150923 by The Southern Cross

The

S outhern C ross

September 23 to September 29, 2015

Reg no. 1920/002058/06

no 4943

www.scross.co.za

Priest says daily Mass behind red tape

Page 5

R7,00 (incl VAT RSA)

Thoughts from the ‘wedding whisperer’

Daswa beatification round-up

Page 7

Pages 8-9

Benedict Daswa a new dawn for South Africa By STUART GRAHAM

T Bishop João Rodrigues of Tzaneen holds up the apostolic letter from Pope Francis declaring Benedict daswa a blessed, eliciting a resounding cheer from the crowds at the martyr’s beatification in his home town of Tshitanini, outside of Thohoyandou. The faithful may now implore the intercession of daswa in their prayers.

Pope: A shortcut to sainthood By Cindy Wooden

OMEONE who has never ever spoken ill of another could be declared a saint right away, Pope Francis said. The Catholic Church’s sainthood process is long, complicated and usually requires the recognition of a miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession, Pope Francis said at Mass. “But if you find a person who [has] never, never, never spoken ill of another, you could canonise him or her immediately.” The pope’s homily focused on Jesus’ saying: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” In other passages of the Bible, he said, Jesus tells his disciples: “Judge not and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned.” The pope told the small congregation in the chapel of his residence that he could imagine them saying: “Father, that’s beautiful, but how do you do it, where do you start?” The first step, he said, is to learn how to

“accuse yourself”, to look honestly at your own faults, ask the Lord’s forgiveness and praise him for his mercy. “The Lord teaches us this with this image of the splinter in the eye of your brother and the beam in your own eye,” the pope said. “The first step is to accuse yourself” and not presume to be “the judge” pointing out the faults of others. In the day’s Gospel reading from St Luke, Jesus describes as “hypocrites” those who notice only the faults of others. “The man and woman who don’t learn to acknowledge their own failings become hypocrites. Everyone, eh? Everyone starting from the pope on down,” he said. Recognising one’s own faults and weaknesses, the pope said, is the first task in “this beautiful work of reconciliation, peace, tenderness, goodness, forgiveness, magnanimity and mercy that Jesus Christ brought”. Everyone, he said, needs to ask God for the grace and the strength to not speak ill of others, to stop when tempted to point out another’s faults.—CNS

HE beatification of Benedict Daswa is a new dawn against the dehumanisation caused by witchcraft and “magical shortcuts”. Pretoria Archbishop William Slattery, the spokesman for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said the beatification of Daswa on September 13 was a call for South Africans to work hard and to find meaning by caring for their families and communities. “The beatification is a call that we must get real in South Africa and that if we work hard, like Benedict Daswa, our country will become marvelleous,” Archbishop Slattery said. Daswa showed that there is no such thing as a magical shortcut. “We have to get away from witchcraft and ritual killings. The way forward is through work and not through muti. “His beatification is a new dawn against dehumanisation that comes with witchcraft and sorcery. “We must have the care and love for others that Benedict Daswa had. We must be resolute in that.” The beatification in a field in Tshitanini village outside Thohoyandou on September 13 took place in front a crowd of 35 000. Archbishop Slattery said the guests from Rome, who included Cardinal Angelo Amato, the pope’s Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, had told the Southern African bishops that the beatification was “the best that they had attended”. The singing at the event, which was attended by all Daswa’s eight children, his brother and mother, could be heard from kilometres away. Many took busses from round South Africa to attend the event. Fr Augustine O’Brien, who baptised Daswa in 1963, travelled from Ireland for the beatification. Fr John Finn, who performed Daswa’s funeral, also attended. “We have had thousands of saints, but in the whole of human history I doubt we have had present a mother, all children, his brother, sisters, the priest who baptised him and the priest who performed his funeral,” Archbishop Slattery said.

“The bishops were deeply touched by the turnout and the joyous reaction of the people. “Many say it was once in a lifetime event. The visitors from Rome thought it was one of best services they had taken part in. “There is a saying that one saint is worth a thousand sermons. We had 35 000 sermons. It was a wonderful experience,”Archbishop Slattery said. Daswa’s mother, Ida Daswa, who sat next to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa during the ceremony, has kept her family together with her own hard work, Archbishop Slattery said. “She was silent during the ceremony. I think she was very close to Benedict yesterday.” Fr Finn recalled how Daswa had delivered a bakkie load of cabbage to him on the day he was killed. “The day before the beatification Fr Finn visited the church that Daswa built and where his new grave is. He told me that he cried the whole day. “He remembered 25 years ago with sadness, anger and frustration. At this ceremony he cried for joy,” the archbishop said. Archbishop Slattery said Daswa represented a challenge to young men in South Africa. “He is saying to young men in South Africa that they should take their lives seriously. Take care of your families. It is a man’s responsibility to take care of wives and children and to love them. “Take care of your community. Do your jobs with serious responsibility. “Daswa is a big challenge to all of us, especially men.” Daswa was a tremendous worker who rose from a poor family and through hard work, trained as teacher and became the principal of a school. “He had pity on children who came to school hungry and grew a vegetable garden which he used to feed those children. “He built a special church for our Lord. He formed a school around Christ. He formed a life around him guided by Christ. The peace, enthusiasm and joy at the beatification speak of something deeper, something more lasting, Archbishop Slattery said. “What happened yesterday touched the human heart. “We must keep alight the memory of our saints and witnesses to Christ.”

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The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

LOCAL

Carving the way ahead By dyLAn APPoLiS

OZEF Johannes Stas of Port Alfred, who had been making crosses and crucifixes for over ten years in his workshop, was left with a major decision last year after having a stroke which disabled his right hand. Keeping his faith strong, he felt the calling to continue, despite having to use only his left hand. Born in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1936, he and his family lived under the German occupation. “Conditions were terrible, there was a food shortage, and families were put into concentration camps. A lot of bad things fell on Antwerp at the time,” Mr Stas said. In 1952 he immigrated to South Africa with his parents, Gerard Lodevikus and Maria Catherina Stas, and the family settled in Bloemfontein. There he became an apprentice automotive fitter and turner. Mr Stas then met his wife, Margaret, and started a family. They joined Sacred Heart cathedral in Bloemfontein and met the renowned artist Fr Frans Claerhout, who baptised their children Michel

Jozef Stas is seen creating crosses and crucifixes at his home in Port Alfred with only his left hand after a stroke disabled his right side. Stas and Esmarie Vernier. Mr Stas and his wife later moved to Knysna, where they stayed for eight years. During his time in

Knysna he was involved with St Boniface as their minister of hospitality, and their maintenance man. Mr Stas organised interdenominational services at St Boniface and many other churches for members of the South African Police. He and his wife later moved to Port Alfred. “I was a police reservist for 15 years, and became very involved at St James church,” said Mr Stas. “At the time I had a workshop and did a lot of general work for 10 years, also making crosses and crucifixes, until last year when I had a stroke which affected my right arm and leg. “I went through a rough time, but by the Lord’s grace, I pulled through at the care centre and came home after two months, and I’ve again begun to make crosses and crucifixes, now working from home, having given up the workshop.” “Every day we should be thanking the Lord for all that he does for us,” Mr Stas said. n For anybody interested in buying crosses or crucifixes, contact Margaret Stas on 046 604 0401 or e-mail at mstas@border.co.za

Radio Veritas youth camp inspires young leaders STAFF RePoRTeR

HE Radio Veritas Youth Leadership Conference at Parnassus Farm in the Magaliesberg was a spiritual, educational and funpacked three-day weekend. Father Emil Blaser, director of Radio Veritas, opened the conference with a prayer to ask God to bless all that was about to take place. On arrival, the attendees were divided into eight groups based on their ages, to practise team building. On the second day, speakers focused on various aspects of the theme of leadership. Among them were Andrew and Tumi Masongwa, who spoke on leadership in corporate South Africa. Leadership in the consecrated life was addressed by Frs Francis Xavier and Mduduzi Ndlovu. They brought the topic home, showing how living a consecrated life applies to everyone in everyday life. Nhlanhla Mdlalose focused on the different types of leadership styles and how individuals can

adopt elements of each style to become great leaders. Leadership within the Church and the family was presented by Sicelo Ngwenya, who touched on how each member of the family can take a leadership role. Being a leader without a title was presented by Kabelo Molaodi. After the educational lectures, it was time for team building and games that included a swimming gala, volleyball, hockey, crazy cricket, and rugby. That evening, there was a session of private meditation by delegates on their sins, followed by the consolation of the Mass. The night ended with a gala dinner and talent showcase. On the third day, the delegates woke up to an energetic praise and worship session, with a Mass said by Frs Blaser and Xavier in the garden chapel. The Mass was preceded by a procession of delegates in song and worship. The camp concluded with an awards ceremony to celebrate future leaders in the making.

Denis Hurley Centre plans November fest Friday November 6 7pm-8.30pm: Annual memorial lecture given by Mgr Paul Nadal, response by Bishop Rubin Phillip Saturday November 7 12 noon-1pm: Launch of Archbishop George Daniel’s memoirs “That they may be one” (plus bring & share lunch) 1pm-5pm: Workshop on relations with other Christians and other faiths led by Fr Zaba Mbanjwa OMI (St Joseph’s Theological Institute, Cedara) and Grant Tungay SJ (the Jesuit Institute) 5.30pm-7pm: First of the Masses giving thanks for Hurley’s life, focusing on women religious (presider Archbishop George Daniel, preacher Sr Shelagh-Mary Waspe HF, in English) Sunday November 8 7.45am-9.30am: Mass marking 100 years of SVDP at the cathedral

(followed by SVDP reception in marquee) (presider and preacher Mgr Paul Nadal, in English) 10am-11.30am: Mass celebrating justice (presider and preacher Bishop Barry Wood OMI, in English) 12 noon-2pm: Mass honouring the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (presider and preacher Fr Vusi Mazibuko OMI Provincial, in isiZulu) followed by reception for OMIs in marquee) 2pm onwards: Set up for concert (DHC closed all afternoon) 6pm onwards: Dress rehearsal for concert (free entrance for cathedral parishioners) Monday November 9 10am-12 noon: Formal opening and blessing of the centre by Cardinal Wilfrid Napier and other VIPs (also open to general public) 12 noon onwards: Set up for concert (DHC closed afternoon)

Pilgrimage to Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, Lourdes & Paris. Led by Fr. Robert Mphiwe 10 – 20 May 2016 R 29 995.00 Incl. Airport taxes

Jubilee of Mercy Pilgrimage for Priests and Deacons 27 May – 06 June 2016 R 25 995.00 incl. Airport taxes Limited Place Available Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Medjugorje Led by Fr. Stanislaw Jagodzinkski 21 September – 07 October 2016 R 36 995.00 incl. Airport taxes

Pilgrimage to Guadelupe Mexico Led by Fr. Dominic Griego 03 – 12 October 2016 R 32 995.00 incl. Airport taxes

Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi Medjugorje Led by Fr. Joseph Matsau 18 September – 29 September 2016 R 26 995.00 incl. Airport taxes

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5pm onwards (6.30pm for 7pm): Gala concert and reopening of the Mall with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and massed choirs (tickets on sale from Computicket at R400, R130 and R25). Followed by VIP reception in the DHC. Sunday November 15 3pm: St Augustine’s alumni event: high tea with Fr Albert Danker Note that all Masses will be in the cathedral. The concert will be held in the mall, with the cathedral as back-up. All the other events will be in the DHC. DHC community activities will continue as normal on all days except Sunday 8, when they will be reduced or cancelled. n For more information, contact the director of the Denis Hurley Centre, Raymond Perrier, on 031 301 2240 or 0765 702 497.

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Holy Rosary High School in edenvale, Johannesburg, recently held its annual debutantes Ball, at the Birchwood Hotel, to celebrate its Grade 10 debutantes’ fundraising. This year R729 142 was raised and over 1 200 community hours were worked by the 56 girls. A portion of the funds raised will go towards charities including the Holy Rosary Sisters, CHoC, Love of Christ, St Anne’s old Age Home, Holy Rosary’s outreach Programme: Phumelela, and Little eden. Seen here are the 2015 debutantes after they modelled their dresses for the school—a special annual tradition.

Ursulines Mary Ursulines of ofthe theBlessed Blessed Virgin Virgin Mary We Mary, Weare arethe theUrsulines Ursulines of of the the Blessed Blessed Virgin Virgin Mary, called educationof of girls, girls, calledtotoserve serveChrist Christ through through education women and social socialwork. work. womenand andservants, servants, pastoral pastoral and Do you feel God’s call? Join us. Do you feel God’s call? Join us.

Contact Vocation directress: Ursuline Sisters PO Box 36 Ngqeleni 5140 Cell: 072 958 2111 OR Box 212 Libode 5160 Sisters Mount Nicholas Tel: 047 555 0018

Contact Vocation directress: Ursuline PO Box 212 Libode, 5160, E Cape Tel 047 555 0018 Cell: 072 437 4244 or 078 354 2440

LOCAL

The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

Bloemfontein welcomes Franciscans F By dyLAn APPoLiS

OR the first time ever, the Order of Saint Francis (OFS) congregation will be receiving two Franciscan Friars who will be joining the archdiocese of Bloemfontein. Franciscan Friars Frs Eunan Dooley and Sizwe Heribert Mkhonza will be joining from Pretoria (where the OFM provincial house is). Franciscan Sister of Siessen

Winifred Mosololi told The Southern Cross: “Assisi Mission in the Bloemfontein diocese is known as a provincial house of the Franciscan Sisters. “It has been too long since the Oblate priest who used to work there left for Lesotho and the Sisters have been without a priest. “We forwarded the matter to Fr David Barnard OFM (the provincial minister) and he came to Assisi to see the situation. “After discussions with his OFM

council, there was a promise and that promise was soon fulfilled,” said Sr Mosololi. She added, “It’s true that most of the Friars are based in Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal, and it has been a long time that we have been praying for vocations for priests in our congregation. The Lord has come to our aid.” Fr Dooley and Fr Mkhonza will be working with the Sisters, saying Mass, visiting the sick, anointing those in need and giving Francis-

can spiritual input to the Sisters and members of the Franciscan Secular Order in the diocese, since they are also members of the Franciscan family. Speaking about the arrival of the Franciscan Friars, Sr Mosololi said she felt very excited and motivated already. “Now I will have the support of the Friars to help me and learn more about what’s right and wrong from a religious point of view. “The sisters already feel spiritu-

ally uplifted and everybody cannot wait for the Friars to arrive, because of the fruitfulness coming from our gifted brothers,” said Sr Mosololi. “We thank all the Oblate priests and other members of the clergy who have taken care of the sisters in past years. “I cannot stop talking about the excitement of the Sisters and how much they appreciate the coming presence of their brothers among them,” Sr Mosololi added.

Scalabrinis receive new boost for refugee work By dyLAn APPoLiS

HE Scalabrini Centre in Cape Town has recently received a grant worth R60 000 towards their welfare programme through the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s Lenten Appeal. The centre is a non-profit organisation that aims to foster the integration of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants into local communities in the Western Cape. Welfare officer Jane Kanswe told The Southern Cross: “We receive quite a lot of people who don’t have a place to stay and this grant money will be used to look for places for people to stay, food and clothes.” The Scalabrini Fathers specifically care for migrants, refugees, and seafarers, interpreting migration as a meeting place for peoples of different cultures and nationalities. They care for the needs of the migrants and refugees practically through homes for refugees, deported aliens and orphaned migrant children, seamen’s centres, and villages for elderly migrants. There are also several programmes. The Advocacy Programme offers legal advice and practical assistance to vulnerable individuals. It focuses on the protection of those affected by xenophobic violence, disabled refugees, and unaccompanied refugee and migrant children. The Employment Access Programme aims to ease socioeconomic integration of refugees and migrants, as well as South Africans, through improving their access to employment. Clients are provided with the resources needed for job applications. The Scalabrini English School

strives to provide a low-cost service aimed at eliminating language barriers, focusing on communication skills in order to facilitate socioeconomic integration. The English School enrols around 350 students per term from a variety of African countries. The Outreach Programme has also recently expanded, with the development of new initiatives such as the Women’s Platform, and the Unite As One Schools Club. The Women’s Platform aims to support women from across Africa to become self-sufficient, engaged members of South African society by creating a platform for migrant women to fight isolation and discrimination, and promote socioeconomic integration by sharing experience, developing key job skills, supporting small business development, and fostering personal growth. Through the Unite as One Schools Club, the Unite team is working with learners through workshops and discussions on cultural diversity, human rights, and xenophobia, while working to teach them how to use effective activism in order to make a positive contribution to their community. Director of the Scalabrini Centre Miranda Madikane told The Southern Cross: “The centre is extremely grateful for the generosity of the SACBC and Bishops’ Lenten Appeal’s support for the welfare of migrants and refugees. “This grant will go a long way in supporting our welfare programme in its aim to provide for the most basic of human needs and to maintain the dignity of those who are most vulnerable.”

even on the Southern Cross/Radio Veritas pilgrimage, the daswa beatification issue of Southern Africa’s national Catholic weekly was read. The issue was handed out to the group, including Cecilia Anderson, on the way from Florence to Padua as the beatification was taking place. Some followed the broadcasts by Radio Veritas or the SABC on internet streams.

St Benedict School HEAD OF HIGH SCHOOL

St Benedict School is a Catholic, Independent, Co-Educational School, catering for learners of all faiths from Grades RR-12.

The Board of Governors invites applications for the post of Head of High School. The ideal candidate must have a teaching degree or equivalent (Masters will be an advantage). He/she must have considerable experience as an educator and as well as been in a management position for at least 5 years. Reporting to the Principal, the successful candidate should demonstrate effective leadership and management experience; excellent knowledge of current trends and developments in education; strong interpersonal skills, ability to plan, organise and deal with on-going change.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS: • Ability to nurture and embrace the Catholic ethos of the school; • Initiate, develop, implement and maintain academic excellence; • Lead, guide and mentor academic and ancillary staff; • Ensure continuous improvement of the high standard of teaching and learning; • Initiating and supporting staff development and learning; • Strong management and financial skills; • Critically evaluating academic performance and implementing appropriate interventions; • Lead and ensure effective communication at all levels; • Commitment to continuous improvement in all aspects of the school (including marketing, etc).

The Board of Governors invites interested applicants to email the following to: principal@stbenedictschool.co.za : A Curriculum Vitae which must include five contactable references and a certified copy of SACE registration.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted and will be required to bring certified copies of their academic and professional qualifications, including police clearance certificates (or proof of application), to the interview.

The closing date for applications is 29 September 2015. Late applications will not be accepted. The Board reserves the right not to make an appointment.

The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

INTERNATIONAL

What keeps the pope awake at night? By Cindy Wooden

Syrian refugee children covered with dust arrive at the Jordanian border with Syria and iraq, near the town of Ruwaished, which is close to Amman, Jordan. (Photo: Muhammad Hamed, Reuters/CnS)

Bishops: Continent-wide solution for refugees By SiMon CALdWeLL

HE European Union must adopt a common asylum policy “without delay” because it is unacceptable for refugees to “drown and suffocate” at the fringes of the bloc, said the European bishops. A statement issued by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, COMECE, said a common policy would prevent countries from keeping out migrants. “If we can solve an economic crisis at an overnight EU extraordinary summit, then it should be just as easy with this crisis, especially when the fate of so many people is at stake,” said the bishops’ statement. The statement comes in response to the mass migration of refugees into Europe throughout 2015. Most of those arriving in Greece are fleeing war in Syria, while thousands of Africans have entered Italy after paying human smugglers to put them on boats from Libya. The mass movement of migrants throughout the EU revealed that the Dublin system, which requires refugees to seek asylum in the EU state in which they arrived, was a failure because several states process applications of the new arrivals rather than attempting to return them to Italy or Greece, COMECE said. The COMECE leaders also criticised EU states trying to keep out the migrants. “We cannot accept that people drown and suffocate at the borders of Europe”, the statement said. “Building barbed-wire fences

and walls to prevent refugees from entering Europe is not a solution. “Moreover, it is a Christian duty to help the refugees, whatever their origin or religion,” the bishops said. “The situation in the countries of coveted destination...shows that it is not possible to go on without a European regulation,” they said. “The fact that some countries are seeking to disengage entirely from their responsibility is unacceptable. “After all, the European Union is founded on the solidarity of Europeans among themselves,” they continued. “The refugee problem is a common challenge and therefore requires a common European solution.” The Church leaders said they welcomed attempts by the European Commission to impose mandatory quotas of refugees on member states so that the burden was shared equally among them. Pope Francis and most of the European bishops have expressed sympathy for the migrants but one Hungarian bishop, quoted in the Washington Post, questioned whether they could be rightly called “refugees”. “They’re not refugees,” said Bishop Laszlo Kiss-Rigo of SzegedCsanad, Hungary. “They come here with cries of ‘Allahu Akbar’ [God is great]. They want to take over.” Migration is such a controversial issue in Britain that the ruling Conservative Party was re-elected only after promising a referendum on an EU exit to regain control of the country’s borders.—CNS

POPE needs friends, needs mercy and needs to reach out to all people, Pope Francis said in two radio interviews conducted before his trip to the US. Pope Francis told Portugal’s Catholic Radio Renascenca that he goes to confession “every 15-20 days. I confess to a Franciscan priest, Fr Blanco, who is kind enough to come here and confess me.” Laughing, the pope said, “I’ve never had to call an ambulance” to carry him away “in shock over my sins!” In a separate interview with Argentina’s Radio Milenium, Pope Francis was asked how he feels when he hears people refer to him as a global moral leader and a point of reference for all humanity. “I know that I am a sinner,” the pope responded, and “so I speak with Jesus and tell him, ‘People are so good to think this of me’. But the good that is in me, I owe to him. It is a gift from God.” The interviewer, Marcelo Figueroa, a Protestant, was the host of the television programme the pope used to appear on in Buenos Aires with Rabbi Abraham Skorka. The radio programme focused on the biblical idea of friendship, a topic for the television programme that was interrupted by the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s election as Pope Francis in 2013. Pope Francis told Mr Figueroa, “I’ve never had as many ‘friends’— in quotation marks—as I have now. Everyone is a friend of the pope!” However, he said, friendship is something “very sacred”. It involves walking alongside another person. Friendship takes time. And it is not about “using” the other, which Pope Francis said has happened to him, just as it happens to everyone. The world, he said, seems to be cultivating a “culture of enmity” rather than friendship and brotherhood. In response, religious leaders must cultivate dialogue, friendship and a culture of encounter, rather than setting themselves up as

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Pope Francis said in a radio interview that popes are called pontiffs so that they can build bridges. (Photo: Paul Haring/CnS) a judge. Fundamentalists in every religion, he said, judge others and “seek to destroy because they are faithful to an idea, but not to a reality”. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, he said, there are people who “transform God into an ideology and also in the name of God kill, attack, destroy and slander”. In both radio interviews, Pope Francis spoke about his need to be with people, even though it is difficult now that he is pope. “A priest must be a bridge—that’s why they call a pope pontiff —that is, he must build bridges and not isolate himself,” the pope told Mr Figueroa. “When I say priest, I mean bishops and the pope as well.” [In] interacting with people, “I’m not only giving, but I receive. I need the faithful. They give me a gift,” he said. Pope Francis said he is not trying to be an example, “it is my identity. I feel like a priest and it comes spontaneously. Otherwise, I’d just be a Church employee”. He told Radio Renascenca’s Aura Miguel that he really needs to get out of the Vatican more, which is something he is working on. “But I have contact with people on Wednesdays” at his general audience and this helps a lot. “The only thing I really miss from Buenos

Aires is going out, walking along the streets.” Pope Francis also told Ms Miguel he hopes to go to Portugal in 2017 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. Pope Francis also spoke about the huge wave of refugees, particularly from Syria, who were seeking safety and a new life in Europe in August and September. The summer’s movement of people “is the tip of an iceberg”, he said. “These poor people are fleeing war, hunger, but that is the tip of the iceberg. Because underneath that is the cause; and the cause is a bad and unjust socio-economic system. “The dominant economic system today has removed the person from the centre, placing the god money in its place, the idol of fashion,” Pope Francis said. Where profit is more important than job creation, development, peace and safeguarding creation— conditions necessary for a dignified life—people will continue to believe they must move in order to provide for their families, he said. Ms Miguel also asked the pope what keeps him awake at night. “Can I tell you the truth,” Pope Francis responded. “I sleep like a log.”—CNS

Vatican upholds decision on transsexual godparent

HE Vatican’s doctrinal congregation upheld a Spanish bishop’s refusal to allow a transsexual person to be a godparent. Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy of Cadiz and Ceuta said that the Catechism of the Catholic Church says godparents must be “firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptised...on the road of Christian life” (1255). The Church teaches that sponsors must live a life of faith that is in keeping with their function as someone who must “seriously assume” responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at baptism, he said. If it is not possible to find a person who has all of “the necessary qualities”, the priest can confer the sacrament of baptism without godparents, he said. Given “the confusion” among

some of the faithful concerning this decision, the bishop said, he also formally consulted with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which reaffirmed the “impossibility” of allowing an openly transsexual person to be a godparent. Transsexual behaviour represents a public display of an attitude that goes against “the moral requirement to resolve the problem of one’s own sexual identity according to the truth of one’s own biological sex”, the bishop cited the doctrinal congregation as saying. The congregation said such behaviour shows the person does not meet the conditions required for living a life in conformity to the faith and, as such, cannot be accepted as a godparent. This position does not reflect an act of discrimination, the doctrinal congregation said, but is

“just the recognition of an objective lack of the requirements” that are necessary for the ecclesial responsibilities of a godparent. Bishop Zornoza said the Church welcomes everyone with charity and mercy, wants to help everyone in his or her own particular situation and invites all people to take part in a journey of faith without, however, ever “denying the truth it preaches”. Pope Francis wrote in his encyclical, Laudato Si', “Valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognise myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman. “It is not a healthy attitude which would seek ‘to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it’,” the pope wrote.—CNS

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INTERNATIONAL

The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

Priest offers Mass daily at destroyed olive orchards By JUdiTH SUdiLoVSky

INCE hundreds of olive trees were uprooted to make room for a separation barrier through the Cremisan Valley adjacent to Beit Jalla, a largely Christian village, Fr Aktham Hijazin, Annunciation parish priest, has been celebrating Mass daily behind red-and-white police tape. The tape—and the border police who patrol the area—prevent some 56 Palestinian landowners from reaching their land. A dump truck rumbles by, kicking up dust, just a few feet away from where the priest has set up his makeshift altar: a small table covered by a white cloth with three olive tree saplings at its base. As Fr Hijazin celebrated Mass for a handful of local landowners and a small Swedish group, the sound of the trucks occasionally drowned out their voices. Later, coughing slightly, the priest held up the consecrated Eucharist, first towards the worshippers, then facing the destroyed orchards. In April, the residents celebrated the Israeli Supreme Court decision, which seemingly blocked a plan to build the separation barrier. But just three weeks later the Ministry of Defence sent a letter to the private landowners’ attorney and the Beit Jalla municipality, announcing its intention to build the wall. Despite several legal appeals requesting to see the wall’s new route, the court declined to issue an injunction, and 17 bulldozers and tractors began uprooting hundred-year-old olive trees and clearing dirt paths. Attorney Raffoul Rofa, executive director of the Society of St Yves of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, who represented the Salesian Sisters affected by the construction, said a gap is expected to be left open in the barrier around the monastery and convent—at least initially—until a solution is devised to allow the institutions to remain in contact with the Palestinian side. “Everybody expected them to come up with an alternate route for the whole wall, not just for the convent and monastery, but our expectations were not accurate” said Mr Rofa. “Basically we won [the nuns’] case, but those who lost are the landowners. ”

Fr Aktham Hijazin of Beit Jalla, West Bank, celebrates Mass in front of israeli border police. israel is uprooting the trees to make the way for the controversial separation barrier in the Cremisan Valley. (Photo: debbie Hill/CnS) Meanwhile, Palestinians say, Israel is creating space for more settlements while legal appeals are still in the works. A protest by residents during which they tore down a military gate closing off the land was met by teargas and beatings. Since then, local Christian leaders have been holding daily Masses. “People were getting angry and began to protest and demonstrate," said Fr Hijazin. “We as a Church decided to come here and do daily worship. This is the third week we are holding Masses, and it will go on indefinitely.” Sometimes priests from the local Greek Orthodox and Lutheran Churches join Fr Hijazin. “The problem is that the Palestinian people have been living with this situation for 60 years,” he said. “The Church tries to give them hope and keep them in their faith, not only in their religion but also in this land, but many people have left, and many people are really thinking of leaving. The Israelis are not only deleting our history by uprooting the trees, they are also deleting our presence...they are deleting our future.” With the olive harvest season just weeks away, the landowners were not even permitted to harvest the fruit from their trees one final time before they were dug up in August, he said. They have been told they will be permitted to harvest the olives from the remaining trees, but the landowners are unsure whether

Britain’s House of Commons bars assisted suicide By SiMon CALdWeLL

N English Catholic archbishop has welcomed the overwhelming defeat of a bill to legalise assisted suicide in England and Wales. The Assisted Dying Bill was rejected, 330-118, after a debate in the House of Commons, London. Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark said afterward that he welcomed “Parliament’s recognition of the grave risks that this bill posed to the lives of our society’s most vulnerable people”. “There is much excellent practice in palliative care, which we need to celebrate and promote, and I hope now the debate on assisted suicide is behind us, that this will become a focus for political action,” said Archbishop Smith, chairman of the Department for Christian Responsibility and Citizenship of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. The vote at the end of the second reading of the Private Member’s Bill was the first time members of Parliament had the opportunity to vote on assisted suicide since 1997. It would have allowed terminally

ill adults who were deemed six months from death the right to obtain lethal drugs to commit suicide, pending approval of two doctors and permission of a High Court judge. The bill came under sustained attack from members of all political parties during a four-hour debate. Fiona Bruce, a Conservative Party member of Parliament opposed to the bill, said in a statement after the vote that “the most vulnerable, as well as the courts, now have absolute clarity that assisted suicide is not the route this country will go down”. “That is a victory for the vulnerable, not least the many disabled people who have campaigned so passionately against this dangerous bill. This bill proposed that suicide was sometimes an answer, and that we should sometimes respond to a person’s suicidal feelings with a lethal injection. “That is against everything that our health care system is built on regarding the value of life and protecting the vulnerable and would have been a backward step,” she added.— CNS

this will continue in the years to come. Though it is painful to see what has happened to his family’s olive orchard, Issa Shatleh, 43, said he comes to pray almost every day. Only two trees are left in his orchard—one excruciatingly out of reach just beyond the police tape and the other a few feet behind. “This is very terrible for us. The land has been in our family for hundreds of years, it is our main source for olives and oil. Now how are we going to go harvest just one tree even if they allow us to get there,” said Mr Shatleh. He said he had not brought his elderly mother to see what has happened, but he did bring his three young children to show them what the soldiers were doing to their land —not to implant hate, but so they keep the trees in their memories. “This is our land, even if they destroy the trees and take the land, we still own this land and some day it will be returned,” he said. Nakhleh Abu Eid, 76, said the Israelis had destroyed 15 of the remaining 20 trees which had been left him following a previous land confiscation on another part of his family’s land. “We eat from them, sell them, live from them,” said Mr Abu Eid. “It is not easy to accept something like this. It is difficult to forgive.” “But I tell my grandsons we lost the land, we don’t want to lose them, too,” he said.—CNS

A historic train arrives in Castel Gandolfo, italy, after leaving from the Vatican station during a special tour for journalists. The Vatican Museums and the italian railways have partnered to offer train tours from the Vatican to Castel Gandolfo, site of the traditional papal summer villa. (Photo: Giampiero Sposito/CnS)

The little engine that could to Castel Gandolfo

OPE Francis’ desire for a Church whose doors are wide open isn’t just a metaphor for encouraging a greater spirit of welcoming. He also has been giving real orders to Vatican staff to lift the locks on places and spaces that were long closed to the general public—the latest being the papal summer home in the hilltop town of Castel Gandolfo. The head of the Vatican Museums, Antonio Paolucci, said the pope told him he did not want the rich botanical and architectural treasures of the papal gardens and villas to be wasted, especially since the pope had no intention of ever spending his summers there with “too much to do in Rome”. The pope told him, “Arrange for opening them up” to the public, Mr Paolucci said. “It took a pope from the end of the world to give us such a beautiful gift,” Mr Paolucci said. But the pope’s initiative goes even further by making the summertime papal property even more accessible to visitors in Rome by linking Vatican City State with the so-called “second Vatican” by a regular train service. The tiny train station of the smallest country in the world is now open to ticketed tour-goers so anyone can take a specially chartered

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train that leaves every Saturday for a round trip journey to Castel Gandolfo, just 21km away. The train goes a few hundred feet before it passes the bricked Vatican City walls and enters Italian territory. It heads southeast going through Rome’s apartment-block neighbourhoods and graffiti-strewn buildings. Soon it meanders across grassy fields, following an ancient Roman aqueduct along the Appian Way, until it cuts through dark tunnels and opens out onto the hills of the “Castelli Romani” regional park. Even though sightseers will be taking a regular commuter train to the new tourist destination, the Vatican Museums and Italian railways pulled out all the stops for special guests and reporters with a preview of the new tour in a coal-powered steam locomotive from 1915. It had been used by the Italian royal family and once carried Pope John XXIII to Loreto and Assisi in 1962. With thick black soot belching from the smokestack and fluffy plumes of white steam whistling from the regulator, one onlooker commented that it looked like the coloured smoke from a Sistine Chapel conclave signalling voting results for a new pope. The train, however, was only brought out for this special occasion as it is deemed an environmental hazard.—CNS

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The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Release from pornography’s grip

Editor: Günther Simmermacher Guest editorial: Michael Shackleton

Heritage Day and the future

ERITAGE Day in South Africa is celebrated this week to mark the contribution that South Africans of all cultures and backgrounds have made to the building up of our young nation. At present the emphasis is on our “young nation” because, although all love this country, we are grouped into communities with diverse histories, loyalties, cultures and languages. We have not yet fully coalesced into a common interactive people with one proud national identity. We are indeed the rainbow nation but, like the colours of the rainbow, ours show themselves in distinct parallel lines that do not always share the same space comfortably together. Heritage Day confronts us with the reminder that the biography of each cultural and linguistic identity is a history that cannot be erased. There are good values and bad in what has become the inheritance of everyone who lives in this wide and wonderful land. This day’s celebrations must accordingly acknowledge that South Africa’s plurality has been peppered with injustices and crimes of inhumanity. At the same time we know that society is never static. Human activity is not biologically ordered as it is in the animal kingdom. Rather, it searches endlessly for meaning and intelligibility. Therefore, in order to realise the words of the preamble to our Constitution that South Africa belongs to all who live in it united in our diversity, we have to acknowledge that we need one another in order to take delight in our diversity and make it work for us. Respect for the traditions of others is essential. It is easy to dismiss the ways, dress or beliefs of groups that appear to be so unlike one’s own. When one can be interested in these other traditions, and see their worth as part of our inheritance as a nation, then we are on the way to a sense of solidarity. There is already an intercultural shift moving in our parishes, schools and institu-

tions. This is not merely the sort of mixing seen among crowds in St Peter’s Square where individuals of all nationalities and cultural types rub shoulders while they pray the Angelus with the pope. In this situation there is respect for the other but it is transitory. In our local Church we see how the Denis Hurley Centre in the archdiocese of Durban is already encouraging cross-cultural and religious dialogue with everyday South Africans of all backgrounds. Mutual respect and courtesies are being exchanged in the interests of the needy and in order to redress the hardships of discrimination. This kind of cooperation cannot but build up confidence in one another and simultaneously in the country as a whole. Parishes are similarly engaged in bringing disparate communities together to worship and share in a single parish life. Our schools provide excellent opportunities for young folk to value one another’s cultural heritage and to jointly provide assistance to the lesser privileged. We are not blind to the way so many still have little hope of achieving the standard of living they would like to have. Large numbers are challenged by poverty, poor education, unemployment and hurtful prejudices. The Catholic Church and Christians of every denomination along with every other religious or cultural group, can contribute immensely to spurring our people on to want to know more about each of the other bright colours of the rainbow nation, not only our own. When each can see the values that the others can offer, and mutually work with them, the ugly side of our nation’s scandalous poverty gap can be addressed and tackled with the good of the nation and its heritage in mind. It would be of no credit to this generation if, while we vigorously seek a common identity and mutual respect now, we do not have a long-term plan to carry on the good work to the benefit of future generations.

Keeping Children safe within families

ST ANTHONYS HOME

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.

WAS so happy to see the article “Porn: Killing our brains and our children” (August 26). Pornography is today’s scourge and slayer of selflove, healthy relationships, human dignity and respect. For too long it has been the secret, dark, unmentionable self-destructive habit of thousands, if not millions! As a counsellor of ten years, I become more and more despairing at the increasing number of men who find themselves chained to this destructive evil. At the start of their habit, it promised them moments of gratification and satisfaction but soon they have to admit that they require external help to release themselves from this vice. Of course, there are the many who feel that they don’t have a problem with it at all and feel they “have it under control”. Unfortunately, no matter how much control one feels one has, it will almost always play a destructive role in one’s relationships, especially marriages, for many reasons. In this time when Rome is focusing on the family, marriage and divorce, we must look at these kinds of issues that very often are the roots of the destruction of relationships and families.

Time to renew our Church

OMEONE asked me what was needed for the Church to be renewed and reformed. I am going to list my thoughts in the hope of inspiring debate on the issue and people to become involved in renewal. We have to note that Church renewal and revival occurs when God raises up reformers who follow the inspirations of the Spirit. We cannot dictate at what time renewal will occur. But we can facilitate renewal by praying constantly for the renewal of the Church. We should also be attentive to movements of the Spirit in renewing the Church and support those raised up by God to renew the Church. Renewal is not to be confused with popularity; there are preachers who can produce eloquent but spiritually deficient or misleading sermons that give them a high profile and fill church pews. And while genuine renewal is often accompanied by manifestations of divine power, not every preacher who claims the gift of healing is genuine. Church renewal also requires removing obstacles to effective ministry in the Church. Removing the requirement of celibacy for the clergy would be a major step because it would result in opening Church ministry to suitable married men with the gifts and talent re-

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A wife’s response on discovering a husband’s viewing of pornography is similar to that seen with marital infidelity, which I could reason pornography, in fact, is. It is a traumatic discovery in the truest sense of the word—the wife undergoes terrible trauma. These women often begin to doubt themselves, caught in the immense insecurity of feeling the need to compete with their husbands’ secret world of fantasy. Women in this situation are, not surprisingly, angry, lonely, exhausted, and despairing. The Church’s message of purity is not a condemnation but a calling to authentic human love. It is an invitation for men to master their impulses and allow Christ to transform the way they view women. When this happens, they become who they are—sons of God and earthly icons of the Heavenly Father. At the risk of making this sound like a man-bashing article, the scourge of pornography has found its way into the lives of not only men and boys but girls and women too. Our entire culture is getting our girls porn-ready; it hypersexualises them at a young age. In my experience, I have seen children as young as eight, many teen boys desperately seeking help,

quired for spiritual leadership. Another step in improving the ministry of the Church would be to allow divorced and remarried Catholics, as far as Catholic morality allows, to participate in the sacramental life of the Church: large numbers of Catholics become involved in marriages that eventually break up and when this occurs they find themselves cut off from the Catholic Church and either join other denominations or drift away from religious belief and practice. But there are many other issues that should be tackled if we want to have genuine reform and renewal. The first is lack of accountability in Church structures. Both clergy and lay leaders seem to be able to act with impunity, either doing things that are against the principles laid down by the Church or simply not doing what is supposed to happen, or doing things in an inept and perfunctory manner. Those with authority in the Church need to ensure that bishops, priests and lay leaders do what is expected of them and do it competently and effectively. It is just as important to make sure that only people with the necessary skills, ability and spiritual maturity are given responsible positions in the Church. Often it seems that lay leaders in particular receive little or no spiritual or theological formation. Perhaps other people have perceptions of what is needed to renew the Church. I certainly would like to read what others think. Frank Bompas, Johannesburg

No need to demonise men

S one who prizes the grace of femininity, I deplore Tony Meehan’s diatribe (August 19) as a ferocious feminist farrago of female-aggrandisement and malebashing. Proposing that women are superior to men, he offers a subjective analysis of the elements of the reproductive process, in which women are deified and men demonised. His gibe at the man’s role in the conjugal act is lethal. Mourning the woman’s blurring contours, Mr Meehan fails to appreciate that the elastic skin covering the mother’s abdomen expands to protect and embrace the child. The abominable practice of abortion is forbidden by the Church. Since the correspondent sees fit to include it in his tirade, however, may I remind him that it is not the mother but the

teen girls admitting that they have a problem resisting the lure of cyberporn, and, of course, parents devastated after finding evidence of their children’s internet surfing habits. We don’t have many recovery programmes in South Africa and, sadly, many secular sex-therapists actually condone pornography when marital problems are experienced. More than ever, we as Church have to fight this evil. Perhaps we all have to learn how to love one another. In his Theology of the Body, Saint Pope John Paul II has much to say about utilitarianism and when young people understand what it means to use as opposed to love in the way God calls us to love, young people start to get it! I have referred many people struggling with pornography obsession/addiction to Theo Krieck of House of Blessing in Krugersdorp who offers sexual addiction workshops to both the addict and his/her family. Contact him at theo@houseofblessing.co.za Some other good sites are : w w w. c u r e t h e c r a v i n g . c o m ; www.covenanteyes.com If you’d like to know more about Theology of the Body, e-mail theol ogyofthebodysa@gmail.com Marie-Anne teBrake, Johannesburg child who is slaughtered in the process. And why use inverted commas when calling a baby a bundle of joy? Yes, it is painful to undergo the process of labour, but that is no excuse to call it wholly selfish. Feeding the baby every four hours, far from turning the woman into a near-zombie, builds up her powers of resilience and self-discipline. Look at the tenacity of those of our gender who strive for promotion or run marathons. Not all fathers are fatherly but could anyone call Mr Meehan’s cynosure motherly? Since certain men do abscond, leaving the mother high and dry, women should stick to the rules and resist men’s blandishments until the ring is on the finger. Going on strike would not prove that women are superior to men because they are not. God loves all of us boundlessly. Nevertheless, God is just, as well as loving. Pride is the first of the seven deadly sins. We cannot respond to our vocation for holiness while we are posturing on the tightrope of conceit. We should ask Mary, our Mother, to teach everyone, regardless of gender, the grace of self-surrender, so that we may become the holy men and women God wants us to be. Luky Whittle, Kroonstad

Gay by choice

F homosexuality is in the chromosomes as June Boyer averts (September 9) then it should be hereditary. And if homosexuality is hereditary, then homosexuals should have become extinct long ago because they do not reproduce. Shouldn't choice play a role as well? We are so pro-choice nowadays! Think abortion! And what we choose above all is pleasure, attained by whatever means and ways. That is why Professor Ben Carson, the (hopefully) next President of the US stated a few weeks ago: “A lot of people who go into prison, go into prison straight—and when they come out, they’re gay.” JH Goossens, Dundee 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

PERSPECTIVES

The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

Thoughts from the wedding whisperer

Y secretary Karin calls me the “wedding whisperer”. I love marriages and preparing couples for marriage. It's a large part of my work and that of Karin’s. Paperwork for weddings is prolific. That's why, when I did some research on Catholic marriage in South Africa recently, I was shocked. In South Africa we do less than 50% of the marriages that were being performed 25 years ago. This is a huge issue for the Church in general and one that we need to face with new eyes, especially with the Second Synod on Family about to start. It's a statistic that needs interrogation. We are baptising and confirming about the same number as we did 25 years ago, so somewhere along the way half of those we baptise either don’t get married, or don’t get married in the Catholic Church. Many couples are living together with the desire of marriage, but without the financial ability to finance a wedding. The wedding super-industry—where style and bling trump substance—is effectively stifling the grace of the sacrament by dissolving the ecclesial (church) significance of marriage. The great sadness for me is that we are willing participants in this juggernaut. Recently at an Engaged Encounter weekend, I asked how much couples were paying for the wedding photographer and/or videographer. I stopped in shock when some indicated that they were paying over R40 000—pose over purpose. Many couples are paying more than R1 000 per guest on the invitation list. Moreover, many couples are not getting to the point of a marriage. Or, maybe, they

just don't get the point of marriage at all. That's the saddest part. In the Church, marriage is a sacrament of character. Marriage changes both spouses, for the better, for support, for children, for love. Why do so many baptised and confirmed Catholics see no point in marriage?

n many South African cultures, marriage is seen as a process, a growing together from engagement (meeting of the families), to betrothal (lobola) to the eventual “white wedding”. Have we, as the Church, missed a chance to catechise on the reality of marriage as a process, where we can honour a more gradual character-change into marriage. But what if there is no point to marriage? Discounting the difficulties many face in “getting married” and the graduate nature of marriage in some cultures, what are we missing? My greatest fear in this is that we're discounting family. The experience of marriage is no longer grace and vocation, but

Fr Chris Townsend

Pastor’s notebook

bind or destruction. No longer do we choose a companion on the journey and the co-creation that is marriage. Our selfishness has turned us against family. And I fear the selfie and media culture is just turning us more and more selfish. What is the response? Parishes and clergy need to prepare for marriage—not just for weddings. In our parish, on the initial meeting with the clergy, we ask for couples to provide a photo of them together for our adoration chapel. We ask the whole parish to pray for marriages. Every month we also bless marriage anniversaries and those preparing for marriage. We also try to ensure that every couple sees the clergyman preparing them for marriage at least three times. Recently, I have heard the wonderful suggestion that we need to mentor newlymarried couples for five years after marriage. It’s a process I'm trying to follow in our pastoral care. In Engaged Encounter, we have the motto, “A wedding is a day, a marriage is a lifetime”. I modify this to say that a marriage is a series of daily choices to be married in Christ. That's why I do only one session of preparation for a wedding, and a lot more on preparation for a marriage for life.

Step up and enjoy parish groups Judith Turner ‘I

AM so happy since I joined this group!”, a woman explained to me recently. Groups in any parish are very important, but many times parish groups struggle to attract members, and to be the most effective they could be. Why is this so? Why do many parishioners not want to join a group? Is there still a place for the existence of parish groups or are they becoming extinct? When I was young I thought that many of the groups in the parish were for older people, that one needed to be very spiritual before you could join them and at other times I felt like I just did not fit in with the group. I am sure some people still experience this today. And given the lifestyles that we lead in these times, there are so many “other” things that compete for the time we have to commit to a parish group. However, parish groups are a valuable means of growing the Church and helping people in the Church. And here are a few reasons why: First of all, there are many different types of parish groups and therefore this could cater for accommodating the interests of the different types of people within a parish community. There are people who would like to express their faith by visiting and praying for the sick. Such people could join the Legion of Mary or another care group in the parish. Then there are people who would like to teach and pass on the faith to others. These people could join a catechetical group or assist with RCIA. Other people again are more practically minded and in addition to prayer, would like to do something practical, like taking food or clothing to the poor. The Saint Vincent de Paul society would welcome such people. If again you would like to get involved with the social or economic problems peo-

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Faith and Life

St Vincent de Paul volunteers distribute back-to-school supplies and food. (Photo: karen Callaway, CnS/Catholic new World) ple face in society, and you would like to assist them to overcome it, then a Justice & Peace Group or the Kolping Society is the place for you. Get involved in one of these groups. You will see that parish groups foster close relationships and the experience of community. The parish group atmosphere is readymade for building friendships because the groups are small and it is easier to get to know people more closely than in a big parish setup. Small groups, especially prayer groups, provide a comfortable entrance for inactive church members to re-enter parish life. Many times just inviting people back to church is not as easy as it sounds. People might have some degree of fear of doing this. That is a natural and understandable fear. Inviting someone instead to a prayer meeting is easier. So invite a friend to a small prayer group and lead him or her back to parish life. Groups such as the Kolping Society and Justice & Peace find themselves dealing with the issues people face on a day to day basis, like poverty, unemployment and injustice. They interact with the lives of peo-

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ple right where they live, in their homes and with the family and they make the Gospel and social teachings of the Church a practical reality. Such groups create a context for Christians to live out their faith through tackling social issues. Smaller parish groups provide a comfortable atmosphere for openness. Many times such meetings take place in people’s homes which are usually comfortable places because there are no pews, PA systems, and second collections. They are places where people can open up, listen, learn, and grow as people of faith. Lastly, and this is no doubt my favourite reason, parish groups help to cultivate leadership within the Church. Parish groups are normally structured and someone has to lead the meeting, or at least facilitate the discussion. This is a great way to build up your meeting skills and how to handle groups. This is very much needed in our parish life today; people who are faithful and committed and who have the ability to lead a group of people into action. This is a great way to build your leadership and the Church gives this opportunity to you today. Take it up! So parish groups are not becoming extinct. Get to know them and find out which group interests you most. Ask if you can just visit and observe what they are about to see if such a group is for you. Parish groups are needed today just as always before and they can turn your parish into a vibrant Christian community. Join a parish group today!

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Pray with the Pope

End to trafficking General Intention: That human trafficking, the modern form of slavery, may be eradicated.

NEW global initiative, backed up by Pope Francis, seeks to end human trafficking by 2020. Unfortunately, human trafficking isn’t something that can be completely eradicated like smallpox, and five years is a very short time in which to solve a global problem. On the other hand, we should remember that things that were unthinkable in previous ages have become thinkable in our own. In the 19th century the Western world baulked at ending the Atlantic slave trade because of the belief that the economic consequences would be too dire. People had realised that slavery was morally indefensible but could not see their way to actually freeing slaves. We have moved from a situation where slavery was an accepted part of the economic system to one where it has become universally criminalised. Laws are becoming stricter to catch up with a shift of criminal activity from the drug trade to this more lucrative and less policed trade in human beings. Global cooperation is being stepped up. The Internet, through which young people, especially young girls, are lured into the traffickers’ net, is being kept under surveillance by anti-trafficking and law enforcement agencies. What can we do as individual Christians? Prayer is important but we can do more. Firstly we need to educate our young people in the subtle wiles of the traffickers, especially how to spot their alluring adverts on the Internet. A message that arrives on a young girl’s smartphone offering glamorous modelling jobs in California, is probably from a pimp. Another important thing is to understand how our consumer choices can make a difference. For example, we should be aware that certain industries use trafficked child labour. The cocoa that went into my chocolate bar may have been harvested by such children. I can find this out with a little research on the Internet. For example Free2work http://www.free2work.org/ briefs the purchaser on the practices of major brands of many of the things we routinely buy—food, beverages, clothing, electronic goods and others. By being informed, active and prayerful, we can help reduce the scourge if not eradicate it completely by 2020.

Gospel to Asia Missionary Intention: That with a missionary spirit the Christian communities of Asia may announce the Gospel to those who are still awaiting it.

NNOUNCING the Gospel in Asia has never been easy. Early footholds were gained in the Indian subcontinent, China, Japan and Indo-China. The first missionaries discovered ancient religious cultures with their own scriptures, philosophies and spiritualities. The regions which are today called Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia already had a substantial Muslim presence. Inculturation was an issue and early attempts were blocked by Church officials who felt that some missionaries, particularly the Jesuits in China, were being too accommodating to the local culture. The ensuing “Chinese rites controversy” hampered the missionary effort. It divided missionary congregations, dissipated their energies and made the Chinese authorities suspicious of them. In 19th century China, a millenarian movement led by Hong Xuiquan, who believed he was the brother of Jesus, led to the Taiping rebellion against the Qing dynasty and the worst civil war in history which cost 20 million lives. In Japan Christians went through periods of severe persecution and the Church produced large numbers of extraordinarily heroic martyrs. Today Asia is on the rise economically and politically, with a new sense of confidence in the world. This is healthy. It means that those Asians who decide to embrace the faith do so without any Western cultural or political pressure. Many people are in fact turning to Christianity in certain Asian countries, for example in Korea and even in China. According to the Business Insider website, China, despite the fact that the ruling party’s ideology is officially atheist, is on track to be the country with the most Christians in the world by 2030.

The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

CHURCH

Blessed Benedict! By STUART GRAHAM

HOUSANDS of pilgrims from around South Africa sang hymns and prayed at the beatification of Benedict Daswa on a field in Tshitanini outside Thohoyandou on September 13. The singing and jubilation could be heard from miles away before Cardinal Angelo Amato announced that Daswa, a school teacher from the area who stood up against a witch hunt, would now be referred to as Blessed and have direct communion with God. Daswa was proclaimed “blessed” in an apostolic letter read on behalf of Pope Francis by Cardinal Amato, to at least 30 000 people during the Mass, which was held mere kilometres from the site where Daswa was murdered. “We grant that the venerable servant of God, Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa, layman and family man, a zealous catechist, all-round educator who gave heroic witness to the Gospel, even to the shedding of blood, from now on will be called ‘Blessed’,” Amato said to a roaring cheer. Silence fell across the crowd as the cardinal described how Daswa, a father of eight, was beaten to death and doused with boiling water at the age of 43 on February 2, 1990 by a mob of his fellow villagers. He had refused to pay R5 towards the cost of a sorcerer who promised to find the person responsible for causing lighting in the region. “Benedict was a good and gentle young man,” the cardinal said. “Benedict was a true missionary of Christ and succeeded in convincing his companions to becoming Catholics. Cardinal Amato recounted how Daswa had found a job as a cleaner at a hospital. The rector of the hospital insisted that he convert [to another denomination] or he would lose his job. Daswa refused the proposal and quit his job. “He fed upon the word of God. He prayed before and after meals and before going to bed. He loved the Church, the only guide of his life. “Benedict loved love. Loved his people and his loved ones. But he loved more his faith in God the father, creator of heaven and earth, in Jesus Christ the creator and redeemer of humanity.” Cardinal Amato confirmed Daswa’s feast day for February 1.

eputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, also a Venda local, smiled with pride as Cardinal Amato announced that Daswa, who was

A family’s sorrow turned to joy Cardinal Angelo Amato, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, reads an apostolic letter declaring Benedict daswa Blessed.

Pilgrims travelled from all over South Africa to attend the beatification ceremony.

born on June 16, 1946 in Mbahe, 20km from Thohoyandou, would now be referred to as “The Blessed Benedict Daswa”. “This is an occasion in which millions of South Africa will share with deep faith and affection,” Mr Ramaphosa told the crowd. “This is the first time in the history of the Catholic Church of Southern Africa that a South African man is being recognised as a Blessed Martyr of Christ. “This is, therefore, a special honour for the Church in this region. “But it is also an extraordinary honour for the Daswa family, who tragically lost a 43-year-old son and father on the second of February 1990.” Mr Ramaphosa said Daswa had paid the ultimate price for his beliefs “on the same day that the then President FW de Klerk announced the unbanning of our liberation movements and the release of our beloved Nelson Mandela”. “Such is the often dramatic confluence of events in our beloved country,” he said. “Today we remember Benedict Daswa as a man who led a holy life, not in isolation of the social realities around him, but rather deeply engaged with these realities. “He was a good family man, a hard worker and active member of his community, inspired by his faith.” Daswa’s family, including his mother, Ida, his brother, Mackson, and his children embraced and clapped as the announcement

earlier this year. “The Church entrusted with the Earth’s glory believes that in each person is the creator’s image and that every one who tramples it offends God,” Archbishop Brislin said. “These words were spoken by Archbishop Oscar Romero and they are an apt description of Benedict Daswa who knew that death would be the likely consequence of the superstitious sniffing out of those who had caused lightning “Rather than participate in an act that would lead to the demise of others, he chose to give his own life. “In so doing he manifested the fundamental Christian belief that each person bears the image of God and he was prepared to go against the tide of popular opinion to affirm that truth and the truth of the duty of all to protect life.” President Jacob Zuma said in a statement that Daswa’s beatification was a significant moment for the country. “This is the first ever beatification in Southern Africa. We are truly humbled that a South African is being honoured in this manner,” Mr Zuma said. “Mr Daswa lost his life because he believed in human rights and dignity and did not support the persecution of fellow villagers on allegations of witchcraft. “Many people, especially elderly women, have lost their lives due to accusations of witchcraft in some communities. “Such practices have no place in South Africa.”

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was made. Dumzane Nkewtshawe and his friend Caswell Ndlovu travelled by bus from Witbank for the beatification. “We spent the night here, sleeping in the bus,” said Mr Nkewtshawe. “There was no way we could miss this. Daswa is an inspiration to us all. We have our own martyr now. Someone we can pray to. It is wonderful.” Godfrey Pits, who watched the ceremony from a hill above the service, said Daswa was an inspiration for South Africans. “Daswa was a kind and good man,” he told The Southern Cross. “He had the courage to stand up for what was right,” said Mr Pits, who also came by bus from Witbank for the beatification. “He was prepared to die for his beliefs. And today he is our first martyr. His goodness will live on.” Daswa’s body has been exhumed from his grave and reburied in a church that he built in Nweli village, where he was the headmaster of a primary school. “There has to be a place where people can venerate and pray at his grave site,” said retired Bishop Hugh Slattery, who initiated the cause to have Daswa beatified. A church will be built on the site of the beatification.

ape Town Archbishop Stephen Brislin quoted Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was shot dead by an assassin in 1980, after standing up against his militarist government. Romero was beatified

By STUART GRAHAM

HE beatification of Benedict Daswa has turned his family’s sorrow into joy, says Bishop Emeritus Hugh Slattery. Bishop Slattery told the crowd at the beatification that the world needed good people like Blessed Benedict Daswa to inspire us, pray for us and to make up for our weaknesses. “He is a great role model for our Church and our country.” During his short life he loved and respected everyone and helped many through his acts of charity, his works in the school and church and his involvement in his community. “He was always guided by the Church’s teaching on marriage as a true and equal partnership on love and life.” Bishop Victor Phalana of Klerksdorp, praised the beatification. “Catholics of Southern Africa turned up,” he said. “Many, many priests, including those from Klerksdorp diocese, sisters, young people, seminarians and brothers, the elderly, the sick, all ages showed up. “The government was there. People of goodwill were there. What a day. What a celebration! “What a gentle figure Cardinal Amato is. “To see the best of Tzaneen diocese and to see the Daswa family was so inspiring that I kept saying ‘You alone are Holy, You alone are the Lord. You alone are the Most High.” “Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Amen. Blessed Daswa, pray for us.”

SC distributes 5 000 free newspapers at beatification By STUART GRAHAM

HOUSANDS of pilgrims were able to read The Southern Cross at no cost at the beatification of Benedict Daswa on September 13. The newspaper handed out 5 000 free copies to crowd, many of whom sat on rocks and picnic chairs enjoying the newspaper before the start of the ceremony. Celestina Makamo from Bushbuckridge near Hazyview in Limpopo said she had travelled by bus to witness Daswa’s beatification. It was the first time she had read The Southern Cross. “Benedict Daswa is an inspiration to all of us,” she said. “I will pray to him so that I may reach God’s ear. “I will enjoy reading my newspaper now,” she added. On the hill above the podium, where Cardinal Angelo Amato performed the beatification, young men sat on rocks with copies of the newspaper at their feet. Caswell Ndlovu, from Hazyview, said Daswa was one of his heroes. “I heard his story through the Church. We came here by bus and we slept here last night.

“I am reading about Benedict Daswa in the newspaper. Daswa is a gift from God. He has set an example for us. We must follow in his footsteps and be kind and good to each other.” “It is important that The Southern Cross is made known by as many Catholics as possible, said Günther Simmermacher, editor. “As the Church, we must ask ourselves why it is that the national Catholic newspaper is not known to many Catholics. “The reaction from people who received the newspaper for the first time at the beatification shows that there is a hunger for Catholic media. But to reach those people who hunger for a Catholic newspaper, we need the help from parishes and priests, to order The Southern Cross and to promote it in their communities.”

The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

CHURCH

Limpopo’s son honoured 1

1. The crowds and media watch Cardinal Amato’s homily at the beatification.

2. Many priests, and other religious from all over South Africa attended.

3. Cardinal Wilfrid napier (left) and Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria

4. Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town

5. Bishops of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference listen to Cardinal Amato perform the beatification.

6. deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

7. Rosaries and religious medals were on sale to pilgrims.

8. A commemorative plaque marking the occasion.

9. Benedict daswa’s son Lufuno daswa being congratulated after his father’s beatification.

10. Benedict daswa’s younger brother, Mackson daswa. Mackson was the first of the family at the scene of Benedict's murder.

11. A traditional horn-blower was part of the celebration.

12. dignatories attended the event in their traditional Venda dress.

13. The crowd prays during the beatification Mass

14. Pilgrims brought their own seating for the occasion. Many who attended the event may not have been Catholic or even Christian but still showed their support as a member of their community was honoured. (All photos: Stuart Graham)

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The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

COMMUNITY

Our readers at Benedict Daswa’s beatification!

The Southern Cross wishes to thank Paarl Coldset and all those who helped distribute the paper at the beatification ceremony.

A group of pilgrims from Queenstown diocese in the eastern Cape travelled to Thohoyandou for the celebration and said: “it was the best thing that ever happened in our history.” Sisanda, Lubabalo, Bulelani, Busie and nathi are pictured at the beatification.

The Southern Cross had 5 000 copies of the Benedict daswa commemorative issue of the newspaper couriered to the beatification, kindly sponsored by our printers Paarl Coldset. This area of Limpopo does not often receive the newspaper and so we captured our new readers’ responses on camera.

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The Southern Cross, September 23 to September 29, 2015

CLASSIFIEDS

Sr Sabina Beck OP

AKFORD Dominican Sister Sabina Beck died at 86 on August 4 in Villa Siena, Pietermaritzburg. Theresia Beck was born on September 22, 1928 in Windheim, Germany, one of ten children. Four of the girls became religious and three brothers became priests. After her schooling she worked in a hospital during the years of World War II. In 1948 she entered the Oakford Dominican Congregation at Volkersberg in Bavaria, and came to South Africa in 1949 where she pronounced her vows on August 15, 1950. Sr Sabina spent most of her active ministry doing cooking. She was in the kitchens of many of the Oakford Dominican institutions and convents, looking after the needs the sisters, students and patients at Oakford, St

Mary’s, Cala, Kimberley, Greytown, Osindisweni, Empangeni, Villa Siena, Marymount, Bluff and Boys’ Town. She did her ministry with love and generosity. Her last assignment was to Koinonia; this time

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 673. ACROSS: 1 Canopy, 4 Tea bag, 9 Receive orders, 10 Ensurer, 11 Tekoa, 12 David, 14 Amens, 18 Egypt, 19 Tremble, 21 Devout prayers, 22 Pulsed, 23 Redden. DOWN: 1 Carmel, 2 Necessary evil, 3 Prior, 5 Erratum, 6 Breaking bread, 7 Gasman, 8 Merry, 13 Intrude, 15 Held up, 16 Stops, 17 Season, 20 Elate.

Liturgical Calendar Year B Weekdays Cycle Year 1 Sunday September 27 Numbers 11:25-29, Psalms 19:8, 10, 12-14, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Monday September 28 Zechariah 8:1-8, Psalms 102:16-21, 29, 22-23, Luke 9:46-50 Tuesday September 29, Ss Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Psalms 138:1-5, John 1:4751 Wednesday September 30, St Jerome Nehemiah 2:1-8, Psalms 137:1-6, Luke 9:57-62 Thursday October 1, St Thérèse of Lisieux Nehemiah 8:1-12, Psalms 19:8-11, Luke 10:1-12 Friday October 2, Guardian Angels Exodus 23:20-23, Psalms 91:1-6, 10-11, Matthew 18:1-5, 10 Saturday October 3, Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29, Psalms 69:33-37, Luke 10:17-24 Sunday October 4, St Francis of Assisi Sirach 50:1, 3-4, 6-7, Psalms 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11, Galatians 6:14-18, Matthew 11:25-30

REMEMBERING OUR DEAD

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

For further information, please contact St Jude Society, Box 22230, Fish Hoek, 7975, Telephone (021) 551-1747, dpaarman@mweb.co.za

she was responsible for the laundry, chapel and the dining room. She fulfilled these tasks with dedication and enjoyed the interaction with the groups that came to Koinonia. Sr Sabina was a gracious and generous person who would do whatever she could to help and be of assistance. She looked for opportunities to “spoil“ where she could. She was a deeply spiritual person, with a special love for and devotion to Mary. In the last months of her life she was very aware of the gift that life was and was ready to move from this earthly life to the next. She celebrated in joy her jubilee of 65 years profession, which would have been two weeks after her death. Sr Carmen Brokamp OP

Our bishops’ anniversaries This week we congratulate: September 24: Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town on his 60th birthday. September 24: Bishop Adam Musialek of De Aar on the sixth anniversary of his episcopal ordination.

Community Calendar To place your event, call Mary Leveson at 021 465 5007 or e-mail m.leveson@scross.co.za (publication subject to space)

CaPE TOWN: Helpers of God’s Precious Infants. Mass on last Saturday of every month at 9:30 at Sacred Heart church in Somerset Road, Cape Town. Followed by vigil at Marie Stopes abortion clinic in Bree Street. Contact Colette Thomas on 083 412 4836 or 021 593 9875 or Br daniel SCP on 078 739 2988. DUrBaN: Holy Mass and Novena to St anthony at St Anthony’s parish every Tuesday at 9am. Holy Mass and Divine Mercy Devotion at 17:30pm on first Friday of every month. Sunday Mass at 9am. 031 309 3496. 9018 or 031 209 2536. Overport rosary group. At emakhosini Hotel, 73 east Street every Wednesday at 6.30 pm.

Contact keith at 083 372 KrOONSTaD: Couples for Christ invites all Men to Amor Vincit omnia (Love Conquers All) men’s conference on october 23, 24 and 25 at Centenary Hall, St. Patrick's cathedral. Registration fee is R200 per person and includes conference kit, meals, teas and T-shirt. For more information please contact ernesto Maccario at 079 457 8951 or Trevor Vetter at 082 568 6843 or on email at vetter@oaksauto. co.za NELSPrUIT: adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St Peter’s parish every Tuesday from 8:00 to 16:45, followed by rosary, Divine Mercy prayers, then a Mass/Communion service at 17:30pm.

CLaSSIFIEDS

Births • First Communion • Confirmation • engagement/Marriage • Wedding anniversary • ordination jubilee • Congratulations • deaths • in memoriam • Thanks • Prayers • Accommodation • Holiday Accommodation • Personal • Services • employment • Property • others Please include payment (R1,50 a word) with small advertisements for promptest publication.

DEaTH

rOTEr—Sr M Gerarda. Holy Cross Sister, Sr Gerarda Roter, aged 89 years, passed away at Holy Cross Home, Lady Selborne, Pretoria, on September 11. Lovingly remembered by the Holy Cross Sisters, the Roter family circle in oldenburg, Germany, and the people whom she served in South Africa. May she rest in peace!

built on justice for all. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Light of the World, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer courtesy of the USCCB.

IN MEMOrIaM

aNTONIE—Maroonie. September 29, 1997. in loving memory of my beloved husband and our dearest father; you are always remembered and sorely missed, olive and all our children. RiP. BLaND—Anne Patricia. in loving memory of my dear wife, our mother and grandmother who our Lord called home eleven years ago on September 26, 2004. Time passes but the ache never goes away. We love and miss you and Tracy each and every day and you are both in our hearts and thoughts continually. Rest in peace and may our Lord and His Beloved Mother Mary hold you always close. Love ken, Carol, Jennifer, Mathew, Paul, grandchildren, family and friends.

PraYErS

aLMIGHTY eternal God, source of all compassion, the promise of your mercy and saving help fills our hearts with hope. Hear the cries of the people of Syria; bring healing to those suffering from the violence, and comfort to those mourning the dead. empower and encourage Syria’s neighbours in their care and welcome for refugees. Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, and strengthen the resolve of those committed to peace. o God of hope and Father of mercy, your Holy Spirit inspires us to look beyond ourselves and our own needs. inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies. inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria, and fill us with hope for a future of peace

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.

PErSONaL

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A group of readers is preparing audio tapes of excerpts from The Southern Cross for interested people who are blind, sight-impaired, unable to hold a newspaper or illiterate.

Anyone wanting to receive tapes as part of this service, available for an annual subscription fee of only R50, may contact Mr Len Pothier, 8 The Spinney Retirement Village, Main Rd, Hout Bay, 7806 or phone 021-790 1317.

The Post Office will deliver and return tapes without charge. Should you know of any interested blind or otherwise reading-impaired person, please inform them of this service.

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editor: Günther Simmermacher Business Manager: Pamela davids Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000

10 Tuin Plein, Cape Town, 8001 Tel: (021) 465 5007 Fax: (021) 465 3850

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The Southern Cross is a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa. Printed by Paarl Coldset (Pty) Ltd, 10 Freedom Way, Milnerton. Published by the proprietors, The Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Co Ltd, at the company’s registered office, 10 Tuin Plein, Cape Town, 8001.

The Southern Cross is published independently by the Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Company Ltd. Address: Po Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000. Tel: (021) 465 5007 Fax: (021) 465 3850 www.scross.co.za

Editor: Günther Simmermacher (editor@scross.co.za), Business Manager: Pamela davids (admin@scross.co.za), advisory Editor: Michael Shackleton, News Editor: Stuart Graham (s.graham@scross.co.za), Editorial: Claire Allen (c.allen@scross.co.za), Mary Leveson (m.leveson@scross.co.za), dylan Appolis (intern@scross.co.za), advertising: elizabeth Hutton (advertising@scross.co.za), Subscriptions: Michelle Perry (subscriptions@scross.co.za), accounts: desirée Chanquin (accounts@scross.co.za) Directors: R Shields (Chair), J o’Leary (Vice-chair), Archbishop S Brislin, S duval, e Jackson, B Jordan, Sr H Makoro CPS, C Moerdyk, R Riedlinger, Z Tom

Opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, staff or directors of The Southern Cross.

the

27th Sunday: October 4 Readings: Genesis 2:18-24, Psalm 128:1-6, Hebrews 2:9-11, Mark 10:2-16

N the course of the next few weeks, as the Synod on the Family gathers once more in Rome, there will be increased attention on issues surrounding marriage; so it is appropriate that for next Sunday the Church invites us, in the readings that are put before us, to reflect on what is the best thing that a man and a woman can do together before God. In the first reading we are offered a story that combines the creation of humankind (and makes woman the climax of God’s creative work, incidentally) with the origin of marriage. It begins with God’s perception that “it is not good for Adam to be alone; I shall make him a helper”. The narrative then opens out to include the creation of everything: “all the beasts of the field, and all the birds of the sky”, which are then brought to Adam “to see what he would call them”. None of them, however, matched up to Adam, until “the Lord built up the rib that he had taken from Adam, into a woman; and he brought her to Adam”, whose comment is en-

S outher n C ross

thusiastic: “She shall be called Wo-man, for this was taken from the Man.” The narrator locates here the origins of marriage: “Therefore a Man shall abandon his father and his mother and shall stick to his Wo-man—and they shall be one flesh”. It is a beautiful picture of how marriage works, at its best. The psalm offers a lovely picture of family life: “Happy are those who fear, the Lord, who walk on his path…your wife like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive-shoots around your table.” And this lovely poem, one of Israel’s pilgrimage-songs, ends with a prayer that is appropriate to this meditation on the family: “Peace be upon Jerusalem.” In the second reading, where we start a journey through the majestic letter to the Hebrews, we are not precisely thinking of marriage; but there is a clue here as to how family life can work, namely by our being prepared to imitate Jesus by being ready to give up everything,

Classic Conrad

earth is also equally unique and special. That’s human nature and it’s always been this way.

oday, however, a number of things are conspiring together to exacerbate both our grandiosity and our restlessness. In brief, today we are mostly overstimulated in our grandiosity and are not generally given the tools to handle that inflammation of soul. How are we overstimulated in our grandiosity today? Various factors play together here, but contemporary media and information technology need to be highlighted. Through them, in effect, the whole world is being made available to us during every waking minute of our lives. We are not easily equipped to handle that. While information alone is mostly neutral, and at times even morally inspiring, the downside is that contemporary media overstimulates our grandiosity and restlessness by inundating us with the intimate details of the lives of the rich, the famous, the beautiful, the talented, the powerful, the super-intelligent, the mega-achievers, and the perverted in a way that titillates, seduces, and at times assaults our interior balance so as to leave us cultivating private fantasies of grandiosity, of standing out in a way that makes the world take notice. We see this in an extreme and perverted form in some of the mass shootings that occur in our society, where a lonely, deranged person randomly kills others out of a sick vision of grandiosity. We see it too in

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ing “What does Moses say?”, and comes out in favour of the woman (who would be left without the means of support, if divorce were permitted): “So what God has yoked together, let not a man put asunder.” So Jesus excludes divorce (in both directions, for neither women nor men, in that culture, are allowed to end their marriage); and it is not only women, but also children, as Jesus (in a rare burst of anger) makes clear when his disciples rebuke people for bringing him their offspring. Our attitude to family must be that of the Lord who said: “Let the little children come—don’t stop them.” The reading ends with a beautiful gesture: “He took them in his arms, and blessed them, placing his hands upon them.” This should be a model for our handling of the all-important question of the family.

Southern Crossword #673

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final Reflection

the growing phenomenon of anorexia. These examples may be atypical, but we’re becoming a society within which almost everyone is perilously overstimulated in his or her grandiosity. And today we are generally without sufficient personal tools to handle this. Human beings have always been restless and grandiose, but in previous generations they had more tools—religious and societal—to handle restlessness, grandiosity, and frustration. For example, in previous generations the cultural ethos gave people much less permission to cultivate ego than it does today. Previous to our own generation, one had to be more apologetic about self-promotion, self-canonisation, overt greed, and crass self-centredness. Humility was espoused as a virtue and no one was supposed to get too big for his or her britches. That threw a lot of cold water on ego, crass self-assertion, and greed, in effect dampening grandiosity. The message back then was clear: You’re not the centre of the universe! By and large, that’s no longer the case today. Society, more and more, gives us licence to be grandiose, to set ourselves up as the centre and proudly announce that publicly. Not only are we allowed today to get too big for our britches, we aren’t culturally admired unless we do assert ourselves in that way. And that’s a formula for jealousy, bitterness, and violence. Grandiosity and restlessness need healthy guidance, both from the culture and from religion. Today, we generally do not see that guidance. We are dangerously weak in inculcating into the consciousness of society, especially into the consciousness of the young, a number of vital human and religious truths: To God alone belongs the glory! You are not the centre of the earth. There is real sin! Selfishness is not a virtue! Humility is a virtue! You will only find life by giving it away! Other lives are as real as your own! We have failed our youth by giving them unrealistic expectations, even as we are depriving them of the tools with which to handle those expectations.

St John Paul II Pilgrimage to Poland Southern Cross

Sunday Reflections

even life itself, as the author comments that “by God’s grace he might taste death”. But it does not stop there, for Jesus’ willingness to endure death has its effect: “That he might lead many sons [and daughters], the pioneer of their salvation, to make him perfect through suffering.” The point is that they are all brothers and sisters under God: “For the One who makes holy, and the ones who are being made holy are all from the one stock.” That is the kind of relationship that makes space for God’s project; and marriage is high up there on the list. The gospel likewise invites us to contemplate marriage. For “Pharisees came and started to interrogate him ... whether it was permissible for a man to divorce his wife.” We notice that the question is posed from the male point of view; in such a culture, there would be no possibility of a wife suing for divorce. Jesus does not waste much time, after ask-

Our overriding grandiosity HERE are now more than seven billion people on this earth and each one of us feels that he or she is the centre of the universe. That accounts for most of the problems we have in the world, in our neighbourhoods, and in our families. And no one’s to blame for this, save God perhaps, for making us this way. Each of us is created in the image and likeness of God, meaning that each of us holds within a divine spark, a piece of infinity, and an ingrained knowledge of that unique dignity. We are infinite souls inside a finite world. To paraphrase St. Augustine, we are made for the divine and our hearts aren’t just dissatisfied until they rest there again, they’re also grandiose along the journey, enflamed by their own uniqueness and dignity. God has made everything beautiful in its own season, Ecclesiastes tells us, but God has put timelessness into the human heart so that we are out of sync with the seasons from beginning to end. We’re overcharged for this planet, and we know it. Moreover, that sense of specialness lies at the centre of our awareness: I think, therefore I am! Descartes was right: The only thing we can be absolutely sure of is that we exist and that our own thoughts and feelings are real. We may be dreaming everything else. We awake to self-consciousness aware of our specialness, frustrated by the fact that the world cannot give us what we crave, and insufficiently aware of the fact that everyone else on this

Nicholas King SJ

God exalts the family

ACROSS

1. Any cop can get cover (6) 4. Packet of refreshing infusion (3,3) 9. Take instructions and be ordained (7,6) 10. He makes safe (7) 11. Home town of Amos (Am 1) (5) 12. Son of Jesse (1 Sm 16) (5) 14. So let it be in the plural (5) 18. Where Joseph was taken (Gn 37) (5) 19. Shake (7) 21. Said on your knees, try deep savour (6,7) 22. Throbbed (6) 23. Show your embarrassment (6) Solutions on page 11

DOWN

1. Prophets’ assembly point (1 Kg 18) (6) 2. Wickedness you cannot escape? (9,4) 3. Religious superior who came first? (5) 5. Maturer sort of misprint (7) 6. They were doing it on the first day of the week (Ac 20) (8,5) 7. Ma sang about one who provides fuel (6) 8. God rest ye ..., gentlemen (carol) (5) 13. Go in where you’re not invited (7) 15. Robbed, and so delayed (4,2) 16. Arrests (5) 17. Liturgical division of the year (6) 20. Make very happy (5)

CHURCH CHUCKLE

LITTLE boy opened the old family Bible, looking at the yellowed pages with fascination. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible: an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed in between the pages. “Mom,” he called out, “look what I found.” ”What is it, sweetie?” his mother asked. The little boy replied: “Mom, I think it’s Adam’s suit!”

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