150916 by The Southern Cross

The

S outhern C ross

September 16 to September 22, 2015

Reg No. 1920/002058/06

No 4942

www.scross.co.za

Catholic media the job of all Catholics

Page 9

Archbishop’s memoirs like a chat over tea

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Prisons: Why we can’t throw away the keys

Page 11

Page 14

Church: Why are we so angry with each other? BY STUART GRAHAM

EED Pope Francis’ call to make family “a subject of profound reflection” on Communications Sunday, September 20, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference says. Conference spokesman Fr S’milo Mngadi said it was through the family that people first learned to communicate. By focusing on this we can make communication authentic and humane. “The pope is challenging us,” Fr Mngadi said. “In the media we see fewer and fewer stories portraying strong family values. The focus is often on the negatives of family life. Of rape, incest and femicide. “We need to remember what family values are about. The pope’s theme for Communications Sunday is the use of media to communicate the good stories of family values. We need to focus on that.” When he announced the theme for the 49th World Communication Sunday earlier this year, Pope Francis said the family is an environment in which “we learn to communicate in an experience of closeness”. The pope said at times the media tended to present the family as “a kind of abstract model, which has to be accepted or rejected, defended or attacked” rather than as a living reality. “The modern media, which are an essential part of life for young people in particular, can be both a help and a hindrance to communication in and between families,” Pope Francis said. The media can be a hindrance, he said, if they become a way to avoid listening to others, to evade physical contact, to fill up every moment of silence and rest “so that we forget that silence is an integral element of communication”. The media can help communication when they enable people to share their stories, to stay in contact with distant friends, to thank others or to seek their forgiveness, and to open the door to new encounters. “Families at their best actively communi-

For further info or to book contact Michael or Gail at 076 352 3809 or 021 551 3923 info@fowlertours.co.za www.fowlertours.co.za/ poland-2016/

cate by their witness the beauty and the richness of the relationship between man and woman, and between parents and children,” Pope Francis said. Fr Mngadi said the encroachment of modern media, such as smartphones, into “real space” is of serious concern to the Church. “Through modern technology we are becoming more and more virtual,” Fr Mngadi said. “We are moving away from facing each other. At first it was television that took over the centre of our evenings. We spent the nights facing a screen and forgot to communicate with each other. It is very sad. “Today we have cellphones and computers that distract us from each other. It’s not only the young. You find the elderly spending evenings fiddling with their cellphones.” It isn’t only in families that South Africans should improve the way they communicate. There is, he said, still enormous anger in the country that emerges in various media platforms. A decision by the popular News24 website to switch off its comments section below its articles was dealing with the problem and not the cause. “There is much anger that South Africans feel for each other,” Fr Mngadi said. “Shutting off the comments will not address the deep underlying anger. It is treating the problem and not the cause. That anger is only the surface of the problem. “You often find that when people meet face to face they are polite to each other and greet each other with smiles, but in an individual space, on the comments site of a website for example, the anger emerges. One of the challenges for South Africans this Communications Sunday is to look at that. “We need to understand why are we so angry with each other.” South Africans, Fr Mngadi said, could start by learning each other’s languages so that they can communicate on a deeper level and understand each other better.

The members of the Southern Cross/Radio Veritas Saints of Italy Pilgrimage are seen in Rome. Led by Fr Emil Blaser OP, station director of Radio Veritas, and Southern Cross editor Günther Simmermacher, the pilgrimage included sacred shrines in Rome, Assisi, Cascia, Norcia, Siena, Florence, Padua, Venice, Sotto il Monte Giovanni XXIII and Milan, as well as a day's excursion to Paris, with Mass in the Miraculous Medal chapel.

Poverty and politicians would have ‘frustrated’ Denis Hurley BY STUART GRAHAM

RCHBISHOP Denis Hurley would have been greatly disappointed in South Africa’s politicians for enriching themselves while forgetting the poor. Raymond Perrier, the director of the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban, told The Southern Cross that the “failure to connect political with economic liberation” would have frustrated the archbishop, who would have turned 100 on November 9. “There is great wealth here but also great poverty. He would have been very frustrated that after our political liberation our economic problems are getting worse rather than better,” Mr Perrier said. “He might have wondered what all those politians were fighting for and campaigning for. Were they doing it for the poor or for themselves.” Mr Perrier said Archbishop Hurley stood for justice and was known for working with other faiths. His spirit is still felt in Durban. “As soon as we mention the event to people, they immediately say they want to be part of it. His name continues to be a sort of

St John Paul II Pilgrimage to Poland Southern Cross

inspiration to people in the city.” Mr Perrier said the centre would celebrate Archbishop Hurley’s legacy with a series of events. “We are holding a series of events that will remember who he was and what he stood for and why he still remains important for Church and the world,” Mr Perrier said. “One aspect of that is working with other faiths. There will be a whole seminar on what thats mean on the ground. “One of the programmes that the centre is involved in is a feeding scheme for the homeless in partnership with Muslim organisations. That is a practical way of putting into effect the legacy of the archbishop.” Mr Perrier said the centenary would include a series of Masses focusing on different aspects of the archbishop’s life and legacy. The Masses will celebrate the women religious, his fight for justice, the Oblates—the order to which he belonged—and another that will focus on his work with poor. The archbishop was a man who worked hard but he also “enjoyed the finer things in Continued on Page 2

A journey to the places of St John Paul II’s life and devotions, led by a Bishop who knows Poland intimately.

Led by Bishop Stan Dziuba 13 - 21 May 2016

The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

LOCAL

Young artist illustrates bible texts BY DYLAN APPOLIS

YOUNG parishioner at St Mary’s cathedral in Cape Town has moved from graffiti art to creating his very own illustrated bible. Artist Dominic Daniels, 28, said the bible took him over a year and a half to complete. Mr Daniels has also used his graffiti skills to uplift youth through events such as Redbull Street cred. “The aim of the event was to uplift youth and draw them away from negativity and bad elements. “I would show them the art of drawing and painting, make them feel something they could not explain, make them feel they could do anything in this world if they worked hard at it,” explained Mr Daniels. “When I decided to move on from graffiti art, I was brainstorming ideas on what would mean a lot to me and to other people,” Mr Daniels told The Southern Cross. “Then it came to me, the Bible.” He created the bible book because he wanted to give God a gift through his art, and give God’s children something meaningful to read and look at.

Mr Daniels said he was inspired by the Holy Spirit and friend Marion Richards. “I believe God sent her to me to buy the sketchbook and to push me hard enough so that I would see Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and mentor.” He chose which pieces of the Bible to include in his book by “talking to Jesus Christ and asking the Holy Spirit to show me the way”. Mr Daniels said he felt he could portray the message of the Catholic Church and reach the new generation with modern art. “I hope my artwork will move them to the point where they want to pick up the Bible and read and understand it; this is the aim of my book.” Mr Daniels is looking for a publisher as well as a sponsor, and is working towards having an art exhibition in Cape Town to showcase his work as an up and coming Christian artist. n If you would like to help Dominic Daniels with his bible book, email him at tint.photo@gmail.com, contact him on 076 866 6376 or check out his Facebook page Designs and Photo Editing.

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ST. THERESA’S CONVENT SCHOOL

Tel: 011 477 7611 Fax: 011673 1614 St Theresa’s Convent School Coronationville

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL

St Theresa’s Convent School seeks to appoint a Deputy Principal . St Theresa’s Convent School is a Catholic Primary School and is located in Coronationville. The school was founded by the Holy Family Sisters in 1949. Our school is a co-ed school, with learners from grade 00 to 7. The school’s foundation is built on the Holy Family Sisters traditions and values. We seek to promote the charism of our Founder, Fr Pierre Noailles.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the professional management and leadership of the school. The candidate should be able to: • Endorse and build on the vision of the school • Motivate and lead the staﬀ • Develop the learners to their best potential • Be willing to develop ones skills • Able to adapt to changes and endorse new systems • Should have good people’s skills • Should develop and grow the ethos of the school • Encourage and promote staﬀ development The Applicant is required to: • Have a good knowledge of the curriculum • Be a strong decision maker, and should be able to implement / carry out and follow up on decisions made. • Fill in and run the school in the absence of the principal • To have over 13 years of teaching experience and should be in a management position

Applicants are requested to email a full Curriculum Vitae, together with a letter of motivation to: The Principal, St Theresa’s Convent School (admin@stcschool.co.za) An application will not in itself entitle the applicant to an interview or appointment. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. If you have not heard from the school within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have been unsuccessful in your application. Closing date : 25 September 2015

Continued from Page 1 life” like art and music. To celebrate this the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a concert focusing on different traditions. The celebrations will start at 19:00 on Friday, November 6, with a memorial lecture by Mgr Paul Nadal. The first of the Masses will be celebrated on November 7 at 17.30pm. Thanks will be given for aspects of Hurley’s life, with a focus on women religious. On Monday, 9 November, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier will formally open the centre with a blessing. All Masses will be in the Emmanuel cathedral. The concert will be held in the mall, with the cathedral as backup. All the other events will be in the centre.

Up and coming Christian artist Dominic Daniels shows his own bible book, which has biblical passages illustrated by him.

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14 Riversdale Street Coronationville PO Box 88741 Newclare 2112 admin@stcschool.co.za

‘Politics would have frustrated Hurley’

Join public rosary prayer BY DYLAN APPOLIS

HE Rosary Crusade of South Africa is calling on Catholics to gather family and friends to take to the public sphere in praying the rosary on October 10. The Rosary Crusade is an initiative of South Africa Needs Our Lady, which in turn is a campaign of Family Action South Africa. “Our intention is simply to gather as many people as possible to make a commitment to pray a rosary in a public place on the Saturday closest to October 13, a feast day of Our Lady of Fatima,” said Bernadette Tuffin, rally coordinator. “Thereafter we send the prospective ‘rally captain’ a banner—in English or Afrikaans—and a basic ‘how to’ manual, and leave it to them to select a location,” she said. The recruitment of volunteer “rally captains” has been implemented recently. “It started with personal calls and outreach to friends and contacts, and from there it just snowballed, with people getting involved and spreading the message,” said Ms Tuffin. “The initial aim of our endeavour was to have 100 groups, which we

thought quite ambitious. This target was rapidly surpassed to top the 200 mark, and we are pressing ahead for as many as possible,” said Ms Tuffin. She said South African Catholics need to “move the heart of the Mother” to intervene in the land and in their lives, “and assist us in the almost insurmountable problems we face as a nation, not to mention the huge crises affecting the world in general today”. The Rosary Crusade’s devotion to Our Lady is anchored in the spirituality of St Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort. “We feel strongly that Our Lady is the solution to the crisis of the modern world, as her apparitions at Fatima so clearly foretell,” Ms Tuffin said. This will be the Rosary Crusade’s first event, but the movement is hoping to host it annually. “We hope to broaden this event through our cumulative love, devotion and unflinching fidelity” to the Catholic Church, said Ms Tuffin. n For more information or to sign up as a rally captain, contact Bernadette Tuffin on 087 230 9884 or 028 551 2076 or rosarycrusade@SAneedsourlady.co.za

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The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

LOCAL

New degrees at St Augustine Meeting the challenge of jobs for tech students BY DYLAN APPOLIS

ROFESSOR Garth Abraham, president of St Augustine College, has formally confirmed the introduction of a programme of undergraduate study in 2016. Under the administrative direction of Professor Raphael de Kadt, two degrees will be on offer: the BA and the BTh. “The BA is in the liberal arts (English, history, philosophy, politics and psychology), but will include a numeracy component and a strong commitment to academic development and research skills,” said Prof Abrahams. “While obviously suited to future careers in education, politics and government, media and communication, the interdisciplinary nature of the qualification and the emphasis on developing the ability to think both independently and

critically, graduates will be keenly sought after by potential employers in various spheres—including commerce and business,” he said. Apart from Prof de Kadt, courses are to be taught by permanent academics attached to St Augustine and sessional lecturers who are experts in their fields. “The BTh degree addresses all the principal concerns of theology: scripture, Church history, philosophy, systematic theology, Christian ethics, and pastoral studies,” Prof Abrahams said. Although Catholic in its orientation, it is ecumenically open and concentrates on the shared tradition of all Christian denominations. “Apart from those contemplating Christian ministry, the qualification would also appeal to persons teaching religion, and—more generally—all those interested in learn-

ing more about their faith. Further, because it is offered by way of evening classes (between 17h00 and 20h30), and because it accommodates those wishing to study on a full-time basis (over three years) or part-time (over six years), the degree is ideally suited to those already in permanent employment,” said Prof Abrahams. “The courses are to be taught by the permanent academics in the departments of theology and philosophy and by sessional lecturers from a variety of Christian traditions.” St Augustine’s College also offers a range of postgraduate degrees, from honours to doctorate, in theology, philosophy, education, applied ethics, and peace studies. n For further information about St Augustine and its degree offerings, please consult the website www.staugus tine.co.za

Members of ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, Service) teams from several Durban parishes completed a course in spiritual direction led by Sue Rakoczy IHM (first row, second right). (Photo: Sandra Elliott)

BY DYLAN APPOLIS

OLE players gathered at a forum in Booysens, Johannesburg, to tackle the best way to move young people into jobs. The Catholic Institute of Education’s Thabiso Skills Institute and the CPLO, in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training, hosted the forum, on Work-Integrated Learning (WIL). The purpose was to discuss the challenges experienced with placement of learners participating in skills programmes in the workplace, as well as learners who are not in employment, education or training. “Learners are required to complete a WIL component for certain skills programmes,” said Kelsay Corrêa, communications manager at Thabiso. “Those who have completed the theory and practical components of an accredited skills programme but have not completed the WIL component of the course are not able to receive their certificate of completion, known as the SETA statement of results.” Mapoea Mosala, centre manager from Bethlehem Basic Training, said one area of concern was whether or not learners are covered by the centre’s workmen’s compen-

ST DOMINIC’S PRIORY SCHOOL

Mission retreats on mercy coming up STAFF REPORTER

HE Southern African bishops have given their support to Pope Francis’ call for missions to be preached in parishes during the Year of Mercy. Religious congregations and diocesan priests will form a team, coordinated by the Redemptorists, to conduct these mission retreats on the theme of mercy.

Missions begin with the regular weekend Masses and continue daily, concluding with a solemn Eucharist on Thursday evening. The bishops are appealing to priests, religious and diocesan, to make themselves available for preaching parish missions. At present, the Redemptorist mission team comprises Frs Bafana Hlatshwayo and Larry

Kaufmann, based in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal respectively. Fr Kaufmann is proposing to gather interested priests for workshop meetings in October in Cape Town and December in Johannesburg. n Interested priests are asked to contact Fr Kaufmann at larrykauf mann@telkomsa.net

Music legends for school festival STAFF REPORTER

OUTH African music legends are lining up to perform at the Sacred Heart Music Festival in Johannesburg on Heritage Day, September 24. Among those scheduled to perform at the college’s second annual fundraiser concert are Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Judith Sephuma, Simphiwe Dana, Paul Hamner as well as DJs Fresh & Euphonik. The concert raises funds for the three2six Programme, which the school supports, and aims to stand up to xenophobia. Three2six provides a bridging educational programme for Grade R to Grade 6 refugee children who have been denied access to public education. MUFA—Musicians United For Africa—will perform “Take A

Jazz singer Judith Sephuma is among a top-class line-up for the Sacred Heart Music Festival in Johannesburg on Heritage Day.

Stand, Say No”, a song to raise awareness of the #NoToXenophobia campaign. The festival will include a beer tent, human foosball, foofy slide, rocket parachute, hamster ball, jumping castle and other fun activities. Families are invited to bring a picnic to the festival, with

child-minders staffing a dedicated free 3- to 6-years’ entertainment area. All proceeds from the event will go towards the three2six Programme. n Tickets are available from www. sacredheartfestival.co.za or www. webtickets.co.za

sation. Also, workplaces are required to be approved by the relevant SETA before learners are placed. “The accreditation process and the subsequent placement of a learner puts undue pressure and administrative hassles on businesses. In addition, some employers exploit the learners and some learners do not commit to their work,” Mr Mosala said. Eubert Mashabane, acting chief director of the WIL department at Higher Education and Training, said: “For now there is no policy framework in place. WIL is not an academic debate, it is about giving a person the opportunity to learn through the workplace. “Government wants to see business turning workplaces into training opportunities. The President has established a working committee with business,” Mr Mashabane said. “An education and training task team has been established to identify some of the challenges, find out how to overcome them, and design and develop a guideline for businesses to be able to participate productively,” said Ms Corrêa. n Any companies interested in assisting the CIE Thabiso Skills Institute in placing learners, please contact either Yvonne dos Santos or Fawzia Naidoo on 011 433 1888.

is a leading Catholic Co-educational IEB School from Pre-School to Grade 12 situated in Miramar, Port Elizabeth, RSA

HEAD OF SCHOOL Applications are invited for the post of

commencing 01 January 2016 Core Responsibilities ● Uphold and promote the Catholic ethos within the context of the Dominican tradition and in accordance with the school’s vision and mission statement. ● Collaborate with the Board and Owners to: ○ Develop and implement the school’s strategy in harmony with its vision, ○ Eﬀectively lead and manage excellence in the academic, cultural, sport, ethos and administrative domains. ● Communicate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the well-being and growth of the school community.

Key Requirements ● Capacity to uphold and develop the religious identity of the school – the ideal candidate will therefore be a practising Catholic ● Demonstrated leadership and school management experience ● Relevant qualiﬁcations, work experience and professional registration ● Demonstrated strong communication and interpersonal skills

SDPS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The school reserves the right not to make an appointment.

E-mail CV, letter motivating the application, and 2 current references to chairman@priory.co.za by midday Wednesday 23 September 2015

Communications Sunday 20 September 2015

The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

Health and Wellness for Vulnerable Children

St Joseph’s Home (SJH) for Chronically Ill Children is a registered non-profit organization which has been a pioneer in the field of paediatric intermediate health care in South Africa. The holistic model of service has developed over the years and is unique in South Africa. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds with life threatening or limiting conditions are referred to SJH from State Hospitals to continue with free post-acute, restorative, palliative and rehabilitative care. History: Located in Montana, Cape Town, the facility was established in 1935 by the Pallottine Missionary Sisters caring for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC). Armed with their belief, passion and forward thinking, the Sisters started a paediatric health and wellness model, which focused on the total wellbeing of the child. As one of the oldest but most relevant institutions, it has already cared for more than 21,000 children over nearly 80 years. The Approach: Through the years, services at St Joseph’s have evolved into a holistic approach which includes 24 hour general and specialised nursing care, multi-disciplinary interventions including rehabilitation, on site pre- and primary school education, special nutritional programmes, parental education and empowerment, logistical support, training of accredited auxiliary nurses (nursing school), pastoral care, outreach and follow-up support visits to families and volunteer placement programmes. The St Joseph’s model also resonates with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 and 6, which address the reduction of child mortality and combating of HIV/Aids and other diseases. Recognitions include: The Louis Volks Humanitarian Award, Impumelelo Innovations Trust Awards, The Discovery Health Centre of Excellence Award and a letter of commendation from Oprah Winfrey. Financial Sustainability: St Joseph’s provides a *140 in-patient facility (*could vary) of which the Western Cape Department of Health subsidises a total of 117 beds. This leaves St Joseph’s with a budgeted projected shortfall of about R36,200 per bed per annum. Three years ago, the Board and Management revised the business model, reducing costs and creating a multi-faceted 2020 strategy. The current annual operating budget of nearly R22 million covers more than 90 full time staff of whom nearly 60% are nursing, social work and rehabilitation professionals. The 24/7 nursing care requires a day and night staff component. The Home also supports training through up-skilling, in-house training and placement. It has a full time nursing school on site which trains 18 auxiliary nurses each year. Two former children from the Home are permanently employed on-site, while another has qualified as an auxiliary nurse. The annual fiscal records are audited by Meridian Chartered Accountants (SA), (six months interim audit and final audit) and SJH is fully B-BBEE compliant. Funding partners: The strategic thrusts for the next ten years are to remain relevant, adaptable and sustainable. As a financially viable non-profit enterprise our objective is to be the funder partner of choice, or recipient of donations from corporates (triple bottom line), trusts, foundations, individual donors, aid agencies and Government. Two major projects, a rehabilitation project in association with The Children’s Trust of Red Cross Children’s Hospital, and building renovations worth R36 million have also started and the first two wards are nearly completed. Both projects will still require extensive additional capital and operational funding. Capital Projects earmarked for fundraising, are: Renovations to the nurses’ home, the convent, parents’ and volunteers’ accomodation, a sensory garden for children and school ablusion facilities. Child centred approach: St Joseph’s believes that every child deserves a chance at childhood. The Rights of the Child as contained in the United Nations Convention on Rights of Children (UNCRC) and the SA Bill of Rights, and the Children’s Act of 2008 are the guiding principles. Children are regarded as children first and foremost, and, secondly as a child with a life threatening or limiting condition. Individual assessments are made that include not only physical but also emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual needs of the child. Patients with a fair to good prognosis are referred mainly from state hospitals like the Red Cross Children’s, Tygerberg and Groote Schuur Hospitals. Prevalent illnesses include HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, respiratory, heart-lung-kidney failures, congenital abnormalities and neurological impairments. Most children remain at St Joseph’s for a interim/limited period while they undergo treatment and rehabilitation before they are discharged.

80 years of delivering health and wellness to vulnerable children 1935…The journey of healing started with one step and ten Sisters... TODAY…21 000 children have shared in the care.

1935: The late Right Rev. Bishop Hennemann identified a need to care for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC’s) after the 1930 Great Depression. Ten Pallotine Sisters arrived on September 23 and a few days later, the first patients were admitted to the vacant Presbytery in Philippi, Cape Town. Armed with their belief, passion and forward thinking, the Sisters started a paediatric health and wellness model, focusing on the total wellbeing of the child. Within six years, the number of children had grown from 10 to 120 children, all receiving nursing care, education and rehabilitation- physio and occupational therapists and a hydro pool. 1954: The Group Areas Act forced the Pallotine Sisters to find an alternative site as White and Coloured children were not allowed to be cared for in Philippi, a designated Black area. As pioneers they then found an innovative way to meet this challenge. 1967: Land in Montana was secured, a new hospital was built, followed by a school on the premises, 18 years later. This coincided with the Golden Jubilee of the Sisters. 2002: A 20 bed ward opened for HIV/Aids infected children to counter a new world wide pandemic. 2008: With funding secured the Nursing School reopens. 2012: Various studies are conducted to revisit St Joseph’s model in relation to relevance and sustainability. A new 2020 business plan is approved and implemented. 2013: Introduction of the new Intermediate Care Policy (Dept of Health) for children proves to be a game and direction changer. Patients at St Joseph’s are cared for shorter periods and staff profile changes with more carers appointed. A pilot rehabilitation programme is launced. 2014: Extensive renovations to the hospital start, pioneering paediatric rehabilitation and innovation. 2015: The first two wards are officially opened.

We celebrate 80 years of vision, “vasbyt” and innovation

On Human Rights Day, our first event to celebrate 80 years of healing was held. More than 120 former patients and staff joined the reunion. A special Mass was also held to commemorate this special occasion. Children of SJH sang three songs and spiritual dances were performed in the chapel. Father Peter John conducted a moving ceremony and referred to St Joseph’s former and present staff as “facilitators of hope”. He said that in the past many have come to the Home with broken dreams and human limitations. “We will not stop dancing. We believe in dreams and that people can be healed,” he said. A special message and a prayer were delivered by Sister Annemarie, while Thea Patterson welcomed the guests and remarked on the relevance of Human Rights Day. She said that the rights of disabled people are still not always being given priority and that SJH will continue to assist in the cause of challenging issues regarding disability.

Please support St Joseph’s

TODAY

We need a helping hand. Opportunities to contribute: aAdopt a bed for a month or a year aGive in kind aVolunteer of your time aSupport our capital projects aConsider a living legacy or leave a bequest (Call Alrika for more information@021-9340352 or visit our website www.stjosephshome.org.za)

The Southern Cross, September 9 to September 15, 2015

INTERNATIONAL

Annulment now a speedy and simplified pastoral process BY CINDY WOODEN

HE Catholic Church’s marriage annulment process must be quicker, cheaper and much more of a pastoral ministry, Pope Francis said. Rewriting a section of the Latin-rite Code of Canon Law and of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, Pope Francis said he was not “promoting the nullity of marriages, but the quickness of the processes, as well as a correct simplicity” of the procedures so that Catholic couples are not “oppressed by the shadow of doubt” for prolonged periods. The Vatican released the texts of two papal documents, Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (The Lord Jesus, the Gentle Judge) for the Latin-rite Church and Mitis et misericors Iesus, (The Meek and Merciful Jesus) for the Eastern Catholic Churches. The changes, including the option of a brief process without the obligatory automatic appeal, go into effect on December 8, the opening day of the Year of Mercy. Pope Francis said the changes in the annulment process were motivated by “concern for the salvation of souls”, and particularly “charity and mercy” toward those

who feel alienated from the Church because of their marriage situations and the perceived complexity of the Church’s annulment process. The new rules replace canons 1671-1691 of the Code of Canon Law and canons 1357-1377 of the Eastern code. Pope Francis also provided a set of “procedural regulations” outlining how his reforms are to take place, encouraging bishops in small dioceses to train personnel who can handle marriage cases and spelling out specific conditions when a bishop can issue a declaration of nullity after an abbreviated process. Those conditions include: when it is clear one or both parties lacked the faith to give full consent to a Catholic marriage; when the woman had an abortion to prevent procreation; remaining in an extramarital relationship at the time of the wedding or immediately afterward; one partner hiding knowledge of infertility, a serious contagious disease, children from a previous union or a history of incarceration; and when physical violence was used to extort consent for the marriage. The reformed processes were drafted by a special committee

Pope Francis established a year earlier. Among the criteria he said guided their work, the first he listed was the possibility of there being “only one executive sentence in favour of nullity” when the local bishop or judge delegated by him had the “moral certainty” that the marriage was not valid. Previously an appeal was automatic and a declaration of nullity had to come from two tribunals. The changes made by Pope Francis, particularly the responsibility and trust placed in local bishops, are the most substantial changes in the Church’s marriage law since the pontificate of Pope Benedict XIV in the mid-1700s, said Mgr Pinto, dean of the Roman Rota, a Vatican court, and president of the commission that drafted the new rules. Pope Francis ordered that the “gratuity of the procedure be assured so that, in a matter so closely tied to the salvation of souls, the Church—by demonstrating to the faithful that she is a generous mother—may demonstrate the gratuitous love of Christ, which saves us all”.—CNS

Israeli Arab Christians demonstrate outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem to protest government budget cuts to their schools. (Photo: Debbie Hill/CNS)

MARIST BROTHERS LINMEYER

Growing Young Hearts and Minds LOVE OF WORK

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IN THE WAY OF MARY

SIMPLICITY

PRESENCE

DĂƌŝƐƚ ƌŽƚŚĞƌƐ >ŝŶŵĞǇĞƌ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ͕ ĐŽ ʹ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů͕ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ƐĐŚŽŽů ŝŶ >ŝŶŵĞǇĞƌ͕ :ŽŚĂŶŶĞƐďƵƌŐ͕ ĐĂƚĞƌŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĨƌŽŵ 'ƌĂĚĞ ϬϬ ƚŽ 'ƌĂĚĞ ϭϮ͘

HIGH SCHOOL ƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶǀŝƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĂƉƉůǇ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ĨƵůů ƟŵĞ ƉĞƌŵĂŶĞŶƚ ƉŽƐƚ͕ ĐŽŵŵĞŶĐŝŶŐ :ĂŶƵĂƌǇ ϮϬϭϲ

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Jesuit: A picture can change our thinking BY CINDY WOODEN

Jesuit Father Peter Balleis, outgoing international director of Jesuit Refugee Service. The background image shows Fr Pedro Arrupe, former Jesuit Superior General, and refugees. (Photo: Paul Haring/CNS)

OR eight years, Jesuit Father Peter Balleis has captured the beauty, the determination and the exhaustion in the faces of the migrants and refugees he has met around the world as international director of Jesuit Refugee Service. He understands how with the photograph of 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi, the Syrian boy who drowned, “the crisis in the Middle East, the drama, has reached the hearts of the people”. Seeing that “boy, who could be anyone’s grandchild or child, that child who should not have died”, people spontaneously knew “something is wrong here, something is wrong that people take such desperate steps, risking their lives in shaky boats”, Fr Balleis said. “That changed the public debate,” the German Jesuit said. A photograph [depicts]“not a number or a problem, but a human person,” he said. “It evokes a level of compassion, of

feeling. And what follows is action.” Like the famous photographs of Aylan, taken on the beach in Turkey, he said, a picture “can evoke compassion and a re-thinking”. US Jesuit Father Thomas Smolich, who will succeed Fr Balleis as international director, said: “Photos also get to our memories, which is a different place than our intellects. So that boy on the beach touches on the 3-yearolds that we were and the 3-yearolds we know. He’s perfectly dressed and he should be fine. But he’s not.”

Frs Balleis and Smolich spoke at the Jesuit headquarters near the Vatican the day after Pope Francis called on every parish in Europe to take in one refugee family. The Vatican announced that both of its parishes—St Peter’s basilica and St Anne’s church—would do so. The pope’s appeal is the key here, coming from the top, saying “Why don’t each of the 100 000 parishes in Europe—I was told there are 100 000 parishes in Europe—take care of one family.” “That’s practical. That’s manageable. It is not impossible,” Fr Balleis said.—CNS

Pope: Are we keeping Jesus hidden? BY CAROL GLATz

HY do so many young people leave the Church after confirmation, Pope Francis asked bishops from Portugal. “There is no doubt that Jesus exists; but where are we hiding him?” the pope said. The bishops were making their ad limina visits to Rome to report on the state of their dioceses. The pope highlighted “the large number of adolescents and young people who abandon practising the Christian faith after the sacrament of confirmation”. “Let’s ask ourselves: Young people are leaving—why are they making this decision? Is it because they are not interested in the gift they have received? Are they not interested in what they were offered because it does not respond to the problems and questions that worry them today?” he asked. Jesus’ promise of eternal life has convinced so many, but today, “our proposal of Jesus is not convincing”,

he said. The pope asked that the “scholastic model” of teaching about Jesus be replaced with a “catechumenal” approach that does not just impart “cerebral knowledge, but also a personal encounter with Jesus Christ” that focuses on listening for the specific vocation God is calling each person to live. Jesus is walking with today’s young people, the pope said. The problem is the prevailing assumption today that everyone is an “apprentice-creator of oneself and completely intoxicated on freedom”. That makes it difficult for people to understand the idea of being called to a vocation, the pope said. “He loves us too much to abandon us to chance”, he said. Even though the world tries to deceive people into believing otherwise, “our happiness fully depends on our knowing how to figure out and follow the call to that mission God has in mind for everyone”, he said.—CNS

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REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POST ͻ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐĞĚ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ƋƵĂůŝĮĐĂƟŽŶ ͻ ^ ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƟŽŶ ͻ ZĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ͻ ǁŝůůŝŶŐŶĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ƚŚĞ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ƚŚŽƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ^ĐŚŽŽů ͻ Ŷ ĂďŝůŝƚǇ ƚŽ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐĐŚŽŽů͛Ɛ ŵƵůƟͲĨĂĐĞƚĞĚ ĞǆƚƌĂͲŵƵƌĂů ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ ͻ ŐŽŽĚ ĐŽŵŵĂŶĚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ͻ Ğ Ă ƐĞůĨͲŵŽƟǀĂƚĞĚ ƚĞĂŵ ƉůĂǇĞƌ ǁŚŽ ŝƐ ŚŝŐŚůǇ ŽƌŐĂŶŝǌĞĚ ĂŶĚ Ă ƉĞƌƐŽŶ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞŐƌŝƚǇ ĂŶĚ ĞŶĞƌŐǇ ͻ ŽŵƉĞƚĞŶƚ /d ƐŬŝůůƐ

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The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor: Günther Simmermacher Guest editorial: Michael Shackleton

The annulment of a marriage

HRIST said: “A man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one. So they are no longer two but one. What therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder” (Mt 19:5). His solemn words are echoed in canon 1060 of the Code of Canon Law, which upholds the Church’s teaching that the valid marriage bond cannot be dissolved. Consequently, if any doubts arise concerning its validity, that bond remains intact until the contrary can be proved. Proving the contrary in cases when a couple possibly married out of fear, force or fraud, or simple immaturity, has become a difficult task over time. A tribunal set up by the diocesan bishop to investigate the challenge to validity, employs the cold letter of the law, a dispassionate and intrusive means of searching out many personal and intimate details of a couple’s relationship before and in marriage. This can drag on for years because of legal niceties or major obstacles. Often it happens that either or both of the spouses have not the patience to await an ecclesiastical decision on whether their marriage has been annulled or not. They just walk away and, alas, ignore the Church’s judgment. As we report in this issue, Pope Francis, who has made no secret of his desire to show the compassionate face of the Church to its alienated members, has now issued a document to simplify the way the validity of a dubiously solemnised marriage can be questioned. It affects not only the Latinrite Church but also the Eastern Catholic Churches. The pope wants the annulment procedure to be easier and quicker, not because he is promoting the nullity of marriages but because he does not want couples to be in stressful doubt for prolonged periods. The canonical way of deciding whether a marriage is valid or not requires a court to be set up which needs the skills of competent canon lawyers. On the one side there is the promoter of jus-

tice who argues on behalf of the spouse petitioning for nullity. On the other side there is the defender of the bond who argues to prove that the marriage remains a valid one. Like any other kind of court of justice, there is also the judge, the witnesses and the documentary evidence, all of which can be intellectually and emotionally draining for those who anticipate a favourable outcome. Now Pope Francis has provided new rules to replace the provisions of canons 1671-1691. These may not do away with the forum of the procedure but they will make it considerably simpler and cheaper for a petition for nullity to go ahead and be swiftly dealt with. Each case, of course, will be treated on its merits, and some applications may demand a longer procedure than others. We can expect sighs of relief from clergy and laity who have experienced the frustrations and complexities of a lengthy attempt to prove nullity. The Holy Father wants to show charity and mercy towards those stuck in a kind of marital purgatory, as their patience is tested in the wait for a verdict of nullity. Byzantine Catholic Bishop Dimitrios Salachas, who served on the pope’s advisory commission, welcomed the new rules, saying they were urgent for the Eastern Church in order to keep Catholics in it. His input could well have influenced the pope’s new rules, considering that a large percentage of Greek Catholics are married to members of the Orthodox Church which permits second marriages under special penitential conditions. Catholics who have divorced an Orthodox spouse cannot wait years for a declaration of nullity, he said. They begin a second union in the Orthodox Church. The changes will go into effect on December 8, the opening day of the Year of Mercy. We shall wait and see if this new papal document has any pastoral influence on next month’s Synod on the Family.

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.

Media skews message on marriage

HE late American Franciscan Father Benedict Groeschel once said that the “media is involved in a huge undermining of Catholic and Evangelical Churches”. This is specially true of media coverage of Ireland which presents an anomaly in the European Union in not being completely compliant with EU relativism. So as Dutch abortion boats stalked off the Irish coast to provide abortions because the Irish people did not permit this, so the media stalked off Ireland to abort its traditional values. The Pontifical Council for the Family reported that the recent Irish referendum on same-sex marriage was seriously flawed by irregularities and by fear and intimidation, with the 50:50 allocation of television space to groups on both sides blatantly ignored.

Bishop Gabuza

ISHOP Abel Gabuza of Kimberley has made a powerful record in his style of leadership since becoming head of the diocese in 2011. His availability to the people on the ground has captured the attention of almost everybody in the diocese. His approach can be summed up like this: teach, follow up, touch, involve. That method has inspired priests, especially those who have chosen to follow his advice, to participate automatically in building up the diocese of Kimberley. And it’s not only priests, but also the deacons and the religious sisters. Bishop Gabuza’s style of approach has attracted very many people. Now Catholics are willing to take an active part in the leadership of the Church and are ready to contribute to the Church. We can see this in the VryburgMorokweng deanery in which I serve as a priest: This year the deanery contributed to the diocese the amount of R194 337 in a single day. This contribution is a sign of the cooperation between the priests of the deanery and the Christian community, which is the thinking of the bishop. The deanery presented its structure of administration to the bishop whereby it places a priority on women in leadership. Thus Modiegi Veronica Sebusho from Vryburg was installed as the deanery chair. In her remarks she said: “I will be the mother not only of this deanery but to the whole diocese of Kimberley and beyond the borders.” She pledged to use her energy to foster a self-supporting Church in the area “through active involvement of each member” and to help

Barely one third of the Irish voted for same-sex marriage. So Pope Francis’ statements that samesex marriage is “anthropological regression” and “what is being proposed is not marriage” were drowned out. Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney stated that in Australia the media gave great prominence to the Pitcairn Island vote for same-sex marriage, with a population of 48, and virtually ignored the Australian legislature’s overwhelming vote against same-sex marriage (110 MPs to 26). Pope Francis told the Schoenstatt movement that “marriage has never been attacked so much as now” and should not be the subject of endless manipulation according to passing ideological fads. Archbishop Fisher in his article

the priests and the bishop by “offloading some of their workload by taking it on ourselves, such as the teaching of catechism, conducting Sunday schools and even Church fundraising to facilitate the activities within our deanery”. Bishop Gabuza in return emphasised that “the Church belongs to you and you must feel proud of it and feel that it is a real, true place for spiritual consolation”. He went on smiling, as usual, after the last blessing. Fr Reginald Tarimo AJ, Heunaar, Kimberley

Catholics need evangelisation

T is said that we Catholics are sacramentalised and not evangelised—that many of us have not been brought into an effective personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord. When many of us are asked how we intend getting to heaven, we may answer: by being good, doing a certain number of good deeds, being kind to others, or trying harder. This is a heresy known as Pelagianism–salvation by one’s own efforts. The official teaching of our Church, and in scripture, is that we are saved (justified) by (a process of) faith in Jesus Christ and by his 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

“Same-sex marriage: evolution or deconstruction” lists the passing fads that ridicule and debase the institution of holy matrimony (the word used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church) and emphasises two aspects of marriage: procreation and heterosexual complementarity. For example: “marriage” to dead people in France; a former Catholic priest in Florida “marries” a woman to a ferris wheel called Bruce; a Houston woman, failing to find a husband by age 40, “marries” herself assisted by three pastors; people marrying their pet dogs, cats, dolphins or goats; men “marrying” blow-up dolls, men marrying men, women marrying women! Does no one notice the emperor has no clothes! Is it only the majority of the Irish people, African leaders and a Jesuit pope who notices? Has the zeitgeist got the others in thrall? Fr Finbarr Flanagan OFM, Pretoria grace, working in love (see Gal 5:6). Good works show that we are being saved. They do not save us. Many have it reversed. We need to witness to the fact that we are not among those lukewarm whom Jesus is about to spit out of his mouth. In Brazil, the world’s most populous country of about 134 million, there are more ex-Catholics attending Sunday evangelical Church services than Catholics at Sunday Mass! A very serious problem worldwide is that Catholics have a very superficial knowledge of their faith against the onslaughts of the many anti-Catholic evangelicals. We need to take to heart the call of Pope St John Paul and retired Pope Benedict XVI for the new evangelisation. It is estimated that only 10 million Catholics are truly evangelised. I can remember, at the Catholic school where I was educated, being taught Christianity as a forbidding system of do’s and dont’s, with Jesus somehow lost somewhere in the middle of countless facts “about” Catholicism. I can thank charismatic renewal for a dynamic, living relationship with the Lord. So often we hear of people who are “private” Catholics yet in 1 Cor 9:16, St Paul is clear: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.” The same is expected of clergy and laity alike. As Pope St John Paul the Great wrote: “We Catholics stand in abject helplessness before the many aggressive anti-Catholic agents in South America.” The reason for the Church’s existence is to evangelise. “We do not evangelise only by the example of being a good Christian. True evangelisation is fruitless without a clear and explicit proclamation of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Evangelii Nuntiandi). John Lee, Johannesburg

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PERSPECTIVES

The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

How the pope is making enemies Mphuthumi R Ntabeni EADING Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’, one is reminded of G K Chesterton’s quip that “capitalism can be as godless and soulless and evil as its counterpart at the other end of the spectrum”. I mean that as a compliment to the pope's critical balance. In the tradition of papal encyclicals and Catholic Social Teachings (CST), Laudato Si’ refuses to bow down before competing altars of economic theories. In as much as it bashes the thrall of the radical free market system and the multinational corporations, it does not find other systems on the “opposite spectrum” completely innocent. Pope Francis says that “the problem is an idolatry that imagines markets can solve our moral crises for us. We can respect the usefulness of markets without needing to affirm their omnipotence”. Laudato Si’ laments bad governments of the past for creating easy platforms for corruption, bribery, black markets, massive misallocations of natural resources, patronage, and gross inequalities. This robs citizens of real economic development. But he reserves strong language for the “idolatry of free market systems” which he sometimes calls the “dung of the devil”. It is by now obvious to any thinking person, without vested interests, that free markets don’t really bring about economic justice, as Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI noted before Pope Francis. Instead they create a situation where markets and governments are dominated by monopolists, oligarchs and international bodies whose sole purpose is to serve the agenda of the economically powerful and rich. It is also an admitted truth that gross economic inequalities is the major crisis of our age, and that radical free markets are the essential cause for lack of equitable economic distribution. As it is to most people on the ground, it is also clear to Pope Francis that free market systems do not have the political will to solve the environmental issues of the world—nor do governments, since the multinationals use their financial muscles to lobby and buy governments to serve their agendas. For his pain, the pope has earned the ire of the proponents of what is known as the Washington Consensus, a set of free market ideas which are supported by promi-

nent economists and international organisations, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the European Union and the United States. Is it a coincidence that Pope Francis’ popularity in the US reportedly has taken a nose dive this year? Even some Catholic politicians, such as Jeb Bush and Rick Santorum, have accused the pope of overreaching his mandate by involving the Church on matters of economics.

ithout getting into the argument about economics being social science, the Church has always claimed that incarnation compels her to comment and pursue solutions for human happiness in this world also. And the Church has always prioritised, in her teaching at least, the common good over private property, as preached since the epoch of the Acts of the Apostles to Augustine to the modern CST. Pope Francis calls this the “Wisdom of the Ancients”. Indeed, the Church prioritises transcendental values, something the pope reaffirms seamlessly in this encyclical through the teaching of St Francis for the care of the world and the environment. He calls for inner communal conversion, which he terms a “sobriety principle” for the care of creation that is in our stewardship. Many outside the Church criticise CST as an impotent mash of relativism and wishy-washy truism that gets defeated by predominant economic realities. And they accuse the Church herself of failing to stand with the poor despite its CST rhetoric. They say in many dioceses of the West,

Given Pope Francis’ criticism of the free market in Laudato Si’, is it a coincidence that his popularity in the US reportedly has taken a nose dive?

Pushing the Boundaries

for instance, the Church is closely associated with the multinational corporations. The outraged backlash against the pope by the neocons who run the multinationals, particularly in the US, suggests that they too believed a tacit understanding existed between them and the Church. They are angry at this pope who seems to present CST with an urgent gravity that is unnerving them. Sadly, there will also be some within the Church who, like the rich young man in Matthew 19, would walk away sadly rather than take up Jesus’ challenge for eternal life. By inviting to the Vatican the likes of Naomi Klein, a thorn in the flesh of the multinationals, the pope is dragging the Church as an institution beyond just platitudes and rhetoric. He is taking action, proposing things like “Systems of governance for the Global Commons” which would be made up not only of Washington Consensus signatories but of poor and developing nations too. The pope is showing us that having progressive knowledge is not enough; we need to move towards good behaviour and green living for the sake of the future of the planet. Perhaps when we look at the totality of history, now would be the moment the wheel turns for the betterment and sustainability of human existence on this continent. Let’s also find relevant ways to make the message of Laudato Si’ relevant to the poor—after all, they are in the majority on our continent. As an African I felt a deep connection to this encyclical which I had never felt before with other encyclicals. After all, in more ways than one, it is the first encyclical written from the perspective of the socalled Third World. I was also not surprised to learn that it was an African cardinal, Peter Turkson of Ghana, who helped the pope draft it.

Refugees: The Pope has the Right Idea

OPE Francis has been quoted as calling on society to respond to the world’s largest and most severe refugee crisis in recorded history: “May every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary of Europe, take in one family.” With 1,9 million Syrian refugees having escaped persecution into Turkey and a further 2,1 million scattering themselves across the Middle East and Europe, one thing is apparent in Syria under the governance of Bashar al-Assad and parts controlled by ISIS. It has become a hell on earth for many of her people. A further 55 million people are escaping persecution elsewhere. Closer to home, millions are escaping brutal rapes, murders, tortures and sieges in the Democratic Republic of Congo, whereas many Somali nationals leave behind the tumult of a country torn to pieces by the exploits of tribal and clan warlords. Some of these refugees, along with many others, flee to South Africa, a country that boasts “The world’s greatest Constitution” as well as the miracle tale of transition out of apartheid. Therefore the promise of respect for basic human rights and an opportunity at fulfilling your potential as a human being—both for yourself and your family—has made South Africa a lucrative destination for refugees. Hence, according to statistics at the end of 2014, there are 65 000 refugees and 230 000 asylum seekers in South Africa. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, and one of the few world leaders who has shown leadership by accepting 800 000 asylum seekers has been paraphrased as having said: In spite of everything, Germany is a “good country” and is in “a good state of health”. Civil society, often invoked and praised, is a reality, and added how proud she is to see so many people giving freely to help refugees in Germany. “The number of helpers is

Gushwell Brooks

Talking about Faith

Media reports have described the recent refugee crisis as the continent’s greatest refugee movement since World War II. (Photo:Marko Djurica, Reuters/CNS) many times higher than the number of rabble-rousers and xenophobes,”she said. This should hold true for South Africa as well. However, with a global debate raging around whether people who are fleeing for their lives should be called refugees or migrants, the tragic fact is lives are being lost while world leaders and nations are arguing semantics. The numbers are stark, if one had to gather the 59 million people who are displaced at this very moment, and they were to create their own state, they would constitute the 24th largest country in the world!

s stark as these numbers are, they do not tell the human story at the face of the true tragedy playing out at a global scale. Aylan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy, has been reported as being happy and excited at the boat trip he, his brother, mother and father were to undertake. Little did he know that his aunt had financed their space on the smuggler’s

boat to Greece, little did he know that his parents wanted to escape the Syrian war and escape the misery of life in a refugee camp in Turkey. Tragically, Abdullah, Aylan’s father, in an effort to save his family from war and the tragedy of a refugee camp, did not anticipate to lose his wife, least yet, have the photos of his two toddler sons’ drowned bodies splashed across the international media! Abdullah lost everything he wanted to save, his wife and two beautiful sons claimed by the Mediterranean. Since then many similar accounts have emerged, of children being taken by the brine as their parents tried to save them from the chemical weapons of the alAssad government or the unforgiving swords of ISIS. Here too, many Somalis escape the persecution of warlords, many Congolese escape certain death and rape, however, as opposed to adopting Pope Francis’ humanitarian and compassionate approach, we at times greet them with xenophobic violence veiled in a shroud of economic friction. Creative solutions need to be sought, exactly what this would be, is yet to be determined, for the world has not seen as many people displaced by conflict since 70 years ago, the end of the World War II. What is central to that solution however, is compassion, however, few seem to have the compassion the Pontiff has asked for. Gushwell Brooks is the communications officer for the Jesuit Refugee Service, Southern Africa Regional Office.

Michael Shackleton

Open Door

What is ‘justice for all’ in the Church? The so-called social teaching of the Church confuses me because the Catechism of the Catholic Church is long-winded about it. What exactly does it mean? M Sauls IN the 19th century the Industrial Revolution enabled the wealthy classes of Europe to pour money into setting up factories and mechanisation. In order to make these profitable, they employed thousands of unskilled workers and paid them miserably for long hours of toil. The result was that the accumulation of wealth and power was kept in the hands of the industrialists, while the workers were regarded as commodities, cogs in the wheels of industry, and not as human persons made in the image and likeness of God. Society became fragmented into two hostile camps: Capital and Labour. Socialist and communistic ideologies attempted to unravel this tension, but as far as the Church was concerned, they manifested signs of atheism in their scorn for religious beliefs. Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) reacted against the trend, and to a large extent he can be said to have begun the Church’s social teaching of justice for all society’s members, the strong and the weak. Among his many encyclicals on the relationship between individuals, families, states and the Church, he wrote Rerum novarum in 1891, in which he set out broad principles for the exercise of the rights and obligations of employers, workers and the state. He stressed the state’s duty to protect the worker from exploitation. In 1931 Pope Pius XI went further when he issued his encyclical Quadragesimo anno. The state’s responsibility, he said, is the promotion of the common good of all society. His words contributed to a widespread awareness of the need for social reform and the injustice of abusing the rights of workers. In 1937 he wrote Divini redemptoris, reaffirming that each member of society must interact with the others in a reciprocal way for the greatest possible common good. The teaching is rooted in the dignity of the human person who may not be treated as a thing or as a means to satisfy the greed of the marketplace. It upholds the nobility of work because labour is a gift from God which is directed towards eternal life. It must be justly rewarded with appropriate wages. In sum, the Church’s social teaching is that the right to human life and dignity is sacred, the poor and vulnerable may not be manipulated to the advantage of the powerful, the dignity of the worker must be acknowledged by employers, we are all one human family with equal rights and we must care for God’s creation. n Send your queries to Open Door, Box 2372, Cape Town,

8000; or e-mail: opendoor@scross.co.za; or fax (021) 465 3850. Anonymity can be preserved by arrangement, but questions must be signed, and may be edited for clarity. Only published questions will be answered.

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The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

SOUTHERN AFRICAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE We support Catholic Media

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BY: SACBC OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA www.sacbc.org.za

COMMUNICATION

The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

Why laity must take lead in social media Catholic media leaders say that the laity must be on the ‘frontlines’ of using media in the new evangelisation, as NATE MADDEN reports.

AYPEOPLE are meant to be “out on the frontlines” of using media in the new evangelisation, said a speaker at a panel discussion at The Catholic University of America in Washington which consisted of leaders in Catholic broadcasting and communications in North America. The panel discussion, titled “Media and the New Evangelisation”, was held in honour of the 75th anniversary of the first televised service by Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a famous Catholic media personality in the US, in 1940. The panel discussed how Archbishop Sheen’s example can be used in current efforts to spread the Gospel through broadcast and social media. The archbishop presented a prime-time weekly television show called Life is Worth Living in the 1950s. Fr Robert Reed, president of the CatholicTV Network of the Boston archdiocese, said that while the means of broadcast have changed in scope and nature, “the [evangelical]

mission is identical”, even in a world that is “moment-centric and spiritually famished”. Father Thomas Rosica, founding CEO of Canada’s Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, said that he takes away two important lessons from the life and example of Archbishop Sheen. “The first is that faith cannot be relegated” to private sanctuaries, but that it “can only develop in the public square”. The second lesson, according to Fr Rosica, is that “when faith becomes ideology, it loses its identity”, which he said should remind the faithful how to spread the Gospel to others. Fr Rosica went on to say that one of the greatest challenges for the new evangelisation in a world of ever-changing media is to “tell the ancient story in fresh, new and exciting ways”. Asked whether the Catholic Church had fallen behind other denominations in media utilisation in recent years, especially in the age of social media, the speakers emphasised the importance of embracing these means as a new method for creatively sharing the Church’s message. “The challenge is to be creative with new media,” said Fr Reed. Because of the many forms of new media, Fr Rosica said, “we have

to operate on many platforms at the same time”. He pointed out that “5 million tweets mean nothing” unless those sending the message find a way to adequately convey “the embrace of Christ”.

o this point, Michael Warsaw, CEO of the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), added that, regardless of the means in which the message is sent, those engaged in evangelism through media must remember to craft messages that em-

phasise and embrace “beauty, truth and goodness”, so that the “authoritative message of truth” will attract others to the Catholic Church. Mr Warsaw also pointed out that the mission for Catholic broadcasters and evangelists is different from that of some other denominations. Whereas some evangelists of other denominations use media as an “alternative to interacting with a local church”, Mr Warsaw reminded the audience that “we are a sacramental Church”. Therefore, he said, “everything needs to be focused on

bringing people into the local church”. When the panel was asked on how Archbishop Sheen would have adapted to the age of social media, Fr Rosica focused more on his actual legacy than speculations about what he would post. Because of the archbishop, US Catholics were not afraid to share their faith publicly, but “after a few decades, several have gone back in the closet”, said Fr Rosica, adding that he hopes for a renewal that will have the same effect. “But I don’t think [Sheen] would be caught up with tweets,” he added. When an audience member asked about the need for Catholic media to “lead to something beyond itself”, Fr Rosica replied that the goal of evangelical media “is to lead people to something more beautiful than the medium itself”. In closing, the panel discussed the role of laity in the new evangelisation. All concurred that laypeople have a role to play in spreading the Gospel across all forms of media. Evangelisation, especially in the media “needs to be the work of the laity”, said Mr Warsaw, “not just the clergy”. While there “should still be a presence” of the clergy in production, Fr Rosica agreed, laity should be “out on the frontlines” of the New Evangelisation.—CNS

Pope’s @Pontifex world’s most influential Twitter account BY CINDY WOODEN

HEN Pope Francis tweets, the world listens. According to “Twiplomacy”, a study of the Twitter accounts of world leaders and their retweet rates, US President Barack Obama has the most Twitter followers, but Pope Francis’ @Pontifex is the most influential Twitter account— his average “retweet” and “favourite” rate is more than eight times higher than Mr Obama’s. Despite his account’s “massive following”, the study said: “@BarackObama tweets are on average retweeted ‘only’ 1 210 times. By this standard, Pope Francis is

by far the most influential ‘tweep’ with 9 929 retweets for every tweet he sends on his Spanish account and 7 527 retweets on average on his English account.” Pope Francis also was deter-

mined “most influential” by the study in 2014 and 2013. And in the category of all-time popular tweets, Pope Francis makes the top three. Obama’s November 7, 2012,

Pope Francis: Communication begins within the family

EGINNING with an unborn child’s relationship with his mother, the family is where members of the Church and wider society learn the essential lessons of communication, according to Pope Francis. His theme for this year’s World Communications Day is “Communicating the Family: a Privileged Place of Encounter With the Gift of Love”. In Southern Africa, Social Communications Sunday is marked this year on September 20. “The womb which hosts us is the first ‘school’ of communication,” the pope writes. “This encounter between two persons, so intimately related while still distant from each other, an encounter so full of promise, is our first experience of communication. It is an experience which we all share, since each of us was born of a mother.” After birth, “the family is where we learn to live with others despite our differences,” Pope Francis writes. “In the family we realise that others have preceded us, they made it possible for us to exist and, in our turn, to generate life and to do something good and beautiful. We can give because we have received. This virtuous circle is at the heart of the fam-

ily’s ability to communicate among its members and with others. More generally, it is the model for all communication.” In particular, the pope notes that the family is the “setting in which the most basic form of communication, which is prayer, is handed down”. Because the “family is where we daily experience our own limits and those of others”, the pope writes, it is also a “school of forgiveness. Forgiveness is itself a process of communication. When contrition is expressed and accepted, it becomes possible to restore and rebuild the communication which broke down”.

oting that this year’s World Communications Day falls between the October 2015 extraordinary Synod of Bishops and the world synod on the same topic next month, Pope Francis seems to allude to some of the contentious issues of marriage and family that have characterised discussions inside and outside the synod hall. The family “is not a subject of debate or a terrain for ideological skirmishes”, the pope writes. “We are not fighting to defend the past. Rather, with patience and trust, we are working to build a better future for the

world in which we live.” He says the modern media, “which are an essential part of life for young people in particular, can be both a help and a hindrance to communication in and between families”. “The media can be a hindrance if they become a way to avoid listening to others, to evade physical contact, to fill up every moment of silence and rest,” the pope says. But, he adds, the media “can help communication when they enable people to share their stories, to stay in contact with distant friends, to thank others or to seek their forgiveness, and to open the door to new encounters”. “By growing daily in our awareness of the vital importance of encountering others, these ‘new possibilities’, we will employ technology wisely, rather than letting ourselves be dominated by it,” Pope Francis says. “Here too, parents are the primary educators, but they cannot be left to their own devices. The Christian community is called to help them in teaching children how to live in a media environment in a way consonant with the dignity of the human person and service of the common good.

victory tweet, “Four more years”, tops the list with close to 750 000 retweets. In second place is the tweet in Arabic sent out by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman in January when he ascended to the throne; 261 000 followers retweeted his text. Coming in at No 3 was a tweet sent out in Filipino on Pope Francis’ English-language Twitter account during his January visit to the Philippines, remarking on the youth and vitality of the country’s Catholic community. Almost 75 600 people retweeted the message. “Twiplomacy” is a study carried out annually by the public rela-

tions and communications firm Burson Marsteller. In examining the statistics of heads of state and government, the study said some 86% of the 193 UN member countries have an official presence on Twitter, and 172 heads of state or government, including Pope Francis, have personal accounts on the social network. In their study, Burson Marsteller added together the number of followers on Pope Francis’ nine different language accounts and came up with a total of more than 19.5 million followers.—CNS

The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

BOOK REVIEWS

The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

Archbishop’s memoirs like a chat over tea THAT THEY MAY BE ONE: Memoirs of Archbishop Emeritus George Francis Daniel, by George Daniel. Cluster Publications, Pietermaritzburg, 2015. 264pp Reviewed by Sean Collins CSsR OR those of us who know Archbishop George Daniel, who headed the archdiocese of Pretoria from 1975 to 2009 and retired to Sizanani village near Bronkhorstspruit to minister to the handicapped poor, this book is like enjoying one of his delightful conversations over a cup of tea. Told in his direct, inimitable style, this book flows leisurely and interestingly from the fascinating history of his ancestors and line of his parents (German missionaries of the 18th and 19th centuries, Anglo-Irish 1820 settlers, Scottish in the mix). His was a “yours, mine and ours sort of family” and the family bonds remain warm and strong throughout the story. This is true of his warm interaction with most of his dealings with people in the larger family of the Church. Baptised and raised in the Anglican Church, George Francis Daniel studied architecture. After discerning a call for the ministry in the

Anglican Church, he went to St Paul’s in Grahamstown. He was ordained an Anglican priest in his hometown, Pretoria, and assigned his pastoral duties there in 1957. The intricacies of his struggles with the compelling truth of the Catholic claims against the irreconcilable position of those of his own Church and his eventual conversion to the Catholic Church is briefly, discreetly and beautifully told against a backdrop of interesting human characters and familiar names. His call to the Catholic priesthood saw the young seminarian attend St John Vianney Seminary, and thereafter Propaganda College in Rome from 1962, leading to his ordination to the Catholic priesthood there on December 19, 1964. Those years are warmly described. His memoirs of journeys through different parts of Italy with his companions read delightfully like a travelogue at times. The gatherings of the Council Fathers for the various sessions of the Vatican Council could be seen from his college. Indeed, George Daniel would be a priest and pastor in the spirit of the Vatican Council, especially in the area of ecu-

menism and dialogue.

rchbishop George’s memoirs take us on a journey in time and history to parishes, events, meetings, with a wide range of diverse people and groups, both locally and internationally: Popes Paul Vl, St John Paul II and Benedict. Catholic clergy from Arch-

bishop Denis Hurley to the young Fr (later Bishop) Edward Adams. Patriarchs, bishops (Catholic and Anglican), priests and religious. Rabbis and imams. Theologians and Church communities such as Sant’Edigio. Politicians. And many other people, from Mother Teresa to Mpho at Sizanani. Everybody has a name: and so many of the names are familiar to us in the Church in South Africa over the last 30 or more years. All of them are spoken of with respect and, for the most part, high regard. This propensity for friendship seems to be an overflow of the “yours, mine, ours” spirit George Daniel was reared in. From his mother’s knee, George was taught not to be anti-semitic; it was a Jewish physician, a Dr Goldberg, she told him, who had saved his life from diphtheria as a baby. By God’s providence, George was able to exercise a reconciling and unifying influence within the Church (particularly with regard to the issues of race in the apartheid era) and also in so many interreligious and ecumenical arenas, introducing to so many “others” an understanding and friendly face of

the Catholic Church in an effort to understand and clarify so many misconceptions on either side. Such momentous dialogue could not make much progress without occasional moments of rich mirth and good humour. Archbishop Daniel’s memoirs give the reader a sense of the feelings and opinions that were raging in South Africa as the apartheid government gave way, dramatically, to the democratically elected government since 1994. The transition affected the lives of everybody in South Africa, and this was also the case for the churches and faith communities. The archbishop deals with these issues in a helpful, clear, anecdotal manner, which always strikes a sympathetic chord. His episcopal motto, “Ut Unum Sint” (“That They May Be One”) indeed is spelled out from the beginning—its English rendition provides the title for this book—to the end in this humble document to the Lord, working this aspect of the Christian mission in a challengingly divided world—in Archbishop Daniel’s day, and in our own day, too.

Understanding Jesus’ parables in their setting SHORT STORIES BY JESUS: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi, by AmyJill Levine. Harper Collins, 2014. 313 pp. Reviewed by David Gibson MY-JILL Levine’s new book, Short Stories by Jesus, reaches far back in time to listen “to the Jewish Jesus talking to fellow Jews” as he tells his many parables. Believers over time domesticated the parables, ridding them considerably of their power to disturb and to surprise, Levine believes. Her goal is to show “what happens when we strip away 2 000 years of usually benevolent and well-intended domestication to hear a parable as a first-century short story spoken by a Jew to other Jews”. She characterises this book as “an act of listening anew, of imagining what the parables would have sounded like” to people who had no idea that Jesus would “be proclaimed son of God by millions”. In a key observation, she concludes that whenever our interpretation of a parable “creates a neat and tidy picture, we need to go back and read it again”. A parable’s interpretation, she asserts, ought to raise questions for us and “open us up to more conversation” about its meaning—its meaning in biblical times and for today. Levine, the book’s Jewish author, is a professor of New Testament and Jewish studies at Vanderbilt University’s Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences in Nashville, Tennessee. “The parables,” she writes, “have provided me with countless hours of inspiration and conversation.” A parable is not meant to foster “complacency”, nor should parables be reduced to “platitudes”, Levine makes clear. She considers it essential to realise that “parables never go the way one expects”. Instead, they “shake up one’s worldview” and pose questions about what is accepted as “conventional”. It is when a parable “discombobulates us” that “we may be on the right track”, she proposes. Religion often is said “to

comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable”, Levine points out. In this regard, “we do well to think of the parables of Jesus as doing the afflicting”. Indeed, parables help believers “ask the right questions” about “what ultimately matters” and the kind of life “God wants us to live”. Levine’s process of “listening anew” to the parables typically means looking differently at a story’s key characters.

t is not unusual today when discussing the prodigal son parable to draw attention to the story’s other, older son, who feels overlooked despite his faithfulness. But Levine rather remarkably brings the older son front and centre, while frankly acknowledging her dislike and distrust of the younger, wayward son. Not to be overlooked, however, is the father’s love for the younger son. Levine notes that the father both loves him and views him as “a member of the family”. So to dismiss the younger son would be to “dismiss the father as well”, she writes. Nonetheless, what the father in this parable discovers is “that the elder was the son who was truly ‘lost’ to him”. Having realised this, the father sought “to make his family whole”. He endeavoured to show that “were either brother to be missing, the family would not be whole”.

The parable of the prodigal son provokes people today “with simple exhortations”, Levine writes. It provokes readers, for example, to “recognise that the one you have lost may be right in your own household”. It takes work to find “the lost”, she says, but “from those efforts there is the potential for wholeness and joy”. Levine’s analysis of other parables is similarly thoughtprovoking. I particularly welcomed her explorations of the parable of the good Samaritan and of the rich man and Lazarus. Conventional understandings of these parables often reflect basic misunderstandings of the culture and Judaism of Jesus’ time, she indicates. She notably points out that St Luke’s gospel (16:19-31) makes Lazarus, the poor man lying at a rich man’s gate, known by name to readers. He is not “just ‘some guy’; he is Lazarus”, even though “in parables, characters are rarely named”. Levine writes: “That Jesus proclaimed the poor blessed finds enactment in this parable.” She notes that the parable’s original Jewish listeners would have viewed the rich man as someone who “placed himself outside the system” because he failed “to extend his hand to the poor and instead” lived “an epicurean life” unmarked by generosity. A particular concern for Levine is the way parables often are used to play Christians off against Jews. She writes: “When Jewish practice or Jewish society becomes the negative foil to Jesus or the Church, we do well to reread the parable.” Levine hopes Jews and Christians today will “find some common bonds or at least common challenges” in Short Stories by Jesus. I can well imagine the book as a resource for discussion by Catholic-Jewish dialogue groups in dioceses, parishes, universities and other settings. Many others, too, will find it valuable for exploring the deep roots of faith that Jews and Christians share.

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The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

COMMUNITY

Eighteen young parishioners were confirmed at the parish of the Resurrection in Table View, Cape Town, by Archbishop Stephen Brislin. They are pictured with parish priest Fr Kevin Dadswell (centre right), Archbishop Brislin (centre left), Leo Sforza, youth leader (far left) and Deacon Gary Lawrence (far right).

Good Shepherd Mission Clinic in Mmakaunyane, Pretoria, represented by Sister zelna Oosthuizen RGS, and Catholic Health Care Association (CATHCA), represented by Yvonne Morgna, received a mobile clinic from the people of Japan, represented by Noaki Izumi, the first secretary of the embassy of Japan in South Africa.

St Anne Sodality and the youth at Our Lady of Loreto parish in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, visited Siphumelele children’s home.The teenagers at Siphumelele were taught how to make winter blankets. (From left) Linda and Palesa are pictured joining two materials to make a blanket. Each of the children and their caregiver received a blanket.

Fr Jock Baird celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest as well as his 80th birthday. Fr Baird concelebrated Mass with Fr Mark Pothier at St James parish in Cape Town from where he retired after 10 years service. Frs Baird (right) and Pothier (left) are pictured with cakes baked for the occasion.

The St Joseph Sodality of Ladysmith deanery celebrated Fr Tom Shabalala’s birthday. (From left) Jabulani Mazibuko, deputy president, Fr Shabalala, spiritual advisor for St Joseph Sodality, and Bongani Nhlangothi, president, at KwaMalusi oMuhle Steadville.

The Waterford Kamhlaba choir from Swaziland visited Dominican High School in Johannesburg and sang with their choir.

Fr Peter Chimombe of Masvingo diocese in Bulawayo, zimbabwe, graduated with a Master of Science in Peace, Leadership and Conflict Resolution (MSPL) at zimbabwe Open University in Harare.

Redemptorist Fathers Sean Lunney and Rowland Anderson celebrated their 60th anniversaries of profession at Holy Redeemer church in Bergvliet, Cape Town.

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The Southern Cross, September 16 to September 22, 2015

LIFE

A second chance for prisoners Can prisoners get a second chance? Restorative justice is one way of preparing inmates to chart a new course, as BREDA COADY explains.

RANDVLEI Correctional Centre is located on the secluded but beautiful banks of the Greater Brandvlei Dam, about 80km from Cape Town. It is surrounded by some of the most stunning varied landscape, with mountains, vineyards, rivers and lakes. But once inside those prison gates, it’s a whole different world. The concept of restorative justice creates again another world within that world. We were there at the request of the prison for a meeting with a view to running a Restorative Justice programme with the inmates. Recently I had accompanied the Prison Care & Support Network (PCSN) to Goodwood Correctional Centre in the northern suburbs of Cape Town to attend a Family Mediation Day, following a six-week Restorative Justice programme. We stood outside Goodwood prison for over an hour until there was clearance to enter, whereupon family members, friends and our group from the PCSN were ushered along inside the main gates. The chill of the morning air started to impact as did the proceedings of the day. Several security checks, including a body search, had to be processed before we gained entry into the main prison buildings. The clanging of doors opening and closing, the rattling of giant keys firmly locking doors behind us, brought home how desolate and fearful this place can be. The cold reality of this judicial system stayed with me as we walked through room after room of austere bare cold stone walls— under the watchful eyes of heavilyclad prison wardens. The prisoners in their orange overalls were already seated on one side of the assembly room when we arrived. Our group with the family members (two are allowed from each family) were seated on the other side. By the time everyone was seated the room was completely full. There were about 100

people present. Fr Babychan Arackathara MSFS, the archdiocesan prison chaplain, gave an introduction and encouraged both prisoner and family member as they were brought together, some after several months and in some cases years. They were encouraged to reach deep into their hearts and to say exactly what they feel when they would later be invited to the front of the room, light a candle and share their few words. Before this took place, Loreto Sister Marie Brady gave a very engaging talk on forgiveness. Her words captured the attention of every person in the room—one could hear a pin drop. The atmosphere changed completely as her soft voice and manner reached into the hearts of everyone present. In front of me was a young inmate quietly wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes, as did many others, some of them hardened criminals, and their family members too. She spoke about life being a journey and on that journey everyone makes mistakes and gets hurt. We come to a T-junction: to one side you choose forgiveness, freedom and life; to the other you choose bitterness, resentment, death and unforgiveness. Sr Brady stressed that forgiveness is a long process with many steps. But forgiveness is not a weakness, but a virtue of the strong—and it liberates. Nelson Mandela said: “If I did not forgive, I would still be in prison.” By the time it came for the individual inmates going to the front of the room to light their candle and share a few words with their loved

The portal to Brandvlei prison in the Western Cape. Restorative justice programmes, such as those run by the Catholic Prison Care & Support Network, aim to reintegrate inmates into society. ones, I was now fighting off the tears myself as I listened to their exchanges. Any names used here have been changed to protect the privacy of those concerned Muhammad (not his real name; all names of inmates and family have been changed to protect the privacy of those concerned), a Muslim inmate who has become deeply religious, was visited by his son and daughter. The son, a young man, bravely

stood up in front of everyone and articulated his pride, respect and love for his father. Thomas, another inmate incarcerated for fraud, was visited by his daughter and wife. His wife Martine through her tears said: “I never thought this would happen to me.” Their loving daughter hugged them both as they came together for the first time in 18 months. Another met his 17-year-old daughter for the first time; she was still in the womb when he was in-

The Restorative Justice Programme in brief

HE Story of David is used as an example, and each day is divided into a particular theme. 1. The story of David first gives the offenders an opportunity to see his/her life story against the backdrop of these stories/parables. 2. To raise awareness of the importance of friendship and to help participants form safe and supportive friendships out of respect for each other. 3. To show how the “enemy from within” can cause a strong

person to fall. To help participants become aware of their “inner enemy” and warn against this weakness in every person. To look at the consequences of crime and to deepen their knowledge of temptation and how to resist it. 4. Participants look at the different responses to crime, the harm it causes and what it means to take responsibility. Then the participants explore the steps they need to take responsibility 5. To focus on the meaning of repentance and to do something

about the wrong they have done. To grow in understanding of the importance of forgiving oneself, to experience liberation through the healing of relationships and to learn that God can forgive and restore. 6. To help participants to experience healing through forgiveness. To explain the steps in the process of forgiveness and to look at the references to forgiveness in the Bible. This is a six-week process that culminates in the Family Mediation Day.

Prison Care and Support Network

carcerated. It was through the mediation of the PCSN that his wife finally consented to bring his daughter—it was all very emotional. The highlight was at the end of this day of so much forgiveness. Finger food was supplied by the prison but financed by PCSN to enable the families to eat, talk and laugh for half an hour. The healing process had started, the inmates coupled with their families were now starting to build bridges across broken relationships. This was a wonderful ending to a very grim start and it opened my eyes to see all the hard work that goes into bringing hope back into people’s lives and demonstrated what restorative justice and practices is all about. There is a follow-up to the Family Mediation Day to determine whether there is any further need or referral required and to evaluate the family meeting with a view to possible further mediation. Inmates are encouraged to join other programmes, such as “Personal Development”. They are also asked whether they are interested in making contact with the victim/s of their crime; if so, they are referred to NICRO who will further mediate when both parties are ready. Courses are also run in the prison to provide skills and academic qualifications in an effort to restore people’s lives, making them fully functioning responsible citizens. Doesn’t everyone deserve a second chance? The Prison Care Support Network held another Family Mediation Day earlier this month, at Worcester Female Prison on September 5. More are planned for this year at correctional facilities in Worcester, Brandvlei and Goodwood. The programme is constantly in need of support to continue this volunteer intervention—an important initiative as restorative justice reduces re-offending behaviour and recidivism. It costs between R15 000 and R23 000 to run one programme, depending on the distance of the prison and other variables. n Breda Coady is an Irish volunteer with the Prison Care & Support Network. To find out more about the PCSN visit www.pcsn.org.za or contact 021 531 1348 or e-mail pris oncare@mweb.co.za

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CLASSIFIEDS

Fr Frank Leong Kom SVD

IVINE Word Missionary Father Francis Lai King Leong Kom SVD, South Africa’s first and so far only South African Chinese priest who became a missionary, died in Ireland on August 10, a day before his 76th birthday. He had served the Chinese community in Johannesburg before he left for Ireland. He was ordained at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, in Ireland. Fr Leong was widely travelled and made an impact on almost every continent across the globe, his relative Jason Tam said. He studied in Ireland and served most of his time in Santarem, Brazil. He also served

in Montserrat in the West Indies and in London. Fr Leong “was a man loved by many for his friendship, honesty, approachability, devotion, love, passion and genuine caring

Sr Rosaleen Campbell IBVM

ORETO Sister Rosaleen Campbell of Cape Town died on June 20 in the 90th year of her age and the 71st of religious life. Sr Rosie, as she was fondly called, was born in Omagh in Northern Ireland. She entered the novitiate in Loreto Abbey at Rathfarnham, Dublin, in 1944, and came to South Africa in 1947. She was a primary school teacher with an exceptional capacity for relating to children. She enhanced her teaching by using her creative talents of art and a poetic ability to impart the intricacies of mathematics, especially with catchy rhymes. In dealing with people and community life, her humour, kindness, caring and gentleness were always evident. Sr Rosie had a deep spirituality which became more and more evident when she became involved in the “Prayer and Life Movement”. She had a prolific collection of poems and spiritual writings. As an added token of love and reverence, her poems were handwritten in beautiful script and embellished with artistic colourful images. Sr Rosie lived with rheumatoid arthritis for over 40 years, but she did not allow it to inhibit her teaching and prayer ministry. In the last eight years of her life as her mobility diminished, nursing care became essential and she agreed to go to Nazareth House where she was cared for lovingly. A verse from one of the poems from her collection challenges us: “A campaign of love: Why not give it a try? I got the cold shoulder! Must I lie down and die? Think only of others; Jesus loved everyone Forgive and show tenderness; smile like the sun!” Sr Monica Shanley IBVM

Do you feel called to the Franciscan way of life?

about the physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of those around him”, Mr Tam said. “Those who had the chance to know him a little more closely also got the chance to see his explosive and combative side, but all who knew this side of him also knew that these moments always ended with a smile and a laugh,” Mr Tam said. “He was humble, soft-spoken and understated, but when he spoke, his words were relevant and meaningful. His joy in life was to serve God and people.” Fr Leong was buried where his formal spiritual journey began, at Donamon Castle in Roscommon. By Jason Tam

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 672. ACROSS: 1 Also, 3 Funerals, 9 Twofold, 10 Young, 11 Clean and tidy, 13 Eggnog, 15 Gloria, 17 Intelligence, 20 Irish, 21 Discord, 22 Theorist, 23 Liar. DOWN: 1 Articles, 2 Spoke, 4 Undone, 5 Egyptologist, 6 Asunder, 7 Sigh, 8 Join together, 12 Lavender, 14 Gentile, 16 Blades, 18 Naomi, 19 Sift.

Liturgical Calendar Year B Weekdays Cycle Year 1 Sunday September 20 Wisdom 2:12, 17-20, Psalms 54:3-8, James 3:16--4:3, Mark 9:30-37 Monday September 21, St Matthew Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Psalms 19:2-5, Matthew 9:9-13 Tuesday September 22 Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20, Psalms 122:1-5, Luke 8:19-21 Wednesday September 23, St Pio of Pietrelcina Galatians 2:19-20, Psalms 16:1-2, 5-8, 11, Matthew 16:24-27 Thursday September 24 Haggai 1:1-8, Psalms 149:1-6, 9, Luke 9:7-9 Friday September 25 Haggai 2:1-9, Psalms 43:1-4, Luke 9:18-22 Saturday September 26, Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15, Jeremiah 31:10-13, Luke 9:43-45 Sunday September 27 Numbers 11:25-29, Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-14, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

CLASSiFiEDS

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in MEMOriAM

LEiTE—Jacqui. In memory of Jacqui, formerly of Cape Town, who died in PE, on September 22, 2014. Remembered with great affection and abundant love, by her brother Patrick and Doreen. LETOrD—Edna Madeline. In loving memory of Edna Madeline, who passed away thirteen years ago on September 19, 2002. Will always be remembered and loved by her family Helen, Stephen, Matthew, Thérèse and Kieran, Janet, Dean, Michael and Kyle, Anne, Basil, Sarah, Warren and Jessica and her sister Joan Swanson. May her soul rest in peace. rATEring–David. 18/6/1966 -12/8/2015. Beloved son, brother and uncle. Forever in our hearts. RIP. SPrOAT–Hilda. In loving memory of dear Hilda, wife, mother, sister and aunt, who passed away September 23, 2013. This day remembered and quietly kept, always in our hearts we’ll never forget. Rest where no shadows fall, loved and remembered by us all.

ever and ever.

ST MiCHAEL the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the malice and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

PrAYErS

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. In thanks for prayers answered. Leon and Karen. THAnkS be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ, For all the benefits thou hast won for me, For all the pains and insults thou hast borne for me. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother, May I know thee more clearly, Love thee more dearly, And follow thee more nearly, For

O MOST beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven, blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein that you are my Mother, O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to secure me in my necessity. There are none who can withstand your power, O show me that you are my mother. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine. Amen.

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the

26th Sunday: September 27 Readings: Numbers 11:25-29, Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

NE of the features of Christianity that contributed to its astonishing success is that everyone was welcome. In that first-century world of great insecurity, one of its greatest drawcards was that everyone belonged. This difficult message (for you and I actually long to be a bit different, a bit superior to “those other people”) is something that the readings for next Sunday are telling us. In the first reading, there is a question of who is entitled to receive the Spirit of God. We are out in the desert, and the people (as so often) have been complaining that they should never have left Egypt, and it is all the fault of Moses; so God is going to bestow some of his Spirit on seventy of the elders. This duly happens, and “they prophesied”. But two of them had stayed in the camp, and our generous God permitted that even so, and despite their adolescent rebellion, “the Spirit rested on them, and they prophesied in

S outher n C ross

the camp”. Joshua wants to prevent them (“Stop them!”), just as small-minded as the rest of us, but Moses sees the bigger picture, and responds, generously enough: “Are you jealous on my account? Would that the Lord would make prophets of the whole people! Would that the Lord would give his Spirit upon all of them!” The psalmist is well aware of the lesson, that we have to keep our attention on the Lord: “The Law of the Lord is perfect—it revives the soul; the decrees of the Lord are reliable—they give wisdom to the simple.” That is all that matters, not what club we belong to, or whether or not we have a lofty rank in the hierarchy. In the second reading, James is in his social justice mode, which has made for something of a new interest in this letter in recent years. It is the rich, who perhaps think that they

are entitled to special treatment, who are under (gleeful) attack: “Come now, you rich, weep and wail on your imminent wretchedness! Your wealth has rotted, and your clothes have got moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have been poisoned, and their poison is going to be a witness to you, and will devour your flesh like fire.” And it is not just that they are rich, but that they have robbed their employees: “Look—the wages, held back by you, of those who mow your lawns, are crying out, and the shouts of those who gather your harvest have reached the ears of the Lord Sabaoth.” Their problem is that their priorities were wrong: “You lived a life of luxury on earth, and fed your hearts for the day of slaughter—you condemned and murdered the just man; he does not resist you.” In the gospel, John (the son of Zebedee) shows that he thinks that “only people who belong to our club” are allowed to cast out

Ineffable God in Jesus’ eyes A

Conrad

COLLEAGUE of mine, now deceased, was fond of saying: “God, as I understand him, is not very well understood.” It’s a wise comment. Anyone who claims to understand God is deceived because the very first dogma we have about God affirms that God is ineffable. That means that we can know God, but never adequately capture God in a concept. God is unimaginable. God cannot be circumscribed and put into a mental picture of any kind. Thank goodness too. If God could be understood then God would be as limited as we are. But God is infinite. Infinity, precisely because it’s unlimited, cannot be circumscribed. Hence it cannot be captured in a mental picture. Indeed, we don’t even have a way of picturing God’s gender. God is not a man, not a woman, and not some hybrid, half-man and half-woman. God’s gender, like God’s nature, is intellectually inconceivable. We can’t grasp it and have no language or pronoun for it. God, in a modality beyond the categories of human thought, is somehow perfect masculinity and perfect femininity all at the same time. It’s a mystery beyond us. But while that mystery cannot be grasped with any rational adequacy, we can know it intimately, and indeed know it so deeply that it’s meant to be the most intimate of all knowledge in our lives. It’s no accident that the Bible uses the verb “to know” to connote sexual intimacy. There are different ways of knowing, some more

Nicholas King SJ

The Lord welcomes us all

inchoate, intuitive, and intimate than others. We can know God in a radical intimacy, even as we cannot conceptualise God with any adequacy. And that’s also true of all the deep realities in life, we can know them and relate to them intimately, but we can never fully understand them. So where does that leave us with God? In the best of places! We are not on a blind date, struggling to develop intimacy with a complete stranger, with an unknown person who could be benign or malignant. God may be ineffable, but God’s nature is known. Divine revelation, as seen through nature, as seen through other religions, and especially as seen through Jesus, spells out what’s inside God’s ineffable reality. And what’s revealed there is both comforting beyond all comfort and challenging beyond all challenge. What’s revealed in the beauty of creation, in the compassion that’s the hallmark of all true religion, and in Jesus’ revelation of his Father, takes us beyond a blind date into a trustworthy relationship. Nature, religion, and Jesus conspire together to reveal an Ultimate Reality, a Ground of Being, a Creator and Sustainer of the universe, a God, who is wise, intelligent, prodigal, compassionate, loving, forgiving, patient, good, trustworthy, and beautiful beyond imagination. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, once, in a mystical vision, saw all of this hidden inside the eyes of Jesus. Staring at a painting of Jesus on a church-wall one day, Jesus’

Sunday Reflections

demons, and so he has stopped someone who was performing an exorcism, “because he was not one of us”. So Jesus, perhaps a shade wearily, says: “Don’t stop him—you see no one who does a miracle in my name is going to badmouth me in a hurry.” Then he draws the lesson: those “who give you people a drink of water will not lose their reward”, and warns against “scandalising one of these little ones who believe in me”. Then, more alarmingly, we are invited to cut off those bits of us that scandalise: hand, foot, or eye, for example. There is no one who is not welcome into the Jesus-movement, and that is what makes it so challenging, but also what makes it so welcoming to those who feel themselves to be on the margins.

Southern Crossword #672

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final Reflection

eyes suddenly became transfigured and this is what Teilhard saw: “These eyes which at first were so gentle and filled with pity that I thought my mother stood before me, became an instant later, like those of a woman, passionate and filled with the power to subdue, yet at the same time so imperiously pure that under their domination it would have been physically impossible for the emotions to go astray. “And then they changed again, and became filled with a noble, virile majesty, similar to that which one sees in the eyes of men of great courage or refinement or strength, but incomparably more lofty to behold and more delightful to submit to. “This scintillation of diverse beauties was so complete, so captivating, and also so swift that I felt it touch and penetrate all my powers simultaneously, so that the very core of my being vibrated in response to it, sounding a unique note of expansion and happiness. “Now while I was ardently gazing deep into the pupils of Christ’s eyes, which had become abysses of fiery, fascinating life, suddenly I beheld rising up from the depths of those same eyes what seemed like a cloud , blurring and blending all that variety I have been describing to you. “Little by little an extraordinary expression of great intensity, spread over the diverse shades of meaning which the divine eyes revealed, first of all penetrating them and then finally absorbing them all. And I stood dumbfounded. “For this final expression, which had dominated and gathered up into itself all the others, was indecipherable. I simply could not tell whether it denoted an indescribable agony or a superabundance of triumphant joy.” God cannot be deciphered, circumscribed, or captured in human thought; but, from what can be deciphered, we’re in good, safe hands. We can sleep well at night. God has our back. In the end, both for humanity as a whole and for our own individual lives, all will be well, and all will be well, and every manner of being will be well. God is good.

ACROSS

DOWN

1. And is seen in final solution (4) 3. Obsequies (8) 9. Twice (7) 10. Juvenile (5) 11. In order to be spotlessly neat (5,3,4) 13. Gong , for example, turns to drink (6) 15. She begins the Latin praise (6) 17. Quotient of the brainy? (12) 20. Coffee and stew derived from the Celts (5) 21. Strife in the choir? (7) 22. Non-practical person tore this up (8) 23. Deceiver (4)

1. It’s clear about items in the newspaper (8) 2. Speak in the past (5) 4. Loosened and ruined (6) 5. He might read Pharaoh’s hieroglyphics (12) 6. Apart (7) 7. Short-sighted lament (4) 8. Unite in matrimony (4,8) 12. Led raven to an aromatic shrub (7) 14. He’s not Jewish (7) 16. Grass that can cut grass? (6) 18. Ruth’s mother-in-law (Rt 1) (5) 19. Like wheat, Satan will do it (Lk 22) (4)

Solutions on page 15

CHURCH CHUCKLE

HE zoo-keeper was surprised to see the highly intelligent chimpanzee reading two books: the Bible and Darwin’s The Origin of Species. He asked the chimp: “Why are you reading both these books?” “Well,” the chimp replied, “I just wanted to know if I was my brother’s keeper or my keeper’s brother.”

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