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Catholic university offers bursaries amid #FeesMustFall By MANDLA ZiBi
S Pope Francis visits a monument to those who died for independence in Baku, Azerbaijan. See page 4 for a round-up of the pope’s visit to the country with a population of only 600 Catholics, and to Orthodox-majority Georgia. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
First Communion at 101
A
T 101 years old, Doña Penha has seen quite a bit of life. But the centenarian experienced something new when she received her First Communion during Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel nursing home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For those who witnessed the occasion, it was a great testimony to the love of God. “It was a very beautiful moment that showed us that it is never too late to receive the Eucharist, which for someone seeking God, neither time nor shame can prevent,” said Josiane Ribeiro, the administrative assistant of the nursing home. She added that occasions like this help “reaffirm faith”. Ms Ribeiro said that Doña Penha arrived about a year ago at the nursing home, which is run by the Sisters of the Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima Association. There is a chapel on site where Mass is celebrated during the week. Doña Penha began to attend Mass with the other women. One day, she asked to go to confession. Fr Domingos Sávio Silva Ferreira realised she had not yet received Communion and asked the sisters to prepare her to receive the sacrament. After that preparation, Doña Penha received Communion for the first time. According to nursing home officials, those who were with her could see that “that was what she really wanted”. Even at 101 years of age, they said, “she is very lucid, and [was]
Doña Penha receives First Communion at the age of 101 (Photo: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Nursing Home)
prepared to receive First Communion from the heart”. For Ms Ribeiro, the occasion was a witness of God’s love—not just for the people who live with Doña Penha at the nursing home, but also for the many others who could share the moment through social media. “We put the photos on the nursing home's Facebook page, and many people saw it, commented and congratulated,” she said. The nursing home’s Facebook post received hundreds of likes and shares. Among the comments, one user emphasised: “There is always time, and her time was now! God bless you!”—CNA
OUTH AFRICA’S only Catholic university is making available 180 bursaries for financially needy students next year. St Augustine College, which is based in Johannesburg, is offering the bursaries thanks to North American Catholic funders. “St Augustine is particularly grateful for the support, which has made available bursaries for study at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in 2017,” said Prof Garth Abraham, president of the university. Depending on need and individual circumstances, bursaries will cover 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the tuition fee; in exceptional circumstances an additional stipend might be granted to cover living expenses, he said. Prof Abraham said St Augustine “acknowledges that it is responsible to contribute concretely to the progress of the society within which it works, and is committed to the principle that those with ability should not be denied access to education because of financial need”. He emphasised the difference between bursaries awarded by the state and those offered by St Augustine. The St Augustine bursary need not be repaid, but its annual re-award “will be dependent on the academic performance and potential [of students], and on graduation, a commitment to contribute to the common good”, he said. Noting that South Africa’s public universities continued to be rocked by violent protests which had led to death, injury and closed campuses, Prof Abrahams said: “Destruction of property at public universities will cost the South African state—and, ultimately, the South African taxpayer—in excess of R640 million.” He noted that students’ demands for university education fees to be scrapped “clearly posed an enormous challenge for the South African fiscus”. Prof Abraham said it is important for South Africa that university enrolments and pass rates increase. In 1994, some 495 396 people were enrolled at South African universities, a figure which by 2012 had increased to 953 373. But these figures, Prof Abraham said, belied the fact that only about 17,3% of youth between 18-24
Graduation at St Augustine College in 2015. South Africa’s only Catholic university is offering 180 bursaries to needy students. (Photo: St Augustine College) years of age are currently enrolled in higher education, according to the White Paper for PostSchool Education and Training of 2013. “If South Africa is to effectively compete internationally, this number must be increased; it is the ambition of government to increase enrolment to about 1,6 million persons—or 25% of the relevant age cohort—by 2030,” he said. Prof Abraham further argued that while increasing the number of students enrolled for tertiary education is critical, “perhaps of even greater concern are woefully inadequate ‘throughpass’ rates. Research has shown that only about 25% of those who register for undergraduate study at contact universities graduate in regulation time; about 48% graduate within five years.” At distance education providers such as the University of South Africa (UNISA), figures were even lower, he said. These figures mean that only about 45% of a typical yearly intake will eventually graduate, translating to an average throughput rate of below 20%. Given that a majority of university students are recipients of state bursaries that must be repaid upon graduation, the poor throughput rates make the financial challenges all the more harder, said Prof Abrahams. “Without increased financial support for Continued on page 2