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March 21 to March 27, 2018
This year’s Winter Theology presenter
no 5075
prepare the way of the lord
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The history of the Stations of the Cross
Actors on being St Paul, St Luke in new film
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Reg no. 1920/002058/06
LENT
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SA youth in Rome to prep youth synod By nEREEShA PAtEL
the parish of Our Lady of Lebanon in Mulbarton, Johannesburg, at last year’s Palm Sunday procession. Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. this year Palm Sunday is on March 25. (Photo: Mark Kisogloo)
Benedict XVI: Some criticism of Pope Francis is ‘foolish’ By JunnO AROChO EStEVES
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ETIRED Pope Benedict XVI has defended the continuity of the Church’s teaching under his successor and dismissed those who criticise Pope Francis’ theological foundations. In a letter sent to Mgr Dario Vigano, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for Communication, Pope Benedict applauded the publication of a new book series titled The Theology of Pope Francis. “It contradicts the foolish prejudice of those who see Pope Francis as someone who lacks a particular theological and philosophical formation, while I would have been considered solely a theorist of theology with little understanding of the concrete lives of today’s Christian,” the retired pontiff wrote. Mgr Vigano read the letter during a presentation of the 11-volume series. He said he had invited Pope Benedict “to write a page or a page and a half of dense theology in his clear and punctual style”. Instead, the retired pontiff “wrote a beautiful, personal letter that I will read to you,” Mgr Vigano said. Referring to the book series, which was authored by several notable theologians, Pope Benedict wrote: “These small volumes reasonably demonstrate that Pope Francis is a man
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Pope Francis greets Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2016. (Photo: L’Osservatore Romano) with profound philosophical and theological formation, and are helpful to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, even with all the differences in style and temperament.” Pope Benedict has made no secret of his affection for and admiration of Pope Francis. During a Vatican celebration for the 65th anniversary of Pope Benedict’s priestly ordination in 2016, the retired pope expressed his sincere gratefulness to Pope Francis, saying that his goodness “from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life here, touches me deeply”.—CNS
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PRETORIA Catholic is among the 300 young people at present in Rome for a preparatory meeting for this year’s Synod of Bishops on the youth. Koketso Mary Zomba, the secretary-general of the Southern African Bishops’ Conference’s Interdiocesan Youth Committee and a youth member at Tshepo pastoral district in Hammanskraal, was selected to represent the Southern African region at the week-long meeting in preparation for the Synod of Bishops on the theme “Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment”, which will be held at the Vatican in October this year. Ms Zomba was chosen from three nominated candidates under the age of 28. Before departing for Rome, Ms Zomba said that she was “nervous” after finding out that she had been the one chosen by SACBC secretary-general Sr Hermenegild Makoro CPS, based on her active involvement with the youth ministry and reporting abilities. “I thought I might not be the best representative for the meeting considering there were so many energetic and outspoken young people to choose from,” explained Ms Zomba. “But after praying about it, I now know that God chose me for a reason, and I am excited to be the voice of all the young people in Southern Africa.” Since her teenage years, Ms Zomba has been involved in the Church, “a space where I’m able to grow every day in most aspects of my life”. She manages to balance her duties as the secretary-general of the Interdiocesan Youth Committee, a position to which she was elected in 2016, and as a human resources and marketing administrator at an IT consulting company. To represent all the SACBC’s youth ministry, said Ms Zomba, is “a great blessing”. “Apart from my own views, I will positively be able to present those of young people” in the SACBC region, which includes South Africa, Botswana and Swaziland.
Koketso Mary Zomba who is representing the SACBC youth ministry at a pre-Synodal meeting in Rome. (Photo: Peter Akinsipe) “As young people, we have a lot to share with each other and we also hold answers to our questions, so what we don’t share will only remain a mystery. I plan not to do such an injustice to those who have entrusted me with this opportunity,” Ms Zomba said. At the pre-Synodal meeting, Ms Zomba and other delegates have the opportunity to discuss their viewpoints, such as what they think about themselves and adults; how they live their faith and what difficulties they encounter in being Christians; how they see the Church today and how they would like it to be, among other topics. These will be presented in the form of a document to the Synod of Bishops in October. Ms Zomba hopes that the results of the meeting, as well as the synod, will “help one another in solving the challenges we face as young people”. “With so much faith which the Holy Father has shown in calling us to such a gathering, I hope we will produce a document that will make our bishops understand us: what we need, what we can offer, and how they can assist us in all of that,” she said.
A pilgrimage with Bishop Victor Phalana
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