The
S outher n C ross
December 7 to December 13, 2016
Reg No. 1920/002058/06
No 5010
www.scross.co.za
Why we must build up the family
Long marriage began with The Southern Cross
Page 7
Page 2
R8,00 (incl Vat RSa)
Bishop Wood on devotion to Our Lady
Page 10
Catholics extend care to seafarers StaFF RePoRteR
T Black is winning: Fr Samuel Setshedi (left) plays morabaraba—an indigenous game close to Nine Men’s Morris—with Fr thabiso ledwaba. the smiling Fr Setshedi beat the philosophy professor from St John Vianney Seminary several times during the successful Radio Veritas “Shepherds on the Green” fun day for priests at the Benoni Country Club. (Photo: Mathibela Sebothoma)
Priests had fun on the greens By Neo Motlhala
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HE manicured lawns and top-class facilities of Gauteng’s Benoni Country Club were the perfect backdrop to a day of fun and festivity as 150 priests played games, cycled, walked, ran, ate and generally let it all hang out as part of “Shepherds on the Green Priest Appreciation Day”. Hosted by Radio Veritas through its volunteer group of Catholic men called the Veritas Warriors, the event was aimed at “showing some love” for the hardworking Catholic priesthood by sponsoring each padre to the tune of R1 000 each to participate, hang out and relax as Catholics await the coming of the Messiah. “Parish priests—indeed all the clergy—work and pray hard. In a world that could better value the role of priests, we believe it is time to show them some recognition, with love,” said Fr Brian Mhlanga OP, associate station manager of Radio Veritas and national coordinator of the event. Things got moving as early as 7am when the first priests arrived and soon had registration and other paperwork out of the way. Then it was time for runners, walkers and mountain biking enthusiasts to tackle a challenging 16km trail in the area, while the more reflective priests used the time revel in the peace and quiet of nature.
Besides golf, the priests also played five-aside soccer, tennis, squash, bowls, chess, morabaraba, draughts, and table-tennis. Others were just delighted at the opportunity to connect with old friends. Midday was punctuated by a Mass celebrated by Bishop Emeritus Patrick Mvemve of Klerksdorp and several priests, followed by a light lunch and health checks courtesy of retired Catholic nurses; head and shoulder massages; grooming by an onsite barber and cocktails. The evening ceremonies opened with a prayer by Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria, after which the now-ravenous guests tucked into a three-course dinner to the musical accompaniment of the Mzansi Jazz Band. But the highlight of the day was the evening prize-giving ceremony, the culmination of a Radio Veritas listener voting campaign conducted on air and on the Radio Veritas Facebook page. Fr Ben Mahlangu, prison chaplain in the archdiocese of Johannesburg, and Fr Sakhi Mofokeng of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference jointly won the Best Singing Priests award, while listeners voted Fr S’milo Mngadi of Vosloorus as Best Preacher, and Fr Malesela Dikgale of Soweto as Most Stylish. The Man of the Moment award was won jointly by Frs Peter Nguyen of Walkerville, Continued on page 2
he Catholic ministry of the Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) is a “life-giving apostolate” to the many seafarers and fishers it supports, according to Archbishop Jabulani Nxumalo of Bloemfontein The archbishop, who is the AoS bishop promoter in South Africa, underlined the continuing importance of the ministry to seafarers which he said “blunted the axe so that the pain is not so sharp” of seafarers and fishers suffering in dramatic but not unknown cases of abandonment and physical abuse. He made the remarks during his opening address at AoS’ Indian Ocean regional heads conference held in Cape Town. The archbishop, who hails from the port city of Durban, noted how through the AoS ministry, we uniquely hear of the “agonies and hopes of many and also of what the grace of God can achieve”. Following the conference, AoS has drawnup a new regional plan to improve communications between its port chaplains and with the media to ensure the voice and conditions of exploited seafarers and fishers are heard. “Cases of abandonment and abuse are often overlooked, so AoS has come up with a new strategy to make sure these incidents are better referred from port to port. Often AoS port chaplains are the first welfare point of contact,” said Fr Jacques-Henri David, AoS regional coordinator. The regional heads are also working to encourage states to ratify International Labour Organisation’s Work in Fishing Convention of 2007 (No. 188). “We also agreed to look at providing support for particular seafarers centres, schooling for fishers’ children and enhancing the structure of AoS in South Africa,” Fr David said.
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he conference—which included delegates from Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles and South Africa—was held to review the work of AoS in the region, particularly in its support of fishing communities in the area. Delegates heard about a range of challenges and problems in the region, such as climate change affecting fishing seasons, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing— particularly by industrialised countries fishing huge amounts and therefore dramatically affecting artisanal fishing communities.
archbishop Jabulani Nxumalo of Bloemfontein and a group of sea chaplains celebrate Mass during a regional conference of the apostleship of the Sea in Cape town. There were also cases of seafarers being abandoned. In some instances it took nearly two years before they were repatriated, sometimes without due wages being paid. The conference also heard tragic cases of seafarers being victims of human trafficking. “AoS is one of the oldest global fishers’ organisations in the world, doing impressive work in the region, such as the provision of schooling for fishers’ children in Madagascar, providing support with fishers’ wives’ associations and working alongside fishers, many of whom work as a means of survival in dugouts or boats with small motors,” said Fr David. “The challenge for fishers at this level is to have their voice heard, especially when fishing grounds are exploited by industrial fishing, and AoS works to get their concerns known,” he said. “There are still many places where seafarers work without valid employment contracts and seafarers in the region who cannot return to work having been traumatised after being captured by pirates.” The meeting also heard that there are plans to establish schools in South Africa and Kenya to train prosecutors on how to handle cases of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. A moving memorial Mass was celebrated by the conference delegates and seafarers in Cape Town port for recently deceased AoS national director Terry Whitfield, who had laboured for decades to ensure the work of AoS prospered in the region. n For more information visit www.apostleshipofthesea.org.za
S outher n C ross Pilgrimage HOLY LAND • ROME •ASSISI • CAIRO 25 Aug - 8 Sept 2017 • Led by Archbishop William Slattery OFM For more information or to book, please contact Gail info@fowlertours.co.za or 076 352-3809
www.fowlertours.co.za/slattery