180221 by The Southern Cross

The

S outher n C ross

February 21 to February 27, 2018

Church looks at post-Zuma South Africa

Pages 2, 6

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reg No. 1920/002058/06

No 5072

LENT

prepare the way of the lord

r8,50 (incl VAt rSA)

How piracy is still a thing today

The SA-born mystic who heard Christ

Page 10

Page 9

Church marches at SA key point in slave trade BY ErIN CArElSE

Mgr Dario Vigano (left), director of the Vatican Secretariat for Communications, and artist Mauro Pallotta hold a t-shirt showing Pope Francis as a superhero. the Vatican will auction off a t-shirt signed by sports celebrities, with proceeds going to charity. (Photo: Paul Haring/CNS)

‘Superpope’ takes off BY CArol GlAtz

HOUGH not as fast as a speeding bullet, “Superpope” will fly across the world, gathering autographs of sports stars and eventually being auctioned off to raise money for the pope’s charity. The initiative kicked off at a Vatican news conference with the unveiling of a simple medium-sized yellow T-shirt graced with the iconic “Superpope” image: Pope Francis, fist extended, flying through the air, holding his black bag packed with Christian “values” and a scarf representing his favourite football team, San Lorenzo of Argentina. The first superstar who signed the shirt was recently retired AS Roma football legend Francesco Totti, who added his old squad number, 10, to the signature. Next in line for the shirt signing “relay” around the world will be soccer legend Diego Maradona, followed by world champion motorcyclist Marc Marquez and many more, including top female athletes, said Mgr Dario Vigano, prefect of the Secretariat for Communication. The plan is to get as many famous signatures as possible before the shirt goes on auction later this year. The first “Superpope” image went up on a backstreet near the Vatican on a cold night in

The

January 2014. The artist, Mauro Pallotta, who signs his work “Maupal”, paints his removable street art onto paper that he then glues with a water-based adhesive to walls around Rome. While most of his street art tends to stay up for years, the depiction of the pope drew an uncharacteristically quick response from the city’s “decorum” police, who within days scraped off the artwork. But by then, pictures of the image had gone viral. Once Mr Pallotta got permission from the Vatican to use his “Superpope” image, the artist launched an #OrdinaryHeroes movement online in October 2017 with the help of a local entrepreneur. The idea was to get people to share stories of ordinary people doing simple, positive and caring things, based on the belief that, “in order to change the world, we don’t need superheroes, but everyday heroes who spread the values of humility and solidarity, which Pope Francis, the first of the #OrdinaryHeroes, perfectly embodies”, according to the superpope.it website. The site sells T-shirts with the “Superpope” image for 19 euros (about R280). About one euro per shirt goes to the papal Peter’s Pence charity which will receive the full 100% of the proceeds from the autographed T-shirt sold at auction.—CNS

BISHOP and police joined Catholic parishioners in a march against human trafficking in Witbank, Mpumalanga. Parishioners of Sacred Heart parish in Ackerville, led by parish priest Fr Linda Zwane, were joined by Bishop Giuseppe Sandri of Witbank and superiors of different religious orders in the area. They marched to protest against the barbaric practice of human trafficking and to pray for the victims of the practice. The march was escorted by traffic police officers of Witbank who have united with the Church in combating the problem of human trafficking in the area. Also present was Holy Family Sister Melanie O’Connor, coordinator for the CounterHuman Trafficking Office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC). Sr O’Connor and her team gave a presentation on the reality of human trafficking in South Africa. The young people of Sacred Heart parish amplified the message of the protest through different slogans, songs and poems. They also enacted plays portraying how the trafficked suffer abuse at the hands of their traffickers. In this they drew inspiration from the patron saint of trafficked people. St Josephine Bakhita, born in 1869 in Sudan, was kidnapped at the age of 7 while working in the fields with her family and subsequently sold into slavery. During the Mass for the march, Bishop Sandri strongly condemned the practice of human trafficking and urged the faithful to continue to pray for the victims of modern slavery. He noted that human trafficking is a serious reality on the streets of Witbank, even around where he lives. “Those who are trafficked are treated badly and they are forced out of their normal life without the respect of human dignity,” Bishop Sandri said.

Young people of Sacred Heart parish in Ackerville, Witbank, protest against human trafficking at one of the key points of the trade in human beings in South Africa. “I urge everybody present to continue with the courage to fight against human trafficking and make sure the factors associated with the problem are eradicated in all spheres of our society,” he said. All men at the Mass, including Bishop Sandri and the priests, lit white candles and made the prayer of commitment to God that they will always protect their families and children against human trafficking. The Witbank region is one of the channels for migrants and refugees into South Africa. It is one of the areas where many vulnerable people who enter the country fall into the hands of human traffickers. The Catholic Church in South Africa is working together with different stakeholders, including truck and taxi drivers, to act against human trafficking and work towards its eradication. Pope Francis this month bemoaned the “great ignorance” about human slavery, suggesting that primarily this is not due to a lack of information but a “lack of will to understand the dimensions of the problem”, in part out of either shame or complicity (see page 5). n For more information contact Fr Linda Zwane on 084 240-2779.

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SACBC: After Zuma, look forward StAFF rEPortEr

ELCOMING the resignation of Jacob Zuma as South Africa’s president as “long overdue”, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) expressed its hope that the government would return to the ideals of servant leadership which marked the early days of the country’s democratic dispensation. Noting that “for some” the departure of Mr Zuma might have been “a painful event”, the bishops called “on all to accept his decision as part of our democratic process”. Mr Zuma, who had been president since 2009, resigned the presidency after being “recalled” by the ruling African National Congress. The SACBC statement, signed by its president, Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town, said Mr Zuma’s departure was “overdue”. “The fact that Mr Zuma has been allowed to hold on to the highest position in the land despite longstanding and overwhelming evidence of his unfitness for office, has

Cape town’s St Mary’s cathedral is seen during a protest against the presidency of Jacob zuma and state capture outside parliament last April. done immense harm to our country’s international reputation, to its economy and, especially, to its poorest and most vulnerable citizens,” the bishops said. “It is generally perceived that the Zuma presidency has degraded standards of morality and honour in our public life, and has fostered

New Namibia bishop

OPE Francis has appointed a South Africantrained priest as the bishop of Keetmanshoop, Namibia, to succeed Bishop Phillip Pollitzer, who retired last year. Bishop-elect Willem Christiaans (right) was born on February 12, 1961, in Gabis in the Karasburg district. He made his first vows as an Oblate of St Francis de Sales in 1983, and his perpetual vows in 1988. He completed his studies in philosophy in 1984, and in theology in 1988 at St Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal. He was ordained a priest on December 10, 1988. A provincial superior of his order for three consecutive terms, he also served as vicar-general of Keetmanshoop diocese from 2008-13; and from July 2017 as diocesan administrator.

corruption and dereliction of duty at all levels of government,” it said. In a statement, the Jesuit Institute SA said that Mr Zuma’s resignation was “a great relief” but counselled that “one must distinguish between the fall of an individual and the ‘resurrection’ of a country”.

“Much as one is tempted to thank God and ‘move on’—though this might seem less painful than a full investigation into what has happened, court cases and criminal proceedings—it is imperative that we avoid this temptation to brush the past under the carpet. It is a time for justice,” the institute said. “No party or person is faultless in the new South Africa. The forgiveness and determination to reconcile that was so characteristic of the first democratic government of South Africa needs to be rekindled, along with a firm commitment to continue to work for peace, building a society firmly grounded in ethical values and justice for all who live in South Africa,” it said. “Our new leadership must see to it that steps are taken that we, to borrow from Nelson Mandela, ‘never, never and never again’ return to the mess we’ve been in,” the Jesuit Institute said. The bishops called on the ANC to draw lessons from the failures of the Zuma presidency. “We urge the governing ANC to

take careful note of the way in which it allowed this situation to develop over the last ten years, and we call on the ANC to commit itself to a thorough reassessment of its internal standards and mechanisms of accountability,” they said. Observing that the resignation of Mr Zuma coincided with the beginning of Lent, “a time of commitment to new beginnings, of casting off the selfishness and sinfulness that affect all people”, the bishops “pray that, in the coming weeks, just as we make our spiritual journey towards the renewal and hope of Easter, our country will begin its own political journey to a future of renewed hope and commitment to the ideals of our Constitution”. “In that spirit, we pledge our prayerful support to the incoming administration, and to all who hold public office in our country, that they may serve all the people in South Africa diligently, honestly, and with the integrity that the long-suffering people of this country deserve,” the bishops said.

Parents called to serve their local schools BY ErIN CArElSE

HE Catholic Institute of Education (CIE) is urging parents to make immediate efforts to ensure school governing bodies (SGBs) make a positive contribution in 2018. The ministry of basic education has announced the date for the next SGB elections, from March 1-31. School governing bodies are formed in line with the South African Schools Act to govern the affairs of public schools. The original spirit was to decentralise power and ensure school communities participate in the governance of their schools, but SGBs are now in danger as the government is proposing a law to cut back on their role. SGB elections are the third-largest elections in South Africa, after the national/provincial and local government elections, the CIE said. The governance roles of SGBs, according to the Act, “show that the role of SGBs in schools is of utmost importance and cannot be underestimated”, the CIE said. These include:

• SGBs must promote the best interests of the school and ensure the school’s development through providing quality education for all learners at the school; • They support the principal, educators and other staff of the school in their professional functions; • SGBs may recommend the appointment of educator and non-educator staff employed by the department at the school to the provincial head of department; and • They adopt a constitution, code of conduct and language policy, and develop a mission statement for the school. The role of parents in SGBs is endorsed by the Church, which sees them as the first and most important educators of their children. The CIE, therefore, calls on owners and school managers to encourage parents to serve on SGBs. This could be done through parents’ meetings, parish announcements, social media campaigns, school newsletters, and local radio stations.. CIE researcher Mduduzi Qwabe said the

education system in South Africa is facing many challenges, to the extent that some experts have described it as in crisis. Noting that government is proposing to limit the powers of SGBs, he said now is an opportune time for parents to take charge of the education of their children. “At this time, when there is a proposed law threatening to curtail the powers of SGBs, we need to make a firm statement and elect wisely. In this way we will be serving our society by investing in its future generations,” he said. SGBs at Catholic public schools on private property—state-funded Catholic schools—have the additional important role of ensuring that schools maintain their distinctive religious character. The SGBs at these schools co-sign the “Deed of Agreement” between the owner and the MEC to acknowledge that the school is a Catholic school and is committed to upholding this ethos. n See the National Department of Basic Education website at www.education.gov.co. za for all information on SGBs.

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Holy rosary School in Edenvale, Johannesburg, observed Ash Wednesday, the start of lent—the season of self-denial, reflection and spiritual growth—with a Mass at which the girls received ashes on their foreheads as a symbol of hope, and to remind them that we are part of the creation of God. Seen here are Grade 8 pupils (from left) Hannah raats, Jenna Boruvka, Shiluba Usiba, Michelle zongololo and Sydney Mansfield.

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Lent calls us to be ambassadors of Christ BY ErIN CArElSE

PRIEST told staff of the Southern African Catholics Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) that Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ. Preaching the homily at an Ash Wednesday Mass for the SACBC staff, Fr Sakhi Mofokeng said that ambassadors are people who live in a foreign land, not for comfort but to represent their country of birth, sent to be with the people of that country, and build friendships with them. Fr Mofokeng, the coordinating secretary for the SACBC’s Department of the Laity, urged the SACBC staff, in this time of Lent, to leave their own comfort zones and go out to meet other people with their own contextual needs.

“Dignity is very important in choosing an ambassador,” Fr Mofokeng said. Just as diplomats must represent their country with dignity, “ambassadors of Christ are men and women of dignity who represent Christ, stand with Christ, and journey with Christ in their own lives”. He invited the congregants to reflect on how they are identified as followers of Christ, and what signs of Christ they show as his ambassador. Fr Mofokeng also urged them to let their hearts be a place of refuge for other people wherever they are, at home, work, church, and society as a whole, and said that their hearts should be a place of safety. “As ambassadors of Christ, we are called to be identified as men

and women of prayer, people who begin everything with God, so that our works reflect that we are ambassadors of Christ. “We should be people who give not only tangible things, but hidden things that eyes cannot see, and that is giving love and forgiveness to those we are holding grudges against,” he said. He invited the staff to be people who fast, not only from food but from adverse attitudes towards people of other races, tribes and countries. “During this time of Lent, we are called by the Church in Southern Africa to confront racism with humility and love, and not to fight. “Ambassadors of Christ are men and women of humility and love,

and during this period of Lent, we are all called to reconciliation,” Fr Mofokeng said. Lent is the 40-day period when all Christians, the followers of Christ, are called to do an introspection of their life and review their relationship with God and neighbour, in preparing for the Easter season. According to the tradition of the Catholic Church, it is a period of purification. This refers back to many years ago when the Hebrews were freed from slavery in Egypt where they had adopted different behaviours of foreign worship, contrary to their one God who had been faithfully journeying with them and always guaranteeing them his love and protection.

Fr Sakhi Mofokeng, at his Ash Wednesday homily for SACBC staff, called on all to be ambassadors for Christ during lent.

Confirmation group pack their sleeping bags for retreat at DHC BY NErEESHA PAtEl

Pretoria archdiocese rejoiced at the ordination of a second priest in the space of just a few weeks, Fr Pheto Matlala. In the traditional ceremony before his ordination Mass, his parents officially offered him to the Church, represented by diocesan priests. His father and mother declared that he is an adult and leader; and cautioned him about abuse of alcohol and the dangers of sexual immorality. Archbishop William Slattery said he is confident that women, children, and Church finances will be safe under his watch. Fr Matlala was labelled as joyful, happy, vibrant and charismatic by the many speakers at his ordination and first Mass. Fr Matlala, who is a good preacher, kept members of the congregation on their feet with his singing and dancing. (Photo: Mathibela Sebothoma)

CONFIRMATION group in Durban held an overnight retreat at the Denis Hurley Centre (DHC) to be inspired by the late archbishop after whom the centre is named. The confirmation group from St Joseph’s parish in Morningside spent a night in the centre, which since its opening in 2015 has served the needs of the poorest people in the city, as well as migrants and refugees. The DHC offers a feeding scheme, access to clinical care, and educational and community support, among other services. The purpose of the retreat was to inspire 19 confirmands with a sense of the late Archbishop Denis Hurley, who died 15 years ago this month, said Fr Brett Williams of Morningside. “The DHC perfectly reflects the character and personality of Archbishop Hurley,” said Rose Morrow, who helped Fr Williams organise

the retreat. “He was kind, inclusive, merciful and compassionate—and at the very heart of that amazing place is grace, integrity and justice. “Indeed, the outpouring of love from his very heart falls unabated upon that beautiful place.” The group arrived at the centre in the evening with nothing but their sleeping bags. Assisted by Fr Mneni Hadebe, Fr Williams celebrated an agape-style Mass with them in the Nkosinathi area of the building, where the soup kitchen for disadvantaged and homeless people operates. Afterwards, the group participated in various activities, from making pizzas and sharing them in the style of the Last Supper, a reflection exercise using clay, and the sacrament of reconciliation. They were also given an opportunity to tour the DHC, learning about the archbishop who had inspired the centre’s creation. Before settling in to sleep, the group heard graphic first-hand ac-

counts of living on the streets by Bongani and Yonela, two individuals who have experienced homelessness. The confirmands spent a restless night sleeping on the hard floor of the centre. Early the next morning, they prepared breakfast and lunchtime meals for over 200 homeless guests. Although they were initially apprehensive about the retreat, the feedback from the confirmands was “enormously positive”, Ms Morrow said. “Every one of them said they felt this was a very worthwhile experience from which they learnt a great deal, and that every confirmation group should experience it.” One of the confirmands commented: “I realise that for me, it was only one night—but for people on the street, there is no end to the struggle for the most basic things like food, a shower and a place to brush their teeth. The experience really brought home to me how lucky I am.”

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Church ‘must change ways to deal with abuse cases’ BY CArol GlAtz

VEN though the Catholic Church has all the necessary norms and laws in place to safeguard minors from abuse by clergy, the problem continues to be a lack in understanding or caring about those rules and guidelines and applying them effectively, according to a Church expert. But what must change are Church procedures for handling accusations of abuse, said Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, head of the Pontifical Gregorian University’s Centre for Child Protection in Rome. The legal process “must be more transparent, and more transparent for everyone”, including the victims, the accused and his or her superiors, Fr Zollner told reporters. Victims receive no information during the process, and the accused are left “in limbo” for what may be five years or more, not knowing if they will be sentenced or even found guilty, he said. Not even the bishop or religious superior of the accused receives information about what’s happening, he added. So while the Church’s definitions of what constitutes a crime and suggested sentences are clear, he said, what needs addressing is how to beef up the Church’s legal system so that it can “actually bring justice to everyone” and truly protect minors. Reporters asked Fr Zollner about his thoughts concerning Pope Francis’ decision to believe Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno, Chile, and not victims who claimed the bishop might

have been aware of and even present during their abuse by the bishop’s former mentor, Fr Fernando Karadima. The priest was sentenced to a life of prayer and penance by the Vatican after he was found guilty of sexually abusing boys. Fr Zollner, a German who has been a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors since its inception in 2014, insisted the pope does listen. He said he knows that personally from having been an interpreter for two German abuse survivors who had separate and lengthy private meetings with the pope in 2014. Pressed about doubts over whether the pope listened to a Chilean survivor who had written a letter to the pope which was to be hand delivered by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, head of the papal commission, Fr Zollner said he would have no way of knowing whether the pope read the letter. Yet, he said that when he once handed the pope two letters, “I am quite certain he did not open these letters” based on the nature of the pope’s response.

ather Zollner spoke after a ceremony awarding 18 people—religious and laity—diplomas for completing a specialisation course in safeguarding minors. At the ceremony, Fr Zollner—a theologian and psychologist who is also dean of the university’s institute of psychology—unveiled a new academic degree programme in safeguarding which will begin later this year.

The master’s degree is meant for specialists from any field to deepen their knowledge and practical skills in child protection. Accusations of sexual harassment unleashed by the #MeToo movement and the controversy over the pope’s support of Bishop Barros are just two recent events that show how great a need there is for “greater understanding and a broader range of responsibility” in protecting human dignity, he said. “In theory, we have all the instruments”, guidelines and norms in place, but they only “help us up to a certain point”, he told reporters. Major problems include applying what the Church mandates when it comes to: drawing up and carrying out abuse policies; properly vetting and forming candidates for the priesthood and religious life; and holding bishops and major superiors accountable when they fail to act or cover up abuse, he said. Another problem is many Church leaders do not even know what Church law, much less their country’s civil law, says about the crime of abuse and reporting requirements, he added. Fundamentally, the lack of awareness and application of church law, comes down to a problem of “the heart”—”how to shape mentalities”—so people are thorough and determined in building awareness and carrying out the law. “There is a culture that must be changed, but this will not happen overnight,” Fr Zollner said. “I’ve always said it will be a very long journey.”—CNS

Pope signs up for WYD 2019 BY HANNAH BroCKHAUS

ITH the help of a tablet and two young people, Pope Francis signed up for World Youth Day 2019 in Panama, announcing that registration for the international event has opened. Clicking “register” on a tablet, the pope announced to pilgrims in St Peter’s Square: “There; I have enrolled as a pilgrim to World Youth Day!” “We have to prepare ourselves. I

invite all the young people of the world to live with faith and enthusiasm this event of grace and fraternity, both [those] going to Panama and [those] participating in their communities,” he said. Pope Francis chose Panama to be the host of the next World Youth Day, an international gathering of youth which was started in 1985 by Pope John Paul II. Ordinarily held sometime in the northern summer months, in 2019 it will take place from January 22-27, to avoid Panama’s rainy season.—CNA

Pope Francis after registering for World Youth Day 2019. (Photo: Max rossi, reuters/CNS)

A cross bearing the African continent and a titulus saying “rD Congo” is held up during Pope Francis’ Angelus in St Peter’s Square. Political unrest over the presidency of Joseph Kabila and continuing war in the mineral-rich east of the country are continuing to weaken the DrC. (Photo: Max rossi, reuters/CNS)

Bishops slam suppression

HE bishops of Tanzania have protested against the suppression of several constitutional freedoms within the country, saying the government is becoming responsible for threatening national unity. “The activities of political parties, such as public gatherings, demonstrations, marches, debates inside premises, which are the right of every citizen, are suspended until the next elections,” a pastoral letter by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Tanzania noted. “Political activities are prohibited by the instrumentalisation of the police,” the bishops said, denouncing the government’s interference with national laws and the freedom of expression. Political tensions within Tanzania have been rising with upcoming byelections. President John Magufuli, of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, has been in power since taking office in 2015. The CCM has held power in Tanzania since the party was founded in 1977. Mr Magufuli, nicknamed the “bulldozer”, holds a reputation for enforcing censorship and limiting freedoms of expression. Since his election, opposition party meetings have been prohib-

ited, media has been silenced, and some reports have said that journalists critical of the government were found beaten. In December, government authorities threatened to revoke the licenses of churches which openly discussed political issues, after a Protestant pastor said in a sermon that Tanzania was “turning into a one-party state”. Last year, opposition leader Tundu Lissu was hospitalised after an alleged assassination attempt. He is currently hospitalised in Brussels, Belgium. Although no suspect has been arrested, Mr Lissu’s party is pointing to the government for possible involvement in the attack. The bishops said the current political standing is creating “division and hatred that could endanger peace, security and the lives of citizens”, and encouraged the government to give up suppressive tactics. “Media are closed or temporarily suspended, thus restricting the right of citizens, to be informed, freedom of opinion and the right to privacy and expression,” the bishops said. “If we allow this climate to continue, let us not be surprised to find ourselves in more serious conflicts that will destroy the foundations of peace and national unity.”—CNA

Lourdes: Official miracle #70 BY CINDY WooDEN

HE 70th officially recognised miraculous cure of a pilgrim to the Lourdes grotto where Mary appeared 160 years ago has been confirmed. Bishop Jacques BenoitGonnin of Beauvais formally declared “the prodigious, miraculous character” of the healing of Sr Bernadette Moriau, a French member of the Franciscan Oblates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Sr Moriau had been partially paralysed for more than 20 years despite repeated surgeries to relieve pressure on the nerve roots of her lower back. In November 2016, the International Medical Committee of Lourdes confirmed the nun’s “unexplained healing, in the current state of scientific knowledge”. But it is up to the bishop, not the physicians, to declare a healing miraculous. Lourdes, close to the Pyrenees in southern France, attracts millions of visitors each year and has been a place of pilgrimage since St Bernadette Soubirous reported the first of 18 visions of the Virgin Mary while gathering firewood in February 1858. To be declared miraculous,

the apparition grotto in lourdes. (Photo: Günther Simmermacher) cures must be “found complete and lasting”, involving a “serious illness which is incurable”, and must involve a sudden “indisputable change from a precise medical diagnosis of a known illness to a situation of restored health”. Sr Moriau, now 78, made her pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2008, the 150th anniversary of the apparitions. She had experienced lower back pain, the first symptom of her disease, in 1966 at the age of 27. Four surgeries did not stop the progressive worsening of her neurological deficits.

“This pilgrimage was for me a source of grace,” she said in a statement posted on the website of the diocese of Beauvais. In the cave where St Bernadette reported seeing Mary, “I felt the mysterious presence of Mary and little Bernadette”. She said she went to confession and received the anointing of the sick during the pilgrimage. “In no case did I ask for healing, but only for the conversion of heart and the strength to continue my journey as an invalid.” A few days after returning to her convent, she said she felt unusually relaxed and she experienced warmth throughout her body. Sr Moriau said an inner voice asked her to remove the rigid corset that helped hold her erect, the splint that kept her foot straight, and the neurostimulator she used for pain control. She began walking unaided and without pain. Before her case went to the International Medical Committee of Lourdes, she underwent batteries of tests and examinations, which were studied by committees of the Lourdes Medical Bureau in 2009, 2013 and 2016.—CNS

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Pope: Men using prostitutes add to human trafficking BY CINDY WooDEN

ROSPEROUS nations where foreign women are forced into prostitution need to drop their hypocrisy and “face the idea that they are part of the problem, rather than turning away, proclaiming their innocence”, Pope Francis said. “If many young women victims of trafficking end up on the streets of our cities, it is because many men here—young men, middle-aged, older men—ask for their services and are ready to pay,” the pope told a group of adults and teenagers who had taken part in a reflection on human trafficking. Meeting the group, Pope Francis responded to questions from the high school students and from young migrants about ways they could help fight trafficking and reach out to survivors. One of the migrants asked the pope why there was such a “surprising silence” about the reality of trafficking. Part of it is ignorance, the pope said, but much of the silence comes from embarrassment. Citizens must be “courageous and honest” enough to acknowledge people working in prostitution or slave-like conditions and reach out to help them. Through parishes and youth groups, he said, Catholic young people should meet survivors of trafficking, listen to their stories and befriend them. “Don’t be afraid to meet them,” the pope said. “Open your hearts, let them in.”

Pope Francis meets at the Vatican with Italian young people, adults and migrants rescued from human traffickers. (Photo: l’osservatore romano/CNS) One young migrant, speaking in English, asked the pope what could be done to prevent trafficking when, in her country, with promises of jobs in Europe young people are tricked into slavery and prostitution. “How horrible it is to realise that many young victims were first abandoned by their family, considered disposable by their societies,” the pope said. Young people need to be educated to understand the traffickers' ploys and the reality that likely awaits those who fall into their clutches, he said. Survivors of trafficking can have

a huge impact by sharing their stories. Education is also important so that young people can get decent jobs at home or go to universities and not be tempted by the false promises of traffickers, he said. But, one of the migrants told the pope, it is “almost impossible” to find a decent job in Europe. More must be done, the pope said, to create jobs for young people, especially for survivors who have been rescued from traffickers. Pope Francis told the group he hoped some survivors of trafficking would address the Synod of Bishops on youth in October to share their stories and “call the Church to action”. “It is my great desire,” he said, “that young people representing the ‘peripheries’ would be the protagonists of this synod.” According to SIR, the Italian bishops’ news agency, Pope Francis also spoke at length off-the-cuff. In a section not included in the updated text released by the Vatican, SIR said the pope commented on how the news media can manipulate facts to feed an anti-immigrant sentiment. “I read in a newspaper that in a small town in Italy, there were many rapes and that 40% of those responsible were migrants,” he said. “But the other 60%? They were Italian!” “This is a way to sully migrants,” the pope said, according to SIR. “There is a way to recount facts that changes the truth.”—CNS

Indian cardinal: Why Hindu nationalism is scaring us BY ANto AKKArA

ARDINAL Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, newly elected president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, expressed “anguish” over increasing threats to pluralism in the country by Hindu nationalists. “Intolerance is causing a certain amount of anxiety to us,” Cardinal Gracias said in Bangalore, while addressing a news conference at the end of the assembly of Indian bishops. “Diversity is one of the strengths of India. It is known world over for its diversity of culture, language and religion. Any attempt to divide people by certain sections will be harmful for the nation,” cautioned Cardinal Gracias. He was responding to a question on how the bishops’ assembly viewed the increasing threats to diversity in recent years.

reg. number 012-905 NPo

A member of the World Hindu Council holds a weapon during a protest in Jammu, India. (Photo: Jaipal Singh, EPA/CNS) Human rights groups have expressed concern over religious-based crime in India, and the government has confirmed an increase in violence

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based on religion. Auxiliary Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas of Ranchi, secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, said attacks on pluralism were “not only against Christians, but all Indians”. “You cannot allow a few rabid elements to spoil the harmony. It is a question of upholding constitutional values and the rule of law,” the bishop added. A bishops’ statement from the meeting said: “No one should doubt our loyalty or our commitment to the nation,” amid Hindu nationalists branding Muslims and Christians as foreigners. “True nationalism can lead our motherland to genuine peace, harmony, progress and prosperity,” the bishops said. They appealed to all people “to shun mob culture and vigilantism in favour of peace”.—CNS

Banners depicting the 21 Coptic martyrs beheaded by ISIS three years ago outside the Coptic orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem in 2016. (Photo: Günther Simmermacher)

New church for 21 murdered by ISIS BY CoUrtNEY GroGAN

HE Coptic Orthodox Church has dedicated a new church to the 21 Martyrs of Libya, who were beheaded by ISIS, three years after their deaths. The church is located in the village of al-Our in Egypt’s Minya governorate. The village was home to 13 of the martyred men. The church may someday house the 21 martyrs’ remains, which were identified in a mass grave on the Libyan coast in September. The Coptic Orthodox Church recognised the 21 Coptic Christians as martyrs, to be commemo-

rated every February 15, within only a week of their murder in 2015 along the Libyan coast, which was filmed by ISIS and released in an Internet video. Although Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi authorised the building of the new church, its construction in a village that is 70% Muslim has faced resistance. “Some of the villagers protested and threw stones when construction started on the church. Churches are a sensitive subject throughout Egypt, even though about 10% of the population is Christian. It's hard to get permits to build them,” Jane Arraf of NPR reported from al-Our.—CNA

the Southern Cross, February 21 to February 27, 2018

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor: GĂźnther Simmermacher

With hope into SAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future

FTER almost nine years of Jacob Zumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mostly ruinous presidency, South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long wait to finally exhale ended last week with his departure. Under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the nation hopes that sober, responsible, transparent and accountable governance will take hold in South Africa. It may be significant that in Mr Ramaphosa, the country has a president who fought the struggle against apartheid from within South Africa. The primacy of the exiles in the African National Congress (ANC) since the dawn of our democracy has not always served the country well. Much as Mr Zumaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidency will be remembered mostly for its rampant kleptomania, we must remember that the rot of corruption had already set in under ex-President Thabo Mbeki, particularly with the arms deal. The task facing President Ramaphosa is immense. He and those whom he appoints to his cabinet must build a future for South Africa on the debris of a government whose duplicity, arrogance, incompetence, disorder and mocking of decency cast a shadow over any of its accomplishments. Mr Ramaphosa also will need to repair the ANC whose reputation has been wounded by the Zuma era. Time will tell whether the ANC can establish some internal stability. The results of its leadership elections in December suggest that finding unity will be enormously difficult, though the party will likely present a united front in the run-up to the 2019 national and provincial elections. Those elections will reveal whether the ANCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electoral decline under Mr Zuma will be arrested, or whether it has lost the confidence of voters. Certainly the acts of the Zuma governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;those that were honourable but also those that were notâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;were executed in the name of the ANC, and many of those who were party to the sleaze of corruption still occupy positions of influence and authority. The ANC must now take collective responsibility and make amends for the brazen plunder of state coffers by its own government. Those responsible for these transgressions, especially for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;state captureâ&#x20AC;? by the Gupta family, must be held to account, regardless of the positions they are

holding. This must include Mr Zuma. Obviously, all Zuma deployments to top positions in strategic institutions must be reviewed. Agents of corruption in key positions have to be removed swiftly. The damage to the democratic institutions wrought by many (though not all) of these appointments has been severe. But our democracy is nonetheless in a healthy state. Our justice system stood firm against government attempts to corrupt it, offices appointed to protect our Constitution frequently held government to account (especially the Office of the Public Protector under Thuli Madonsela), and our civil society, including many of our media, has been active and often trenchant. The churches have also contributed, as a part of civil society, to protecting our democracy. Most dramatically, the Dominican Order initiated the Public Protectorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigation into state capture. When our state was captured, we found some recourse in the courts and on the streets, eventually culminating in the premature removal of the corrupt president presiding over it. This is not the case in many other democracies. The self-styled â&#x20AC;&#x153;greatest democracy in the worldâ&#x20AC;?, the United States, is institutionally captured by special interest lobbies and industrialists whose campaign contributions dictate policyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; rarely to the benefit of the common good. Indeed, South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s democracy is in a robust state. It is a promising sign that Mr Zuma did not try to subvert it when his political career was nearing its end. The ANC has shown its fidelity to the democratic processes by accepting electoral defeats in the 2016 local elections. We, all South Africans, must remain alert in protecting our democracy. The trauma of the Zuma years is now over, and South Africans enter the future with hope. Over the next year or so there will be vigorous debate as the political parties compete for votes in the 2019 elections. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how it must be. But at the same time, after all those years of division and chaos, South Africa is in need of healing, reconciliation and transformation. Even as the election campaigns intensify, we must work towards meeting those essential needs. May God bless South Africa!

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 Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s discretion. Name and address of the writer must be supplied. No anonymous letter will be considered.

Why shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t kids be in church?

AM writing this letter to explain why my family and I have stopped attending our local Catholic parish church. On Saturday evening, an elderly lady accused me and my two small children of being a terrible distraction at Mass, and that we should be in the crying room. What was upsetting about her accusation is the rude manner in which it was executed: done in the form of gossip which turned into finger-pointing and â&#x20AC;&#x153;ganging-upâ&#x20AC;?. Immediately following Mass, she rallied a group of her friends and openly started lambasting me and my children. If she felt that aggrieved, surely the fair approach would have been to approach me directly and having a one-on-one

Essential tool for pastoral ministry

S someone who attended the launch last month of the 3rd edition of Elements Of Counselling, co-authored by Dr Joan SchĂśn, Fr Vic Kotze and Lauren Gower (as reported in your February 7 issue), I find that this edition, like each of its predecessors, is a valuable tool for all who find themselves called to offer care and counsel to young and old in South Africa. It would be an essential tool for priests, deacons and teachers, pastoral workers as well as social activists. In his address at the launch, Hanif Vally spoke of the damaged society we live inâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;damage not only caused from years of apartheid but from the 20+ years of poor governance we have experienced at the hands of the ANC. Our society has many victims of trauma, suffering from depression and a sense of helplessness. This 3rd updated and expanded edition of Elements Of Counselling has come at a very propitious time in our history. Dr Vally cited many more categories of people who would benefit from it in his address at the launch. The book is available from the Jesuit Institute in Johannesburg, at R350 per copy (contact admin@ jesuitinstitute.org.za) Sr Marie Andre Mitchell SND, Johannesburg

Advice for the young in anguish

ETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S remember all young people who are about to give up in life. Their pain becomes my pain, just as their hopes become my hope. Sometimes when we feel like life

discussion to understand the situation. For personal reasons and out of respect for another family which attends Mass and utilises the crying room, we have decided to sit in the main church area. I spend an hour before Mass each Saturday preparing activities for my children so that they can sit quietly. And despite a few whispers and some wriggling, they are extremely well-behaved in Mass. So I would just like to pose a question to the woman who accused me last weekend: isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a slight distraction a small price to pay for allowing a mother and her small children, aged 3 and 5, to become part of the Catholic community; one in which people are supposed is pulling us down and we feel like we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take it anymore, we must know that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s okay to feel like this. We should always remember that we are not alone. When friends, families and colleagues are turning away from us, we can take a deep breath and lock ourselves in our rooms and cry, because tears clean the windows of our hearts. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never too late to go out and talk to someone. When we are fighting the hardest battle, we must remember that this will pass, too, and everything will be okay. We have to go through the storm to see the rainbow. We must accept the disappointments in life but we must never lose hope. Whatever we are going through in life, let that become a daily source for our faith and hope in God. No matter what comes in life, even if it is painful, we can always seek to find the blessings in that experience. Stephen Mokoena, Oudendaalrus

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t presume about pro-lifers

ATHER Ron Rolheiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s column â&#x20AC;&#x153;Conquer what divides usâ&#x20AC;? (January 31) should be framed and re-read regularly, which brings me to your editorial of the same day which one cannot fault up to the point where you assume that pro-lifers are not consistent and at odds in respect of the positions that they are taking with areas that face humanity daily. 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 POâ&#x20AC;&#x2C6;box 2372, Cape Town 8000 or editor@scross.co.za or faxed to 021 465-3850

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to love and support each other? We all have our struggles. Church is a place of reverence and quiet worship; I understand this. I am teaching my kids this through attending Mass every weekend. But church is supposed to be a family, and that means support and tolerance within the community. The demographic of this referenced community is approximately 90% over the age of 50. Without supporting and encouraging young families, this aged demographic will extend and, of course, result in a community decline. I have been attending the Catholic Church since I was born, and it has always been my place of comfort and acceptance. For the first time ever, this has been shaken, and this deeply wounds me. Name withheld How can you claim that pro-lifers tolerate the tragedy of Alun Kurdi and other tragedies/injustices? We rarely hear or see the media condemning the very governments of the countries who have no respect for their own people and are directly responsible for these tragedies. These countries continue to enjoy the support of their evil allies, the United Nations and other organisations, who have their own agendas while these atrocities continue. I am sure you are wrong when you question â&#x20AC;&#x153;how can we mournâ&#x20AC;?, again making the presumption that pro-lifers have no concern for the injustices that are taking place in our world. What Catholics should be doing is what our parish priest says: to â&#x20AC;&#x153;PUSH: Pray Until Something Happensâ&#x20AC;? to make this a better world. Bernard Moat, St Helena Bay n The editorial did not suggest that all pro-lifers tolerate the suffering of refugees, but suggested that those who are indifferent or opposed to other life issues cannot claim to be truly pro-life. Demonstrably there are those who claim to be pro-life who do not regard all life, from conception to natural death, as sacred. It was such people whom the editorial addressed.â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Editor.

Common-sense approach

HANK you, Mgr Vincent Hill, for your letter â&#x20AC;&#x153;Why are some unable to change?â&#x20AC;? (January 31). It is insightful to share the long-term view. Your common-sense approach to the use of language at the service of communicating the beauty of the liturgy, and your balanced approach is heartening. Your lifetime of a satisfying priestly ministry is inspiring, too. Fr Sean Collins CSsR, Howick

PERSPECTIVES Emmanuel Ngara

What is ‘leadership’? W E have been dealing with various aspects of leadership development in this series of articles. Before we bring the series to a close, we need to clarify a number of issues. One of these is the meaning of the word “leadership”. Many mistakes made by people who are in positions of authority result from a lack of clarity about what leadership is. It is therefore important for the developing leader to have a clear understanding of the concept. An appropriate starting point in our discussion is to dissect the ambiguity that is in the word “leader”. For example, we would generally refer to people who have the following titles as leaders: the principal of a school, the parish priest of a church, the bishop of a diocese, the chief executive officer of a company, and the president of a country. The thinking here is that whoever is in charge is a leader. Consequently, leadership is viewed here as being synonymous with a position. But if we carry out a study of people who hold important positions, we will see that not all of them have what it takes to be a leader. On the other hand, there are people who do not hold official leadership positions, and yet possess leadership qualities and do the things that true leaders are expected to do. The famous authority on leadership, John Maxwell, has said: “It’s not the position that makes the leader; it’s the leader that makes the position.” This helps us understand that leadership is not a position. Leadership is a function. Many individuals are appointed to positions because other people or those in authority can see what these individuals

are capable of doing. In this regard, one of the key abilities of those who become true leaders is the ability to influence. It is the ability of these individuals to influence people that makes others follow them voluntarily, without being forced to do so. Someone who forces others to follow him or her is not a true leader. There is a distinction between leadership and management. One of the reasons why many people who hold positions of authority fail as leaders is that when they are appointed to these positions, all they do is to manage the organisations they are in charge of, without doing the things that true leaders do.

he following brief explanation gives an insight into the difference between a leader and a manager. A manager focuses on the maintenance of systems, processes and practices, and on

Is a manager also a leader? Not necessarily, Emmanuel Ngara writes.

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Faith and Society

Denis Hurley Centre tour guide thembi, who is blind, explains the centre’s statue of the late Archbishop Hurley. ing up for the marginalised and the forgotten, it takes on an extra poignancy when you realise that he cannot see the pictures that he is directing you to look at. The next step in our commitment to empowering people is setting up a training café staffed by adults who are deaf. They will go through a 12-month NVQ course, using the medium of sign language, learning business skills, computer proficiency and catering skills. We would be pleased to hear from anyone who wants to help us with that project, especially with donations of café equipment.

ur commitment to people with disabilities is not only because it is the human thing to do but also because I feel that people of faith need to show an exemplary standard in this regard. Historically, religions have not always shown great sympathy to the disabled. Being told that your condition is a test from God, or a punishment for your sins, or for the sins of your ancestors, is not likely to

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ensuring that the machinery of the organisation runs smoothly and efficiently. Management has to do with putting in place the necessary structures, procedures and processes that facilitate the smooth and efficient running of the organisation. Management is therefore very important for the success of an organisation. Very often people who are called good leaders are, in fact, just good managers. How then does a leader differ from a mere manager? A leader is much more than a manager. First, it is important to understand that you lead people and manage an organisation. A leader influences other people to follow in order to move the organisation in a certain direction. Consequently, leadership has to do with giving direction. In order to give direction, the leader must develop a vision that he or she wants others to buy into. Leadership is therefore about inspiring and influencing people or followers with the effect of moving an organisation, a country or any other entity to a higher level or better position. True leadership leads to a qualitative and, in some cases, quantitative development of the entity concerned. An officer or politician who leaves the country or organisation where he or she found it is just a manager, not a leader. An officer or politician who leaves the country or organisation in a worse condition than he or she found it is both a poor leader and a poor manager. For the success of any country or organisation, you need both good leadership and good management.

Raymond Perrier

The power of disability A T the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban, we aspire to live up to Pope Francis’ vision of the Church as “the House that welcomes all and refuses no one”. So, as well as providing a safe place for fellow citizens who are homeless, or refugees, or drug addicts, we also try to be a place where people with disabilities feel welcome. I am proud that our building incorporates simple but important features that ensure that someone who is blind or a wheelchair-user can navigate their way around easily. It is shocking to me that step-free access is not incorporated into all new buildings in South Africa, as it is in many other parts of the world. These features meant that we could have a wheelchair-bound receptionist. We found her through an excellent organisation called Khulisani which trains and deploys adults with disabilities so they can get opportunities in the workplace. What is more, this is at no cost to the hosting organisation and benefits the corporate who sponsors them (for more information contact www.khulisani.co.za). We have also had the pleasure of having young women with learning disabilities and cerebral palsy working in our kitchen or helping at reception. The great change is how quickly we all forget about the label disabled and just see the person. We have now taken two even bolder steps. The Denis Hurley Centre finally has a full-time tour guide, an excellent young man. Thembi Langa knows everything there is to know about our centre and the life of Archbishop Denis Hurley. He can navigate his way easily around the building, giving tours in English and isiZulu. And he happens to be totally blind. As he tells the stories of Hurley stand-

Christian leadership

help you feel positive about yourself. A friend of mine who is a priest and profoundly deaf told me that a few decades ago the Catholic Church would have refused to ordain him because he was “imperfect” (as if any of the rest of us was perfect!). But thankfully there have been many examples of faith groups taking a positive lead in supporting the disabled. Many schools for deaf or blind children were originally set up by religious organisations. One very dear to my heart is Kwa Thintwa School for the Deaf near Durban which was founded by Archbishop Hurley himself when he encountered a young deaf man who could not read and write because there was no school for him to attend. Forty years on, the school has almost 400 residential students and for the past seven years has enjoyed a 100% matric pass rate. So much for deaf people being “imperfect”! One of the privileges of my work is to partner with SANZAF, the Muslim Development Agency, whose head, Saffura Khan, is blind. She often points out to me that disability is not something inherent in the person but rather created by the situation around them. A partially blind woman I worked with a few years ago suddenly became more productive when we bought her a larger computer screen so she could read an enlarged typeface. She was not in herself disabled—she had been dis-abled by her employer’s thoughtlessness; she was reenabled by the use of technology. I first met Thembi, our tour guide, as part of a Blind Navigators’ Rally. Continued on page 11

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the Southern Cross, February 21 to February 27, 2018

Chris Chatteris SJ

Pray with the Pope

Pope calls us to discern our lives General Intention: That the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels. S Pope Francis still a Jesuit? It’s a good canonical question, because if you define a Jesuit as a man under obedience to a Jesuit superior, then Francis is no longer in that position. On the other hand, his Jesuit spirit can be seen time and time again in his public statements and his prophetic actions. Discernment is a very strong Ignatian theme. Incidentally, the word “Ignatian” signals that we are talking about something which belongs to the whole Church and is not just the private preserve of Jesuits. And, of course, St Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, did not invent spiritual discernment—it is an abiding theme in Christian spirituality. What he did do was to provide a systematic approach to it and a context in which it could be easily understood and practised by any serious believer. The context is the Spiritual Exercises, the Ignatian retreat whose fundamental aim is to help the retreatant discern the will of God for their life. Ignatius explains that there are basically two categories of “discerner”. The first is someone who is free to make a life-choice, for example whether God wants him or her to be a religious or a priest or a married person. Ignatius believed that if such a man or the Spiritual Exercises of woman does the Spiri- St Ignatius can still help tual Exercises, truly de- us today. siring to find the will of the Lord for their life, the grace of clarity will be given. The second category is the person who is already committed to a particular way of life; for example a bishop or a married person. However, within those existing commitments, a great deal of freedom of choice still exists. A married person or a priest who comes on an Ignatian retreat seeking to serve the Lord more generously, will strive to discern ways to deepen their commitment and choose the important options within the commitment that can transform it.

uch a discerned choice might be something as simple as putting aside a set time of prayer each day and aiming to make it deeper than, say, the recitation of devotions. “What would happen in the Church if every priest nourished his celibate ministry with 30 or 40 minutes of contemplative prayer each day?” asked Bishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati, at the US bishops’ plenary in 1980. Or, a bishop might discern clearly that, because his first responsibility is the care of his priests, he needs to cut down on other calls on his time. Or, a married man might see, before God, that the offer of moving to a more lucrative level of management in his business is not actually good for his family life and his health, and would choose to decline it. Or a priest might see that the poorer parish that the bishop was suggesting to him is a gift from the Lord which would change his life. Of course, the person is not alone or isolated in the process. The retreat director is always at hand. One of the most delicate tasks of the director is to help with the timing of what Ignatius calls the “election”, that is, the practical decision which comes out of the discernment process. This would normally occur in the latter half of the retreat and then, in the rest of the time, the “election” would normally be confirmed. These are examples of personal discernment. St Ignatius and his companions also practised discernment as a community. It was particularly important for them when they were still unsure whether God wanted them to form a religious order. Their communal discernment required them to focus their private prayer on the questions before them and to come together to discuss where they felt God was leading them. The discourse was less about argument and debate and more of a weighing of the way they felt the Holy Spirit was moving them as a group. Many of us aspire to discernment today—and use the word quite glibly—but we probably need to put more consistent time and prayer into the process to discern more deeply and surely. n You can find a short but inspiring video on this theme featuring Pope Francis himself on www.thepope video.org.

the Southern Cross, February 21 to February 27, 2018

CHURCH

How the Vatican diplomacy works for justice and peace The Holy See’s diplomatic activities cover the globe in the pursuit of promoting justice and peace. ANDrEA GAGlIArDUCCI explains its work.

T a traditional new year’s meeting between Pope Francis and diplomats to the Vatican last month, the pope painted a picture of pontifical diplomacy around the globe: An international mission working to secure the common good, an always increasing network of relations, and the certainty of an impartial voice working for peace. The Pope’s speech sets the basis and the guidelines for the Holy See’s diplomatic activities during the year. If the guidelines are based on concrete issues, then pontifical diplomacy has three main threads —three themes that include all the others. The first is a commitment to peace; the second is a commitment to human dignity; and the third is a commitment to fight poverty. In the mind of the pope, all three seem linked to one another. • The Vatican’s commitment to peace is practised via the art of mediation, and the Holy See has been a critical participant in the mediation of global conflict for decades. • The Vatican’s commitment to human dignity is based on the principle that all people are equal in dignity in the sight of God. • And the Church’s commitment to fight poverty is expressed in its diplomatic work for peace, international development, and support for marginalised. On that front, Pope Francis has asked who, in the end, is poorer than an unborn child, or than the forgotten or marginalised elderly. These three commitments are shaping the Holy See’s diplomatic activity. Within that framework, there are two clear priorities for the diplomatic work of the Holy See this year. The first is advocating for migrants and refugees. The United Nations are finalising a Global

The Holy See in world agencies

Pope Francis and Archbishop Peter Wells, who as the nuncio to Southern Africa represents the Holy See to the local Church and governments. Archbishop Wells is part of a large body of Vatican diplomats who articulate the Church’s concerns and visions on the global stage, from the United Nations and international agencies to diplomatic relations with almost all countries of the world. (Photo: Paul Haring/CNS) Compact on Migration, that follows the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants issued in September 2016. The Holy See participated in all of the meetings, and presented 20 points of actions on the issue gathered under the four key words “welcome, protect, promote and integrate”.

Pope’s central issues Pope Francis has made migration a core issue of his pontificate: he established a special section for Migrants and Refugee within the ranks of the Vatican dicastery for the Promotion of the Integral Human Development, and the pope is personally chairing it. The theme for this year’s World Day of Peace 2018, on January 1, was “Migrants and Refugees: Seekers of Peace”, underscoring the importance the issue has for the Holy See. The second diplomatic focus is on peacekeeping. The Holy See aims to help and assist countries in achieving peace. Archbishop Silvano Maria Tomasi, a former papal nuncio who

is now counsellor at the Vatican dicastery for the Integral Human Development, stressed that for at least the past 50 years, “peacekeeping and the search for peace have dominated the Holy See’s public interventions”. The Holy See is working to create a path to peace, Archbishop Tomasi said, by working on “the formation of a new mentality, thanks to the World Day of Peace; the Holy See’s involvement in discussions on disarmament; and the Holy See’s encouragement to develop effective international institutions”. How does the Holy See carry on its commitment? First of all, with its work into the multilateral institutions, namely the United Nations and other global institutions.

Holy See in the UN The Holy See mission at the United Nations in New York provided data on the Holy See’s work at the UN during the last year. The Holy See at the UN in New York delivered 82 interventions,

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PART from maintaining diplomatic ties with all but 13 of the world’s states (as well as Palestine), the Holy See is active in many international organisations. The Holy See is a member of the following groups: • International Committee of Military Medicine • International Atomic Energy Agency • International Organisation for Migration • International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions • Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons • Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe • Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation • International Institute for the Unification of Private Law • United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees • United Nations Conference on Trade and Development • World Intellectual Property Organisation The Holy See is a permanent observer of these international organisations: • Council of Europe in Strasbourg • International Labour Organisation • International Fund for Agricultural Development • International Commission on Civil Status • Latin Union • Organisation of American States • Organisation of African Unity • United Nations • UNESCO • UN Industrial Development Organisation • UN Development Programme • UN Environment Programme • UN International Drug Control Programme • UN Centre for Human Settlements • Food and Agriculture Organisation • World Tourism Organisation • World Trade Organisation • World Health Organisation • World Food Programme The Holy See also sends a delegate to the Arab League in Cairo, and is a guest of honour to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

and ten of them were delivered by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican “foreign minister” who led the Holy See’s delegation at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in September. Archbishop Gallagher also signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons for the Holy See and in the name of and on behalf of the Holy See. The Holy See’s mission noted that it “was an active participant in negotiations, and was one of the 122 States that voted in favour of the treaty, adopted on July 7, 2017. The signing took place during the High Level Ceremony for the opening of the signing of the Treaty, in which the Holy See joined more than 40 states in signing the treaty, and was joined by only Thailand in simultaneously ratifying the treaty.” The Holy See mission at the UN Office in Geneva, Switzerland, led by Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, delivered 48 interventions, participating in many panels on the Global Compact on Migrations. The Holy See mission in Geneva also represents the Holy See at the International Organisation for Migration: the Holy See has been a member state since 2012. Those are only examples of the Holy See’s considerable involvement in multilateral international organisations.

Co-founder of agencies It is noteworthy to remember that there is also a Holy See diplomatic mission in Vienna, accredited to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and to other special organisations like the International Atomic Energy Agency, to which the Holy See is a member state and founder. No less important is the Holy See’s Mission at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome. Pope Francis has personally demonstrated that fighting world hunger is a priority to the Holy See. He has visited the FAO headquarters twice: on November 20, 2014

and October 16, 2017, and went to the World Food Programme headquarters on June 13, 2016. In addition to that, Pope Francis symbolically donated US$25 000 to the FAO to support the Eastern African populations facing food insecurity and famine. The Holy See’s diplomatic network of bilateral relations also continues to grow. In 1900, only about 20 countries had diplomatic relations with the Holy See. In 1978 the number was 84; in 2005 it was 174. During Benedict XVI’s pontificate, six new countries were added to the list, and, under the leadership of Pope Francis that number has climbed to 183, with Myanmar (or Burma) joining the list of states with full diplomatic ties with the Holy See.

Out in the cold in 13 states There are only 13 states who have no diplomatic ties with the Holy See. Out of them, eight have no Vatican envoy: Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, China, North Korea, Maldives and Tuvalu. The Holy See has apostolic delegates, not fully recognised as ambassadors, in four countries: Comoros, Somalia, Brunei and Laos. The Holy See has started negotiations with Vietnam to reach full diplomatic ties, and in 2011 the Holy See appointed the first nonresidential Vatican envoy to Hanoi. The Holy See is represented in South Africa by Archbishop Peter Wells, who is based in Waterkloof, Pretoria. Known as the apostolic nuncio, he represents the pope in matters pertaining to the internal affairs of the local Church, and as an ambassador for the Holy See (which is technically distinct from the Vatican City state) to South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia. The diplomatic efforts of the Holy See are considerable, and, as Pope Francis emphasised, committed to important and deeply Catholic international goals.—CNA

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the Southern Cross, February 21 to February 27, 2018

FAITH

SA-born mystic who heard Christ Sr Mary of the Holy Trinity was born in Pretoria and died in Jerusalem. Her diaries are regarded a spiritual treasure. SArA ForNArI looks at the mystic’s life.

NE of the great mystics of the 20th century was a nun born in Pretoria to Calvinist parents who reported an apparition of a Poor Clare nun and later had inner locutions from Jesus. Sr Mary of the Holy Trinity was a Poor Clare nun who was born in 1901 and died in Jerusalem on June 16, 1942. In that apparition, Jesus called the daughter of Swiss missionaries to the Holy City: “Be my little seed planted in Jerusalem, to bear fruit in my Church.” That instruction is engraved on the gravestone of Sr Mary of the Holy Trinity, a tombstone among many in the Poor Clare convent’s cemetery in Jerusalem’s Hanock Albeck Street. Behind the large cloistered wall of the monastery of Santa Chiara, on the road leading to Bethlehem, this tomb is becoming more and more a destination for prayer. “Sr Maria of the Trinity is having so many friends in the most different parts of the world,” said Sr Mariachiara Bosco, the convent’s abbess. They come “from Austria to Argentina, from Brazil to Switzerland to Japan to South Africa, her native land. This does not cease to amaze us and fill us with joy.” For Sr Mary of the Holy Trinity, the cloister was the climax of a troubled journey in search of God. It’s a journey that makes her a real figure for our times—when she thought she lost her vocation. She became a Poor Clare nun only four years before her death, after having being tested in at least four different congregations. Born as Louisa Jaques in Pretoria on April 26, 1901, she came from a family of Swiss Calvinists. Her father had founded the Calvinist mission of Pretoria and Johannesburg. Her mother died a few hours after giving birth to Louisa, so the little girl was raised by her Aunt Alice in Switzerland. After her schooling Louisa worked as a secretary and as a governess. In May 1920 she returned to South Africa but left the following year to nurse her ailing aunt. Louisa was a woman of culture and fine artistic sensibility, but also one who had suffered much tragedy, loss and poor health. And she tirelessly looked for the elusive truth—moral and religious—to the point of tears.

Life-changing night Then came the night—a night that found her in the depth of despair about the absence of God— which changed her life. She later recalled what she was

one of a few photos of Sr Mary of the Holy trinity, the Pretoria-born mystic whose spiritual diary has inspired many people.

luisa Jaques, the future Sr Mary of the Holy trinity, is seen as a child on the right with her sisters Elizabeth (left) and Alice.

thinking that night from February 13 to 14, 1926: “There is no God. What people say about him is nothing but a farce. Life is not worth living. That’s what led me to think of a long chain of unnecessary sacrifices and struggles: God is not there! I knew despair! To die, to die...” It was the beginning of her conversion and vocation, or, as she called it, of her “weaknesses and of the Lord’s mercy”. It was that night of despair from a Saturday to a Sunday that brought Louisa to the light of faith: she had the vision of a figure clothed in the habit of the Poor Clares, and immediately heard the call of the cloister. “I saw the shadowy form of a woman coming into the room through the casement as through a French-window,” Sr Mary of the Holy Trinity later recalled. “She approached quickly and noiselessly. There she stood, near the foot of my bed, without touching it. She had wide sleeves, and her hands were crossed inside them. I could not see her face because she seemed to have a sort of cowl on her head, something I had never seen before. She may simply have had her veil lowered. “She was tall and straight, out of breath and panting as if she had been running, and from time to time she turned her head towards the window by which she had entered, as though someone were waiting for her outside. “It seemed to me that she wore a plain cord as a belt. She had no cloak. Her robe fell straight. I believe it was dark brown, but I may be mistaken. I saw an outline rather than specific details,” she recalled. “The nun who came near to my bed in that way frightened me very much. I thought it was death in person who had come for me... “She must have stayed part of the night, for later when I awoke after having dozed awhile, it seemed to me that she was still there. I quickly closed my eyes again in order not to see her any more! “She said nothing—yet a ray of light had penetrated into my despair.”

archived testimonials, more than 200 letters and postcards, shipped from the five continents. Urged by many requests, they asked Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the apostolic administrator of the patriarchate of Jerusalem, to approve the prayer for asking graces for intercession of Sr Mary of the Holy Trinity. In the preface to a French edition of Inner Conversation, another Swiss-born Protestant, the theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar, wrote: “The timeliness of her writ-

The irresistible force

the grave of Sr Mary of the Holy trinity in the grounds of the Poor Clares convent in Jerusalem.

Since then, in her free time from work in Milan, Louisa visited Catholic churches, feeling drawn to an irresistible force which she later identified as the Eucharist. Two years later, after a year-long instruction in the faith, she was baptised a Catholic and received into the Church. She did not immediately enter the religious life, first working for a Milanese countess. But in Milan she now visited several convents to verify her call to a vocation. In 1929 one congregation accepted her but let her go due to ill health—haemoptysis, a bronchial

disease, that had plagued her since 1925. Two years later she entered the Society of the Heart of Mary. She did her novitiate for five years until she realised that her call was to the contemplative life. In 1936 she briefly entered the monastery of the Sisters of St Claire at Evian but was soon dismissed. She left for South Africa with her sister Alice on August 10, 1937 and worked as a teacher for three Jewish families. Louisa looked at entering the Poor Clares in Johannesburg but they delayed her application. Instead she went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, arriving there on June 24, 1938. Within a week she began her postulancy with the Poor Clares in Jerusalem, in the monastery where 40 years earlier Bl Charles de Foucauld had spent several months in prayer, being an hermit in the garden.

The mystic writes Having taken the name Mary of the Holy Trinity, she reported inner locutions of Christ. In January 1940, her spiritual director counselled her to write her diary. The result, titled Inner Conversation, continues to conquer the hearts of many people. On June 16, 1942, an outbreak of influenza in the convent took her from the terrestial to the celestial Jerusalem. In the last couple of years, the Poor Clares in Jerusalem have started to publish a newsletter, to keep in touch with those who ask for her and make known the

ings is the inner listening to the Lord’s voice.” The spiritual intensity with which the voice resounds “must make our ears tense not to the outside but to the interior of ourselves, in which it also speaks”. The fallen seed in Jerusalem will certainly bring many fruits.

n This article first appeared in the Italian newspaper Avvenire. It appears here with additional biographical information gathered by The Southern Cross.

‘Morning Offering Prayer’ by Sr Mary of the Holy Trinity M Y Jesus, Here is my tongue that You may watch over it; that it may not utter more than pleases You; and that my silence may speak to You. Here are my ears that they may listen only to the voice of duty; and to Your Voice, O Jesus! Here are my eyes that they may not cease to behold You in every face and in every work. Here are my hands and my feet that You may make them agile, that they may be riveted to Your service alone, to the execution of Your desires. Here are my thoughts that Your Light may possess them. Here is my heart that Your Love, O Jesus! may reign and rest in it.

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the Southern Cross, February 21 to February 27, 2018

WORLD

Piracy is a modern-day threat Pirates are fun in the movies—but a lethal threat to thousands of seafarers, as GrEG WAttS explains.

ANY of us have a fascination with pirates. Small boys love dressing up as pirates at parties, and the Pirates of the Caribbean films have grossed millions at the box office. However, for seafarers sailing in some oceans of the world, being attacked by pirates—and held hostage or even killed—is a real danger. Modern pirates don’t carry cutlasses, have parrots on their shoulders, and spend the evening in a bar knocking back rum. They carry machetes and machine guns. And they can make millions when they hold a ship and its crew to ransom. The ships most at risk are oil tankers and container ships. They carry cargoes worth huge sums, and pirates believe that they have a good chance of forcing insurance companies to pay up. When pirates attack, seafarers are usually held prisoner on their own hijacked vessels, some of which are employed as mother ships from which the pirates launch further raids. Maritime lawyer James Gosling explained that negotiating with pirates over ransoms is complex. “The negotiations are always difficult, and no-one should underestimate the strain that this puts on owners,” he said. “During the course of the negotiations, there will be very difficult times, with the crew forced to plead

and pass on various ultimatums, including the threat of the use of torture, execution and so on.” Mr Gosling said that in some cases, families of seafarers have tried to raise the ransom money. He noted that most seafarers come from the so-called Third World. “The thing that has truly disturbed me is the increasing move from governments in the First World to try to ban ransom payments,” the lawyer said. He argued that the approach of these First World countries to the payments of ransoms for seafarers is hypocritical, as they will turn a blind eye to payment for executives of large corporations who are kidnapped and where ransoms are paid. The dangers and terror seafarers can face were portrayed in the film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. It was inspired by the true story of the container ship “Maersk Alabama”, which was hijacked by pirates in 2009 in the Indian Ocean, south-east of Somalia. Capt Richard Phillips and other crew members were taken hostage.

Danger zones According to the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre, last year there were 191 incidents of piracy around the world. The coast of Somalia—especially the Gulf of Aden, which leads to the Suez Canal and through which roughly 10% of global trade flows— was notorious for pirates until recently. After scores of kidnappings and hijackings, a major naval antipiracy effort was implemented in 2008. To combat the pirates, the perma-

Capt richard Phillips, a Catholic, kisses his wife, Andrea, after returning to the US from captivity by pirates off the coast of Somalia in 2009. He was played in a film on his experience and modern piracy by tom Hanks. (Photo: Herb Swanson, reuters/CNS) nent members of the UN Security Counci—Britain, the United States, China, France and Russia—deployed patrols along the Somali coastline. However, the coast of Nigeria has seen a sharp rise in piracy. In 2017, 33 incidents of piracy and robbery at sea, successful or otherwise, were reported within 12 nautical miles of the coastline. In 2011 there were only ten. Somali pirates usually board vessels, then drop anchor and hold them until they get ransom money. Nigerian pirates, who are often armed with heavy machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades, operate differently. They move quickly, take part in

ferocious gun-battles and snatch victims off their ships before retreating into the Niger Delta’s maze of rivers, where it is hard for security forces to find them. But piracy is not just confined to Africa. Waters such as the Celebes Sea around Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines are particularly dangerous for seafarers.

Durban priest offers help Fr Herman Giraldo, Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) port chaplain in Durban, said that when a ship is attacked by pirates it can leave the crew traumatised. “We’ve had a couple of cases of seafarers who were attacked by pirates off the coast of Guinea. The ex-

perience really affected them psychologically,” the priest said. “They told me that sometimes they wake up in the middle of the night, worried that pirates might be attacking their vessel.” Seafarers are not allowed to carry weapons, so some companies hire armed guards to protect ships from attacks, Fr Giraldo said. “When you go on board, some ships are like prisons. They have razor-wire everywhere. And some will have bottles filled with petrol and a rag. If pirates attack, the crew will light these and throw them at the pirates.” Fr Giraldo is part of a crisis response team to support seafarers who have been victims of pirates or endured other traumatic experiences while at sea. The team comprises a network of trained port chaplains, drawn from a range of maritime welfare agencies, and provides a 24-hour service in South Africa, Ghana, Madagascar, Mozambique and Reunion. The Crisis Response Centre, situated at Sailors’ Society South Africa’s headquarters in Westville, Durban, is conducting research into the continuing activities of pirates on the eastern and western coastlines of Africa and delivering ongoing trauma care training for chaplains. For most of us the only time we encounter pirates is on the screen. But for seafarers, who bring many of the goods we buy into the shops— including our TV screens—pirates are not the stuff of fiction. Even without the threat of pirates, their job is a dangerous one. And in most cases the reason they go to sea is simple: to earn money for their families back home.

the Southern Cross, February 21 to February 27, 2018

CLASSIFIEDS

‘Surf’s up’ for Argentine priests

OR two priests in Argentina, their mission field is becoming the beach—on which they bless surfboards! Fr Santiago Arriola is convinced that “our entire life, in all its expressions and dimensions, calls for evangelisation and can be evangelised”. With Fr Pablo Etchepareborda, he has begun a surfing ministry on the beaches of Mar del Plata. Although their endeavour is “a work in progress”, without all the details sorted out, there have been two experiences that have encouraged the priests to continue this ministry. The first effort was in the summer of 2016 when Fr Etchepareborda blessed surfboards, the sea, and a gathering of surfers in Mar del Plata. And the pair recently held an “Aloha Encounter” on a local beach. “Surfers often say the Hawaiian word ‘aloha’ to each other,

two Argentinian priests have taken to surfing and offered all surfers and body-boarders prayer and reflection. which has a multiplicity of meanings referring to wishing someone well,” Fr Arriola said. For two days, 18 surfers, body surfers and stand-up paddlers gathered for times of prayer, personal reflection and group-sharing, as well as recreational activities. Those attending included

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catechists and members of the Schoenstatt Family Movement, together with “young people who’ve had a faith experience and are involved in the Church in some way and others who have drifted away from the Church somewhat, but are still wrestling with their faith”, Fr Arriola said. “For surfers, surfing has a vital meaning, a meaning that transcends the mere sport itself. For many, it’s a time to get reinvigorated, to relax and get away from the frantic pace of daily life, to be with nature and have a kind of religious experience. So it seemed to us a beautiful opportunity to make this vital meaning of surfing more explicit, and to do it in a community setting,” he explained. The priest said the Aloha Encounter “is without a doubt a positive and enriching experience for all of us who participated and it left our hearts yearning for more”.—CNA

iN MEMORiAM

DOllMAN—thomas zoë. Died February 24, 2013. our beloved daughter, sister, also mother to Mikhail. rest peacefully in the arms of our merciful Father. Fondly remembered by mom, stepdad and the rest of the family.

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The power of disability Continued from page 7 As a sighted driver, I had to drive a defined course of over 100km guided solely by Thembi who was sitting beside me reading instructions in Braille. It was an excellent challenge for those of us who think we know everything. As a driver, I had to completely rely on my navigator and trust his ability to read the instructions and share them with me. Of course, we did get lost from time to time. But eventually we managed to reach the destination, and also

clock in at the series of prescribed way-stations in the right order and at the right time. This seems to me a great metaphor for the journey of faith. We all hope to reach the same destination—eternal happiness—but how we get there matters as much as whether we get there. On our journey, we need to rely on others to point us along the way. That requires the self-awareness of asking for help and the humility of seeking help from those who are not like us and have different

talents. By learning from those we encounter and appreciating their strengths (even if not immediately obvious) we become more aware of our own weaknesses and so more appreciative of what we all can do. Perhaps the blind and deaf young people at the Denis Hurley Centre can help us to see and to hear better than we think we can. n More by Raymond Perrier at www.scross.co.za/categor y/ perspectives/raymond-perrier/

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This week we congratulate: February 28: Cardinal Wilfrid Napier on the 37th anniversary of his episcopal ordination as bishop of Kokstad.

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Liturgical Calendar Year B – Weekdays Cycle Year 2 Sunday February 25, 2nd Sunday of Lent Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18, Psalms 116:10, 15-19, Romans 8:31-34, Mark 9:2-10 Monday February 26, St Alexander of Alexandria Daniel 9:4-10, Psalms 79:8-9, 11, 13, Luke 6:36-38 Tuesday February 27 Isaiah 1:10, 16-20, Psalms 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23, Matthew 23:1-12 Wednesday February 28 Jeremiah 18:18-20, Psalms 31:5-6, 14-16, Matthew 20:17-28 Thursday March 1 Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalms 1:1-4, 6, St Alexander of Luke 16:19-31 Alexandria Friday March 2 Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28, Psalms 105:16-21, Matthew 21:33-43, 4546 Saturday March 3 Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 Sunday March 4, 3rd Sunday of Lent Exodus 20:1-17, Psalms 19:8-11, 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, John 2:13-25

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fied. Holy Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for us and grant my request (name your request). our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. Dermot PE. liSTEN TO MY PRAYERS lORD: Give ear, o lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. (Psalm 86:6) SAvE ME AND KEEP ME PRAYER: Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you— you are my God. Be gracious to me, o lord, for to you do I cry all the day. (Psalm 86:2–3) lORD, REvEAl YOURSElF THROUgH ME PRAYER: Show me a sign of your favour, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, lord, have helped me and comforted me. (Psalm 86:17)

PRAYERS

HOlY ST JUDE, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke you, special patron in time of need. to you I have recourse from the depths of my heart and humbly beg you to come to my assistance. Please help me now in my urgent need and grant my petition. In return I promise to make your name known in distribution of this prayer that never fails. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be forever blessed and glori-

givE ME YOUR STRENgTH PRAYER: turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant. (Psalm 86:16) TEACH ME YOUR WAYS PRAYER: teach me your way, o lord, that I may walk in your truth. (Psalm 86:11)

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OPE Francis has declared February 23 a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Africa, especially for the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. With so many direct attacks on human life, from abortion to war, Pope Francis is worried that so few people are involved in pro-life activities, he said at his Angelus where he announced the day of prayer and fasting. The Angelus prayer marked Italy’s Pro-Life Sunday. Many of the faithful carried the prolife movement's green balloons with the message, “Yes to life”. Thanking all the "different Church realities that promote and support life in many ways”, Pope Francis said he was surprised there were not more people involved. "This worries me," the pope said. "There aren't many who fight on behalf of life in a world where, every day, more weapons are made; where, every day, more laws against life are passed; where, every day, this throwaway culture expands, throwing away what isn't useful, what is bothersome" to too many people.” With conflict continuing in many parts of

The

the world, the pope said that it was time for a special day of prayer and fasting for peace, and that it was appropriate for the observance to take place on a Friday in Lent. "Let us offer it particularly for the populations of the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan," he said. Fighting between government troops, rebel forces and between militias continues in the DRC, especially in the country’s east, but tensions also have erupted as protests grow against President Joseph Kabila, whose term of office ended in 2016. New elections have yet to be scheduled. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 after decades of war. But, just two years after independence, political tensions erupted into violence. Pope Francis asked “our non-Catholic and non-Christian brothers and sisters to join this initiative in the way they believe is most opportune”. And he prayed that "our heavenly Father would always listen to his children who cry to him in pain and anguish". But individuals also must hear those cries, he said, and ask themselves, "'What can I do for peace?”—CNS

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Archbishop Brislin addresses the faithful outside St Mary’s cathedral before Benediction. united with all the dioceses of Southern Africa —Botswana, South Africa and Swaziland— commemorating 200 years of the official establishment of Catholicism in our region,” he said. He noted that the procession coincided with the archdiocesan patronal feast of Our Lady of the Flight into Egypt, “because the Catholic Church began in Cape Town and spread throughout the region from here”, but all dioceses “are celebrating this feast today, some with large diocesan events. We are one with them.” He commended the first missionaries for choosing Our Lady of the Flight into Egypt as Cape Town’s patronal feast, “because it does not only unite us with other dioceses of the region, but unites us with the rest of Africa. The Holy Family sought refuge in the very north of Africa. We, on the southern tip, are brought together with Egypt and all countries between ourselves and Egypt. “Perhaps it is not something we reflect on very often—we are African, and we are one with all our brothers and sisters of Africa,” he said. Referring to xenophobic attitudes and violence, Archbishop Brislin said: “We should not forget that all of us were at some time strangers. When our forefathers and foremothers came to this region—whether it was Continued on page 2

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HE archbishop of Cape Town has proclaimed a procession of the Blessed Sacrament through his city a resounding success. About 4 000 Catholics walked in procession from Holy Cross church in District Six to St Mary’s cathedral where they were addressed by Archbishop Stephen Brislin who then administered Benediction. “Much of the success of the procession was the fact that, insofar as possible, people walked in their parish groups. Parishes chose what they wanted to sing or pray and in which language, Archbishop Brislin told The Southern Cross. “The different hymns being sung and prayers being said created an incredible sense of our diversity and also of our oneness. It was a melodious ‘speaking and singing in tongues’, united in our focus on the Eucharist which binds us all together,” he said. The procession formed part of the jubilee celebrations for the bicentenary of the establishment of the Catholic Church in South Africa. It was led by Knights of da Gama (KdG) bearing a banner saying: “Cape Town Catholics are praying”. For the KdG, this was a special honour as it celebrates 75 years of existence this year. Priests assisted the archbishop in carrying the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament beneath a canopy held by members of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, of whom the archbishop is the local prior. They were preceded by altar servers from St Mary’s cathedral and the archdiocese’s clergy. Behind them followed the various parishes and Catholic organisations, many bearing banners, praying for their specific intentions, reciting the Rosary and singing hymns as they stopped traffic. Addressing the faithful outside St Mary’s cathedral, Archbishop Brislin emphasised that the bicentenary celebration is for all of the Southern African Church. “As we gather here this afternoon, we are

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200 years of Church jubilee for all of SA Knights of da Gama led the procession of the Blessed Sacrament in Cape Town’s Buitenkant Street as the music from an independent church’s service competed with the prayers and hymns of the Catholic faithful. (Photos: Günther Simmermacher)

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3rd Sunday in Lent: March 4 Readings: Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19:8-11, 1 Corinthians 1:22-25, John 2:13-25

T this stage of our Lenten journey we might be expected dimly to grasp that nothing matters more than God. Make no mistake, however; this is not because we are dealing with a deity who thumps his chest and demands attention—or else! It is, quite simply, because if we put anything else but God at the centre of our lives, the result is catastrophe. Our first reading (and it is not a bad text to meditate on during Lent) is the Ten Commandments. You may find yourself impatiently muttering about “all those Thou Shalt Nots”; but look again. Notice that what gives those prohibitions their point is the context: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt”, and then warns us against putting anything else but the Real God at the centre of our lives: “You shall have no other gods before me”, and that includes not worshipping creatures that are not the Real God, and not using God’s name pointlessly; it includes taking seriously the “Sabbath Day”, God’s precious gift to us. Only once this is established can we proceed to digest the implications of this for the

S outher n C ross

way we treat others: honour father and mother; don’t kill people (whatever the temptation); don’t commit adultery or steal or tell lies or desire what is not yours. These are good rules (“a manifesto for a free society”, as a Dominican once said to me), but they make sense only if God is at the centre. This might be something to reflect upon for the rest of our Lent. The psalm for next Sunday is well aware of this: the poet is in love with God, and recognises that nothing is better than “the Law of the Lord (it revives the soul)”, or “the decrees of the Lord (they are reliable; they make the simple wise)”, or “the precepts of the Lord (they make the heart rejoice)”, or “the instruction of the Lord (it enlightens the eye)”. And the “Lord’s statutes” are better than gold and than honey. There might be a hint here for your Lenten devotion? In the second reading, Paul is trying to get his Corinthians to stop fighting; and the recipe is not to give them “signs” and “wisdom” (the Corinthians were complaining that Paul did not have too much in the way of wisdom), but

cynical remark. Conversely, we’re very slow to praise and affirm. Perfection then becomes the enemy of the good, and since nothing and no one is perfect, we’re always in critical mode and we see this as a virtue rather than for what it in fact is, namely, an inchoate anger and unhappiness inside ourselves. But our unhappy cynicism isn’t the biggest problem here. More seriously, anger too often parades itself as Godlyvirtue, as righteousness, as prophecy, as a healthy, divinely-inspired militancy for truth, for cause, for virtue, for God. And so we define ourselves as “holy warriors” and “vigilant defenders of truth”, taking justification in the popular (though false) conception that prophets are angry people, on passionate fire for God. However, there’s a near infinite distance between true prophetic anger and the anger that today commonly parades itself as prophecy.

Conrad

he late peace activist Fr Daniel Berrigan, in his criteria for prophecy, submits (rightly) that a prophet is someone who takes a vow of love, not of alienation. Prophecy is characterised by love aching for reconnection, not anger pushing for separation. And love isn’t generally what characterises most so-called prophetic anger in our world today, especially as it pertains to God, religion, and defence of truth. You see this in its worst form in Islamic extremism where, in the name of God, every kind of hatred, violence, and random murder

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Sunday reflections

“Christ crucified”, which some people regard as “a scandal” and “stupidity”, but really is “God’s power and God’s wisdom”. Then, with an audacious piece of theology that should take our breath away, Paul has the nerve to claim that “God’s stupidity is wiser than human beings—and God’s weakness is stronger than human beings!” Nothing, you see, matters more than God. That is the point of the Gospel for next Sunday, the alarming episode known as the “cleansing of the Temple”. It starts in sombre mood; we are told that “the Passover of the Judeans was near—and Jesus went up to Jerusalem”. John’s readers will have been well aware that it was at a Passover (not this one) that Jesus would be put to death by the Jerusalem authorities. Jesus is furious, even to the point of making “a whip; and he expelled from the Temple the sheep and the cows and he began to pour out the coins of the money-changers; and he overturned their tables”. And why? “Get these things out of here, and don’t make my Father’s house into a

Most common sin is anger LASSICALLY, Christianity has listed seven sins as “deadly” sins, meaning that almost everything else we do which is not virtuous somehow takes its root in one these congenital propensities. These are the infamous seven: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. In spiritual literature the first three— pride, greed and lust—get most of the ink and attention. Pride is presented as the root of all sin, Lucifer’s primordial defiance of God as forever echoed in our own lives: I will not serve! Greed is seen as the basis for our selfishness and our blindness towards others, and lust has often been given the ultimate notoriety, as if the Sixth Commandment were the only commandment. Not to deny the importance of these, but I suspect that the sin which most commonly afflicts us and is not much mentioned in spiritual literature is wrath, that is, anger and hatred. I venture to say that most of us operate, however unconsciously, out of anger. This shows itself in our constant criticism of others, in our cynicism, in our jealousy of others, in our bitterness, and in our inability to praise others. And unlike most of our other sins, anger is easy to camouflage and rationalise as virtue. At one level, anger often rationalises itself as justified indignation over the foibles, stupidity, egotism, greed, and faults of others: “How can I not be angry given what I see every day?” Here anger shows itself in our constant irritation and in our quickness to correct, criticise, and make a

Nicholas King SJ

God is our very centre

shopping mall!” Nothing, you see, is more important than God. There are at least two different reactions to this: first, the disciples: “They remembered that it is written, ‘Zeal for your House is eating me up’.” Then “the Judeans” asked: “What sign are you showing us that you are doing these things?” Jesus refuses to play their game, and instead, with the confidence that comes from knowing that only God really matters, responds: “Undo this Temple—and in three days I am going to raise it up again.” His Judean opponents cannot cope with this: “This shrine was built over 46 years!”; but (as the evangelist has to explain to us) he is really talking about the fact that God is going to raise him from the dead. His disciples only grasp this, we gather, after the Resurrection; for until then they have not grasped the absolute centrality of God for Jesus, for them, and for us.

Southern Crossword #799

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final reflection

puts on God’s cloak. The great French thinker Blaise Pascal captured this well in his Pensées: “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” He’s wrong on one thing; mostly we aren’t doing it cheerfully, but angrily. One only has to read the letters to the editor in our newspapers, listen to most talk-radio stations, or listen to any debate on politics, religion, or morality to see raw hatred and anger justifying themselves on moral and divine grounds. There is such a thing as healthy prophetic anger, a fiery response when the poor of God, the word of God, or the truth of God are being slandered, abused, or neglected. There are important causes and boundaries to be defended. But prophetic anger is an anger that emanates out of love and empathy, and always, regardless of the hatred it meets, still exhibits love and empathy, like a loving mother in the face of a belligerent child. Jesus on occasion exhibits this kind of anger, but his anger is antithetical to most of what masquerades as prophetic anger today, where love and empathy are so noticeably absent. Someone once said that we spend the first half of life struggling with the Sixth Commandment, and then spend the second half of life struggling with the Fifth Commandment: “Thou shalt not kill!” We see this illustrated in the famous parable of the Prodigal Son, his Older Brother, and his Prodigal Father. The younger son is effectively out of his father’s house through wrestling with the seductive energies of youth. The older brother is just as effectively outside his father’s house, not through sin, but through wrestling with anger. As a young boy I was catechised to confess “bad thoughts” as sinful, but bad thoughts then were sexual thoughts. As we age, I suggest, we might continue to confess “bad thoughts”, but now those “bad thoughts” have to do with anger. A cynic, it’s said, is someone who has given up, but not shut up! He’s also someone who has confused one of the seven deadly sins, wrath, with virtue.

CATHOLIC IRELAND A pilgrimage with Bishop Victor Phalana 19-28 August 2018

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ACROSS

1. You might get thirteen loaves from this shop (6) 4. Poems in chapters of the Bible? (6) 9. Thoughtful monk who prays regularly (13) 10. Attempted to write a composition (7) 11. Vestment on the priest’s shoulder (5) 12. Frequently (5) 14. The name of the Saviour (5) 18. Pasta steam holds a savour (5) 19. St Dulin gets special papal favours (7) 21. Petition that will save the sick man (Jm 5) (6, 2, 5) 22. We hear Pontius is the one taking ﬂight (6) 23. Scribe of the holy book (6)

DOWN

1. One who gives moral support at the races? (6) 2. Monarchs such as Saul and David (5, 2, 6) 3. Grassy, like a thin singing voice (5) 5. Name tea, and let it pour out (7) 6. Elevator to boost your prayer life (9, 3) 7. Vegetables in the Stockholm garden (6) 8. Grave digger (5) 13. Melee around New Testament basic part (7) 15. Get promotion on to the pedestal (4, 2) 16. One who does not tolerate your faith (5) 17. She has her own Bible book (6) 20. Postpone and submit (5) Solutions on page 11

CHURCH CHUCKLE

HE newly appointed priest was being briefed by the housekeeper on problems in the presbytery that required immediate attention. “Your roof needs repair, Father,” she said. “Your water pressure is bad, and your geyser is not working.” “Now, Mrs Kelly,” the priest allowed, “you’ve been the housekeeper here for five years, and I’ve only been here a few days. Why not say our roof and our geyser?” Several weeks later, when the priest was meeting with the bishop and several other priests, Mrs Kelly burst into the office, terribly upset. “Father, Father,” she blurted, “there’s a mouse in our room and it’s under our bed!”

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