171227 by The Southern Cross

The

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

December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

Serving the forgotten out at sea

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Reg no. 1920/002058/06

This was Pope Francis’ year 2017

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no 5064

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Were Catholics persecuted in South Africa?

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Now the bad news

The cost of living never goes down, and prices go up. This goes too for The Southern Cross. So, after TWO YEARS of holding our cover price steady, as of next week your Catholic newspaper will cost only 50c more. So for just R8,50 you will still receive the usual quality of Catholic news and views — great quality for the price of a can of cola or a half-eaten slice of pizza or a shoelace. We thank you now already for your continued loyalty!

Church stands with women BY ERIn CARELSE

HE Justice and Peace Commission (J&P) of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has partnered with UN Women through its HeForShe campaign and is working with J&P activists from various dioceses to take a stand against women abuse. The HeForShe gender-equality programme, which was launched at the UN in September 2014 by the executive director of UN Women, former South African DeputyPresident Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, aims to engage both men and boys in removing the social and cultural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving their potential. J&P is working with six Catholic women—three from Pretoria and three from Mpumalanga—who have decided to take action against the rape problem in their communities. “The women accompany rape survivors from the moment of reporting the case at the police station to the conclusion of the case in court. They have received the training necessary to do the accompaniment, and they have also assigned a social worker who mentors and coordinates their work,” said Fr Stan Muyebe OP, director of J&P. Currently, the paralegals are accompanying 40 women who are rape survivors and are in various stages of the court process. They operate in partnership with police stations: Rietgat and Soshanguve police stations in Pretoria, as well as Masoyi and Matsulu police stations in Mpumalanga. The Matsulu police station, in appreciation of the work by the paralegals, has created a furnished office for them to use. In their work, the paralegals also influence a change in the way the justice system handles rape cases.

The

Fr Muyebe said that before their intervention, there was a lot of police and perpetrator harassment during bail applications, and long turnover periods. As a result of the intervention, these have been addressed in the four police stations and magistrates’ courts. “Protection orders are now being enforced against perpetrators who are out on bail and are fast-tracked. Most are now concluded within eight months. Rape cases have had very low conviction rates, but this is also changing. Last year, eight cases were concluded in the project’s field of activity, resulting in convictions,” he said. To ensure conviction, they monitor the collection of forensic evidence and prepare to be quality witnesses in court. Loss of police cooperation is an ongoing problem, sometimes as a result of corruption. In 2017, the J&P group handled ten cases of missing police dockets (six in Pretoria and four in Mpumalanga). In one case, they received threats when they exposed the corruption and the missing of a police docket. Social pressures add to the problem. “In some areas in Mpumalanga, there is pressure on rape survivors not to report their cases to the police. Sometimes, traditional leaders put pressure on the women to have cases dealt with in the family and in the traditional courts where such cases are subjected to mediation as an alternative to litigation. This problem has not yet been resolved,” Fr Muyebe explained. J&P has started an informal discussion with the chief magistrate of Mpumalanga to explore the possibility of entering into a memorandum of understanding with traditional leaders. The memorandum would place a moral obligation on traditional leaders to refer all rape cases to the police and the courts. Continued on page 3

Firefighters and La Befana—an imaginary woman who according to Italian folklore bring gifts to children on Epiphany Day—slide down from the terrace above the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence. The Epiphany is usually celebrated on January 6, which this year is on a Saturday. In the Southern African region the feast is transferred to the nearest Sunday, which is on January 7. See next week’s issue for an explanation of the feast of the Epiphany, what it means and how it is celebrated in other countries. (Photo: Maurizio Degl’ Innocenti, EPA/CnS)

Don’t look for pope on WhatsApp BY JunnO AROChO ESTEvES

HILE the thought of receiving a blessing by text from Pope Francis could have millions of mobile users glued to their smartphones, the Vatican spokesman said that isn’t his style. Commenting on false media reports, spokesman Greg Burke has confirmed that Pope Francis doesn’t use the instant messaging platform WhatsApp. “He does not send messages or blessings through this medium,” he said. The Pope Francis Foundation, a Catholic organisation in Argentina, this month announced the launch of “Wabot-Papa Francisco”, a chatbot that allows users to contact the pope and keep up-to-date with his schedule, reported the Argentine newspaper La Nacion. The foundation said the chatbot would respond to users’ queries through texts, images, video, audio and documents. “You can also have a simulated chat with His Holiness. Wabot technology allows the entire Catholic community or people of any other faith to interact with the pope,” the foundation claimed. The pope, the organisation added, “is a technological man, he believes that technology can help many people and understands that it is the future of communications”.

S outher n C ross

in association with the Diocese of Klerksdorp

Feast day at shrine of OUR LADY OF KNOCK, 17-28 PAPAL MASS in Dublin*, August 2018 and much more...

Pope Francis uses a tablet in 2016 but has called himself “a disaster with machines”. (Photo: L’Osservatore Romano) In his 2016 World Communications Day message, Pope Francis acknowledged that emails, text messages, social networks and chats can be “fully human forms of communication”. Despite his favourable attitude towards new forms of communication, the pope has also admitted that he is “a dinosaur” when it comes to technology. During a Google Hangout conversation with youths in 2015, the pope said: “I’m a disaster with machines. I don’t know how to work a computer.” It is said, however, that the pope personally authorises tweets sent out on his hugely popular Twitter account.—CNS

CATHOLIC IRELAND A pilgrimage with Bishop Victor Phalana

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The Southern Cross, December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

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The Southern Cross, December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

Pitch in for the homeless Salesians give training, hope to jobless youth V W BY ERIn CARELSE

OLUNTEERS donated time this festive season by helping out in the kitchen at the Nkosinathi project for the homeless run by Durban’s Denis Hurley Centre (DHC)—and there is still time to be part of the volunteer group. Nkosinathi (“God is with us” in isiZulu) provides breakfast and a cooked lunch five days a week— that’s 250–350 meals a day and more than 4 000 a month. Although some of the food is bought, the project makes use of food donations and special agreements with local traders as well as donations of cash. Nkosinathi also provides showers and clean secondhand clothes to help homeless people improve their sense of dignity, and refers clients to its clinic for health problems as well as to other outreach projects. Students volunteer too—Year 4 social work students, as part of Unisa’s Bright Site initiative, interview clients one-on-one to help identify their needs. And thanks to a partnership with the Grey Street mosque and the SA National Zakah Fund, Christian and Muslim volunteers work side by side to help the homeless. The DHC speaks out on behalf of

Some of the volunteers for the soup kitchen at Durban’s Denis hurley Centre who came in for an especially memorable Christmas morning, including a dentist who brought chocolates for all the homeless. The soup kitchen is appealing for volunteers during the holidays.

the homeless community and helps them to advocate for their own rights. For example, an office at the centre is provided for a committee of the homeless, and the DHC organises forums for homeless people and the police to meet. It also plays a leading role in a city-sponsored research project on homelessness with the Human Sciences Research Council. Nkosinathi gladly welcomes volunteers. You can just pop in for any amount of time between 8:00 and 13:00, and cooks Tracy, Gcina, and Nonhlanhla will find something

useful for you to help with. Volunteers are needed especially during the holiday season, when many regulars are on leave. There is still a need for volunteers on Wednesday, December 27; Thursday, December 28; Saturday, December 30; Sunday, December 31; and Tuesday, January 2. There is safe parking behind Emmanuel cathedral and below Victoria Street Market. n For more information contact Sr Cathy at cathy@denishurleycentre. org or on 083 956 3726.

BY ERIn CARELSE

ITH an unemployment rate of over 50%, and 40% of adults in South Africa having no schooling or only primary schooling, the Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP) work to create opportunities for youth at risk in Cape Town. SIYP offer training, basic education, and support with jobs. They also provide over 40 000 meals a year as well as school uniforms, school supplies, and much-needed life skills. “Our job is to give them opportunities,” said SIYP chief executive Hilton Nyirenda. “They are deserving of our full love and support.” Mr Nyirenda said Don Bosco, founder of the Salesian order, believed human values and loving kindness would change the world. “Being there for a young person in need is critical—a smile, a small act of kindness,” he said. Mihlali Gaika, for example, a student at the Salesians’ SIYP, lives in a neighbourhood where gangs, drugs, and violence are an everyday reality. She was struggling at her previous school, and unable to get the extra time with teachers she needed.

Mihlali Gaika, a student at the Salesians’ SIYP, whose big wish is for a pair of black shoes. Her wishlist for this Christmas consisted of just one item: shoes. Specifically black, which happens to be her favourite colour, and so that she can look nice when she attends church or visits family and friends. Mr Nyirenda said SIYP need donations to buy uniforms, books, lunches, bus fares, and more. “Many young people come here hoping to find a job and they count on us to make that happen. By donating to just one child, you will change their lives. It is that simple.” n To meet some of the SIYP students who have shared their stories, visit www.salesianyouth.org.za/donate -today/support-appeal/

Church campaign stands with women Continued from page 1 In other regions of South Africa, taverns have taken up the fight to counteract violence against women. In Klerksdorp, J&P activists and 68 tavern owners have decided to break their silence against the rape problem in their communities as part of the HeForShe campaign, as The Southern Cross has previously reported. Activities are organised that seek to prevent rape incidence in the community, including a community policing forum and neighbourhood watch. The model of taverns will soon be implemented in Kroonstad and Port Elizabeth. “Tavern owners and J&P activists seek to influence a change

of patriarchal attitudes using community dialogues,” Fr Muyebe said. There are currently 54 stories of change that indicate a shift in attitude, and these will soon be published in a booklet as a tool to inspire other men to consider a change of attitude and behaviour, he added. A survey to measure the extent to which the HeForShe campaign’s intervention has changing patriarchal attitudes among the men in the community found that it has had a significant effect on topics relating to rape myths, such as “He didn’t mean to”, “It was not really rape”, and “She lied”. Conversely, areas that are in most need of an adjustment by the programme were the rape myths

that “If a girl initiates kissing or hooking up, she should not be surprised if a guy assumes she wants to have sex”, “If both people are drunk, it can’t be rape”, and “If a girl doesn’t physically fight back, you can’t really say it was rape”. In Klerksdorp, J&P activists organise solidarity marches when the magistrate’s courts in their areas have a court appearance on rape. In Witbank, Fr Linda Zwane has started a forum of pastors responding to the social justice issues in their communities, including violence against women. n For more information on the HeForShe campaign, or assistance in organising the campaign, contact Robert Mafinyori at rmafinyori@sacbc. org.za

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The Southern Cross, Decemmber 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

INTERNATIONAL

‘Shine on and off field’ BY MATThEW FOWLER

FTER more than four years in office, Pope Francis probably has one of the world’s largest collections of authentic soccer-team shirts. He receives them and other sports paraphernalia during meetings with athletes where he encourages them to be models of virtue for their younger fans. But the high-profile visits are just a hint of the work the Vatican does each day to promote values that should shine on and off the field. Since 2004, the Vatican office now known as the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life has had a special section dedicated to sports. Santiago Perez de Camino, a 31year-old Spanish layman, heads the office. Mr Perez studied law at the Complutense University of Madrid, his hometown. He specialised in international relations, hoping someday to become a diplomat for the Spanish government. Mr Perez said his role as head of the Vatican sports and culture section has a “practical and diplomatic” purpose as he strives to build relationships between the Church and the sports community. One of those relationships is with the International Olympic Committee. For the 2016 summer games in Brazil, “we worked very closely with the archdiocese of Rio

Football legend Diego Maradona gives Pope Francis a signed Argentinian national jersey. The pope might well have one of the world’s largest collection of replica jerseys. (Photo: L’Osservatore Romano) de Janeiro and the IOC to allow all the Catholic chaplains who travel with the national teams—like Poland, Italy, Germany, Austria, etc—to enter into the Olympic Village,” Mr Perez said. “We also worked to promote the construction of the chapel inside the Olympic Village after receiving funding from Adveniat, a German foundatiom.”

The office also promotes and organises initiatives on a much smaller scale, events that “evangelise and form values and virtues within younger generations though the practice of sport”, he said. “One of the programmes I like most was the ‘Holy Land marathon’, which was a race that we used to organise from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.” The race brought together Christians, Muslims and Jews, providing a forum for interreligious dialogue and “to promote Christian ideals in society through sports”. Sports are a “unique tool to connect society and the Church”, he said. The Church must connect with society through popular culture such as music, art and sports, he said. “The Church must be like a battlefield hospital. It must go to the peripheries and to the people, not expect the people to come to the Church,” he said. As a “diplomat”, Mr Perez also organises international seminars at the Vatican to promote values through sports. He maintains highly important relationships with organisations such as the United Nations, International Olympic Committee and the Council of Europe. These relationships allow the Church to promote practical guidelines that emphasise the respect of human dignity and Christian values.—CNS

Author on meals with John Paul II BY CInDY WOODEn

OR some 25 years as pope, St John Paul II would invite people to his table each day—sharing breakfast, lunch, dinner and conversation with a wide variety of cardinals, bishops, theologians, writers and friends. George Weigel, the US author and scholar, was one of those guests on dozens of occasions, and it was over a meal that he asked Pope John Paul the questions that form the core of Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II, published in 1999. The meals and conversations continued, providing information for the sequel, The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II—The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years, the Legacy, published in 2010. His last dinner with St John Paul was on December 15, 2004. Now Mr Weigel is sharing the mood, anecdotes and reflections on the table talk in the more personal Lessons in Hope: My Unexpected Life with St John Paul II. “What people really wanted was not more heavily footnoted, annotated scholarly biography,” Mr Weigel said. “What people wanted

were stories, stories that would make him come alive again.” Interviewed in Rome, Mr Weigel said he decided “to tell the story of our conversations”, which took place over a dozen years. But for that to make sense, he said, he also had to write about events and experiences in his life that prepared him to understand the history, philosophy and theology discussed around the table.

Of course, he said, the conversations also included both lighter moments and personal ones, such as when Pope John Paul asked how Mr Weigel’s mother was doing after his father died. Sharing a meal and a table was important to John Paul, Mr Weigel said, because he “understood that a pope who relies only on the official channels of information—nuncios, curia, bishops’ conferences—is not going to get all the information he needs because that information is being filtered bureaucratically”. “The table rather than the desk was his favourite point of encounter,” the author said. The conversations gave the pope different points of view on the situation of the Church, on issues of theology and on political and social realities around the world, Mr Weigel said. Pope John Paul would ask his guests their opinions about books, films, world leaders and political situations. “He was the most insatiably curious man I have ever met,” Mr Weigel said. “He always wanted to know what was happening.”—CNS

Luigj Mila, general-secretary of Albania’s Justice and Peace Commission, at the former Spac prison in Albania. (Photo: Oscar Durand/CnS)

Church heals Albania’s old communist scars BY OSCAR DuRAnD

LTHOUGH empty for almost 30 years, the walls of the Spac prison in Albania still show evidence of the horrors that took place there. “God, when will this finish? I cannot take it anymore” reads a prisoner’s handwritten message in a room that housed 54 men. On its dilapidated walls, it is still possible to see the marks left by columns of bunk beds. This notorious and feared former prison is at the centre of the efforts of Albania’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission to help the country deal with its communist past. During more than four decades, Albania had one of the harshest, most repressive and isolated communist regimes. Contact with other countries was strictly forbidden and borders closed. Organised religion was officially banned in 1967, turning Albania into the first atheist state. Dissidents, or any considered a threat to the regime, were persecuted, killed or sent to prison.

The communist regime finally collapsed in 1991, almost six years after the death of its leader, Enver Hoxha. Luigj Mila, general-secretary of the commission who has worked with it since its founding by Franciscan Fathers in 1996, said that for the commission, the Spac prison was the most adequate place to launch a remembrance project to create a place of memory for the thousands of people who were persecuted, imprisoned and executed during the communist regime. Jesuit Father Gjergj Simoni was a prisoner in Spac during part of his 10-year sentence for “writing literature against the regime”. Although he was not a priest at the time, he was secretly studying to become one. His dreams of priesthood became reality years later, when, in April 1991, he became the first Albanian priest to be ordained after the fall of the communist regime. “Neglecting the past is very dangerous,” said Mr Mila. “If you don’t know it, you can repeat the same mistakes in the future.”—CNS

Vatican launches news site BY CInDY WOODEn

HE Vatican has launched its new multimedia communications website, although the Vatican Radio and Vatican Television Centre sites will stay accessible as archives. vaticannews.va is the result of a process of consolidation of audio, video and text resources into an editorial multimedia centre—a single structure producing content in several languages on a variety of platforms. According to a statement from Mgr Dario Vigano, prefect of the Secretariat for Communication, eventually the multimedia centre will include about 350 employees drawn from the 40 language programmes of

the former Vatican Radio and from the nine institutions—the radio, Vatican newspaper, Vatican television production centre, Vatican printing press, etc—that now form part of the secretariat. The multimedia centre will begin its work with 70 people working in six languages: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. They will focus on four areas: the pope, the Vatican, the Church and the world. Greg Burke, director of the Vatican press office, said the new website and production centre are simply the “first visible and concrete expression” of the unified approach to communications requested by the pope and cardinals.—CNS

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INTERNATIONAL

The Southern Cross, Decemmber 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

Pope: ‘Christians need the light of Sunday’ BY CAROL GLATz

UST like a plant needs sun and nourishment to survive, every Christian needs the light of Sunday and the sustenance of the Eucharist to truly live, Pope Francis said. “How can we carry out the Gospel without drawing the energy needed to do it, one Sunday after another, from the limitless source of the Eucharist,” he said during his weekly general audience. “We don’t go to Mass to give something to God, but to receive from him that which we truly need,” the pope said. Sunday Mass is the time and place Christians receive the grace and strength to remain faithful to his word, follow his commandment to love others and be credible witnesses in the world. The pope continued his series of audience talks on the Mass in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall. In his catechesis, the pope responded to the question of why it is so important to go to Mass on Sundays and why it is not enough just to live a moral life, loving others.

Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead his general audience in Paul vI hall at the vatican. (Photo: Tony Gentile, Reuters/CnS) Sunday Mass is not simply an obligation, he said. “We Christians need to take part in Sunday Mass because only with the grace of Jesus, with his presence alive in us and among us, can we put into

practice his commandment and, in this way, be his credible witnesses. “Just like a plant needs the sun and nourishment to live, every Christian needs the Sunday Eucharist to truly live,” he said. “What kind of Sunday is it for a Christian if an encounter with the Lord is missing?” he asked in his main talk. Unfortunately, in many secularised countries, the Christian meaning of the day has been lost and is no longer “illuminated by the Eucharist” or lived as a joyous feast in communion with other parishioners and in solidarity with others, he said. Also often missing is the importance of Sunday as a day of rest, which is a sign of the dignity of living as children of God, not slaves, he said. “Without Christ, we are condemned to be dominated by the fatigue of daily life with all its worries and the fear of tomorrow. The Sunday encounter with the Lord gives us the strength to live today with confidence and courage and to move forward with hope,” he said.—CNS

Ex-priest gets life for 1960 murder BY ADELAIDE MEnA

EARLY 60 years after Irene Garza disappeared after going to confession in her Texas hometown, the last person who saw her—who was a priest at the time—has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison. John Feit, an 85-year-old former priest, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Ms Garza on Holy Saturday, April 16, 1960. Irene Garza was a 25-year-old schoolteacher and former beauty queen, and a figure in the Catholic and Mexican-American communities near Brownsville. Friends and neighbours remember her as a young woman of faith and a member of the Legion of Mary, “Remember the last time we talked, I told you I was afraid of death?” Ms Garza wrote to her friend just days before her death. The letter was later published by Texas Monthly. “Well, I think I’m cured. You see, I’ve been going to Communion and Mass daily and you can’t imagine the courage and faith and happiness it has given me.” Six days later, Ms Garza went to

Irene Garza, who was murdered by then-priest John Feit. confession at Sacred Heart Catholic church before Easter services. She never returned. Her body was discovered days later in a ditch. Police determined that she had been raped, physically restrained and beaten for several days before suffocating to death. Feit, who was a 27-year-old visiting priest at the time, was a main suspect early on in the case: he was the priest who heard Ms Garza’s confession, and his portable slide viewer was found alongside the victim’s body. Suspicion grew after Feit was

charged and pleaded “No contest” to assault and the attempted rape of another young woman, Maria Guerra. Ms Guerra was attacked while she was praying at another church in a nearby Texas town only three weeks before Ms Garza’s death. However, Feit was not charged with Ms Garza’s murder until over five decades later. Feit left the priesthood in 1972 and moved to Arizona. After he left the priesthood, two priests told the authorities of their suspicions that Feit murdered Ms Garza, with one claiming the priest had scratches on his face after Ms Garza’s disappearance, and another saying that Feit told the priest that he had murdered a young woman, and offered details on how he committed the crime. At the time, however, the thenpriest (who himself also left the priesthood) did not know the crime Feit described was Ms Garza’s murder. After the priests’ statements to authorities in the 2000s, the case was reopened in 2015.—CNA

Bishops: End slavery in Libya BY PETER AJAYI DADA

TRIO of Nigerian bishops condemned the enslavement of Nigerians who travelled to Libya for work, calling the practice a horrific abuse of human dignity. Bishop Joseph Bagobiri of Kafanchan, retired Archbishop Alaba Job of Ibadan and retired Bishop Julius Adelakun of Oyo called on the Nigerian government to act on behalf of Nigerian nationals in Libya and elsewhere who have been victimised by modern-day slave traders. They also suggested the government discourage Nigerians from travelling to other countries for work because of dangers posed by the illicit labour market. Their comments came after Nigerian officials had repatriated 3 000 Nigerians from Libya following reports of inhumane treatment in the North Africa nation. Bishop Bagobiri expressed concern that Nigerians were willing to

pay as much as R2 000 to travel to Libya and other countries to seek “greener pastures”. “If each of such individuals had invested these amounts positively and creatively in Nigeria in viable business opportunities, they would have become employers of labour,” Bishop Bagobiri said. Instead, he said, they are “subjected to slavery and other forms of inhuman treatment by Libyans”. The bishop also urged government officials to correct misperceptions among young people that opportunities were better elsewhere. “The Nigerian government should make them realise that there are more prospects for survival in Nigeria than we think exist in Europe and other places,” Bishop Bagobiri said. “In the midst of the wealth and resources we have in this country,” he added, “Nigerians should not become beggarly and only decide to fly out of Nigeria in search

of the elusive greener pastures.” Bishop Adelakun echoed Bishop Bagobiri in urging the government to encourage young people to unite to build the Nigeria of their dreams through hard work and perseverance. He called for the government to provide job opportunities for youth, saying that would discourage them from leaving the country. For Archbishop Job, the selling of Nigerians into slavery was “very horrific and really bad”. While acknowledging that there was nothing bad about relocating to another country, he warned young people to be aware of the conditions and challenges they are likely to face elsewhere as foreign nationals. He decried the mistreatment of Nigerians that in some cases had led to the loss of life and called on the government to defend Nigerian nationals in Libya as a step to end slave trading.—CNS

Alexander McPherson portrays St Francis of Assisi in a scene from the documentary The Sultan and the Saint. (Photo: Jonathan Mount, uPF/CnS)

Franciscans help make Crusades documentary BY MARk PATTISOn

MOMENT in time that has been captured in art has now been captured on film. The encounter in 1219 between St Francis of Assisi and Malek alKamil, the sultan of Egypt, during yet another flashpoint in the long history of the Crusades—the subject of a famous fresco in Assisi, Italy— has been made into a documentary, The Sultan and the Saint. Not surprisingly, members of the order St Francis founded participated in the documentary’s making. It is the story of the saint leaving Assisi to cross enemy lines and meet with the sultan in Damietta, Egypt, during the Fifth Crusade. The two discussed interfaith conflict, war and the search for peace. Franciscan Father Michael Cusato had written four scholarly articles on the encounter. “That’s how they found me,” he said of the filmmakers. Fr Cusato said his input on the developing script was valuable. “It took quite a bit of dialogue back and forth. They’re neither Franciscans nor do they know our history,” he said. “People involved in the project are trying to read this encounter from the perspective of their own religious tradition,” while he specialises in the medieval Franciscan world, said Fr Cusato. “The sources upon which the encounter are based are not exactly straightforward historical sources. They are called hagiographical sources. They were written about

Francis for his canonisation,” he said. “A person like myself spends his career fine-tuning the lens through which you read these texts. You can’t read them as history, but you can derive history out of them. I think that’s been one of the major revelations that developed in the course of doing the script for the film.” The Sultan and the Saint could serve as a model for interreligious dialogue today, Fr Cusato said: “I think that is precisely the purpose of the producers of the film. I believe the company’s called Unity Productions, and they are a group of Muslim individuals whose raison d’etre is really to present a very different view of Muslims, than what is bandied about in the popular press. “It is a decidedly negative version and vision of Islam,” he said. “It kind of reminded us Franciscans into remembering that in our own tradition, we have a rather unique story about how Francis met the sultan. They had a conversation under the tent of the sultan, and we take the tack in the film, that both men were transformed by the encounter.” A second Franciscan, Fr Michael Calabria, was interviewed on camera for the documentary. He said it is because of St Francis’ encounter with the sultan that the Franciscan order has had an ongoing presence in the Holy Land. “This is the real beginning of a consistent Franciscan presence in the Holy Land and a consistent Franciscan engagement with Islamic authorities there,” he added.—CNS

The Southern Cross, December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor: Günther Simmermacher

God and temptation

HE secular media and social networks became overexcited again this month about another comment by Pope Francis: this time the Holy Father supposedly proposed to change the Lord’s Prayer. On an Italian TV programme, Pope Francis said the sixth petition of the Lord’s Prayer—“Lead us not into temptation”—was a “poor translation”, explaining that God, as our loving father, would not place stumbling blocks by way of temptations in our way to test us. He also praised a recently implemented amendment in the French version, which now is rendered as “let us not enter into temptation” (previously it read, “do not submit us to temptation”). The trouble with translations is that a lot can get lost in them. For one thing, Pope Francis spoke in Italian in a context particular to Italy, where the latest Catholic Bible translation, approved by the country’s bishops in 2001, already takes into account the pope’s linguistic objection. The line now reads, “do not abandon us to temptation” (it still awaits incorporation into the Italian missal). All translations are shaded by a diversity of factors, including the context of a word or phrase in its original, its meaning in the context of the language it is translated into, social and cultural biases of the translator, linguistic nuances and so on. Translations are also subject to techniques and the principles that guide them. The Church saw the latter in action with the two post-Vatican II translations of the English missal. First, in the 1973 missal, the translators used the approach of dynamic equivalence, which allows the interpretation of certain words to navigate linguistic, stylistic and contextual constraint. The current missal uses the formal equivalence approach, which requires the literal translation of words from the Latin source text. By suggesting that the wording of the petition “and lead us not into temptation” fails to reflect the nature of God the Father, Pope Francis places himself in the dynamic equivalence camp.

Unfortunately there is no version of the prayer that Jesus taught us in Aramaic, his own language. We therefore cannot know how accurately the evangelists Matthew and Luke reflected the original from Jesus’ mouth into Greek print. Their Greek translations of the lost Aramaic are the closest we have to the original Lord’s Prayer. According to the worldrenowned scripture scholar and Southern Cross columnist Fr Nicholas King SJ, the Greek word at dispute here can be translated into English not only as “temptation” but also as “testing”. Understood that way, those who are troubled by the idea of God “leading us into temptation” can see the sixth petition as an entreaty for help in not failing the test of discipleship. By way of analogy, we may imagine a father leaving out a cupcake unattended. His intention is not to tempt his child into stealing the cake but he is nevertheless aware of the possibility that the child might be tempted to do so. He is not leading the child into temptation, but for the child there is a moral choice: to steal the cake or to do the right thing. And the child must know which decision will displease the father. That is a test we are faced with all the time in our lives: the challenge to resist temptation and sin which displeases our Father. And so in the Our Father we pray that God may lead us away from temptation. It is good advice not to get too hung up on the exact words that articulate our faith. Fr King, who has translated the entire Bible into English, counsels that “all translations, especially biblical translations, fail”. He explains: “The mystery of God—and the mystery that is the heart of humanity—are always and necessarily just beyond anything that we can possibly grasp. Any translation that promises to clear up all your difficulties with the Bible is a liar and a cheat.” The good news is that this insight liberates us from the details, giving us the space to prayerfully reflect on the Lord’s Prayer and the scriptures, and turn our minds to what it really is that God is telling us personally.

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.

Let’s be peacemakers in 2018

N a familiar Garfield cartoon by Jim Davis, Jon says: “There is so much going on in the world, it’s hard to keep up,” to which Garfield the cat replies: “Nonsense. Just do as I do: ignore it!” Our country, our continent, our world are like this today, and there are so many things we need to pray about, as we often cannot help in any other way except by asking God’s almighty help. But do we? December 16 was the Day of Reconciliation in South Africa, and January 1 is the World Day of Prayer for Peace. Let us pray the Rosary (or even a decade), the Fatima Prayer, and: “O God of justice and love and mercy, bless us, the people of our country (South Africa), our continent (Africa) and the world, and help us to live in your mercy, love, justice and peace. Grant us gentleness of spirit and understanding of heart so that we may enfold your earth in lasting friendship and peace. “Sacred Heart of Jesus, we put all our trust in you. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. All the angels,

We salute Church abuse survivor

HE sexual violence survivor’s letter titled “Abuse: a survivor’s view” (December 6)) refers. It takes courage for survivors of gender-based violence to speak out, to break their silence. They become official whistleblowers who expose those who have violated the bodily integrity of another; those who disrespect the human dignity of others. They expose those who forget that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. They expose the deceit, lies and cover-ups that go with abuse of power. Time magazine has recognised such abuse whistleblowers, naming as 2017 Person of the Year “The Silence Breakers”, women who have spoken up about sexual assault in the United States. It is brave and courageous too for the anonymous letter writer to raise her voice against sexual violence in the Catholic Church. I salute her. The vision of our organisation, the South African Institute for Violence Prevention (SAIVP), a registered NPO/PBO, is to “ensure a cohesive and peaceful South African society for all who live in it”. I wish to offer our service and support to the anonymous survivor of sexual violence. Within our broad portfolio of criminal justice and human rights (headed by an advocate of the High

saints, martyrs and holy souls, and our brothers and sisters throughout the world, join in prayer with and for us. “St Francis of Assisi, help us to heal the earth and transform society not just by social justice but by changing hearts, mindsets and attitudes, including our own, with the prayer popularly attributed to you: Lord, make me an instrument (channel) of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love; where there is injury, let me bring pardon; where there is discord, let me bring harmony. “Grant that we may not so much seek to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, to receive sympathy as to give it—for it is in giving that we shall receive; in pardoning that we shall be pardoned; in forgetting ourselves that we shall find unending peace with others. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.” Let us pray often, alone or with others, and pass the prayer on through distributing copies and on social media to as many others as possible—let us be peacemakers and

Court of South Africa) and our portfolio on governance, justice and peace-building (headed by a Harvard law graduate with particular studies in sexual violence, law and social justice), we’ll be in a position to advise her and try to arrange for the required support to assist her regarding unresolved issues or concerns she may have. We have also launched our “Masikhulume—Let’s Talk” campaign, a peace initiative aiming to promote a culture of non-violence, respect, human rights, love and ubuntu. The programme includes discussion groups with women, other vulnerable groups, men, clergy and those affected by violence in general. First, it is appropriate for your correspondent to know that she has the right to lay a criminal charge against the alleged perpetrator priest. She holds the decision-making power to bring the alleged perpetrator priest to justice. She holds the power to reclaim her rights and ensure that the alleged perpetrator priest is properly 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

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investigated by an independent authority and brought before a court of law. Second, she has the right to institute a civil claim against the alleged perpetrator priest and, possibly, the Church. Third, she has the right to receive psychological support to facilitate healing and assist her to reclaim her life. She and all survivors of sexual abuse are welcome to contact our organisation for any support or service they may require. We are committed to the eradication of gender-based violence within all sectors of society, including the faith-based sector. The Catholic Church is not excluded from our work. Lastly, the Church in South Africa should open itself up towards anonymous complaints against it. The acceptance of a culture of whistleblowing as a policy approach to root out evil or wrongdoing in the Church is a modern system of information management and risk management. Such contributions are very resourceful when the data is carefully reflected upon. In today’s world of highly educated individuals, there would surely be someone within the congregation who could assist the Church leadership with an analysis of such contributions. Such action is part of a pro-active approach to prevent gender-based violence and put alternative strategies in place. Colleen Constable, CEO: SAIVP, Gauteng

PERSPECTIVES

Forgotten out at sea M ANY of us will have been travelling for pleasure over the Christmas season—to see friends, to go to holiday resorts, to spend some time relaxing, or just (like Joseph in the Gospel story) to return to our home towns for a family reunion. I hope that we are already conscious of and grateful to the people who are working so that we can travel for pleasure—the police, roadside assistance, staff at service stations and toll booths, even the much-maligned taxi drivers. However, there is one group whose work over the holiday season will probably go unnoticed since they work invisibly during Christmas and indeed throughout the year. That group are seafarers. Some 95% of world trade is carried by ship and, no matter how advanced the technology, ships still need manpower (and womanpower) in order to operate. From my window in Durban I can gaze out at the huge container ships on the horizon waiting to come into port. They look quite magical and festive as their lights twinkle on the horizon like so many Christmas trees. The reality of those ships is that they are dirty and difficult places to work. Yet without them, and the people who work on them, so much of what makes my holiday special would not be possible—no Chinese decorations to put on my tree, no Indian spices to flavour my food, no new American gadgets to waste the afternoons, no Scotch whisky to toast the New Year. And, of course, no oil to drive the vehicles that make everything else possible. Each year about 13 000 ships call into South African ports, notably Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. That equates to 260 000 seafarers whose work is utterly necessary for each of us even if we do not notice it. Their work is very lonely. Seafarers are terribly isolated, cut off from family usually for nine months at a time. They are working with others, but on a huge ship they are with fellow crew whom they have not chosen and who may not even speak their language. They do come into a port from time to time, but they almost certainly do not know anyone and they might be miles away from the town. Little wonder that suicide is many times higher for those working at sea rather than on-shore. At the same time, it is also one of the most dangerous occupations. Each year

1 000 people will lose their lives at sea because of accidents or storms; yet most of us take them and their work for granted. There is one group that does not take them for granted and of which we as a Catholic community can be very proud. It is called the Apostleship of the Sea and operates all around the world in over 300 ports. The Apostleship of the Sea (or AoS) worldwide has more than 1 000 port chaplains and volunteer ship-visitors who each year visit about 70 000 ships. That means nearly 1 million individual seafarers will meet someone with a friendly smile who’ll say: “How can we help you?” All seafarers need and deserve help, and all are served by the Apostleship of the Sea and the similar organisations of other churches engaged in this ministry.

s a Catholic community we have a particular role to play since historically so many seafarers are Catholic. In centuries past they would have been the Portuguese, Spanish or Italian explorers—think of Vasco da Gama or St Francis Xavier, both of whom touched the shores of Natal (which Da Gama named after the feast of the Nativity). Today many seafarers are their spiritual children, from Goa and the Philippines. Indeed, by some estimates on certain sea lanes, as many as 40% of the seafarers are Catholic. All seafarers can benefit from the very concrete ministry of the priests and lay volunteers who work with the Apostleship of the Sea. It can be as simple as having a friendly person to talk to, a chance to use

John Conway, a ship-visitor for the Apostleship of the Sea in Port Elizabeth. The organisation is always looking for more volunteers to visit ships.

The Southern Cross, December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

Raymond Perrier

Faith and Society

e-mail or a phone to contact family, local information about the port, assistance in buying something, receiving a small gift, accessing transport to get away from the ship for a few hours to breathe a different air. The Catholics on board also benefit from the religious ministry of the Apostleship of the Sea: someone to pray with them, give them spiritual reading materials, take them to Mass, or even to have a priest come on board and say Mass for them. We sometimes gripe if we have to travel a bit further for Mass or if Mass is not available at the exact time that suits us. Imagine if you were a faithful Catholic, as many of our seafarers are, and you were not able to attend Mass for months on end. Much of the work of Apostleship of the Sea is necessary but very ordinary. Tragically there are times when they also have to do extraordinary things. Their website has some humbling stories about how, for example, they have helped organise a Requiem Mass to pray for a deceased seafarer or comfort his colleagues. In some cases, a ship and its crew have been abandoned by an unscrupulous owner trying to avoid his moral or legal responsibilities and they are stuck in an unknown port, not knowing how they will get back to their homes. Keen readers may have noticed the launch of a volunteer recruitment campaign in the pages of The Southern Cross looking for more ship-visitors. With a larger team of locals, the Apostleship of the Sea can visit more ships and put a person from the Church in front of a seafarer to provide practical and faith support. AoS is also working to appoint a new national director following the tragic loss of long-standing director Terry Whitfield. The magi travelled on their ships of the desert to bring gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus. As you enjoy all the wonderful goods that have been brought to you from across the seas this Christmas-time, take a moment to say a prayer for the thousands of people whose hard work makes this possible. And, if you can, consider volunteering in 2018 or donating to help the Apostleship of the Sea support our seafarers. n For more information see www.apostleshipofthesea.org.za or e-mail john.green@stellamarismail.org.

How the parish can serve families Toni Rowland T HIS column has appeared monthly in The Southern Cross for quite a number of years, and it is great when one gets some feedback. Over the years, has the “Family Friendly” column brought a smile or maybe sometimes a frown to the faces of regular readers? At Christmas and New Year’s we do all wish for smiles and happy faces but there are also many families and individuals who are anything but in a smiley mood at this time. At Marfam’s recent AGM a new guest asked about our focus: “Are we a problemsolving, counselling resource, as there are many troubled families?” Addressing problem areas is one of the aspects of family ministry but most of the board agreed that evangelising, sharing the Good News of God’s love as family love should be our ideal. Our vision is to evangelise, catechise, build, strengthen, promote a step up from any level. I am reminded of a poster which my late husband Chris and I were given in our early years of family ministry. “The closer you get to God, the closer you get to one another,” it said. We also believed it worked the other way, “The closer you get to one another, the closer you get to God.” At an AGM one is allowed to do a little bit of back-patting but realism is also important. We wished that after 22 years Marfam would have been bigger, stronger, more widely known and accepted as a helpful resource for families themselves and for the Church as Family. Family ministry is not an easy apostolate. Pope Francis has called his reflection on family life today Amoris Laetetia, which means “The Joy of Love”. He stresses the importance of joyful love but also spends time addressing the stresses and strains in

Family Friendly

A stone at Pallotti Farm near Queenstown echoes the family theme of 2017. relationships and in living out God’s call expressed in Church teaching. As we end 2017 we look back on our theme, “Families walk the talk, act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God”. I think it carried a powerful message and I was intrigued recently to find it painted on a rock at the entrance of Pallotti Farm, a formation and retreat centre outside Queenstown. Dotted about the farm were other reminders, such as “God is Love”. It does help to be reminded of that as we go about our work and daily lives.

ooking ahead to 2018 we prepare to live out its theme: “Ubuntu—Families Do Matter”. So from years of experience here are some “family-friendly” suggestions for parishes and families at home. • Establish a family desk as part of the parish pastoral council and ensure the support of the parish priest. • Develop an overall family focus in all liturgy, catechesis, programmes and ministries. • Pray with and for parish families and their particular needs at every opportunity.

• Evaluate parish programmes and policies in terms of their impact on the different family types. • Survey family needs and involve them in planning for the diversity and developmental stages of families. • Offer formation for family spirituality—helping families to recognise they are a little domestic church and they, more than sodalities or SCCs, are the basic building blocks of the community. • Know who the parish families are. • Ask: “Who never comes and why?” • Be a good host at Sunday liturgy and parish events. • Allow families to be families—don’t break them up for parish or sodality activities. • Don’t make the parish the centre of all activities but promote smaller groupings. • Promote family prayer and faith-sharing at home, also where not all members are Catholic. • Focus on building family strengths for all family relationships. • Encourage families to reach out to other families. • Inform families about available services and programmes. • Above all, for families at home, promote the concept: “The family that prays and plays together stays together.” Hopefully this Christmas holiday season has had plenty of playing and a good dose of praying together too, and that these will be high on our agenda well into the New Year. That is my wish and prayer.

Antonius Spek

Point of Debate

Ending hunger is simple maths

HE biblical views on tithing got me thinking about what it would take to end world hunger, especially as we approach World Peace Day on January 1. A 2014 CIA report estimated that the Gross World Product (GWP) was $100 trillion. If we applied to that the biblical tithe of 10% we’d have $10 trillion to put to good use. But let’s allow for cost of production and so on. Let’s say the profit on GWP is 10%, which would be $10 trillion. If we apply the tithe to only the profit, we get $1 trillion. A United Nations report in 2016 estimated that there are close to 1 billion hungry people in the world. If we take the tithe calculated on profits as above, namely $1 trillion, and divide that by the 1 billion hungry people, we get $1 000 per person per year. Is this enough to feed one person? A 2008 UN report (compiled by UNICEF and others) said it needs $30 billion a year to resolve the global food crisis. Allowing for inflation this is the equivalent of $35 billion in 2017 (that’s $35 per person a year?). So if we take the $1 trillion “tithe” from the GWP profits and divide that by the $35 billion needed to solve world hunger, then we should be able to solve the global food crisis almost 30 times over. So what is the problem? Well, Forbes magazine in 2016 estimates global defence spending to be at $1 686 trillion a year. When you divide the global defence spending figure on arms by the world population of 7,3 billion people, then we spend $230 per person a year on armaments. Personally, if I had the choice, I would rather give that money to a person who is starving than spend it to kill some person I don’t know in a foreign land. The irony is that that person is probably “fighting” because he is hungry. The Bible repeatedly says we should turn our swords into plough blades and our spears into (pruning) shears. “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4). “And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more (Micah 4:3). “Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong” (Joel 3:10). So if we reduce global defence spending by just 2% and divert this money to food for the poor, we can resolve the world food crisis. Just 2%! It is estimated that 15% of total spending on weapons accounts for bribes. Jane’s defence budgets report of 2016 estimates a global total spend of $1,6 trillion on weapons/arms. So if we take $1,6 trillion on global arms spending and multiply by the estimated 15% that goes to bribes, then annual bribes equate to $240 billion a year. If we eliminate global defence spending bribery, then we can resolve the global food crisis almost seven times over (the balance can go to education and health). Remember, we—you and I—pay the taxes and vote for the politicians that spend it, so it is our money that they, the people we elected to represent us, are spending on arms rather than on food. I would rather feed somebody than kill them. What about you? n Antonius Spek writes from St Pius X parish in Waterkloof, Pretoria.

The Southern Cross, December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

COMMUNITY De La Salle holy Cross College high School in victory Park, Johannesburg, announced its new councillors for 2018. The headboy (left) is nicholas Leeming and the headgirl Tasneem Sallie. The outgoing councillors lit ceremonial candles and handed over their badges to the incoming group.

The French Congolese choir of Sacred heart parish in Green Point, Cape Town, is seen with parish priest Fr Andrew Cox.

holy Rosary Primary School in Edenvale, Johannesburg, put on a nativity play by foundation phase pupils.

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Girls at Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School in Durban north (left) celebrated their First Communion.

A fundraiser for the Marian shrine in the Magaliesberg was held at Gold Reef City in Johannesburg, where guests saw the show Divas Who Rock. Among the guests were (from left) Frs Jorge Guerra CS of La Rochelle, John Thompson SDB of Robertsham/Booysens, Luke Okwaraudu of Coronationville, and Tshepo Lekoko of Turffontein. (Photo: Alexis Santana Callea)

Father Christmas visited Little Eden’s homes for the profoundly intellectually disabled at Edenvale and Bapsfontein in Gauteng, handing wrapped gifts to all 300 residents. Young Xolane wrote a special note for Father Christmas.

PRICE CHECK

Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Benoni, Johannesburg archdiocese, led by Carmelite Fr Arwin Tauro, presented a nativity play.

The valedictory Mass at Assumption Convent School in Germiston, Johannesburg, was followed by an academic awards ceremony. Certificates and trophies were presented to Grade 12 achievers. The school’s dux was Aliah Abrahams and the second dux Jessica Gerber.

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Thousands prayed for SA Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban and SACBC secretary-general Hermenegild Makoro CPS (behind the cardinal) are joined by the Mini World Youth Day Presidium and members of the organising committee during a site visit to the Durban Exhibition Centre where the region’s youth is gathering from December 6-10. Some 3 650 pilgrims are signed up to participate in the event. MWYD can be followed on Facebook (MWYDDurban), Twitter: (@MWYD_Durban) and Instagram (mwyd_durban). See miniworldyouthday.co.za for the full programme. (Photo: Fr Paul Tatu CSS)

Hello to 4000 new readers

ITH this issue we welcome the 4000 Catholics who are receiving The Southern Cross in their pilgrim packs at Mini World Youth Day. For some, this may be the first time that they see The Southern Cross. This newspaper is the only national Catholic weekly in South Africa, and is read throughout Southern Africa and as far afield as Zambia. The Southern Cross has been published since 1920, and is sold in parishes and by subscription. It is available in print format as well as digitally in PDF format. If your church does not sell The Southern Cross, please ask your parish pastoral council or parish priest to place a weekly order for you and for interested parishioners. You can also subscribe to the paper edition or the digital issue (see panel ad on page 8 for details). A subscription to the digital edition gives you access to our archives going back to 2010. To subscribe go to scross.co.za/subscribe or contact Michelle at subscriptions@ scross.co.za (Michelle can also help parishes get weekly orders of The Southern Cross). The Southern Cross has a lively website with

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MWYD articles Pilgrims and readers who missed last week’s issue with our pre-MWYD coverage can catch up with it. We are making the edition of November 29 to December 5 digitally available at www.scross.co.za/2017/12/freescross17112. No log-ins required—just go there and grab the paper! Among the many great articles is our profile of Thandeka Dube-Ndhlovu, who co-wrote the MWYD anthem “The Mighty One”.

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BY ERIN CARELSE

ATHOLICS have hailed the National Day of Prayer for South Africa at the Soccer City (or FNB Stadium) in Johannesburg, with the bishops’ communication officer saying the event was a clear sign that God comes first in the lives of many people. “We sincerely thank all who were a part of this ‘dawn of a new history’, and all who were with us in spirit to pray for South Africa,” said Fr Paul Tatu CSS, communications officer if the Southern African Catholics Bishops’ Conference. Leaders of diverse faith-based organisations and people from all walks of life gathered in the Soccer City in a show of unity. The purpose of the day was to pray for unity in South Africa, to pray for the poor, marginalised and the disadvantaged, and to pray for guidance, leadership, and blessings for a bright future for all South Africans. The National Day of Prayer was sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation, an initiative of billionaire Patrice Motsepe, a Catholic. The Motsepe Foundation and faith-based organisations had previously held discussions about the serious and far-reaching problems and challenges facing all South Africans. Together they saw the need to hold a National Day of Prayer. Present at Soccer City were various politicians, who in spite of their political differences came together and be united in prayer. Members of denominations like the Zion Christian Church spent the night in vigil at the stadium to pray for South Africa. “We must stand up against corruption in the government and against poverty. It should not only end here with a prayer, we

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must also take action for a better South Africa,” said Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg. Anglican Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu, who has been out of the public eye for a while, addressed the gathering at noon in a prayer focused on economical inequality. Gospel artists Rebecca Malope and Winnie Mashaba also performed. People who attended the event were given free tickets to enter the stadium, and those who were outside could watch it live on eight big screens situated around the huge arena. The event was broadcast live on Radio Veritas. Mahadi Buthelezi, the station’s marketing coordinator, said that one could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in the stadium. “History was made in South Africa and this is a clear indicator that we need to be united as one in order for our country to progress and succeed,” she said. Fr Tatu said that in the past there have been occasions when people have prayed for the nation—but coming together physically in such numbers in the name of God was a remarkable. “The National Prayer Day for South Africa which was inspired by the Spirit of God. It reminds everybody in South Africa that relegating religion to the peripheries is one of the biggest mistakes [of] the leadership of any country,” Fr Tatu said. “We do what we can to the best wisdom of our human nature—but God is the author of the same wisdom,” he said.. “I congratulate all the leaders of religious and faith-based organisations and The Motsepe Foundation for reminding everyone that God is in charge—and where God is in charge no evil shall prevail,” Fr Tatu said.

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Young parishioners at St Francis of Assisi church in Eastwood, Pietermaritzburg, celebrated their First Communion. The candidates are seen with parish priest Fr Sanil Michael SCJ, Fr Joan Calaude nkuka SCJ and catechism teacher Cleressa Eddie.

SA CHURCH 200

The Southern Cross, December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

Were Catholics persecuted in SA? South Africa would be a Catholic—and quite different—country had Portugal colonised it. Instead the territory was colonised by the anti-Catholic Dutch. MARTIn kEEnAn investigates the extent to which Catholics were persecuted in the Cape.

miny retained his post as port captain and received other important official commissions between 1780 and 1792.

Increasing tolerance

AD Viceroy Francisco D’Alameida not been killed in a skirmish at Table Bay on March 1, 1510, the Portuguese might have taken the Cape. Missionaries would have penetrated the south-central interior three centuries before David Livingstone, for Jesuits had ventured inland from Sofala on the east coast into the kingdom of Monomatapa well before 1561, when Fr Gonsalez Silveira SJ was martyred. The Cape would have been a cradle of the Catholic faith. Instead, the Portuguese took St Helena as their revictualling base, and it was the Dutch East India Company, the V.O.C., which fortified Table Bay in 1652. In his 1955 school history book The Church in South Africa, Fr John Brady OMI claimed that the Dutch “were extremely anti-Catholic, and the arrival of Huguenot refugees only added to the hatred”. The claim that Catholics were persecuted at the Cape under the Dutch and British has been repeated by historians for over a century. All we know is that the only priests active at the Cape in the 17th century were occasional visitors on their way between Europe and Asia, and that they were officially instructed not to say Mass in public. This falls short of what is usually understood by “persecution”. At this time in Amsterdam, for example, it was illegal to say Mass and priests who broke the law were liable to be imprisoned; but an accommodation had been worked out. Provided no public scandal was given, Masses were said in private houses all over the city, and in return for “recognition money”, a priest could expect advance warning of a raid. The situation was far more severe in England and Ireland where it was high treason to be a priest. From 1534 until as late as 1729 (although at a reduced rate), more than 300 priests were executed or died in prison in England alone. Catholic laity were subject to

Portuguese viceroy Francisco D’Almeida and 49 of his soldiers are killed by khoi warriors in the Battle of Gorinhaiqua in 1510 in this 1984 artwork by Angus McBride. The battle is said to have been sparked by Portuguese soldiers’ cattle theft. had D’Almeida lived, the present South Africa might have become a Portuguese colony, with Catholicism as the majority religion. (Picture: Castle of Good hope Military Museum.) heavy financial penalties. Higher level state posts, commissions in the armed forces, university degrees, and the right to vote for, or be elected to municipal office or parliament were restricted to those who took an oath repudiating the pope’s spiritual authority and denying transubstantiation. What is the evidence of antiCatholic hatred at the Cape? Six examples are usually offered, and they all have weaknesses.

1660: The Marichal The Marichal in 1660 came stricken into Table Bay. The complement of 145 armed Frenchmen on board posed a security issue ashore. Even in 1672, the total of soldiers, company servants and free burghers in Cape Town was only 370. Commander Jan van Riebeeck stipulated terms for receiving the French. These included the sequestering of their fire-arms until departure. Because Catholic clergy were on board, van Riebeeck banned them from holding public assemblies on land for Catholic worship. The colony was warned after the Sermon on Sunday, May 23 not to give assistance to the French after sunset, and the reception of French lodgers had to be notified in advance. Residents were forbidden to per-

A map of South Africa–or the Cap de Bonne Esperance (Good hope)— from 1686, just 34 years after it was colonised by the Dutch. The territory had been “discovered” more than 150 years earlier by the Portuguese.

mit “in their houses or on their ground any other than the Reformed religion, and should a transgression of the Order be discovered in the country or anywhere else it shall at once be reported to the Fiscal [chief law officer], who shall take such action as may be proper”. This goes beyond the terms agreed with the French, but it is in line with the situation officially obtaining in the Netherlands at that time.

1865: The Jesuit astronomer Twenty-five years later, ships sailing from France to Siam (now Thailand) reached Cape Town. Before anyone landed, the Dutch were told that there were Jesuit priests on board, and once ashore two of them had an interview with Commander van der Stel and Commissioner van Reede. Encouraged by their courteous reception, the Jesuits explained that they had astronomical instruments aboard and the Dutch afforded them every opportunity for making astronomical observations. Their presence then became known to the Catholics of the Colony, “who are pretty numerous”, as one of the Jesuits noted in his published account of the journey. The author, Père Guy Tachard, wrote: “In the mornings and evenings they came privately to us. There were some of all countries and of all conditions, free, slaves, French, Germans, Portuguese, Spaniards, Flemings, and Indians.” Those whose languages were unintelligible to the priests pulled out rosaries and medals to prove their faith. The priests heard the confessions of those they could understand and, Fr Tachard says, “we visited the sick in their houses and in the hospital”. The French text says the Catholics came “en secret”, properly translated “privately” rather than “secretly”, for they came to the priests in the mornings and evenings, and were visited in their houses and in the hospital. The only prohibition was that the priests were not at liberty to say Mass ashore, and residents were not at liberty to go aboard to hear Mass. Also in 1685, Commissioner van Reede in his Instructie gave directives to Commander van der Stel,

principally concerning security. Roman Catholics were not to be admitted as free-burghers. But Willem Heems, who arrived in 1686, was a conspicuous Catholic free-burgher, living in some style in Cape Town in 1714.

1686: Shipwrecked priests In 1686 two priests were among the survivors of the shipwreck of the Nossa Senhora de Los Milagros off Cape Agulhas. The V.O.C. gave them accommodation in Rondebosch, and instructed them only not to say Mass in public. Otto Mentzel, a German geographer at the Cape from 1733-41, published his Beschreibung (“Description”) in 1785. The English translation by the Van Riebeeck Society has him say that “there is no toleration for Catholics at the Cape”. Mentzel did not write that. He reported that Catholics were few because Mass was not allowed, and said he had met only one Catholic free-burgher, whose wife and daughter desired to be received into the Church.

1780: ‘Roomsgesinde’ It has been said that in 1780, François Duminy, “the newly-appointed Harbour Master, was relieved of his post when it was represented at Amsterdam that he was ‘Roomsgesinde’ [a Catholic]”. The revoked appointment was, in fact, as “equipage master” and the date was 1785. In any case, Du-

None of this evidence proves rampant hostility to the Catholic faith at the Cape. Certainly, Mass was not to be said in public, but the V.O.C. prized cultural uniformity, promoting the Dutch language over Portuguese and French. The status of the Reformed religion as the only officially permitted public Church must be seen in this context; but even this policy was relaxed in the 18th century. In Amsterdam, Mass was decriminalised in 1730, and in 1779 Lutherans were permitted a church in Cape Town. Then it is claimed that religious freedom for Catholics was assured at the Cape by Commisaris-generaal de Mist’s Kerken-Ordre of July 1804, guaranteeing religious freedom in the colony. But the first constitution of the Batavian Republic—as the Netherlands was known at this point—had guaranteed freedom of religion in 1798. Negotiations for Dutch Catholic priests to come to the Cape, begun in 1802, had been approved in Amsterdam weeks before de Mist’s ordinance. There is, then, clear evidence of official Dutch amiability towards Catholic clergy from at least 1685. As for the British, Mass was decriminalised in England in 1791 and in Ireland two years later. There is no justification for the claim that the Dutch priests who eventually did come in 1805 were repatriated by the British in 1806 through malicious hatred of the Catholic faith. Successive British governors of the Cape Colony were expressly instructed to maintain freedom of religion. Lord Charles Somerset, governor of the Cape from 1814-26, was privately hostile to Catholicism. While he was away on home leave, Cape Town’s first long-time resident priest, Fr Patrick Scully, took the opportunity to appeal for funds to build the first Catholic church in Cape Town. Public subscribers included the most senior officials of the colony, including the chief justice and the fiscal, as well as Dutch Reformed, Lutheran, and Anglican clergy. During the events reviewed above, men, women, and children were giving witness to the faith in bloody persecutions in Japan (1597-1873), China (1648-1930), Vietnam (1798-1853) and later Korea (1839-67). Holy Martyrs of Asia pray for us. Next time, in the January 10 issue: Anti-Catholic attitudes at the Cape.

Günther Simmermacher

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The Southern Cross, December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

YEAR REVIEW

This was Pope Francis’ 2017 The year 2017 was another eventful year in the pontificate of Pope Francis. CInDY WOODEn and GünThER SIMMERMAChER look at some the year’s highlights.

OPE Francis spent much of 2017 preaching and teaching about the need to value differences rather than fear them, and he adopted legislation that would allow more room for diversity within the Catholic Church. In his frequent comments about migration and on most of his foreign trips, the pope also tried to convince political, civic and religious leaders that being welcoming, respecting differences and being willing to listen to another’s point of view and experience actually enrich a society. From his trips to Egypt, where anti-Christian violence has sorely tried Christian-Muslim relations, to Colombia, which is recovering from a civil war, and most recently to Myanmar and Bangladesh, Pope Francis tried to convince people that peaceful coexistence and even unity do not require the erasing of all differences. In fact, during his trip to the two Asian nations, he defined as “ideological and cultural colonisation” the political and social pressures to homogenise society. “The unity we share and celebrate is born of diversity,” he told the bishops of Myanmar on November 29. “Never forget this—it is born of diversity! It values people’s differences as a source of mutual enrichment and growth. It invites people to come together in a culture of encounter and solidarity.” Pope Francis gave legislative weight to that view in October when he created two new eparchies, or dioceses, for the SyroMalabar Catholic Church in India and extended the boundaries of two others. In a letter to all of the country’s bishops, Latin- and Eastern-rite, he said the presence of two Catholic rites each with their own bishop in the same territory should not be seen as a sign of disunity, but of the richness of the one faith.

Changes in canon law The other legislative decision that potentially could lead to greater diversity in the Church was contained in Pope Francis’ document, Magnum Principium (“The Great Principle”). It included changes to the Code of Canon Law to give national bishops’ conferences greater responsibility in the process of translating liturgical texts into local languages. In a later letter giving further explanation, Pope Francis said that while in the past “the judgment regarding the fidelity to the Latin and the eventual corrections necessary was the task” of the Congrega-

tion for Divine Worship, the new norms give “episcopal conferences the faculty of judging the worth and coherence of one or another term in translations from the original, even if in dialogue with the Holy See”. When Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, was referred to on websites as having suggested that this amendment makes no practical changes, Pope Francis publicly corrected the cardinal, and instructed him to set the record straight. Pope Francis also grabbed headlines late in the year for two statements indicating further developments in Catholic social teaching, specifically regarding the death penalty and nuclear deterrence. Marking the 25th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church at the Vatican on October 11, Pope Francis said the catechism’s discussion of the death penalty, already formally amended by Pope John Paul II, needs to be even more explicitly against capital punishment. “[The death penalty] is, in itself, contrary to the Gospel, because a decision is voluntarily made to suppress a human life, which is always sacred in the eyes of the Creator and of whom, in the last analysis, only God can be the true judge and guarantor,” the pope said. Pope Francis’ remarks about nuclear deterrence came at a Vatican conference in early November. For decades, the popes had said the policy of nuclear deterrence could be morally acceptable as long as real work was underway on a complete ban of the weapons. But at the conference, Pope Francis said that today with nuclear weapons, “the threat of their use as well as their very possession is to be firmly condemned”. He later explained to journalists that the increased sophistication of the weapons means “you risk the destruction of humanity, or a great part of humanity”.

Trump vs the pope While Pope Francis used large public Masses, his early morning Mass homilies and his Wednesday general audience talks to reach thousands of Catholics with his message, 2017 gave him an opportunity for face-to-face meetings with many world leaders, including US President Donald Trump. He welcomed Mr Trump to the Vatican on May 24 for a visit described in the official statement as “cordial”. Common ground was found on the issues of protecting the unborn and defending religious freedom. But they also discussed their different positions on climate change and on the obligation to assist migrants and refugees. Just a few days after he met the pope, Mr Trump announced the US was pulling out of the UN Paris agreement on climate change, an agreement the Vatican had urged

(From left) JUNe: Pope Francis looks on as dancers perform during an encounter with more than 50 000 Catholic charismatics at Rome’s Olympic Stadium to mark the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Movement. aPrIL: Pope Francis listens as Sheik Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar university, speaks at a conference on international peace in Cairo. (Photos: Paul haring/CnS). JUNe: Pope Francis greets Pope Emeritus Benedict XvI at the retired pope’s residence after a consistory for the creation of five new cardinals at the vatican. (Photo: L’Osservatore Romano)

MarCH: Pope Francis kneels before a priest to confess during a Lenten prayer service in St Peter’s basilica. (Photo: Evandro Inetti/CnS) MaY: Pope Francis looks grim as he poses for a photo with uS President Donald Trump at the vatican. SePTeMBer: Pope Francis cut and bruised his face on the popemobile window when he was greeting people in Colombia. (Photos: Paul haring/CnS) him to uphold. Just hours after Pope Francis appealed on December 6 for “wisdom and prudence” in protecting the status quo of Jerusalem, Mr Trump publicly announced formal US recognition of the city as Israel’s capital—in defiance of international law—and a project to begin moving the US embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. The Holy See, like the overwhelming majority of nations, has said political control of the city must be determined by negotiation as part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace process. In addition, for decades the Vatican has urged a special status for the city to guarantee Jews, Muslims and Christians access to their faith’s holy sites. Pope Francis also spent months urging the international community to ensure the new UN global compacts on migration and on refugees would support programmes to help the poor stay in their countries rather than migrate and would open safe and legal immigration pathways for people fleeing extreme poverty and conflict.

Unity in Jesus Unity in diversity and care for the poorest and most vulnerable members of society also were on Pope Francis’ mind in early June when he joined celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Celebrating Pentecost with tens of thousands of Catholic charismatics from around the world and with dozens of Pentecostal and Evangelical leaders, the pope said: “In a way both creative and unexpected,” the Holy Spirit “generates diversity, for in every age he causes

new and varied charisms to blossom. Then he brings about unity: he joins together, gathers and restores harmony”. Christians, he said, must be “united by the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer and in action on behalf of those who are weaker”. “Walk together. Work together. Love each other,” Pope Francis told them. The pope also marked the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. The grace of God and decades of ecumenical dialogue have enabled Catholics and Protestants to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation together, emphasising their shared baptism and faith in Jesus, Pope Francis told a Presbyterian delegation from Scotland. “Let us thank the Lord for the great gift of being able to live this year in true fraternity, no longer as adversaries, after long centuries of estrangement and conflict.” Now, he said, Catholics and Protestants are “pursuing the path of humble charity that leads to overcoming division and healing wounds”, and are working together to serve the poor and promote justice, and are standing together to defend the rights of Christians undergoing persecution.

Dealing with dissent Controversy continued around Chapter 8 of Pope Francis’ 2016 apostolic exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia, which opens the way for the reception of Communion under certain circumstances by divorced and civilly remarried Catholics. This year Pope Francis asked to have placed on the official record a 2016 letter by Argentine bishops which gave an interpretation on implementing Chapter 8, and the Holy Father’s response to them, affirming their interpretation as correct. In doing so and describing the documents as “authentic magisterium”, Pope Francis gave some magisterial weight to an interpretation which had also been formally supported by bishops in Germany and Malta. It also served as a firm response to opponents who had challenged Pope Francis on Chapter 8. Pope Francis decided not to renew the contract of German Gerhard Müller as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Müller was succeeded by Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, a Spanish Jesuit. The pope took strong action in January when he forced Fra Matthew Festing to resign as grandmaster of the Knights of

Malta, following an investigation into the removal of the order’s grand chancellor. Mr Festing had given instruction that the order should not cooperate with a Vatican investigation into the case and other allegations of mismanagement.

Pope around the world Pope Francis made four foreign trips in 2017. In Egypt in April he attended a peace conference at Al Azhar University in Cairo and met with various religious leaders, including the grand imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Muhammad Ahmed al-Tayeb, and the Coptic Orthodox patriarch, Pope Tawadros II. At St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox cathedral, Tawadros’ seat which had been bombed by ISIS terrorists just a few weeks earlier on Palm Sunday, the two popes signed a joint declaration mutually recognising the baptisms in both churches as valid. In Fatima, Portugal, in May, Pope Francis joined the centenary celebrations of the first apparition to three shepherd children. At Fatima he canonised two of the children, Ss Francisco and Jacinta Marto, who died in childhood. The sainthood cause for Bl Lucia dos Santos, who outlived them, is running separately. In Colombia in September, Pope Francis urged national reconciliation after a decades-long civil war. There were concerns for the pope’s safety ahead of his November trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh. The pope was asked by Myanmar’s bishops not to publicly use the word Rohingya, the Muslim minority group that is facing persecution in the predominantly Buddhist country, as this might cause problems also for the Catholic Church there. Pope Francis honoured that request. On his flight home he indicated to reporters that he had spoken candidly about his concerns in private meetings with Myanmar’s leadership. In the Bangladesh leg of the trip, Pope Francis made it a point of greeting Rohingya refugees. For 2018, papal trips are confirmed to Chile and Peru in January; and to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in September. Pope Francis has indicated that he will travel to Ireland in August to close the World Day for Families in Dublin (the Southern Cross pilgrimage with Bishop Victor Phalana will be at the closing Mass). Trips to India and Romania are also on the cards.

The Southern Cross, December 27, 2017 to January 2, 2018

CLASSIFIEDS

Pope: Health is not for profits BY CInDY WOODEn

HE Catholic Church’s care for the sick, especially through its hospitals, is an antidote to “the business mentality that is seeking worldwide to turn healthcare into a profitmaking enterprise”, Pope Francis said. In his message for World Day of the Sick, to be observed on February 11, the pope urged Catholics to continue to provide loving care for the sick. The Church marks the day each year on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and Pope Francis’ message for 2018 emphasised its maternal mission to provide for the spiritual and physical needs of all

Your prayer to cut out and collect

people. The Church’s motherly concern for the sick has been clear throughout its history and continues today, the pope said. “In countries where adequate public healthcare exists, its work is aimed not only at providing quality medical care, but also at putting the human person at the centre of the healing process, while carrying out scientific research with full respect for Christian moral values.” Perhaps more heroically, Pope Francis said, “In countries where healthcare systems are inadequate or non-existent, the Church seeks to do what she can to improve health, eliminate infant mortality and combat widespread disease.

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 791. ACROSS: 1 Late, 3 Finished, 9 Dubious, 10 Tiara, 11 Lost for words, 13 Kidnap, 15 Hurdle, 17 Observations, 20 Latin, 21 Ivorian, 22 Restless, 23 Deed. DOWN: 1 Ladylike, 2 Tubas, 4 Insert, 5 Introduction, 6 Hoarded, 7 Deal, 8 Confraternal, 12 Seasoned, 14 Debates, 16 Avoids, 18 Ovine, 19 Slur.

Liturgical Calendar Year B – Weekdays Cycle Year 2 Sunday December 31, Holy Family Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3, Psalms 105:1-6, 8-9, Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19, Luke 2:22-40 Monday January 1, Mary, Mother of God Numbers 6:22-27, Psalms 67:2-3, 5-6, 8, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21 Tuesday January 2, Ss Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen 1 John 2:22-28, Psalms 98:1-4, John 1:19-28 Wednesday January 3, The Most Holy Name of Jesus 1 John 2:29—3, 6, Psalms 98:1, 3-6, John 1:29-34 or Philippians 2:1-11, Psalms 8:4-9, Luke 2:21-24 Thursday January 4 1 John 3:7-10, Psalms 98:1, 7-9, John 1:35-42 St Basil the Great Friday January 5 1 John 3:11-21, Psalms 100, John 1:43-51 Saturday January 6 1 John 5:5-13, Psalms 147:12-15, 19-20, Mark 1:7-11 or Luke 3:23-38 Sunday January 7, Epiphany of the Lord Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalms 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, Matthew 2:1-12

“The image of the Church as a ‘field hospital’ that welcomes all those wounded by life is a very concrete reality,” he noted. The pope urged Catholic healthcare bodies, and doctors, nurses and staff, to renew their commitment to loving service. But especially on World Day of the Sick, he said: “We cannot forget the tender love and perseverance of many families in caring for their chronically sick or severely disabled children, parents and relatives. “The care given within families is an extraordinary witness of love for the human person; it needs to be fittingly acknowledged and supported by suitable policies,” the pope added.—CNS

Our bishops’ anniversaries This week we congratulate: January 6: Bishop Edward Risi of Keimoes-Upington on his 69th birthday January 7: Bishop Jan de Groef of Bethlehem on his 70th birthday

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 (R1,70 a word) with small advertisements for promptest publication.

DeaTHS

MOLYNeUX—Delene. In loving memory of Delene, August 27, 1949 to December 9, 2017. Condolences Rhett on the loss of your beautiful wife. She fought a tough battle and you were always at her side. God bless you and give you strength during this difficult time. Love from Milly, kerry and family.

PraYerS

MIraCULOUS prayer to the holy Spirit—holy Spirit, you who makes me see everything and shows me the way to reach my ideal, you who gives me the divine gift to forgive and forget all the wrong that is done to me, and you who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for everything, and affirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory. To that end and submitting to God’s holy will, I ask from you...(mention your favour). Amen. Grateful thanks for prayer answered. T. PareNTS FOr CHILDreN—O Jesus, lover of children, bestow your most precious graces on those whom you have confided to our care. Preserve in them innocence and purity of heart; and if they should offend you, grant them the grace of a prompt and sincere repentance. From your tabernacle watch over them day and night; protect them in all their ways. Grant that they may acquire the knowledge that they need to embrace the

state of life to which you have called them. Grant us a sincere love, constant vigilance and generous devotedness towards them. Grant us all consolation on earth and eternal reward in heaven. FaTHer, you have given all peoples one common origin. It is your will that they be gathered together as one family in yourself. Fill the hearts of mankind with the fire of your love and with the desire to ensure justice for all. May we secure an equality for all our brothers and sisters throughout the world. May there be an end to division, strife and war. May there be a dawning of a truly human society built on love and peace. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

PerSONaL

aBOrTION WarNING: The truth will convict a silent Church. See www.valuelife abortionisevil.co.za HOLY SPIrIT CeNTre: 161a Coronation Street, Maitland, Cape Town. We offer food and accommodation for 70+ guests (school/tour/youth groups, and so on). Bookings: manager on 021 510 2988, cell 083 723 0293, e-mail hs centre@telkomsa.net FeLLOW CaTHOLICS: visit Pious Ponsiano kintu’s official website www.ave maria832.simplesite.com This website has been set up to give Glory to the Most holy Trinity through the healing power of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. view God’s marvellous work of healing and deliverance in various African countries since 2007. More than 20 video clips have

Community Calendar

Perpetual adoration Chapel at Good Shepherd parish, 1 Goede hoop St, Bothasig, welcomes all visitors. Open 24 hours a day. Phone 021 558 1412.

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 abortion clinic. Con-

tact 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 9:00. Holy Mass and Divine Mercy Devotion at 17:30 on first Friday of every month. Sunday Mass at 9:00. Phone 031 309 3496 or 031 209 2536. St anthony’s rosary group. Every Wednesday at 18:00 at St Anthony’s church opposite Greyville racecourse. All are welcome and lifts are available. Contact keith Chetty on 083 372 9018. 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 17:30.

been uploaded onto YouTube (simply go to Google and type Pious kintu YouTube). Also, you will read about African stigmatic Sr Josephine Sul of DR Congo and Padre Pio, among others. Share it with all your friends. Contacts: email avemaria832@gmail. com and avemaria832@ yahoo.com, cell (roaming within Africa) +243 99 0358275 +243 81 6090071.

HOLIDaY aCCOMMODaTION

CaPe TOWN: Looking for reasonably priced accommodation over the December/January holiday period? Come to kolbe house, set in beautiful, spacious gardens in Rondebosch, nestled just under Devil’s Peak. Self-catering, clean and peaceful. Safe parking. Close to all shops and public transport. Contact Pat 021 685 7370, 073 263 2105 or kolbe.house@ telkomsa.net CaPe TOWN: Strandfontein. Fully equipped, selfcatering, two-bedroom apartment with parking, sleeps four. R660 per/night. Paul 061 446 9665, vivilla@telkomsa.net MarIaNeLLa Guest house, Simon’s Town: “Come experience the peace and beauty of God with us.” Fully equipped with amazing sea views. Secure parking, ideal for rest and relaxation. Special rates for pensioners and clergy. Malcolm Salida 082 784 5675, mjsalida@gmail.com

Traditional Latin Mass

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel 36 Central Avenue, Pinelands, Cape Town Call 071 291 4501 for details. Email: sspx.capetown@gmail.com

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

JOHaNNeSBUrG: St anthony’s church in Coronationville is calling for donations of tinned fish, peanut butter, jam, butter and juice for their soup kitchen. Contact Faried and nadine Benn on 073 906 6037 or 083 658 2573. CaPe TOWN: retreat day/quiet prayer last Saturday of each month except December, at Springfield Convent in Wynberg, Cape Town. hosted by CLC, 10.00-15.30. Contact Jill on 083 282 6763 or Jane on 082 783 0331.

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The Epiphany of the Lord: January 7 Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, Matthew 2:1-12

EXT Sunday, we mark the Epiphany, showing Jesus to the nations, and widening the celebration of the festi-

val. So the first reading starts, “Arise, shine; for your light has come—and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.” And it is not just for the people of faith, but for all the nations: “Nations shall walk in your light, and kings by your shining radiance.” Then we are invited to “look around” and see the evidence: “your children shall come from afar”, and watch in admiration as “caravans of camels are going to fill you…they shall carry gold and frankincense”. And, above all, they shall do what we have to do: “They shall proclaim the Lord’s praises.” So the attention for this feast is partly on all those people from other countries, but mainly on the God who has invited them (and us) to come here. The psalm is a prayer for a newly-arrived king, so it fits our Christmas season. And what is this new one to do? “He will judge your people with righteousness…and much

S outher n C ross

peace until the moon is no more.” Only then will he “rule from sea to sea”, from “the Euphrates to the ends of the earth”. Then there is a picture of “kings” coming to pay tribute (which is why you thought that the Magi are “kings”), and, “All the kings of all the peoples will worship before him.” And we notice whose company he is to prefer: “He will rescue the poor…and the oppressed who have no one to help.” This is going to be a very different sort of a king; but notice how Jesus fits the description to a T. Inevitably this is utterly beyond us, so it may be helpful to look at Sunday’s second reading, from Ephesians, where the reality about Jesus is described as “mystery”, or as Paul puts it: “The stewardship of the grace of God that has been given to me.” It is not easy to grasp; but it is worth making the attempt: “It was not made known in previous generations…but is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.” And here is the “mystery”, which is at the

heart of today’s feast: “that the Gentiles should be co-heirs and fellow-members of the body, and co-sharers in the promise which is in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel”. Once again, we hardly understand what is being said, but can see that it is worth making the effort. Perhaps the best way to deal with a mystery is to look at the story that it is telling. And that is what next Sunday’s Gospel gives us. It begins and ends with a number of “magi from the East”, who are probably meant to be “astrologers”. Certainly we are supposed to understand that they have read the stars correctly, when they conclude that there is one “who was born as King of the Jews”. They have not, however, reckoned with Herod’s murderous paranoia; he is currently reigning as “king of the Jews”, and he knows exactly what to do with any threat to his position. So he is “disturbed”; but we observe that he believes what they are saying, because he asks his religious experts where the Messiah is to be born.

The real tragedy of sin T

of which we don’t have the courage to honestly face. Our spontaneous judgment on the perpetrator of a mass shooting or terrorist bombing most naturally expresses itself this way: “I hope he fries in hell!” What’s wrong with that reaction is its failure to understand that this person was already frying in some private hell and this terrible acting-out is an attempt to get out of hell—or at least to take as many people as he can to hell with him. What perpetrators of violence mostly want to do is to ruin heaven for others since they themselves feel unfairly deprived of it. This isn’t everywhere true, of course, since mental illness and the mystery of human freedom also play in, but it’s true enough to challenge us towards a better understanding of why some people have bitter, sadistic hearts, while others have gracious, loving ones.

hat shapes a heart? What makes someone bitter or gracious? Sin and blessing shape a heart, the former deforming it and the latter healing it. Sin, our own not less than anyone else’s, wounds others and shields us from having to own what’s sick inside us because we have now inflicted our sickness on someone else; and there it works at making that person ill. Blessing does the opposite. It relieves others of the sickness that was unfairly inflicted on them, helps turn their bitterness into graciousness, and soothes the very root of their wounds. And so we need to stop classifying peo-

Conrad

HE real tragedy of sin is that often the one who is sinned against eventually becomes a sinner, inflicting on others what was first inflicted upon him or her. There’s something perverse within us whereby when we are sinned against we tend to take in the sin, complete with the sickness from which it emanated, and then struggle not to act out in that same sick way. The ultimate triumph of sin is that first being sinned against, we often become sinners. We see this, in an elementary form, in the effects that certain sadistic initiation rituals have on those who undergo them. The interesting thing is that those who undergo them generally can’t wait for their turn to inflict them upon someone else. Having undergone some sadism, something sadistic arises within them. There’s an axiom within certain schools of psychology which submits that “every abuser was first abused”. Mostly that’s true. The bully was himself first bullied, the sadist was himself first victimised, and the bitter alienated outsider (whom in arrogance we label “a loser”) was himself first unfairly excluded. What produces an outsider? What produces a sadistic person? Indeed, what produces a mass killer? What must have happened to the heart of a man for him to put on military fatigues, take up an assault rifle, and begin to shoot helpless school children, as we have seen repeatedly in the US? Mental illness, no doubt, is often a factor, but there are other factors too, most

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Sunday Reflections

They come up with the verdict of “Bethlehem”, and a religious quotation to prove it. So Herod passes the information on to these innocent Magi, and expresses a desire to “worship the dear little child” himself. We know exactly what he means; and we shudder. However, all is well (for the moment—at the end of the Gospel, of course, this child is indeed going to be destroyed by the very same people), and the magi offer “gold and frankincense and myrrh”, signalling that the child is a king and a prophet and one who is going to die. And they succeed in “worshipping” the child; but we are still worrying about what Herod is going to do, until they get a “dream” and are warned “not to go back to Herod”, and so the child remains alive. This is a profound mystery, and the story takes on added depth as we read.

Southern Crossword #791

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final Reflection

ple as “winners” and “losers”, as if they alone were responsible for their success or failure. They aren’t. Not many Mother Teresas, I suspect, were traumatically abused as children. Not many St Francises suffered debilitating ridicule as young children, were bullied on Facebook, or shamed for their appearance. Cruelty and grace, as the singer Leonard Cohen put it in his 2012 song “Come Healing”, both come upon us undeserved. And then they imprint themselves into our psyches and even our bodies. How we carry ourselves, our bodily posture, how we radiate spiritually, our selfconfidence, our shame, our big-heartedness, our pettiness, our ability to express love, our resistance of love, how much we bless and how much we curse, is very much contingent on how much we ourselves have been undeservedly blessed or cursed, that is, the various undeserved graces and cruelties we have undergone. Admittedly, this is still coloured by the mystery of human freedom. Some Mother Teresas do come from abusive backgrounds and some St Francises did suffer cruelty and bullying as a child and yet became one-in-a-million wounded healers, turning the very sin against them into a powerful healing grace. Unfortunately, they’re the exception, not the rule, and their greatness, more than anything else, lies in that exact achievement. There are many challenges for us in this. First, we must not let our emotions sway us into making the kind of judgments where we would like to see someone “fry in hell”. Second, we should be much less smug and arrogant about those whom we label as “losers”. Next, we need to learn that perhaps the ultimate human and spiritual challenge is to not let what we suffer from the sins and failings of others turn us bitter so that we in turn begin to inflict that same sin onto others. Finally, and not least, understanding more deeply what’s undeserved in our lives should lead us to a deeper gratitude towards God and towards all who have so, undeservedly, loved and gifted us.

ACROSS 1. Dead but not on time (4) 3. Came to an end (8) 9. Short Dubliner with debts. That’s questionable (7) 10. Ornamental headband for the lady (5) 11. Why the preacher cannot find what to say? (4,3,5) 13. Abduct the little goat having a snooze (6) 15. Jump over the obstacle (6) 17. Sob over saint about remarks (12) 20. Imperial language (5) 21. Vain, or I am a West African (7) 22. Lie down not so often, being perturbed (8) 23. Let out of deleted official document (4)

DOWN 1. Typical of a genteel woman (8) 2. Arrange but as instruments (5) 4. Re-tins what goes inside (6) 5. Preliminary part of the book (12) 6. Doer had stored away (7) 7. Transaction for a card-player (4) 8. Far art Connel gets for being brotherly together (12) 12. Experienced, having had salt and pepper (8) 14. Set bead for discussions (7) 16. Refrains from (6) 18. Like sheep of the flock (5) 19. Hides lurid insinuation (4) Solutions on page 11

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