, changed the relationship [between dioceses and CPT] for the better.”

Prof Coutinho said the election of Pope Francis is likely to boost the pastorals’ work.

“The new pontiff understands and supports pastoral work, having come from a pastoral background. This is sure to give new momentum to Brazilian and Latin American pastorals and the work they do,” he said.—CNS

The Southern Cross, July 10 to July 16, 2013

CLASSIFIEDS

Fr Pat Lonergan SDB

S

ALESIAN Father Patrick Lonergan died unexpectedly on the feast of the Sacred Heart, June 7, in his presbytery at St John Bosco parish in Westridge, Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town.

He will be sadly missed by his family in Ireland, his Salesian community in Lansdowne and thousands of people he ministered to in his more than 40 years of pastoral work in the archdiocese of Cape Town.

Fr Lonergan was an intrepid and dynamic missionary. He brought the faith to many through his labours as a Salesian priest and educator.

His catechetical and scriptural writings for children and adults over the years enriched the minds and hearts of so many and his materials will be used for years to come.

He will be remembered for the Catholic communities he established and the churches he built: Hanover Park in 1971, Westridge in

1977, Rocklands and Lentegeur in 1981, Tafelsig in 1984 and Strandfontein in 1986. He was a friend and support to many and was perhaps the most experienced Salesian priest involved in parochial ministry.

Building Christian communities and people were always his priority and he loved his parishioners wherever he was asked to serve and received much love from them in return.

Fr Lonergan was the Salesian community leader in Lansdowne twice and served as the first provincial of the Southern African province between 1989 and 1994— a task he took in his stride and served his brothers with great love.

His funeral Mass in Westridge church, led by Archbishop emeritus Lawrence Henry, was a moving and fitting farewell from the parish of St John Bosco and people from neighbouring parishes.

His second funeral Mass, in the Salesian church of Our Lady Help of

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Christians in Lansdowne, was concelebrated by Archbishop Stephen Brislin, Archbishop Henry and Bishop Reginald Cawcutt, along with more than 60 clergy, ten deacons and many religious.

After Fr Lonergan’s cremation, his ashes were taken back to his family home in Monasterevin, County Kildare, Ireland.

Fr Lonergan is survived by two sisters, three brothers, four sistersin-law and many nephews, nieces and relatives. He will long remain in the hearts and minds of countless people whose lives he enriched.

By Fr Eddie O’Neill SDB

Sr Jerome Nonzamo

S

ISTER Maria Jerome Nomzamo Ningiza died on May 28. She was born on November 22, 1935 in Gubevu, a tiny village in the Tsomo district, Nomzamo, Eastern Cape.

Sr Jerome went to school at Outsa Primary and finished her education at Reyna Senior Secondary School. She heard about a new sister congregation founded by Bishop John Rosenthal of Queenstown in the Lady Frere district that was especially for Xhosa-speaking people.

Sr Jerome was fascinated by it and slowly started to feel the call for a life in that new community. She officially entered religious life on May 8, 1964, within the congregation of the Mother of Divine Love, better known as the Ntaba Maria Sisters, where she was given the name of Sr Maria Jerome.

After her novitiate, the enthusiastic Sr Jerome did her first profession on January 11, 1969 at Ntaba Maria convent, where, three years later, she pronounced her final vows.

Her first mission work started in 1969 in Qoqodala, where she was involved in pastoral work.

The priest in charge recognised Sr Jerome’s ability in teaching catechism and, in 1973 sent her to the Lumko Catechetical Centre which she left in 1974 to take up the care for candidates in the prepostulancy.

She stayed involved in the pastoral work which had become so familiar to her.

After six years in MacKay’s Nek, Sr Jerome was transferred to Idutywa, where, from 1980-84, she was boarding mistress for girls visiting the local high school.

In 2008, Butterworth became her new residence for a year until her deteriorating health led her to return to the motherhouse in Ntaba Maria in 2009.

There she lived a quiet life until she had a stroke on May 1.

Her requiem Mass was conducted Bishop Dabula Anthony Mpako of Queenstown. She is buried at the Ntaba Maria convent.

By Fr Edward Tratsaert SAC

would always have the words “Thank God” on his lips.

Several years ago he ERO Kalil, a prominent and exemplary Maronite Catholic, died on May 22. His funeral started Hot Pot Paint was held at the Maronite church in Mulbar- and Hardware and soon branched out into sevton, Johannesburg.

Mr Kalil was born in Heidelberg on October 11, eral franchises. He ran 1942, and was the eldest of six children. He was al- the mother store in ways devoted to the Church and to his family and Springs for many years with his brother, Gerald.

Mr Kalil was a daily communicant and Liturgical Calendar Year C often invited a priest Weekdays Cycle Year 1 to his shop to celebrate Mass. If this was Sunday, July 14, 15th Sunday not possible he would Deuteronomy 30:10-14, Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33never miss daily Mass 34, 36-37 or Psalm 19:8-11, Colossians 1:15-20, Luke in his home parish in Heidelberg.

10:25-37 Mr Kalil built a number of churches in several Monday, July 15, St Bonaventure parts of South Africa, and he helped with building supplies, paint and bits of hardware for many Wisdom 8:2-7, 16-18 or 1 Corinthians 2:6-13, Psalm parishes and convents.

16:5-9, 11, Matthew 5:13-19 On some occasions his business was burgled Tuesday, July 16, Our Lady of Mount Carmel but this never deterred him from being his generExodus 2:1-15, Psalm 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34, ous self. He was a man of deep faith and nothing Matthew 11:20-24 could dampen this. No one ever left his presence Wednesday, July 17 without a gift of some kind.

Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12, Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7, Matthew Mr Kalil was a very humble and unassuming 11:25-27 man, never seeking thanks for his incredible genThursday, July 18 erosity. He loved the Church and never had a bad Exodus 3:13-20, Psalm 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27, Matthew word for anyone, no matter what they might 11:28-30 have done to him.

Friday, July 19 He taught people by his example rather than Exodus 11:10, 12:14, Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18, by words. People have said that he lived the beatMatthew 12:1-8 itudes and was blessed with the gifts of the Saturday, July 20, Memorial of the BVM Spirit—always without drawing attention to himExodus 12:37-42, Psalm 136:1, 23-24, 10-15, self. He was truly a good man, appreciated by the Matthew 12:14-21 Maronite community and all those with whom he Sunday, July 21, 16th Sunday lived and worked.

Genesis 18:1-10, Psalm 15:2-5, Colossians 1:24-28, He was a friend to many priests and never reLuke 10:38-42 fused to help them in their ministries. In the old South Africa, his home was home to many young priests who were chaplains to the military based in Heidelberg.

Mr Kalil is survived by four siblings, his wife, SOLUTIONS TO 558. ACROSS: 4 Spouses, 8 Leeway, Imelda, and children Michelle, Annemarie and 9 Trekker, 10 Roasts, 11 Opened, 12 Chorazin, 18 DiJude. rector, 20 Delete, 21 Lizard, 22 Deficit, 23 Topdog, 24 According to Maronite tradition, a special 40Tonight. DOWN: 1 Clerics, 2 Lebanon, 3 Martha, 4 Parday commemorative Mass was celebrated at Muldoner, 6 Upkeep, 7 Eleven, 13 Zedekiah, 14 Strands, barton church in Woodmead, Johannesburg.

15 Prodigy, 16 Herero, 17 Gemini, 18 Editor

By Fr Emil Blaser OP

Nero Kalil

N

Southern CrossWord solutions

11

DEATH

our beloved Handmaids of Christ, the Priests who have gone to their eternal rest after their labours here on earth. Sisters Scholastic Makhetha died on May 16, 2013 and Rosina Sekoateng died on June 16, 2013, at Bosco House Hammanskraal.

Sr Elizabeth Tanki died at Christ the King Mission, Motsekuoa in the Diocese of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho. Well done, good and faithful handmaids of the Lord, enter into the Kingdom of your Master. You were authentic witnesses in living out the charism of your Founder. You lived and worked amongst the ordinary people of God. You will always be remembered in our prayers and Masses. Rest in peace sisters, from Brs Daniel Ambrose Manuel and Victor Pather SCP in Cape Town.

IN MEMorIAM

gAJJAr—Aldridge passed away on July 3, 2012. Our beloved husband, father, brother and uncle. We miss your physical presence around us, but your spirit continues to live in our thoughts and in our hearts. We miss you inconsolably. Rest in peace. Greatly loved and sorely missed, by his wife Patricia, her sons Bradley and Kenan.

PErSoNAL

ST MArY’S PrIMArY SCHooL celebrates 150 years of Dominican Education and will be hosting a reunion of past pupils, parents and teachers on August 24, 2013 at 17.00 in St Mary’s school hall.

Snacks and wine will be served. There will be a R20 donation in aid of the School Restoration

Fund. RSVP by July 31, 2013. Astrid Liddle 021 465 1115 or Fiona Sellar 084 250 9572.

AborTIoN is murder— Silence on this issue is not golden, it’s yellow!

Avoid ‘Pro-abortion’ politicians.

NoTHINg is politically right if it is morally wrong.

Abortion is evil. Value life!

PrAYErS

our LADY oF FATIMA o MoST Holy Virgin Mary, who chose to appear on the Sierra de Aire, in the Cova de Iria, to three young shepherds to reveal the treasures of grace held in the recitation of the Rosary, impress upon our souls a fervent love for this devotion. By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption, may we learn how to use the teachings which lie therein and obtain the graces we ask in this prayer. For the Glory of God and the redeeming of our souls. Amen. www.santuario-fatima.pt HoLY SPIrIT you who make me see everything and who shows me the way to reach my ideal.

You have given me the divine gift to forgive and forget all that is done to me and you are in all instincts of my life with me.

I want to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how

Tony Wyllie & Co. Catholic Funeral Home

Personal and Dignified 24-hour service 469 Voortrekker Rd, Maitland Tel: 021 593 8820 48 Main Rd, Muizenberg Tel: 021 788 3728

MICASA TOURS Member of the NFDA

Pilgrimage of Healing

unforgettable journey to Fatima, Santiago Compostella and Lourdes.

Celebrating the 96th Anniversary of The Apparition of Fatima.

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great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory.

Amen. Say this prayer for three consecutive days, without continuing to ask; no matter how difficult it may be and you promise to publish this dialogue as soon as your favour has been granted.

Anonymous.

HoLY ST JuDE, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke you, special patron in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to come to my assistance. Help me now in my urgent need and grant my petitions. In return I promise to make your name known and publish this prayer.

Amen.

HoLIDAY ACCoMMoDATIoN

LoNDoN, Protea House: Single per/night R300, twin R480. Self-catering, buses and underground nearby. Phone Peter 0044 208 748 4834.

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@mweb.co.za 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.

UPHOLSTERER

More than 50 years of experience guarantees you satisfaction.

Tel: 021 447 4727

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16th Sunday: July 21 Readings: Genesis 18:1-10, Psalm 15:2-5, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke 10:38-42

T

HERE are many ways of speaking of the interaction between God and God’s creatures; and one powerful metaphor, a theme which runs through the readings for next Sunday, is that of hospitality.

The first reading offers a spectacular example of hospitality, as Abraham shows a commendable desire to entertain the passing strangers (and as you listen to the reading, ask yourself whether there are three of them or only one), whom from the very beginning of the story we know to be God; and although this information is not vouchsafed to Abraham, we cannot but be impressed at his enthusiastic, and thoroughly non-European, hospitality.

He is sitting at the door of his tent (at the age of 99, be it noted), in the heat of the day; but as soon as he sees these passing strangers he rushes around like a youngster, begging them to eat with him, and showing immense respect.

The rest of the story takes place at high speed, with orders to servants and to his wife about producing a feast.

The hospitality turns out to be a two-way street, however, and the strangers promise that in a year’s time Sarah, who is childless, will

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Reflect on God’s hospitality to us Nicholas King SJ

Sunday Reflections

have a son. (Happily our selection misses out her roaring with laughter when she overhears this remark, and then her attempt to deny that she had laughed!)

We could well attend to the ancient virtue of hospitality in our society, which has largely forgotten about it.

Like the first reading, the psalm also speaks of a tent, only here it is God’s tent (and his holy mountain) that is in question, which may serve as a reminder that God is the source of all hospitality.

There are, however, entry qualifications: “Those who do justice and who speak truth in their heart...who do no evil to their neighbour.” There is hospitality for such people because God is in charge of our world.

In the second reading, hospitality is not

quite mentioned, but there is something of that attitude in Paul’s reflection on his own suffering: “I rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf and I am filling up what is missing in the tribulations of Christ...on behalf of his body, which is the Church.”

His basic attitude is that of living and dying on behalf of others, which is of course what underlies the great virtue of hospitality.

The gospel reading is the splendid story of Martha and Mary; it comes immediately after the episode of the lawyer, whose contrary attitude provoked the tale of the Good Samaritan, and forms an interesting contrast to it.

Luke places this as part of the great journey to Jerusalem, which started in the previous chapter: “As they were journeying.”

Then we get a shock, for we read that “a certain woman called Martha gave him hospitality”. As in our first reading, in this culture it is normally the men who do this, and we notice that neither Luke nor Jesus sees anything untoward about this independent action by a woman.

Then the evangelist builds a certain tension into the story, by giving us the information that “she had a sister called Mary”.

We need the pious and critical S

HORTLY after he had converted to Catholicism in the early 20th century, a young French intellectual, Maurice Sachs, described what had most drawn him there: mysticism, sacramental rites, devotional practices, affective piety, and almost everything inside of Catholicism that speaks of something outside of what can be understood rationally.

“The Church has sanctified extreme passions, blessed the frenzied, acclaimed the neurosis it had previously canalised, and nothing, it seemed, could stop me at its door. Nothing,” he wrote.

In his memoirs, Sachs describes these mystical, sacramental, and devotional elements as “rays of sunshine” and sees them as a radical alternative to the narrow rationalism that was the pervading intellectual atmosphere of this time and which he found suffocating.

Maurice Sachs was just 19 years old when he was baptised. His journey towards Catholicism was strongly influenced by Raïssa Maritain, herself a convert to Christianity from Judaism.

She and her famous husband, Jacques, had met at the Sorbonne in Paris in the early 1900s. Both were agnostics at the time; she, agnostic about her Jewish religious heritage, and he agnostic about his Christian roots.

Each had gone to the Sorbonne precisely because, as a non-believer, each wanted to be immersed in science and rationalism. But what they met there deeply disappointed and disillusioned them. They felt suffocated.

Their minds and souls wanted more than pure science and reason, and they soon left the Sorbonne, unsure of what they were looking for, but mostly sure in the fact that

Conrad

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final Reflection

a rational world alone would never satisfy them.

They began to search for an alternative and this led them to two intellectual mavericks, the writers Léon Bloy and Charles Péguy, both of whom, because of their fondness for the mystical and devotional, drew considerable disdain from the intellectual world at the time.

Bloy eventually led the Maritains into the Church, becoming Raïssa’s godfather at her baptism. One of the things he introduced into their lives, something basically antithetical to everything they had met at the Sorbonne, was mysticism and devotional piety. These, more strongly than Christian dogmas, drew the Maritains into the Church.

Not long after becoming Christians, Raïssa and Jacques, themselves now outcasts from the intellectual mainstream, began to hold weekly discussions at their house outside Paris.

By this time, they had also read Thomas Aquinas and been deeply affected by his vision. It gave them an intellectual framework within which to integrate mysticism, sacraments, and devotion.

They now felt ready to mentor others

and soon had a large circle of artists, writers, and intellectuals gathered around them, many of who were eventually baptised.

And what did they offer these people that the intellectual and cultural life of Paris at the time was not offering? How did they draw intellectuals and sceptics into the Church?

They offered them a vision of faith, Christianity and the Church which spoke to both the heart and the head in ways that neither the rationalism of the universities nor the unbridled piety of Church circles at the time was able to speak.

Their vision of faith addressed both heart and head. It was both highly devotional and highly intellectual all that same time, a rare formula.

We struggle today in our churches to offer precisely such a vision, one that provides food for the heart and the head equally. We tend to sell off one for the other.

Liberal circles tend towards a vision of faith and Church that more properly honours reason but often doesn’t leave much room “to sanctify extreme passions and bless the frenzied”.

Consequently, we have lots of young people like Maurice Sachs who distrust a more-critical vision of faith and want their faith served up mostly with devotions, piety, and catechetical clarities. They don’t want scholarly criticism poking its head into their churches and shining its light into their certainties.

And because they feel that the scholarly world doesn’t honour their religiosity, they regard that world in much the same way as the Maritains regarded their rationalist professors at the Sorbonne, a world of burnt-out rationalists, devoid of fire.

But there’s a near-perfect flipside to this.

The circle of those who are fearful of and disdain the world of scholarly criticism tends to produce a vision of faith which, while making place for the pious, the devotional, and catechetical clarity, lacks the empathy and embrace of a Catholicism that’s wide enough to be acceptable to a thinking mind.

While many young people, like Maurice Sachs, are attracted to this kind of Catholicism, millions of other people find it too suffocating, too intellectually narrow, too fearful, too mean, too self-absorbed, and too much into self-protection to be palatable.

So many just walk away and many others simply suffer their churches rather than draw any inspiration from them.

And so we can learn a lesson from Raïssa and Jacques Maritain in our search for a formula apropos the New Evangelisation. We need both: hard, critical theology and gentle, heartwarming piety.

This woman also exercises hospitality, but of a different kind: “Sitting at the Lord’s feet, she was listening to him talk,” and presumably we are invited to applaud this attitude.

Next, however, the story takes a turn for the worse, as we read that Martha was “distracted with much service”, which is an odd combination, since “service” is a good thing, while “distraction” or “pulling apart” is not.

To underline the point, Martha now becomes surprisingly aggressive, and “stands over him” (which is clearly not polite), and addresses Jesus as “Lord”, which is not too bad, but then spoils it all by asking: “Don’t you care?” And the burden of her annoyance is that “my sister has abandoned me, all on my own, to serve”.

We wait with some anxiety for Jesus’ response, and, as always, it is beautifully judged, “Martha, Martha”, he says, the repetition of her name robbing his remark of any sharpness, “You are anxious and troubled about many things; but there is need of one thing. For it is Mary who has chosen the good portion, which is not going to be taken away from her.”

Hospitality runs in both directions, and it is Jesus who is really exercising the virtue here.

Southern Crossword #558

ACROSS 4. They are married (7) 8. Margin of safety for yew ale (6) 9. Early South African migrant (7) 10. Passover meals (Ex 12) (6) 11. Adam and Eve’s eyes were (Gn 3) (6) 12. Town condemned by Jesus (Mt 11) (8) 18. He is on board (8) 20. Erase (6l 21. It crawls on the ground and is unclean (Lv 11) (6) 22. Shortfall (7) 23. Dominant Boxer? (6) 24. Before dawn tomorrow (7)

DOWN 1. 150 cries for the clergy (7) 2. Cedar Land (7) 3. She’s the housewife (Lk 10) (6) 4. Teller of one of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (8) 6. Maintenance (6) 7. Teatime for cricket team (6) 13. Last king of Judah (2 Kg 24) (8) 14. Leaves boat aground with single threads (7) 15. Was Jesus this kind of child in the temple? (Lk 2) (7) 16. He could be a Namibian (6) 17. A pair for the horoscope (6) 19. Top journalist (6)

Solutions on page 11

CHURCH CHUCKLE FATHER and son went fishing one day. After a A couple of hours in the boat, the boy suddenly became curious about the world around him.

He asked his father: “How does this boat float?”

The father thought for a moment, then replied: “Don’t really know, son.”

The boy returned to his contemplation, then turned back to his father: “How do fish breathe underwater?”

Once again the father replied: “Don’t really know, son.”

A little later the boy asked his father: “Why is the sky blue?”

Again, the father replied: “Don’t really know, son.”

Worried he was going to annoy his father, he said, “Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?”

“Of course not, son. If you don’t ask questions, you’ll never learn anything!”

Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.