190717

The

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July 17 to July 23, 2019

reg No. 1920/002058/06

No 5144

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50 years later: Faith and the moon

Spotlight on the feast of Mary Magdalene

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How fake ‘priest’ conned local Church StaFF rEPortEr

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DURBAN parish is traumatised after a man who passed himself off as a Catholic priest in three South African dioceses was discovered to be a conman.

Emmanuel Kalenda Bukasa, a Congolese layman who presented himself as a priest from the archdiocese of Mbeya in Tanzania, was on the altar at Masses in the archdiocese of Durban, as well as in the dioceses of Umzimkulu and, reportedly, Kimberley.

According to Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban, Mr Bukasa produced a Letter of Introduction and a celebret (a letter from a bishop or superior confirming that a priest may obtain permission from another diocese to say Mass). Both were fraudulently signed in the name of the now-deceased Archbishop Evaristu Chengula of Mbeya, Tanzania.

The Masses at which Mr Bukasa was illicitly on the altar included a Pentecost liturgy with Cardinal Napier and an ordination Mass with Bishop Stanislaw Dziuba in Umzimkulu, even participating in the laying of hands during the ordination rite.

At the parish of St Peter’s in Point, Durban, the fake priest “celebrated” weekday Mass and a 7:30 Sunday Mass, said parish priest Fr Georges Bidzogo SAC. There is one known case of Mr Bukasa violating the sacrament of Reconciliation, he said.

“I am indeed still traumatised by this event. I know most of our parishioners are traumatised as well. May God help us,” Fr Bidzogo told The Southern Cross.

“Let us pray for his conversion,” the priest added.

While there was no negligence in accepting Mr Bukasa’s false credentials, Fr Bidzogo called on the Church to adopt new screening policies, perhaps including secret codes in diocesan letterheads.

Fr Bidzogo said he became suspicious of Mr

altar servers lead the recessional after a mass to celebrate the 175th anniversary of St Patrick’s church in makanda (formerly Grahamstown). (Photo: Catherine Parkinson)

Old SA church marks 175 years

By SamaNtha CaroluS

Emmanuel Kalenda Bukasa, who fraudulently presented himself as a priest in the archdiocese of Durban, with Cardinal Wilfrid Napier at the feast of Pentecost.

Bukasa early on.

“Very regularly he spoke about the Mass stipend, the priest’s allowance. You could see a man whose focus was not on the ministry of priesthood but on money,” he recalled.

“He would stay after Mass to speak to the parishioners, but it was more about inviting himself to their homes to bless them. And he would not be shy to ask them for money during or before those visits.”

When he would fail to secure an invitation, he’d become aggressive, Fr Bidzogo said.

“It was very disgusting to hear all that from people.”

He started taking important responsibilities of the priestly ministry from Mr Bukasa, he said, adding that he voiced his misgivings to Cardinal Napier after the Pentecost Mass.

Continued on page 3

O

NE of South Africa’s oldest Catholic churches celebrated its landmark 175th anniversary with a special Mass.

The Mass at St Patrick’s church in the university town of Makanda (formerly Grahamstown) was celebrated by parish priest Fr Gerry O’Reilly with visiting priest Fr Anthony Egan SJ. The Mass featured petitions and hymns in languages as diverse as isiXhosa, Afrikaans, English, Shona and Chichewa.

Established in 1838, the parish is serves permanent or temporary residents, including students and scholars at the university or one of the many schools in the area.

St Patrick’s serves three other parishes: St Mary’s, St Peter Claver and St Joseph’s. Parishioners from each of these came to share in the celebrations.

The Catholic Church was established in the Eastern Cape in July 1838 upon the arrival of Bishop Raymund Griffiths, who was the first resident vicar-apostolic at the Cape of Good Hope.

The decision was made to make Grahamstown the seat of the Catholic mission.

There was no Catholic priest to attend to the Catholic soldiers of the 27th British Regi-

ment. A Franciscan, Fr Burke, was given £100 to start a church and a school.

Fr Burke died within only a year of service.

Just a few days before his death, recently-ordained Fr Murphy had arrived from Ireland to assist Fr Burke.

Fr Murphy assumed the position of leading the community and proved to be an excellent priest who maintained a close relationship with the Royal Inniskillin Fusiliers, an Irish line infantry regiment of the British Army.

This helped him built the mother church of the Eastern Cape.

A grant of land was secured and Bishop Griffiths returned to lay the foundation stone on July 30, 1839.

The building has a distinctly military character and resembles the ancient Battle Abbey in Hastings, England, with its crenellations.

The actual construction of the church was undertaken by Fr Murphy and the officers and men of the Inniskillings.

Bishop Griffiths dedicated the church on July 21, I844. Soon St Patrick’s became a procathedral and the seat of the new vicar-apostolic of the Eastern Cape, Bishop Aidan Devereux. His successors, Bishops Patrick Moran and James Ricards, also had their seat there.

Continued on page 2

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the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

LOCAL

Ignatian Day will offer range of reflections T HE Jesuit Institute in Johannesburg is hosting an Ignatian Day on August 3, describing it as “an opportunity to learn more about Ignatian Spirituality, whether you are totally new to it or have been doing it for years”.

The keynote speaker is Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, primate of the Anglican Church of South Africa.

There will also be a choice of three out of 15 workshops on offer.

At registration the institute will ask people to indicate their choice of four workshops and do its best to accommodate three choices. All workshop requests will be firstcome, first-serve.

Fr Russell Pollitt SJ, director of

the institute, will present “The Spirituality that shaped Pope Francis”, reflecting on what aspects of Ignatian Spirituality seem to have shaped the Jesuit pope’s worldview.

Dr Annemarie Paulin-Campbell, also of the Jesuit Institute, will present a workshop on “Ignatius and his legacy”, drawing on her recent experiences visiting Loyola, birthplace of the founder of the Jesuits.

For an advanced audience, she will present “Ignatian Spirituality and positive psychology”, on how recent developments in psychology connect with the Spiritual Exercises and Ignatian Spirituality.

Puleng Matsaneng will offer “Journeying with Ignatius in the townships”, on Ignatian Spiritual-

C

ent “Visio divinia”, experiential praying using words, colours and images.

Spiritual director Lynn Fletcher of the Jesuit Institute will offer “Sense-abled prayer”, praying so you feel what you hear, taste what you see.

Retired academic Dr Gillian Godsell will explain how she has used Neil Gaiman’s poem “Instructions” to help her PhD students.

Registrations by July 26 are R200, thereafter R250. n For the full programme and to register go to www.jesuitinstitute.org.za /index.php/event/ignatian-day -2019/ For queries, contact Margaret Backwell at m.backwell@jesuit institute.org.za

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Polokwane cathedral celebrates ELEBRATING the 87th anniversary of Sacred Heart cathedral in Polokwane diocese, vicar-general Fr Clemens Selemela called on the faithful to never forget the missionaries who contributed immensely to the establishment of churches.

“On this magnificent day, let us pray for the souls of those people who contributed so much to the Catholic faith that we so dearly cherish today. We count ourselves among the blessed to have benefited from their goodwill and the rich legacy that they left us,” Fr Selemela told congregants.

During the Mass, more than ten children were baptised to mark their entry into the Church.

“The children we are baptising today are our torchbearers. They are being baptised on such a significant day and this is a symbol of the good that we expect to come out of

young adults find answers to question of faith, identity and vocation.

Nontobeko Mhlongo will examine the importance of Ignatian Spirituality in the lives of the youth or young adults, where many have lost hope and are struggling with their relationship with God. Retired Anglican Bishop Peter Lee will present “The power of the Examen prayer”, on how this Ignatianinspired practice draws from our experience and of reflection on it.

Jacques Bornman, a pastor at the post-denominational Mosaiek, will discuss how the Spiritual Exercises have helped his congregation grow deeper in its friendship with God. Michelle Pilet of the Anglican diocese of Johannesburg will pres-

Italian consul visits Neocat seminary

Polokwane’s Sacred heart cathedral celebrated its 87th anniversary, and the service included more than ten baptisms.

By SElBy maKGotho

ity’s ties with township culture.

Fr Anthony Egan SJ will talk on “Finding God in film”, seeing movies as a source of spiritual growth.

Fr Matthew Charlesworth SJ will deal with “Ignatian Spirituality online”, looking at websites for praying, teaching, researching and learning about Ignatian Spirituality, St Ignatius and the Jesuit charism.

Spiritual directors Rev Reggie Venter and Cherie-Lynn van der Merwe will present “The God who speaks: listening in wonder”, explaining how the Ignatian Institute offers support in developing an intimate prayer life with God. Morongoa Selepe will speak on how Ignatian Spirituality can help

them,” Fr Selemela said.

“Go out and defend the Catholic faith. Cherish this moment, for you have been chosen as custodians of our religious beliefs and faith. Yours is a well-destined journey,” said the vicar-general, who is also the parish priest of the cathedral.

Couples who had not had their marriages blessed yet were also called forward.

Fr Selemela said it was a huge challenge that some marriages were not blessed in church and this gave him sleepless nights.

“A marriage that’s not blessed in church is an incomplete one. Let us use this opportunity to invite God to bless our marriages—and the first thing is to come to the altar for blessings,” he said.

About eight couples whose marriages were not yet blessed raised their hands and immediately committed to commence with marriage lessons.

TALIAN consul Emanuele Pollio, visiting the Redemptoris Mater seminary of the Neocatechumenal Way in Rondebosch, Cape Town, said the seminary is important as it gives strength to new evangelisation.

The seminary is home to diocesan missionary seminarians from Nicaragua, Tanzania, Columbia, Egypt, Honduras, the Philippines, Poland, the US, India and Italy.

It has faced several challenges since it established itself in the 113year-old former St Michael’s convent, as the building was in a state of disrepair, said Dino Furgione, who is responsible for the Neocatechecumenal Way in South Africa.

Mr Pollio, who is based in Cape Town, visited the seminary to “see the reality of the mission, entrust himself to our prayers and to offer his help”, Mr Furgione said.

“It was a beautiful meeting,” said Fr Lorenzo Ricci, a missionary priest.

“The consul told us, briefly, his history and said he wanted to meet people at the seminary, to speak to them and discover their history.”

the Italian consul, Emanuele Pollio, is pictured with seminarians, families in mission, priests and deacons of the Neocatechumenal Way at the redemptoris mater seminary in rondebosch, Cape town.

Mr Pollio told the seminarians that he comes from Sorrento, a town close to Naples, in the south of Italy. He spoke of his upbringing and of his grandfather’s brother, Mgr Gaetano Pollio, a missionary in Vietnam and China, who was abducted and tortured during the

time of Mao Zedong.

The consul said he was particularly touched by the history of the families in mission who left everything behind—career, house, families and affections—to bring the Gospel in South Africa, said house rector Fr Zygmunt Kurzawinski.

Old South African church marks 175 years Continued from page 1 With Grahamstown’s decline in importance, due to the economically evolving spaces, the bishop’s seat was transferred to Port Elizabeth.

In a message, Bishop Vincent Mduduzi Zungu of Port Elizabeth noted that the anniversary “reminds us that God is the Lord of history. He

directs all the events of our life”.

The Church, Bishop Zungu said, “is not just a static or fixed institution; it is rather a dynamic, life-giving community of believers”.

Special mention and appreciation was expressed for the Jesuits, who had served the Makanda community for many years, including through

the now-defunct St Aidan’s College.

Bishop Zungu offered his gratitude to the many diocesan priests who had served St Patrick’s parish before the arrival of the Franciscans in January 2007.

He also noted the work of the Assumption Sisters, who still serve Makanda in education and health.

Youths graduate from Salesians-Porsche training

By ErIN CarElSE

1 Plein Street, Sidwell, Port Elizabeth

S

OME 23 young men and woman from disadvantaged communities graduated after participating in a two-year training programme in a specialised field of motor mechanics.

They took part in the Porsche mechatronics programme at the Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP) in Cape Town, becoming the project’s first cohort to qualify at the Porsche Training and Recruitment Centre South Africa.

Launched in March 2017, the cross-brand programme was the successful culmination of two years of vocational education as automotive mechatronic students, with specialisation in high-voltage and digitalisation at the Porsche centre.

It was born through a partnership between Don Bosco Mondo, the local Salesian Institute Youth Projects, and the local Porsche importer LSM Distributors.

“This project honours our

Five young women and 18 young men graduated as automotive mechatronics experts in Cape town. their training programme was a partnership between the Salesians’ youth projects and Porsche importer lSm Distributors. founder Don Bosco, whose vision was to serve the youth and to build hope, open hearts and transform minds,” said Salesian Father Patrick Naughton, SIYP chief executive officer. “These students have shown what can be achieved when young people are given their chance.”

The increasing importance

of digitalisation, electrification, and connectivity across the automotive industry created an opportunity for the new centre to identify and train technical talent for the group while tackling poverty and changing lives.

The programme was designed to give opportunities to bright young people, enabling

them to release their potential, while also providing a solution to the need for more mechatronic talent within VW Group dealership organisations.

Students tackled vehicle maintenance as well as diagnosing and repairing all key systems of present and future vehicle technologies. The graduates are already qualified as high-voltage technicians for defined works.

“The automotive industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation,” said Daniel Schukraft, vice-president of after-sales at Porsche AG. “New technologies are emerging in ever-shorter cycles, and job profiles are changing through increasing digitalisation.”

“We need to guarantee premium-quality customer service in the face of this rapid transformation which is why programmes such as this are so valuable,” Mr Schukraft said.

The five women and 18 men were honoured for their achievement at a special ceremony held at Porsche Centre in Cape Town.

the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

LOCAL

Why SJTI was at LGBTI event StaFF rEPortEr

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N attending a session at a recent conference in Durban on religion and LGBTI issues, St Joseph’s Theological Institute (SJTI) in Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal, was meeting its mandate, according to a theologian from the institute.

The conference, hosted by The Other Foundation with the Diakonia Council of Churches and the Durban Lesbian and Gay Centre, was on the theme “Breaking through the backlash: Transformative encounters between LGBTI people and Churches in Africa”.

It was the first-ever meeting in Africa of Christian LGBTI people.

Christian leaders including Methodist Bishop Linda Mandini and struggle stalwart Allan Boesak addressed the conference.

SJTI participated in a panel discussion entitled “Breaking the backlash on its source: Redesigning theological education for inclusion and dignity of LGBTI people”.

“St Joseph’s is a Catholic institution of higher education deeply rooted in the Catholic ethos and faithful to the Catholic faith and teaching,” said moral theologian Br John Nhlanhla Mhlanga OMI. “In attending the session, SJTI was living up to its mandate to be a centre of theological engagement which is values-based and guided

by principles of social cohesion and integration,” Fr Mhlanga said.

“The task of redesigning theological education to be inclusive and to safeguard human dignity is of paramount importance to the Church He added that Pope Francis “challenges us as theologians, to teach, a ‘welcoming theology…for the construction in peace of a fraternal and inclusive society’”.

Fr Mhlanga said he was struck by how much LGBTI individuals trust in Churches to offer a space of acceptance and understanding.

However, he added: “All too often what they receive is judgment, condemnation, alienation, and very little to no support. To paraphrase one sentiment, ‘We looked to the Churches for hope in a broken world, and found none.’”

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hile the Catechism of the Catholic Church rules out the permissibility of same-sex acts and notes that the homosexual orientation is “objectively disordered”, it also teaches that people with homosexual orientation “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided”.

“While the words of the Catechism may both be challenging, and minimally comforting, they

are also polarising as they can hold both advocates for full LGBTI integration and homophobes in a dull slumber of mediocre acquiescence,” Fr Mhlanga said.

“This uncomfortable compromise is what has characterised the Church’s stance towards the LGBTI community: embracing them but not quite,” Fr Mhlanga said. “We see them in their sexuality, as it were, as people who look like trees walking about, to borrow from a very familiar scripture verse that depicts how we come to clarity of vision gradually and sometimes with much patience,” he said.

“A meaningful way of looking at tradition is to understand it as continuities of conflict; there is always change, sometimes difficult, marred by conflict and often painful—and yet there is always a fundamental truth that endures, that continues,” he said.

“That truth can be understood in many ways, given many names— essentially it is the way, the truth and the life. It is the Christ that stands at the door and knocks.

“The task of theology therefore is to welcome and dialogue.The task of redesigning theology has to be in line with what Pope Francis calls ‘in net’, to refer to a theology that is ‘in solidarity with the castaways of history’,” Fr Mhlanga said.

Nigerian Redemptorists welcomed in SA

T

HE Redemptorists recently welcomed confrères from Nigeria to become part of the community life and mission of the congregation in South Africa.

Of the six new missionaries, some will work in parishes in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Rustenburg, and others will join the full-time Redemptorist parish mission teams.

“This comes just in time too,” said Redemptorist Father Larry Kaufmann. “Parishes requesting missions often have to wait months for the next available gap. Redemptorists will now be able to respond more readily to invitations.”

Fr Kaufmann said the newly-arrived Nigerian Redemptorists bring “an interesting mission concept”.

Six new redemptorist missionaries from Nigeria have been welcomed by their confrères in South africa.

“Drawing on the worldwide phenomenon of pilgrimages to shrines and places of devotion to Mary, the team takes a pilgrimage to the parish, with all the reflections and devotions that form part of a traditional pilgrimage,” he said.

Fr Kaufmann and Fr Bafana Hlatshwayo CSsR, who mentored

Vatican acts on Bradburne cause

T

HE Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome has issued a formal nihil obstat for the cause of beatification of the lay Franciscan missionary John Bradburne to proceed.

The letter was sent to Archbishop Robert Ndlovu of Harare.

John Bradburne, a third-order Franciscan, was killed in thenRhodesia in 1979 for refusing to

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abandon the lepers he had looked after for many years at Mutemwa.

This year on September 5, the 40th anniversary of his death, there will be a ceremony at Mutemwa to officially launch the cause.

On September 21, there will be a Mass at Westminster cathedral in London, followed by an exhibition about Bradburne’s life, a talk and Zimbabwean music.

Catholic news that COUNTS Print or Digital

SUBSCRIBE Digital: R420 • Print R550 • Call Michelle 021 465 5007 or email subscriptions@scross.co.za • www.scross.co.za/subscribe The Catholic Newspaper, Standard Bank, Thibault Square Branch Code:020909, Acc No: 071534342

their Nigerian confrères during a six-week immersion and inculturation course, said they see much potential for this model of mission. n To request a mission e-mail Fr Bafana Hlatshwayo at bafanah@hot mail.com, Fr William Ikre at wtikre@ yahoo.com or Fr Larry Kaufmann at larrykaufmann1954@gmail.com

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Fr Victor Kotze (centre) at his diamond jubilee mass held at martindale parish in Johannesburg, with Jesuit Fathers michael lewis (left) and russell Pollitt.

Priest celebrates diamond jubilee

By Val lEEmING

A

MASS was celebrated to mark the diamond jubilee of the ordination of Fr Victor Kotze of Johannesburg.

The Mass, at St Francis Xavier parish in Martindale, was concelebrated by Jesuit Fathers Russell Pollitt and Michael Lewis.

The theme was the holy priesthood and how all are called to serve others in various vocations, both the laity and priesthood alike.

Fr Lewis spoke about Fr Kotze’s

gifts of compassion and humility, his love for justice, and his gift of counselling those in need.

Fr Kotze has been at St Francis Xavier for over 40 of his 60 years as a priest, and some of his accomplishments include the opening of the Martindale Counselling Centre.

Many of Fr Kotze’s family attended the celebration including his sister, Val Halley-Wright, and his nephews and nieces who came from all over the world to join the event.

How fake cleric conned Church Continued from page 1 Cardinal Napier told The Southern Cross how Mr Bukasa perpetrated his deception.

The fake priest first insinuated himself with a sympathetic priest.

Then he presented the archdiocese with a letter of introduction and a celebret from the archbishop of Mbeya in Tanzania.

“Both documents bear an e-mail address which purports to be that of the archdiocese but is actually a fake. As a result, any query sent to the archbishop is intercepted and responded to as if from the archbishop,” Cardinal Napier explained.

“The most recent came back with the forged signature of the late Archbishop Chengula—who passed away in November 2018.”

Mr Bukasa’s intention was to have himself incardinated into the clergy of a diocese in South Africa.

His scam was discovered when Bishop Dziuba phoned Mbeya diocese. Archbishop Gervas Nyaisonga,

who succeeded Archbishop Chengula in December, wrote to Bishop Dziuba that Mr Bukasa’s fraud had been discovered in Mbeya in 2016, after he had presented himself there as a priest of Jinja diocese in Uganda.

It appears that in 2017 Mr Bukasa came to Pretoria, attempting to enrol at Unisa.

It is known that he spent two years in prison for being in Tanzania illegally.

Cardinal Napier told The Southern Cross that, having obtained expert advice, the archdiocese has declined to report the fraud to the police as it is not clear what crimes he could be prosecuted for.

“Anyway, he disappeared as soon as he realised that we were on to him,” the cardinal added.

On his Facebook profile, on which he has five friends, Mr Bukasa does not claim to be a priest, but indicates that he is from Kinshasa and lists the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium as his alma mater.

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the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

INTERNATIONAL

‘Migrants are people, not just a social issue’

By JuNNo aroCho EStEVES

C

HRISTIANS are called to follow the spirit of the beatitudes by comforting the poor and the oppressed, especially migrants and refugees who are rejected, exploited and left to die, Pope Francis said.

The least ones, “who have been thrown away, marginalised, oppressed, discriminated against, abused, exploited, abandoned, poor and suffering” cry out to God, “asking to be freed from the evils that afflict them”, the pope said in his homily during a Mass commemorating the sixth anniversary of his visit to the southern Mediterranean island of Lampedusa.

“They are persons; these are not mere social or migrant issues. This is not just about migrants, in the twofold sense that migrants are, first of all, human persons and that they are the symbol of all those rejected by today’s globalised society,” he said.

According to the Vatican, an estimated 250 migrants, refugees and rescue volunteers attended the Mass, which was celebrated at the Altar of the Chair in St Peter’s basilica. Pope Francis greeted each person present after the Mass ended.

In his homily, the pope reflected on the first reading from the book

Pope Francis greets a woman and child during a mass in St Peter’s basilica at the Vatican commemorating the sixth anniversary of his visit to the southern mediterranean island of lampedusa. (Photo: Vatican media/CNS) of Genesis in which Jacob dreamed of a stairway leading to heaven “and God’s messengers were going up and down on it”.

“The Lord is a refuge for the faithful, who call on him in times of tribulation,” he said. “For it is indeed at such moments that our prayer is made purer, when we realise that the security the world offers has little worth and only God remains. God alone opens up heaven for those who live on earth.

Only God saves.”

The Gospel reading from St Matthew, which recalled Jesus curing a sick woman and raising a girl

from the dead, also reveals “the need for a preferential option for the least, those who must be given the front row in the exercise of charity”.

That same care, Pope Francis added, must extend to the vulnerable who flee suffering and violence only to encounter indifference and death.

“These least ones are abandoned and cheated into dying in the desert; these least ones are tortured, abused and violated in detention camps; these least ones face the waves of an unforgiving sea; these least ones are left in reception camps too long for them to be called temporary,” the pope said.

Pope Francis said the image of Jacob’s ladder represents the connection between heaven and earth that is “guaranteed and accessible to all”. However, to climb those steps requires “commitment, effort and grace”.

“I like to think that we could be those angels, ascending and descending, taking under our wings the little ones, the lame, the sick, those excluded,” the pope said.

The pope’s call for compassion towards migrants and refugees came after a migrant detention camp in Tripoli, Libya, was bombed in an air raid. Pope Francis denounced the attack and led pilgrims in prayer for the victims during his Angelus address.—CNS

From Catholic school to World champ

By ElIzaBEth BaChmaNN

R

OSE LAVELLE skyrocketed from loping across the soccer fields at her Catholic girls’ high school to a World Cup-winning superstar, Lavelle, 24, scored three goals for the US women’s team at the World Cup in France, and won the Bronze Ball as the third-best player in the tournament.

Her high school, Mount Notre Dame in Cincinnati, spent the days before the final excitedly cheering her on via Twitter, and it hosted a school-wide viewing party for the 2013 alumna’s group game against Thailand, which the US won by a record score of 13-0.

The US won its record fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup title, and second in a row, by beating the Netherlands 2-0 in Lyon. Lavelle scored the decisive second goal.

Even as a young high schooler, she was dazzling on the field, according to Cincinnati.com.

She was voted “Most Athletic” in her senior year at Notre Dame.

After high school, Lavelle went on to play for the University of Wis-

Pope Francis greets a woman religious in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (Photo: Junno arocho Esteves/CNS)

A first: Women named to curial dept for religious

By CINDy WooDEN

P

OPE Francis named six superiors of women’s religious orders, a consecrated laywoman and the superior of the De La Salle Christian Brothers to be full members of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Previously, the members had all been men: cardinals, a few bishops and several priests who were superiors of large religious orders of men.

The women appointed by the pope are: Sisters Kathleen Appler, superior of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul; Yvonne Reungoat, superior of the Salesian Sisters; Francoise Massy, superior

of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary; Luigia Coccia, superior of the Comboni Sisters; Simona Brambilla, superior of the Consolata Missionary Sisters; Rita Calvo Sanz, superior of the Company of Mary Our Lady; and Olga Krizova, general president of the Volunteers of Don Bosco, a group of consecrated laypeople.

Br Robert Schieler, the superior of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, also was named a full member of the congregation along with the priests who are superiors general of the Jesuits, the Discalced Carmelites, the Augustinians, the Scalabrinians, the Capuchins and the abbot president of the Subiaco Cassinese Benedictine Congregation.—CNS

Vatican lifts immunity of nuncio accused of assault

T Catholic school alumnus rose lavelle (right) with teammate megan rapinoe. Both scored the goals in the Women’s Football World Cup final against the Netherlands. rapinoe holds the Golden Ball and lavelle the Bronze Ball trophies for best and third-best player of the tournament respectively. (Photo: Bernadett Szabo, reuters/CNS) consin, where she was really discovered by US national coach Jill Ellis, who stood by her during her 2017 hamstring injury, allowing her to blossom into a successful women’s football superstar.

After the final, Lavelle’s alma mater tweeted a joyful tribute to its local celebrity: “Congratulations @USWNT! Couldn’t be prouder of our very own @roselavelle! #FIFAWWC19.”—CNS

THE CANON LAW SOCIETY of SOUTHERN AFRICA (CLSSA) Invites you to attend their eighth Convention on:

GOVERNANCE IN THE CHURCH It shall be held at: Tre Fontane, 1 Abbot Francis Road, Mariannhill Kwa-Zulu-Natal Monday evening 26th August – Friday 30th August 2019 after breakfast The main speakers will be:

Rev. Fr. Calisto Nyangilo (Director, Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops) and

Sr Damiana Kassoo (Missionary sister of the Precious Blood) For information and application form please contact Rev. Fr. Dennis Xulu or Nikiwe Mnyandu on 031 303 1417 or judicialvicar@adod.org.za

HE Holy See has waived the diplomatic immunity of the papal nuncio (or ambassador to France) who has been under investigation by authorities in Paris for allegedly sexually assaulting a city official.

Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of the Vatican Press Office, said the move was an “extraordinary gesture” that underlined the diplomat’s desire to fully cooperate with French authorities.

In January, prosecutors in Paris had launched a formal investigation into an allegation against Italian Archbishop Luigi Ventura, 74, a Vatican diplomat who has been representing the Holy See in France since 2009.

Mr Gisotti confirmed that the Holy See had waived the diplomat’s immunity in light of the criminal proceedings underway against him in France.

“The Holy See waited to make this decision until the conclusion of the preliminary stage” of the investigation, which the archbishop “freely took part” in before it wrapped up in late June, Mr Gisotti said in a written communiqué.

Nathalie Loiseau, the former French minister of European affairs, demanded in March that, given the seriousness of the charges, the archbishop’s immunity to be lifted so justice could be served.

“What matters is that the truth be known,” she said.

The French newspaper Le Monde first reported that the diplomat was suspected of having sexually molested a young male employee at Paris City Hall the day the mayor was giving her New Year’s address to diplomats and other leading figures.

French President Emmanuel macron greets nuncio archbishop luigi Ventura in Paris. the Vatican said it has lifted diplomatic immunity of the papal nuncio, who has been under investigation in France for allegedly sexually assaulting a city official. (Photo: yoan Valat, reuters/CNS) The French Catholic newspaper La Croix reported that the archbishop met with four of his accusers in May and denied their claims.

Before serving as apostolic nuncio to France, Archbishop Ventura was the Vatican’s representative in Canada from 2001-09, helping with preparations for Pope John Paul II’s visit to Toronto for World Youth Day in 2002.

He served as the nuncio in Chile from 1999-2001 and, before that, in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Niger from 1995-99.

A Vatican nuncio plays an important role in compiling recommendations to the pope concerning the appointment of new bishops and archbishops in the country he is placed into.— CNS

INTERNATIONAL

the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

Ghanaian youth called to support the poor D IVINE Word Father Andrew Campbell, pastor of Christ the King parish in Accra, Ghana, called on young people to join the Society of St Vincent de Paul so they can gain a greater appreciation of a vocation serving the poor.

“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love, hence the need to encourage the youth to join the group to give support to the poor in their small way,” he told about 300 Vincentians from Ghana who gathered at St Thomas Aquinas church at the University of Ghana in Accra for the society’s annual meeting.

Poor, sick and needy people are the treasures of the Church and they should be shown much empathy and love, said Fr Campbell, who is national spiritual adviser to the society.

The priest called on the society’s members to follow the footsteps of St Teresa of Kolkata, who recognised the dignity of poor people, so that they do not feel abandoned. He challenged the Vincentians to seek marginalised people on the streets and in their parishes.

He also encouraged society members that as they devote themselves to the practical works

Fr Jude mcKenna holds his order of the rising Sun award alongside Japan’s ambassador to the republic of Ireland, mari miyoshi. (Photo: Embassy of Japan in Ireland).

Priest awarded for promoting judo in Africa

A Fr andrew Campbell and Ghana Bishop Joseph afrifah agyekum of Koforidua with members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul at the annual meeting at the university of Ghana chaplaincy in accra, Ghana. (Photo: Damian avevor, the Catholic Standard/CNS) of charity, they can also counsel prostitutes, lepers and people living with HIV and Aids.

In a separate presentation, Bishop Joseph Afrigfah-Agyekum, of Koforidua, Ghana, urged all Catholics, and Vincentians in particular, not to give up in extending their charitable acts to the needy and poor in spite of financial challenges.

Members’ charitable works, he

explained, carry on the ministry of the society’s patron, St Vincent de Paul, who showed unconditional love to people in need, he said.

Bishop Afrigfah-Agyekum explained that the biblical texts on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy reflect Catholic social teaching in its fullest, saying that the virtue of mercy was deeply rooted in and evoked by God.— CNS

CAPUCHIN Franciscan priest from Northern Ireland who spent 50 years on missions in Zambia has been awarded one of Japan’s highest honours for his promotion of judo in Africa.

“It’s a great recognition. I’m very proud of it, but I’m also surprised and overcome by the enormity of it.

It’s not something I was expecting at all,” Fr Jude McKenna told the Belfast Telegraph.

The 84-year-old judo expert is one of this year’s recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, awarded each year by the Japanese government. The award is “given to people who make a very significant contribution to the spread of Japanese culture”, the priest told the Belfast Telegraph.

Fr McKenna, a native of Ballymoney, Northern Ireland, lived in

Zambia from 1966 to 2017, when he retired to Dublin due to failing eyesight.

Fr McKenna’s twin brother Brian was ordained a priest at the same time as Fr Jude and they both joined the Capuchin Franciscans. When the time came for the brothers to be given their assignments, Fr Jude was sent to Zambia, and Fr Brian to California.

Fr Jude said he was always a keen boxer, and after three visits to Japan, developed an affinity for judo, a form of self-defence developed in Japan in 1882 that today is generally practised as a sport.

In addition to his missionary work in Africa, Fr McKenna helped to spread the practice of judo across Zambia and throughout Africa. He founded the Lusaka Central Sports Club in Zambia’s capital.—CNA

Pope to bishops: Wartime requires extra care B

By CINDy WooDEN

EING a pastor in a country at war means being with people, leading them closer to Jesus and celebrating the liturgy in a way that helps them experience a bit of heaven on earth, Pope Francis told bishops from Ukraine.

“The Church must be the place where one draws hope, where one finds the door always open, where one receives consolation and encouragement,” the pope told the

5

head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, members of the Eastern Catholic Church’s permanent synod and its metropolitan archbishops.

Pope Francis invited the bishops to the Vatican to discuss the mission of their Church in war-torn Ukraine and in communities throughout the world.

“Ukraine has been living in a difficult and delicate situation,” the pope said. It has been “wounded for the past five years by a conflict

many call ‘hybrid’, including as it does actions of war where those responsible hide; a conflict where the weakest and smallest pay the highest price; a conflict aggravated by propagandistic falsifications and manipulations of various kinds, including the attempt to involve religion”.

Opening the meeting after hosting Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis did not mention by name Russia and its direct in-

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Putin meeting was purely coincidental.

“Our encounter was announced first,” Archbishop Shevchuk said.

And coming on the heels of the Putin meeting “gave us the opportunity to have the last word”, he added with a smile.

More seriously, he said, the Ukrainian bishops could “detoxify the propaganda in order to be spokesmen for the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.”—CNS

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Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, told reporters that Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, had explained the timing of the

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the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor: Günther Simmermacher

Lessons to learn from fake priest

W

E must be alarmed at how easy it was for a conman to pose as a priest, even to the point of violating the sacrament of Reconciliation.

As we report this week, a Congolese citizen by the name of Emmanuel Kalenda Bukasa produced forged documents to give him access to the altar and to ministry in a parish in the archdiocese of Durban.

When his fraud was eventually discovered, the fake priest disappeared.

There’s not much blame to go around, other than that which must be directed at Mr Bukasa.

The conman had all the seemingly right papers, presented in what appeared to be the proper manner.

Presumably he possesses the requisite knowledge of the sacerdotal ministry by which to impersonate a priest convincingly.

He duped even men as experienced as Cardinal Wilfrid Napier and Bishop Stanislaw Dziuba—at least up to a point; it was the intervention of the latter which revealed Mr Bukasa to be a fraud.

The conman has now moved on, leaving in his trail a traumatised parish and much broken trust. The violence which this man has visited on people who welcomed him cannot be measured in material terms. There is a particular cruelty in his hearing the confession of at least one person.

There is little comfort in knowing that by the act of violating the sacrament of Reconciliation and by impersonating a priest in the liturgy, Mr Bukasa has incurred a latae sententiae (automatic) excommunication.

Indeed, instead of letting anger or despair be our reaction, we may take our cue from Fr Georges Bidzogo, one of Mr Bukasa’s victims, who has called on the faithful to pray for the fraudster’s conversion.

Fr Bidzogo also rightly calls for steps to be implemented in the Church to reduce the risk of parishes and dioceses falling victim to dishonest people like Mr Bukasa.

The archdiocese of Durban is by no means the only community to be deceived by a fake priest or religious.

Last year, a woman from

Ghana who had presented herself as a religious Sister and raised funds throughout South Africa was uncovered. Along the way, she even manipulated senior Church officials to delay action against her.

Also last year, the Church in Spain uncovered a fake priest who had worked in ministry in that country and Colombia for a total of 18 years.

With his forged documents, that man succeeded where Mr Bukasa failed: to be incardinated and be allowed to run a parish.

Even the Vatican has been duped: In 2008, a fake priest was found to be hearing confessions in St Peter’s basilica.

The awful experience of Mr Bukasa’s fraud must not deter us from giving visiting priests a warm welcome. And it must not cast a shadow over the exemplary character of the many priests from other countries who are selflessly serving our local Church.

At the same time, it is necessary that the Church become more guarded in accepting the legitimacy of visiting priests.

In this age of diverse instant communication methods, it should be possible to ascertain the bona fides of a visiting priest or religious without much delay.

When an unknown priest presents himself in a diocese, his name might be searched on the Internet. If that fails to provide clear information or clarity, his diocese should be phoned.

It should also be possible for the Vatican’s department responsible for clergy, in cooperation with national bishops’ conferences, to set up a database of the world’s 420 000 priests. Should then an individual such as Mr Bukasa present himself in Durban as a priest from Tanzania, then his absence from such a database would alert us that something may be amiss.

Cases like the fake priest of 2019 or the fake nun of 2018 are by their nature upsetting. They chip away at the trust the faithful have for their priests and religious. Still, we may be grateful that such cases are so few.

As for Mr Bukasa, wherever he might have disappeared to, may we follow Fr Bidzogo’s advice to pray for his conversion, and for God’s mercy on him.

Catholic Church receives light from true Helios T HE letter “Catholic or Christian: on the outside looking in” by Hazel James (May 29) refers.

Stating that one is Catholic is understood to mean that one is Christian, belonging to the Church founded by Christ. However, it is probably more convenient to state that one is a Christian if one belongs to a faith community founded by men such as Luther or Calvin.

Now Luther and Calvin desired not to establish new Churches but only to reform the “One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church” (Nicene Creed). Many minds, hearts and energies in the Catholic Church have been totally directed to issues that were also matters of concern in the 16th-century Reformation.

Vatican II may be seen as an inner Catholic Reformation. And this has resulted in a strengthening, not a weakening, of the Catholic Church.

Ms James notes: “I wonder if ex-

Should we drop the word ‘Father’

Y

OUR editorial and Chris McDonnell (June 26) refer to the dropping of the honorific “Father” for priests. It is all very well to drop “Father” and “Your Eminence”, but the word “Father” is also a form of respect.

If the parish priest is Fr Fred Smith, and one goes to confession and says, “Bless me, Fred, it is soand-so since my last confession”, it would feel so insincere, and a mockery. Familiarity breeds contempt.

There the priest is the representative of God; he should be reminded that he is the father-figure of the parish Family (congregation).

I live in a home where we have many religions. We have a Catholic priest who is respected and is called “Father”; also an Anglican priest who claims the same title, and a Methodist minister who likes to be called “Reverend”.

The title “Pastor” might be acceptable for the leader of Christ’s flock, and is already used by some Churches.

God is gentle and forgiving, and so should the priest be, a true Father of the Family, like God our Father.

Elizabeth Gillett, Johannesburg

Bring prayer and action together

I

T was good to read Bishop Sithembele Sipuka’s address (June 26) to new PhD graduates saying that reconciliation “must find expression in the concrete situations of conflict and not just in a pious way of resorting to prayer”.

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Bishop: Let the heart propel us to action

Page 2

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.

Letters can be sent to PO Box 2372, Cape Town 8000 or editor@scross.co.za or faxed to 021 465-3850

St Francis of Assisi wrote 800 years ago: “Start by doing what is necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

In 1984, when South Africa was deeply divided and also involved in external conflicts, our bishops appealed for a Year of Prayer.

After our peaceful 1994 elections, during which we all prayed, it was enlightening to find during a world trip that many people overseas had also been praying for us, other countries in Africa, and the world.

Do we ever pray for them—or are we still apathetic and self-centred?

In 1996 I attended as an observer an international convention of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations in Australia, with 700 delegates from 46 countries.

Study days on reconciliation, prayer, and hearing the experiences of women living under war and other traumatic conditions, led to resolutions and practical suggestions on ways to help improve world social and economic policies and values.

These included women becoming decision-makers at various levels; lobbying, for example, against weapons and mines manufacture; supporting NGOs; refusing to buy exploitative products; and learning about crippling interest on loans.

An article in the women’s world union’s December 1999 international newsletter suggested providing literacy, skills, and business training; fighting against drugs,

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BY ERIN CARELSE

T

HE deadline to register for the international Taizé Meeting taking place in Cape Town in September is approaching fast, and preparations are gathering pace.

The Taizé Pilgrimage of Trust is expected to draw 4 000-5 000 participants from September 25-29.

The big task for the preparation team of the Taizé Brothers in Cape Town is to mobilise young people across the country to register, with the deadline for registration on July 21.

Local young adults aged 18 to 35 will be joined by others from Africa and abroad—but the Brothers have found that motivating young adults to commit for these days of prayer and encounter has proven to be a more difficult task than finding families to host pilgrims from outside Cape Town.

“As elsewhere in the world, a growing share of Cape Town youth tend to move away from Church practice after confirmation,” Br Luc Bourgoin noted.

“The recited prayer, the rites, the sermons, seem to restrain an aspiration to individual fulfilment.

“The practice of sport, of music, studies, entertainment, media, become the fields where young adults invest more and more of their time and where they soon start looking for the meaning of their existence,” he said.

However, the Taizé Brothers believe that the originality of the September Pilgrimage of Trust, with its popular, international and ecumenical dimensions, will stimulate the interest of some.

“Many are aware of the challenges young people are facing: access to education, to employment, commitment to family life, adherence to the faith, and so on. Meeting and sharing, in the field, with people who have gone through challenges and who serve others in different ways can inspire the young participants,” Br Luc said.

After Mass at St Clement’s church in Lotus River, Cape Town, the Taizé collected offers of accommodation for participants in the Pilgrimage of Trust in September.

More than 400 participants have registered from around 20 African countries.

In Nairobi, Kenya, a group of young people meets each month for a moment of prayer and sharing. They support each other in their efforts to save money for their flight.

In Madagascar, students organised food sales to make ends meet.

A hundred young Europeans are also preparing to attend.

South African visa fees have been waived for those to whom they apply.

Many of the pilgrims will come ahead of the days of the meeting to attend an immersion programme in a community not far from Cape Town.

Some 80 local churches of various denominations have committed to offer hospitality to participants. In each host parish, a team collects accommodation offers from families, who have responded generously.

“We shall continue to journey with the host churches until September and we have good hope that all participants will be accommodated in a family,” Br Luc said.

To continue trying to reach young people and invite them, several preparation teams Continued on page 3 Continued from page 1

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clusivity is not a great weakness in your Church?”

During the offertory we are reminded that this is not our Church when we pray: “May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and his holy Church”.

The problem is that it is not our Church but his.

The writer further claims that “we all believe in the same basic precepts of Christianity”.

• The 16th-century reformers might have some harsh things to say to their descendants—not only about the infrequency of the Eucharist, but also about the lack of sacramental understanding of Christianity.

• Catholicism has led the way in showing Christians what liturgy should be; this is visible in such features as a revamped lectionary with a wider variety of passages from the

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‘Did I just receive a small miracle?’

Plans for SA Taizé meeting gather pace

Frs Lindelwa Dlamini of St Michael's mission in Mariannhill, Owen Jimu from Malawi and Tiago Vilanculo from Mozambique were ordained at Mariannhill monastery church by Bishop Mandla Siegfried Jwara CMM of Ingwavuma. He also ordained Gino Bembele CMM and John Omalla CMM to the transitory diaconate.

Fr Dlamini will now be serving at Elandskop parish in Durban archdiocese; Fr Jimu at Emaus mission in Umzimkulu diocese, and Fr Vilanculo at Elukwatini parish in Witbank diocese. The two deacons, both Mariannhill Missionaries, are doing their final year of theology at St Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara. They will also assist at Elandskop.

“God has shown us such goodness by calling these young men to our congregation and to the Church,” Fr Bheki Shabalala, provincial superior of the Mariannhill Missionarises, told The Southern Cross. “We hope that these young men will follow in the footsteps of our founder, Abbot Francis Pfanner—who died 110 years ago—and his contemporaries in reaching to the ends of the world in preaching the Good News.”

The Editor reserves the right to shorten or edit published letters. Letters below 300 words receive preference. Pseudonyms are acceptable only under special circumstances and at the Editor’s discretion.

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Scriptures, and a more visible union between the preaching elements and the Eucharistic elements.

• In Catholicism, one can still fight over the reality of Jesus’ Resurrection, his virginal conception, because we still recognise that Christological issues are basic to the nature of Christianity and the Gospel. The magisterium continues to speak on marriage, sex, birth control, and abortion.

Just as a man becomes a Christian by repenting, so the Church turns to the Lord and dismisses its comfortable habits which are contrary to the Truth.

When reform seeks to change others and accommodate the times, and calls that salvation, such reforms will only touch things of secondary importance in the Church.

The Church receives its light from the true Helios who is Christ.

Dominic Sam, Port Elizabeth

crime and corruption; teaching people, especially children, to respect others, particularly the opposite sex; and many others actions.

But the first and foremost suggestion was an appeal for prayer, the St Francis Prayer, as it changes hearts, mindsets and attitudes, starting with our own, and helps us to say no to apathy and self-centredness.

ST FRANCIS PRAYER WITH MODIFICATIONS Let us plead for the help of our saviour Jesus Christ and for his mother Mary and the angels, saints, martyrs, holy souls, and our brothers and sisters everywhere to pray with us for our troubled world.

Let us say the Rosary (or a decade, or Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer), followed by: O God of justice and love, bless us, the people of our country, our continent and the world, and help us to live in your love, mercy, justice and peace.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me bring love; where there is injury, let me bring pardon; where there is discord, let me bring harmony.

Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; to receive sympathy as to give it; For it is in giving that we shall receive, in pardoning that we shall be pardoned; in forgetting ourselves that we shall find unending peace with others.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The St Francis Prayer can help us all to “love one another”, “our neighbour”, even “our enemy”, as we try to continue Christ’s mission of reconciliation.

Athaly Jenkinson, East London

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the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

PERSPECTIVES

Mary Magdalene and me Raymond Perrier M ONDAY, July 22, is my birthday. I don’t say that in the hope of getting cards (which would never arrive) or presents (which I don’t need).

I stress the date because it is the feast day of St Mary Magdalene.

Elsewhere in this edition, Günther Simmermacher provides some very useful insights into how and why the image of this great Mary—“the Apostle of the Apostles”—has been blurred and indeed muddied over the centuries.

I thought I was already well-versed on my patronal saint, but reading a preview of that article, I confess that even I had something to learn!

And that is why I want to encourage readers to know about and claim their own personal saint.

Generally, we have focused on the saints we are named after, and this used to be easy. Up until my generation, Catholics nearly always were named after Premier League saints—our Catholic schools were awash with Dominics and Clares and Marys. That tradition has definitely ebbed away.

Quite rightly many African families (and increasingly non-African families) want their children to have African names, and there just aren’t enough African canonised saints (yet) to provide much choice. So traditional names are the norm, noting that many of the popular ones have a religious connotation: Sithembiso (“covenant”), Nkosinathi (“the Lord is with us”), Tshepo (“hope”).

Among those seeking English-language names, the rise in popularity of more modern monikers has not passed the Catholic community by. This has seen a resurgence in Biblical names; even when people have little understanding of the stories of Hannah or Noah or Ethan.

But there’s also an increase in names which are unlikely to have a canonical reference—we would struggle to find a St Kylie or a St Brett.

However, I was surprised to discover that lots of names I would have dismissed as lacking Catholic references do have a

saint lying behind them in the mists of time. Google it and you might find a St Jason, a St Emily or even a St Kyle!

The patronal saint that we often overlook though is the one on whose day we are born. I urge you to spend some time researching this since it can yield some interesting results.

The first advantage is that there is a wonderful randomness: it’s like liturgical lottery!

F

or example, our editor’s parents might have named him Günther because they had a devotion to the monastic example of poverty, or because they wanted their son to live to a ripe old age (St Günther lived to 90 in the 11th century), or because they wanted him to emulate the saint’s prowess as a preacher (though curiously, unlike our editor, the sainted Günther could neither read nor write).

But by the random chance of Günther having been born on April 6—you have lots of time to save up for a suitable present—he could claim an association with, among others, St Celestine. The fact that this 5th-century pope was known for creating the Church’s diplomatic service and also for fighting heresy provides much material for reflection.

The richness of the Roman Calendar

mary magdalene—seen here portrayed by half-zimbabwean actress Chipo Chung in the 2015 tV series A.D. The Bible Continues—shares her feast day with raymond Perrier’s birthday. (Photo: NBC)

Faith and Society

means that he has 14 saints to choose from for his birthday: including five martyrs, four abbots or bishops, two popes, a king, a deaconess, and a young lay woman. Saints come in a range of shapes and sizes and under the most recent papacies the canon is becoming more and more diverse and representative of the universal Church.

So while I have written before about my great devotion to St Anthony (my middle name and a much more interesting role model than St Raymond), I also choose of the 12 saints celebrated on July 22 to pause and reflect on Mary Magdalene.

In some ways, I like the idea that Mary Magdalene has been misunderstood and that her reputation has been sullied by the Church over the centuries. If God writes straight with crooked lines, sometimes our clerical leaders are adept at making the lines more crooked.

I like the idea that, in part, the prejudice she has suffered is just for her gender—and so am inspired to fight for those who suffer prejudice of any kind, both inside and outside the Church.

As someone who loves the arts, I like the idea that she has been an inspiration to artists across the centuries, from Titian to El Greco to Andrew Lloyd Webber.

I love the idea that, even though she was so close to Jesus of Nazareth, she initially failed to recognise him in the risen Christ (Jn 20:15).

And I find myself constantly returning to the idea that the person who is first asked to proclaim the good news of the Resurrection was not one of the approved, had no clerical status, no pulpit, no ecclesial licence to preach. She just had a mandate from Jesus and a passion to share what she had experienced.

I encourage you this week to use the Internet for something good and see what inspires you about one of the saints whose feast day is your birthday. Let God and Google surprise you!

Let a picture say a thousand words Nthabiseng T Maphisa HE first time I went to the Louvre Museum in Paris was a warm and sunny Bastille Day—July 14—and the city was buzzing with tourists.

Many of them had travelled from various parts of the world to see the museum’s most famous works.

In the course of my sightseeing, I had learned much about the Louvre, for example how it was the home of the royal family before it was decided in 1682 that they would go to Versailles instead.

The museum houses works of art from centuries past. As I stood in front of a wallto-wall 16th-century painting, I began to understand how best to say a thousand words.

Art has always been a part of human life. The wealth of it consists of rock paintings, marble sculptures and tile mosaics.

Each stroke of the brush meticulously placed, each pencil mark delicately made is a word in the story each artist is trying to tell.

Some will present the chapters of kings and queens, a time when artists could be paid handsomely for capturing the likeness of royal families. Other artists dare to tell of violent tempests and wild beasts by illustrating landscapes. Some will tell stories of thieves and murderers and the valiant heroes who defeated them.

In them we hear the echo of Caravaggio and the whisper of Michelangelo. This means, of course, that some works of art gain popularity and others notoriety, some times from the creator and other times from the creation.

All throughout history, works of this nature have been lost, stolen and retrieved.

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large crowds in front of the surprisingly small “mona lisa” in the louvre museum in Paris. (Photo: Foundry Co.) A great example of this is Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”—which was indeed stolen in August 1911 and returned only two years later.

As I made my way through the museum, I was overwhelmed by the number of works to be seen. I passed detailed paintings of St Peter’s basilica and a startling sculpture of the head of St John the Baptist.

A

fter being captivated by the ornate Baroque furniture on display, I found myself in the Italian Renaissance wing where a crowd had gathered in front of Da Vinci’s small yet famous portrait.

Those in the crowd snapped away furiously with phones and flashing cameras.

They circled the painting like vultures. The size of it surprised me and the frenzy that

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it was causing seemed undeserved. Surely Da Vinci had better works to be admired than this small painting?

Therein lies the conundrum faced by artists and those who view it. Art can be incredibly subjective.

Some appreciate art for its beauty, others purely for the message conveyed regardless of how it is done. What makes something beautiful? Who determines the criteria?

I believe that when a piece of art can reach into the depths of the heart and draw a tear, a laugh or a precious memory it becomes beauty. Is it not true that like produces like?

Thus, that which reminds us of beauty must be beauty itself. Aside from that, if you’re going to spend thousands on something that will take up space in your house and will be seen on a daily basis, it better look good.

I could utter words but even they may not be enough. I could a sing a song but even then you might forget the tune.

Therefore, let me paint, draw and sculpt.

Then take in the story, the characters and their settings.

Through paint, charcoal and marble, they will tell you what they have heard, for a picture can say a thousand words.

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7

Cackie Upchurch

lessons From luke

Hear St Luke’s songs of praise

T

HE Gospel of Luke reveals in very short order that God’s reign is present in Jesus, and that Jesus is a friend of the poor.

From the announcements of the birth of John and of Jesus, to the humble conditions of Jesus’ birth, and within the words of key figures in these scenes, we know without a doubt that Luke and his community experienced a profound shift when they came to know Jesus.

Nothing tends to capture this quite so clearly as the canticles found in Luke.

“Canticle” is derived from the Latin canticulum, which means “little song”. Generally these are biblical texts, in addition to the psalms, that may be chanted or sung as hymns. There are four of them found in Luke 1−2.

The Canticle of Mary (also known by its Latin name, the Magnificat) is found in Luke 1:46-55: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord...”

It is perhaps the best known of the songs of praise found in Luke.

Mary’s words, spoken as part of the visit to Elizabeth, give praise for God’s greatness exhibited in his care for her in her lowliness but also in God’s care for all who are lowly. It celebrates that the proud of mind and heart are dispersed, unjust rulers are deposed, and the rich are sent away empty.

The Magnificat is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, particularly evening prayer—vespers—and it reinforces that God’s kingdom is unlike anything that we have grown accustomed to. It reminds us to be willing to let go of our false assumptions.

The Canticle of Zechariah (in Latin, the Benedictus) is found in Luke 1:68-80. The carefully crafted words on the lips of the father of John the Baptist celebrate a father’s gratitude for a long-awaited son, a son who will be “prophet of the Most High” and prepare the way for the Messiah.

The Benedictus is a regular part of the morning prayer of the Church known as lauds. It reminds us that in every age we bless God, who fulfils his promises of mercy.

The Angels’ Gloria (Luke 2:14) is a canticle of one powerful verse: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

The angelic hymn is sounded as lowly shepherds are told of Jesus’ birth with the simple words,:“A saviour has been born for you.”

These words form the opening stanza of the Gloria we pray at Sunday Mass and for feasts and other special occasions. The joy is undeniable.

T

he Canticle of Simeon (the Nunc Dimittis in Latin) is perhaps least familiar of the canticles. This song finds its home in Luke 2:29-32 in the scene where Mary and Joseph enter the temple precincts to present their baby, Jesus, to the Lord.

The young family encounters two elderly people, faithfully awaiting the fulfilment of God’s promised redemption of his people. The prophetess Anna’s prayerful preparation allowed her to recognise Jesus.

And there was Simeon, whose faithfulness assured him that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. His words, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace”, proclaimed what he saw with his own eyes, the Messiah.

The Nunc Dimittis is an essential element in the Church’s night prayer known as compline.

What do these “little songs” have in common? Praise, joy, and a firm affirmation of God’s faithfulness.

While the angels’ Gloria does not articulate God’s care for those who are outcast as do the other canticles, even there it is implied by reminding us of God’s favour. And we know God’s favour, God’s grace, freely given, does not dependent on our merit.

The three canticles used in the Liturgy of the Hours each have a deep resonance with the Old Testament.

Look for the connections between the elderly parenthood of Zechariah and Elizabeth and that of Abraham and Sarah (Gen 15, 18, and 21), the thematic similarities between Mary’s song and that of Hannah (1 Sam 2:1-10), and the common theme of service to God found in the story of Simeon and of Samuel (1 Sam 3:1-18).

Praying these ancient canticles joins us to the past where we see God’s faithfulness, but it also points us to the future where God will continue to act on behalf of the poor. n This is the fourth in a ten-part series of articles on the Gospel of Luke produced by Little Rock Scripture Study and first published in the Arkansas Catholic.

8

the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

COMMUNITY the youth from Edenvale parish in Johannesburg enjoyed a Saturday morning seeing the process of how altar bread is made at Carmel of St thérèse parish in Benoni. (Back from left) Sibusiso Sikhakhane and Catherine matthee. (middle from left) miranda le roux, trista Ndetah, Kirsten labistour, alessia Pollard and Kaylee labistour. (Front left) amy-rose mostert and lia Pollard. (Submitted by Barbara K Gregory)

auxiliary Bishop Duncan tsoke of Johannesburg celebrated mass at the church of the resurrection in Dawn Park, Boksburg, and is pictured with members of the Women With Purpose group.

(Submitted by modjadji motupa)

long-distance athletes (left) from running clubs in Welkom in the Free State went to the mofumahadi Wa rosari church in thabong to give thanks to God for completing the 2019 Comrades marathon.they attended mass a week before the event to ask for blessings and this time returned with their medals—and as a token of appreciation presented parish priest Fr lisene molibedi with gifts.

Br roderick andrew, after six months in the Cape town parishes of the resurrection in table View and the ascension in melkbosstrand, has left for Pretoria to continue his final studies at St John Vianney Seminary. Br andrew is pictured with church of the resurrection parish priest Fr Carlo adams oSFS. (Submitted by tomasz zakiewicz)

The

teachers and learners (right) at holy Family College in Glenmore, Durban, enjoyed outdoor fun, learning and activities on the school sportsfields.

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the runners (from left) are morake thlobo, andries taaibos, Nkhetheni masupa, Itumeleng Dipitsi, Nthabiseng tinte, moses Phale, abe Nkomo, Justice Shelile, Peter mosobela, morena mphojane, themba Nhlapo, trevor mkosi and telang mohlabanyane. (Submitted

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pics@scross.co.za high school learners at Sacred heart College in observatory, Johannesburg, enjoyed two days of activities, including special-effects make-up, poetry, hip-hop dancing, wall-mural painting, and (right) learning how to DJ.

the parish pastoral council at Ss Peter and Paul church in Brentpark, Kroonstad, is pictured with new parish priest Fr michael rasello (centre).

St theresa’s Convent School in Coronationville, Johannesburg, hosted its annual Sports Day. (Submitted by raylene Nadasen)

the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

SCIENCE

9

Faith and the moon 50 years ago humans walked on the moon for the first time. For some Catholics, there’s a spiritual benefit in celebrating that, DENNIS SaDoWSKI found.

W

HEN Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong gingerly stepped onto the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969, Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno had no idea that some day he would become the director of the Vatican Observatory.

Sixteen at the time, he had followed the space programme since Alan Shepard’s 15-minute suborbital flight eight years earlier. But becoming a scientist was not foremost in the mind of the teenage Guy as he watched the grainy blackand-white TV images of Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin going about their tasks on the surface of another world.

Still, the events unfolding that Sunday evening 50 years ago left an impact on Br Consolmagno, an avid reader of science fiction who especially enjoyed stories about what it might be like to travel into space.

“That put the connection in my mind that the things we fantasise about can actually happen. So dreams carry with them an important sort of reality,” he recalled as the golden anniversary of the first moon landing approached.

“In the long run, it made me recognise the importance of our aspirations, the importance of our dreams, but also it really ties into the Jesuit idea that I really hadn’t understood yet of looking for God in your deepest desires.”

Years later, Br Consolmagno would pursue studies in astronomy and then enter religious life. Today he heads one of the most prestigious astronomical institutions in the world while living his vocation, and continues to marvel at the possibility of travelling to other planets. He sees God’s handiwork in it all.

“I can feel God in any of that work,” he said. “To me, you feel God in the joy of the moment. That the universe is logical and the fact that there is also beauty and understanding, it is a source of joy.”

Always new discoveries The accomplishments achieved through scientific endeavours such

Above: astronaut Edwin “Buzz” aldrin of the first moonlanding mission, poses for a photograph during an apollo 11 extra-vehicular activity on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969.

Left: the apollo 11 rocket is launched on July 16, 1969. aboard the spacecraft were astronauts Neil armstrong, michael Collins, and Edwin "Buzz" aldrin (Photos courtesy NaSa)

as the moon landings can provide a glimpse into the way things work and what it means to be human, both key components of God’s creation, said Franciscan Sister Ilia Delio, professor of theology at Villanova University in Pennsylvania.

“It tells us about us and our capacity to invent, to discover that which has never been seen, that which has never been walked upon,” she said. “It tells us about the human person and the openness to this creation that God has given us the freedom to explore.”

Discovery also can serve—if humanity allows—to help people realise the universe is so much larger than the planet human beings currently inhabit, Sr Delio explained.

“It’s obviously very, very hard for us to get our heads around the fact that we are on a planet that’s moving through space, that space

is filled with all sorts of material life and perhaps intelligent life that we have yet to discover.

“But the landing on the moon shows we can discover new things when we never before thought this could be done,” she said.

“That’s what these discoveries are pointing to: a humble stance in this incredibly vast cosmos.”

Astronaut of faith Astronaut Nicole Stott, 56, has had two opportunities to experience a small corner of that cosmos during a pair of space missions— the first in 2009 when she spent three months aboard the International Space Station and the second in 2011 on a 13-day space shuttle mission.

Among Ms Stott’s most awe-inspiring moments was seeing the thin layer of Earth’s atmosphere as

she circled the globe every 90 minutes.

“That little thin blue line is like Earth’s spacesuit, and we need to protect it,” she said.

Ms Stott, who is a Catholic living in Florida, retired from flying as an astronaut in May 2015.

She admitted that watching the first moon landing as a six-year-old while eating a toasted sandwich did not necessarily inspire her career choice to become an engineer and eventually work for NASA. “And I remember going outside and looking at the moon afterward,” she said. “I have colleagues who told me from that moment [of the landing] on that they knew they wanted to be an astronaut. I didn’t have that sense.”

But her parents encouraged the family to explore varied interests and—because her father was a pilot—nurture a love of flying.

It was while working at NASA that Ms Stott and her husband reconnected with their Catholic faith. Today, she sees no conflict between that faith and the pursuit of science to better understand God’s universe.

She said during her 27 years with NASA—15 as an astronaut— she worked with astronauts and employees who were inspired by their faith to explore space.

“The thing that was surprising to me in general was that there seems to be this perception that astronauts would be agnostic or atheist,” Ms Stott said. “I was so happy to find that it’s more the other way; that there are more people of faith associated with the [space] programme. It was a pleasant surprise to find how deeply faithful they were.”

Pope on the moon

astronaut Nicole Stott, 56, a Catholic who had two opportunities to experience a small corner of the cosmos in 2009 (when she spent three months aboard the International Space Station), and Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, director of the Vatican observatory. Both have different kinds of memories of the first moon landing 50 years ago. (Photos:Kim Shiflett/NaSa and annette Schreyer/CNS)

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The first moon landing itself had religious connections.

In preparation for the historic Apollo 11 flight, messages from religious leaders were among the artifacts collected to be flown on the lunar lander. They remain there to this day for posterity.

The messages include one personally penned by Pope Paul VI alongside the printed text of Psalm 8: “For the glory of the name of God, who gives men such power, we pray and wish well for this wondrous endeavour.”

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The pope was particularly enamoured with the flight. As Aldrin and Armstrong collected rocks and set up experiments while the third member of the crew, Michael Collins, orbited overhead, Pope Paul went to the observatory at the papal summer home at Castel Gandolfo near Rome. He looked through a telescope at the moon, eyeing the Sea of Tranquillity where the first landing occurred.

Three months later, Pope Paul welcomed the astronauts to the Vatican during a private meeting.

Space teaches about faith Such wonder about what it’s like on other worlds and the many natural mysteries God has planted for humans to encounter also tugs at Fr James Kurzynski, an amateur astronomer and parish priest of Eau Claire in Wisconsin.

“Part of the human heart is to explore and discover,” he said, “so why wouldn’t we want to explore?”

Fr Kurzynski, 45, is too young to remember the Apollo missions, which ended in 1972. But he held a deep fascination with the heavens and over the years he has read about the history of spaceflight.

That’s how he encountered Aldrin’s description of the stark lunar landscape as a scene of “magnificent desolation”.

“There’s something to that [which] really spoke to me spiritually. In our spiritual life, especially in Ignatian spirituality, we talk about desolation,” Fr Kurzynski said. “How can we see beauty amid desolation?”

The priest continued: “Even though at one level one can see walking on the moon as [asking], ‘Why go there? There’s no trees, there’s no atmosphere. It’s just desolate.’ There’s something amid that desolation that can heighten that beauty.

“Finding this odd sense of beauty that seems to contradict the desolation is true in the spiritual life—that there are some very desolate moments in our life,” he said.

So when Fr Kurzynski shares with parishioners a telescopic view of the moon, the planets or a deep sky object, he feels he is sharing insight into the beauty God has spread across the universe.—CNS

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10

the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

SAINTS

How an apostle was slandered For many centuries, Mary Magdalene was seen as the penitent prostitute in Luke’s Gospel. That view has changed only quite recently, as GüNthEr SImmErmaChEr explains.

M

ARY of Magdala has been the subject of so much misinformation over the centuries—by the Church itself and more recently by creators of pulp fiction—that we don’t really know much about this pivotal figure in the story of Jesus.

And, alas, there is very little source material to work with.

Dispose of all the traditions and myths associated with Mary Magdalene, and we are left with a few lines in the Gospels—though more than they dedicate to most of the apostles.

Scripture reveals Mary, from the thriving fishing town of Magdala at the Sea of Galilee, to be a woman of independent means who accompanied Jesus and his band of followers on their itinerant way, supporting them materially.

When the female companions of Jesus’ group are mentioned, her name always appears first, indicating her leading role among them.

We know that Mary of Magdala had suffered from some form of mental condition or possession which Jesus healed (Luke 8:2-3).

He certainly held her in high esteem. Famously she was in the almost exclusively female group of women who had the fortitude to witness Jesus die on the cross when almost all the disciples went underground, and she was the first person to encounter the risen Christ.

But Mary Magdalene most certainly was not the prostitute of popular imagination.

The labelling of Mary as a reformed prostitute was a character assassination that would shape her reputation for nearly 14 centuries.

It was invented, or at least entrenched, in a famous homily on Luke’s Gospel by Pope Gregory I the Great in 591.

In it, Gregory mistakenly identified Mary as the unnamed repentant sinner—by now regarded as a prostitute—of Luke 7:36-50, holding her up as an example of true atonement and conversion.

And with that Mary Magdalene was diminished from being the “Apostle of the Apostles”, as St Hippolytus of Rome described her in the early third century, to “redeemable whore”.

Three women into one The Magdalene’s story became even more muddled by the 13th century, a time when the saints were equivalent to the movie stars of our age.

By then the popular image of Mary Magdalene, in addition to her verifiable identity as a leading disciple, had taken on not only the persona of the anonymous reformed sinner but also incorporated the quite distinct Mary of Bethany, Martha’s sister who washed Christ’s feet with her tears.

What the three women had in common was anointing oil and a devotion to Jesus. And suddenly, three independent women from the Gospels were stripped of their identity and turned into one woman with a history of sexual sin.

The image had appeal. The composite Mary Magdalene was a superstar among the saints, commanding a whole genre of art. Ever the temptress, she was portrayed

mostly nude.

In the early 16th century the French reformer Jacques Lefèvre d’Étaples argued strongly that the conflation of the two Marys and the repentant prostitute was an error.

The book in which he made his case caused a huge controversy which even reached England, where the bishop of Rochester, the future martyr John Fisher, condemned it.

The theology faculty of the Sorbonne university in Paris went as far as declaring the proposition of separating the three parts of the composite Mary Magdalene a heresy.

Then the Reformation happened, and with it the appetite to take this issue further. Indeed, in the Catholic Church, the identification of Mary Magdalene as the penitent sinner was emphasised even more.

Slow rehabilitation Only in the past couple of centuries has biblical scholarship rehabilitated Mary Magdalene from her unmerited ill repute.

That hasn’t stopped popular culture from portraying her as a reformed prostitute: in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, in literature like Nikos Kazantzakis’ The Last Temptation of Christ, or in pop music as in Lady Gaga’s 2011 song “Judas”.

It took the Catholic Church until 1969 to officially change its view of Mary of Magdala, when the revision of the General Roman Calendar explicitly stated that the July 22 memorial concerns only Mary Magdalene, with no mention to be made of Mary of Bethany or the repentant sinner.

Before 1969, the readings were the erotic Song of Songs and Luke 7:37-38 about the “woman from the city, who was a sinner”.

the “Penitent magdalene” painted by Domenico tintoretto between 1598 and 1602, in the musei Capitolini in rome. For many centuries— and sometimes still today—the “apostle of the apostles” was wrongly identified as a repentant prostitute.

These readings were replaced with Mary’s encounter with the Risen Lord in John 20 (“Woman, why are you weeping?”).

When Pope Francis raised the liturgical memorial of St Mary Magdalene to the rank of liturgical feast in 2016, the Vatican in a new

preface described her as “the Apostle of the Apostles”, finally giving official recognition to the title she had been denied for so long.

So when we celebrate her feast on July 22, it is the “Apostle of the Apostles” we commemorate, not the penitent woman.

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A Lebanese saint is revered for his many healing miracles by Christians and Muslims alike. haNNah BroCKhauS visited the Maronite shrine of St Charbel Makhlouf.

S

AINT Charbel Makhlouf is known in Lebanon for the miraculous healings of those who visit his tomb to seek his intercession—both Christians and Muslims.

“St Charbel has no geographic or confessional limits. Nothing is impossible for [his intercession] and when people ask [for something], he answers,” said Fr Louis Matar, coordinator of the shrine of St Charbel in Annaya, Lebanon.

Speaking in Arabic with the help of an interpreter, Fr Matar said the shrine, which encompasses the monastery where the Maronite Catholic priest, monk, and hermit lived for nearly 20 years, receives around 4 million visitors a year, including both Christians and Muslims.

Fr Matar, who is responsible for archiving the thousands of medically-verified healings attributed to the intercession of the Maronite priest-monk, said that many miraculous cures have been obtained by Muslims.

Since 1950, the year the monastery began to formally record the miraculous healings, the prayers have archived more than claimed 29 000 miracles, Fr Matar said.

Before 1950, miracles were verified only through the witness of a priest. Now, with more advanced medical technology available, alleged miracles require medical documents demonstrating the person’s initial illness and later, their unexplainable good health.

One of the miracles documented by Fr Matar at the end of December last year was that of a 45-year-old Italian woman. Suffering from a neurological disease, she was

a prayer service at the maronite shrine of St Charbel makhlouf in annaya, lebanon. the shrine attracts more than 4 million visitors a year, including Christians, muslims and Druze. St Charbel’s feast in the roman calendar is on July 24. (Photo: Nancy Wiechec/CNS) hospitalised after it was discovered she had tried to commit suicide by consuming acid.

In the hospital, the doctors discovered that the damage to her esophagus and intestines was so extensive, “the last way possible to cure her was believing in God and praying”, Fr Matar said.

T

he woman’s parents began to pray, inviting others to pray with them. A religious sister of the Maronite rite heard about the prayer request and gave them holy oil from the shrine of St Charbel.

After they spread the oil on the suffering woman’s stomach, chest, and head, she

was cured.

This was just one of seven miracles archived that month, Fr Matar said, calling each one “a phenomenon”.

“St Charbel is a tool to reach God,” he added.

The shrine of St Charbel comprises the monastery of St Maron—where the saint lived for 19 years with great devotion to prayer, manual labour, and contemplative silence—and the nearby hermitage, where he lived a rigorous asceticism and profound union with God for the last 23 years of his life.

At the monastery, pilgrims can visit a church built in 1840, a small museum with artifacts and relics from the saint, and the site of his first grave.

St Charbel’s tomb, since 1952, is located inside a special cave-like chapel built into the property.

Even while he was alive, Charbel’s superiors observed God’s “supernatural power” at work in his life, and even some Muslims knew him as a wonder-worker.

Deeply devoted to God’s Eucharistic presence, he suffered a stroke while celebrating the Divine Liturgy of the Maronite Catholic Church on December 16, 1898.

He died at the age of 70 on Christmas Eve that year.

Bad weather nearly prevented the transfer of his body to the monastery the next day.

George Emmanuel Abi-Saseen, one of the pallbearers, reported: “Fr Charbel died on the eve of Christmas; the snow was heavy. We transferred him to the monastery on Christmas Day. “Before we moved him, the snow was falling rapidly and the clouds were very dark,” he recalled “When we carried him, the clouds disappeared, and the weather cleared.”

St Charbel Makhlouf was canonised in 1977 by Pope Paul VI. In the Maronite rite, his feast is celebrated on the third Sunday in July (this year July 21). His feast day in the Roman calendar is on July 24.—CNA

the Southern Cross, July 17 to July 23, 2019

YOUR CLASSIFIEDS

Fr Leopold Scherer

F

ATHER Leopold Joseph Scherer died on June 17 at Ntaba Maria convent in Grahamstown at the age of 89.

He was born on March 15, 1930, in Germany.

Pallottine Bishop Johannes Rosenthal of Queenstown diocese received him into the ministry.

Fr Scherer finished his theological studies in Pretoria at St John Vianney Seminary.

He was ordained a priest on December 16, 1964, in Christ the King cathedral, Queenstown.

Fr Scherer worked in Centane in Queenstown diocese before working at Cwele mission in Mthatha diocese. He then returned to work in Centane.

He finally retired in Ntaba Maria convent in 2011.

Fr Scherer is survived by his elder brother and niece in Germany.

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IN MEMORIAM

His funeral was held at Christ the King cathedral.

Pope gives precious relics of St Peter to Orthodox patriarch

By CINDy WooDEN

I

N what Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople described as a “brave and bold” gesture, Pope Francis gave the patriarch a famous reliquary containing bone fragments believed to belong to St Peter.

The bronze case gift contains nine of the bone fragments discovered during excavations of the necropolis under St Peter’s basilica that began in the 1940s.

In the 1960s, archaeologist Margherita Guarducci published a paper asserting that she had found St Peter’s bones near the site identified as his tomb.

While no pope has ever declared the bones to be authentic, Pope Paul VI announced in 1968 that the “relics” of St Peter had been “identified in a way which we can hold to be convincing”.

Pope Paul took nine of the bone fragments, commissioned the bronze reliquary, and kept the relics in his private chapel in the papal apartments.

Pope Francis removed them from the chapel on the feast of Ss Peter and Paul last month.

Patriarch Bartholomew had sent a delegation led by Archbishop Job of Telmessos to the Vatican for the feast day celebra-

Patriarch Bartholomew prays before a reliquary containing bone shards of St Peter in Istanbul, turkey. Pope Francis gave the reliquary to the patriarch. (Photo: Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople) tions. After the solemn Mass, Pope Francis and Archbishop Job went down to St Peter’s tomb under the high altar to pray.

Then, the archbishop recounted later, the pope asked him to wait for him because he had a gift for his “brother” Patriarch Bartholomew. Pope Francis came back and led the archbishop to his little blue Ford Focus and they were driven to

the Apostolic Palace.

They entered the chapel of the old papal apartments, where Pope Francis chose not to live, and “the pope took the reliquary that his predecessor Paul VI had placed in the little chapel and offered it to his guest”, according to Vatican News.

“For us, this was an extraordinary and unexpected event that we could not have hoped for,” Vatican News quoted the archbishop as saying.

Arrangements quickly were made for Mgr Andrea Palmieri, undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, to accompany the relics to the Phanar, the patriarchate’s headquarters in Istanbul.

It was “another gigantic step toward concrete unity”, Archbishop Job said.

At a ceremony to receive the relics and venerate them, Patriarch Bartholomew said “Pope Francis made this grand, fraternal and historic gesture” of giving the Orthodox fragments of the relics of St Peter.

“I was deeply moved,” the patriarch said, according to the news on the patriarchate’s Facebook page along with 15 photos.

“It was a brave and bold initiative of Pope Francis.”—CNS

St Jude Prayer for Healing of Cancer

Your prayer to cut out and collect

God of healing mercy, in Jesus your Son you stretch out your hand in compassion, restoring the sinner, healing the sick, and lifting up those bowed down.

ALEXANDER—ralph. In loving memory of my beloved husband ralph, our father and grandfather. may his soul rest in peace. always fondly remembered by your wife Evelyn, children Blaise, Imelda, mark, Celesta, Delia and rowen and daughters-inlaw Sandra and mary-ann, son-in-law martin, and grandchildren Blayke, reece, Xavier and Cleeve.

LETORD—roger. In loving memory of Deacon roger of Durbanville, who passed away ten years ago on July 19, 2009, aged 96. Will always be remembered by his family helen, Stephen, matthew, thérèse and Kieran, Janet, Dean, michael and Kyle, anne, Basil, Sarah, Warren and Jessica and Joan Swanson. may his soul rest in peace.

WILLIAMS—owen. In loving memory of our former colleague of The Southern Cross, who died on July 20, 2007.

PERSONAL

ABORTION WARNING: the truth will convict a silent Church. See www.valuelife abortionisevil.co.za ABORTION WARNING: the Pill can abort. all Catholic users (married or cohabiting) must be told, to save their souls and their unborn infants. See www.epm.org/ static/uploads/downloads/ bcpill.pdf

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 glorified. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us, and thank you for granting my request.

Dermot@George.

O ST MARTHA, I resort to thee and to thy petition and faith, I offer up to thee this light which I shall burn every tuesday for nine tuesdays.

Comfort me in all my difficulties through the great favour thou didst enjoy thy Saviour lodge in thy house. I beseech thee to have definite pity in regard to the favour I ask (mention favour). Intercede for my family that we may always be provided for

Our bishops’ anniversaries This week we congratulate: August 3: Bishop Zolile Peter Mpambani of Kokstad on the 6th anniversary of his episcopal ordination

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 872. ACROSS: 5 Wove, 7 Tabernacle, 8 Onus, 10 Homilies, 11 Egress, 12 Nathan, 14 Static, 16 Commit, 17 Hacienda, 19 Owns, 21 Allegiance, 22 Shun. DOWN: 1 Otto, 2 Less heat, 3 Inches, 4 Acumen, 5 Well, 6 Veneration, 9 Night Watch, 13 Temporal, 15 Candle, 16 Change, 18 Iran, 20 Sped.

Embrace us now in your loving care, particularly those afflicted with cancer, for whom this intention is offered.

Liturgical Calendar Year C – Weekdays Cycle Year 1 Thursday July 25, St James 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Psalm 126, Matthew 20:20-28 Friday July 26, Ss Joachim and Anne, Parents of Mary Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19:8-11, Matthew 13:18-23 Saturday July 27 Exodus 24:3-8, Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15, Matthew 13:24-30 Sunday July 28, 17th Sunday of the Year Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8, Colossians 2:12-14, Luke 11:1-13

in all our necessities. I ask thee St martha to overcome the dragon which thou did cast at thy feet.

O GREAT St Joseph of Cupertino who while on earth did obtain from God the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which I am now preparing. In return I promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked. through Christ our lord. St Joseph of Cupertino, pray for us. amen.

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Pray that AFRICA and THE WORLD may draw closer to the HEART OF CHRIST 2 Chron 7:14 Matthew 7:7-12

The

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May the Spirit of Jesus bring us all health in soul and body, that with joy and thanksgiving we may praise you for your goodness, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday July 21, 16th Sunday of the Year Genesis 18:1-10, Psalm 15:2-5, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke 10:38-42 Monday July 22, St Mary Magdalene Song of Solomon 3:1-4 or 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9, John 20:1-2, 11-18 Tuesday July 23, St Bridget Exodus 14:21--15:1, Exodus 15:8-10, 12, 17, Matthew 12:46-50 Wednesday July 24, St Charbel Makhlouf Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15, Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28, Matthew 13:1-9

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The Southern Cross is published independently by the Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Company Ltd. address: Po Box 2372, Cape town, 8000. Tel: (021) 465 5007 Fax: (021) 465 3850 www.scross.co.za Editor: Günther Simmermacher (editor@scross.co.za), Business Manager: Pamela Davids (admin@scross.co.za), Advisory Editor: michael Shackleton, Local News: Erin Carelse (e.carelse@scross.co.za) Editorial: Claire allen (c.allen@scross.co.za), mary leveson (m.leveson@scross.co.za), Advertising: yolanda timm (advertising@scross.co.za), Subscriptions: michelle Perry (subscriptions@scross.co.za), Accounts: Desirée Chanquin (accounts@scross.co.za), Directors: r Shields (Chair), archbishop S Brislin, S Duval, E Jackson, B Jordan, Sr h makoro CPS, J mathurine, G Stubbs

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the

17th Sunday: July 28 Readings: Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8, Colossians 2:12-14, Luke 11:1-13

S outher n C ross

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VERYONE knows (if they are honest) that prayer is an indispensable element in growing to full maturity. But how are we to pray? According to the readings for next Sunday, it is with a certain impertinence.

In the first reading, we listen first to God, who is trying to find out if things are as bad at Sodom as he has heard, and wondering what to do about it.

Then Abraham, without any invitation from God, is found impertinently bargaining with God, and setting up a scenario where God might not actually know how many just people were there in the city: “Suppose there are fifty just people in the city—will you wipe out the place and not spare it?”

He builds quite an impressive argument against God killing the innocent along with the wicked, concluding, impertinently enough: “Will not the Judge of all the earth act justly?”

So God is constrained to agree that “if I find I find in Sodom fifty innocent people within the city, then I shall forgive the place for their sake”.

But Abraham is not satisfied with this concession, and to our astonishment he carries on with his negotiation, beating the Lord down from fifty to forty-five to forty, to thirty, to twenty, and finally to ten, and God agrees that

“I shall not destroy it for the sake of ten”.

Since Sodom is destroyed shortly afterwards, the reader is led to conclude that even this minimal criterion was not met; but for our purposes what counts is the intimacy with God that enables Abraham to pray in this robust way.

The psalm also recognises that God answers prayer: “I shall thank you, Lord, with all my heart—before the gods I shall sing to you; I shall bow down before your holy Temple and give thanks to your name.”

Then he tells us why: “On the day I called you answered me; you strengthened my spirit”; and we do not have to be at the top of society: “the Lord is on high, but cares for the lowly”. The vital thing is that “the Lord’s love is for ever: do not forsake the work of your hands”.

Do these sentiments ring any bells with you in your own life of prayer?

The second reading for next Sunday is not quite as impertinent; but it does recognise that we are in a sense in the same place as Jesus.

To express this, Paul uses verbs compounded with “with”: we are described as “having been buried-with”, “you were raisedwith”, “he made-you-alive-with him”.

The extraordinary thing is that what God

S

plates of Christian discipleship, living Gospels, but they walked in different times.

So what kind of saints do we need today? We need saints who can honour the goodness of the world, even as they honour God. We need women and men who can show us how to walk with a living faith inside a culture which believes that the world here is enough and that the issues of God and the next life are peripheral.

We need saints who can walk with a steady, adult faith in the face of the world’s sophistication, pathological restlessness, overstimulated grandiosity, numbing distractions, and overpowering temptations.

We need saints who can empathise with those who have drifted away from the Church, even as they themselves, without compromise, hold their own moral and religious ground.

We need young saints who can romantically re-inflame the religious imagination of the world, as once did Francis and Clare.

And we need old saints, who have walked the gamut and can show us how to meet all the challenges of today and yet retain our childhood faith.

As well, we need what the Anglican theologian Sarah Coakley calls “erotic saints”—women and men who can bring chastity and eros together in a way that speaks of the importance of both.

W

Conrad

e need saints who can model for us the goodness of sexuality, who can delight in its human joys and honour its God-given place within the spiritual journey, even as they never denigrate it by setting it against spirituality or cheapen it by

Sunday reflections

did in Jesus was to give us a new life where we actually belong with God, so that we can be as “impertinent” as Abraham or as the psalmist.

He expresses this in a different image when he speaks of “giving a free pardon for all our transgressions”, and “wiping away the hand-written account that was against us” and “He took it out of the middle, nailing it to the cross.”

Confidence in what God has done for us should be at the heart of our attitude to prayer.

The Gospel has two parts to it, both with a sense of impertinence about our prayer-life.

It starts with the disciples impatiently demanding to be taught how to pray, as they watch Jesus engaging in this baffling activity.

Then he actually teaches them a way of praying, which is very close to what we call the “Lord’s Prayer”, though not in the familiar version (that is to be found in Matthew’s gospel, not Luke).

The important thing is that it starts with “Father” or “Abba”, and asks for God’s holiness to be recognised, and for the coming of the kingdom (which was what Jesus had preached), as well as sufficient food, and remission of debts (with an implicit promise to do the same ourselves), concluding with a

What kind of saints we need IMONE Weil, the French mystic, once commented that it’s not enough today to be merely a saint; rather “we must have the saintliness demanded by the present moment”.

She’s surely right on that second premise; we need saints whose virtues speak to the times.

What kind of saint is needed today?

Someone who can show us how we can actually forgive an enemy? Someone who can help us come together across the bitter divide within our communities and churches? Someone who can show us how to reach out to the poor?

Someone who can teach us how to actually pray? Someone who can show us how to find “Sabbath” inside the bombardment of 10 000 television channels, a million blogs, and a billion tweets? Someone who can show us how to sustain our childhood faith amid the sophistication, complexity, and agnosticism of our adult lives?

Someone who, like Jesus, can go into singles’ bars and not sin? Someone who radiates a full-bodied humanity, even as he or she is, by faith, set apart? Someone who’s a mystic, but with a robust sense of humour? Someone who can be both chaste and healthily sexual at the same time?

The list could go on. We’re in pioneer territory. The saints of old didn’t face our issues. They had their own demons to conquer and aren’t rolling over in their graves, shaking their fingers in disgust at us in our struggles and infidelities.

They know the struggle, know that ours is new territory with new demons to conquer and new virtues asked for. The saints of old remain, of course, as essential tem-

Nicholas King SJ

Pray exactly as you wish

final request: “Don’t bring us into testing.”

Then the second part of this Gospel is thoroughly impertinent, as only a son can be, for it compares God to a “friend” who is reluctant to get out of bed in the middle of the night in order to give three loaves of bread (“Don’t give me hassles—the door is locked; and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything”).

After this comes the moral of the story: “I’m telling you: if he is not going to get up and give it to him because of being a friend, at all events he is going to get up and give him what he needs because of the shamelessness of the request.”

Then there is a teasing comparison to an earthly father, someone who might give his son a “snake” instead of a fish, or a “scorpion” for an egg. And in the end, he says: “The Father from Heaven will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” And there can be nothing better than that.

So “Ask, and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Your prayer to the Father can be as impertinent as you like.

Southern Crossword #872

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final reflection

making it simply another form of recreation.

Then, too, we need saints who can, with compassion, help us to see our blind complicity with systems of all kinds which victimise the vulnerable to safeguard our own comfort, security, and historical privilege.

We need saints who can speak prophetically for the poor, for the environment, for women, for refugees, for those with inadequate access to medical care and education, and for all who are stigmatised because of race, colour, or creed.

We need saints, lonely prophets, who can stand as unanimity-minus one, wage peace and point our eyes to a reality beyond our own shortsightedness.

And these saints need not be formally canonised; their lives need simply be lamps for our eyes and leaven for our lives.

I don’t know who your present-day saints are, but I have found mine among a very wide range of persons, old, young, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, liberal, conservative, religious, lay, clerical, secular, faith-filled, and agnostic.

Full disclosure, the names I mention below are not persons whose lives I know in any detail. Mostly, I know what they’ve written, but their writings light my path.

Among those of my own generation I’m indebted to are Raymond E Brown, Charles Taylor, Daniel Berrigan, Jean Vanier, Mary Jo Leddy, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Keating, Jim Wallis, Richard Rohr, Elizabeth Johnson, Parker Palmer, Barbara Brown Taylor, Wendy Wright, Gerhard Lohfink, Kathleen Dowling Singh, Jim Forest, John Shea, James Hillman, Thomas Moore, and Marilynne Robinson.

Among the younger voices whose lives and writings speak as well to a generation younger than mine, I would mention Shane Claiborne, Rachel Held Evans, James Martin, Kerry Weber, Trevor Herriot, Macy Halford, Robert Barron, Bryan Stevenson, Robert Ellsberg, Bieke Vandekerckhove, and Annie Riggs.

Maybe these aren’t your saints, fair enough. So lean on those who help light your path.

ACROSS

5. Did basketwork (4) 7. It’s in the sanctuary. Enable cart to get to it (10) 8. Our responsibility? (4) 10. The preacher delivers them (8) 11. Way out (6) 12. Prophet who humbled David (2 Sm 12) (6) 14. Without moving it’s lost in the statistic (6) 16. perpetrate a sin (6) 17. Big house for a Spanish bishop (8) 19. Possesses seed that’s sown (4) 21. Angelic ale cocktail for loyalty (10) 22. Avoid what’s sinful (4)

Solutions on page 11

DOWN

1. German saint to back and to front (4) 2. Indication that it’s cooler (4,4) 3. Measurements of Winchester cathedral (6) 4. Ability the emu can provide (6) 5. The source of water is healthy (4) 6. It’s a way of showing respect for the relic (10) 9. Rembrandt’s famous vigil (5,5) 13. The pope’s secular kind of power (8) 15. Bell, book and … used for rite of excommunication (6) 20. Speed past (4)

CHURCH CHUCKLE

I

N a rural seaside parish, the young priest who had just come from the city is hearing confessions.

“Forgive me, Father, for I have illegally fished a lobster,” confesses a penitent.

The young priest doesn’t quite know what the appropriate penance for that sin is, so he asks the poacher to wait while he phones the parish priest.

“How much do you give for a poached lobster?” the young priest asks.

“A poached lobster?” the parish priest replies.

“Don’t give any more than R50.”

S outher n C ross Pilgrimage

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