200108

The T he Th

S outher o u t h e r n C ross ross ou uther

January 8 to January 14, 2020

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No 5169

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R12 (incl VAT RSA)

Centeenary Jubilee Year

Mother of Bl Benedict Daswa dead at 95

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Church gears up for 30th anniversary of Daswa murder

BY ERIN CARELSE

T

Pilgrimage 2020 P i l gr i mag ge e 2 020

So u t h e r n C rross os ss s outher

The Baptism of Christ is depicted in a painting by Italian Renaissance painter Cima da Conegliano, dating from 1492. It is seen above the high altar in the church of San Giovanni i n Br a g o ra i n Ve n i ce . Th e fe a st o f th e Ba p ti sm o f th e L o rd i s ce l e b ra te d o n th e fi rst Su n d a y fo l l o w i n g th e E p i p h a n y, w h i ch th i s ye a r i s o n Ja n u a r y 1 2 .

HIS year’s feast of Bl Benedict Daswa will mark the 30th anniversar y of his martyrdom.

The celebrations for the Februar y 1 feast will this year run under the Vatican-approved theme “The 30th Anniversar y of Martyrdom (Pearl Jubilee Year of Martyrdom)”.

Bl Benedict Tshimangadzo Daswa was murdered by a mob on Februar y 2, 1990— the day on which President FW de Klerk unbanned the African National Congress and other liberation movements.

Bl Daswa, a 43-year-old teacher, was martyred for his refusal to participate in a witch hunt.

Before the feast day, a novena will be prayed from Januar y 23-31.

People throughout the region are encouraged to pray for the favours and graces they need during these nine days. They can use the Daswa novena booklet which is available for download in various languages from the official Benedict Daswa website: www.benedictdaswa.org.za.

The booklet is also available in print from the Daswa office in the diocese of Tzaneen, and from Nweli church, where Bl Daswa is entombed.

Also available online and through SACBC dioceses are the official “Prayer to Implore Favours” and “Prayer for Canonisation”.

The Februar y 1 feast of Bl Daswa may be celebrated as a memorial in all dioceses and parishes in the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference region.

The celebrations of the feast day will be held at Tshitanini village near Thohoyandou in the diocese of Tzaneen. This is the site of

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mail:bendas bendaswwa@m a@ @mwweb.c eb.co. o.zzaa EEmail: number: mber:076 076570 570 708843 8843 CCell ell number:

T h e p o s t e r w h i c h p r o m o t e s t h i s y e a r ’s f e a s t o f Bl Be n e d i ct Tsh i m a n g a d zo D a sw a .

Bl Daswa’s beatification on September 13, 2015, and where the future shrine and pilgrimage centre will be located.

The liturgical colour is red as Bl Daswa died a martyr.

The Vatican’s Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship has officially approved proper liturgical texts for the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. These Continued on page 2

Pray in Medjugorje and visit Rome, with papal audience, Assisi, the town of St Francis, Loreto with Mary’s House.

Plus a tour of historic Split in Croa a.

Three countries in one tour!

2 The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

L O CA L

Chalice passed on to the next generation STAFF REPORTER

Fr Gerard Masters hands the gift of a chalice to Delores and Leonard van der S c h y ff o f S t A n n e ’s p a r i s h i n Steenberg, Cape Town. The Van d e r S c h y ff s a c cepted the chalice, passed on by Fr Masters from an elderly priest in the US, on behalf of their son Fr Alfredo van der S c h y ff , w h o w a s unable to be at the Mass.

A

CAPE Town priest who spent many years in the United States has passed on a chalice given to him by an older cleric to a young priest, who he hopes will one day pass it on to the next generation.

Fr Gerard Masters received the chalice from Fr Leo Spodnik, a 97year-old retired priest of the US archdiocese of Hartford in Connecticut. Fr Spodnik had received the chalice on his ordination to the p r i e s t h o o d o n Ma y 2 7 , 1 9 4 8 , f r o m the Slovak-American community, which he went on to serve for many decades.

“Fr Leo is a longtime friend,” said Fr Masters. “I asked him if I could pass the chalice on to a newly-ordained priest, who would use it and

Church prepares to mark 30th anniversary of Bl Daswa death Continued from pagee 1 texts have been printed by Mariannhill Mission Press and sent to the SACBC dioceses.

The celebrations will begin with a vigil on Januar y 31, from 16:00 to 21:00. The faithful are invited to spend a period of silent adoration, prayer and reflection in the tent at Tshitanini.

On entering the area, people will be encouraged to spend time in silent adoration and prayerful reflection for the examination of their conscience, after which the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed.

Throughout this quiet time, priests will be available for confession.

The exposition will close with the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The conclusion of the nine days of prayers will also be prayed at the end of the vigil.

On the feast day at Tshitanini Village, there will be veneration of Bl Daswa’s relics from 6:30 to 8:45.

At 7:30, the nine life stations of Bl Daswa will be obser ved, followed by the laity leading the Rosar y (the Luminous Mysteries), and then the prayer of the Litany of Bl Daswa—Martyr of Jesus Christ at 8:00.

From 9:00 to 11:00 Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban will preside over the feast day Mass followed by veneration of the relics of Bl Daswa in procession.

Those who are unable to attend the celebration, are encouraged to celebrate the feast in their parishes.  F o r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t S r Tshifhiwa Munzhedzi OP at ben daswa@mweb.co.za or 076 5708843.

keep it in trust. In the future, when he himself retires, that priest would pass the chalice on to a newly-ordained priest. And Fr Leo agreed.”

Fr Masters decided to present the chalice to Fr Alfredo van der Schyff, “since he is from the parish of St Anne’s in Steenberg where I served many years ago”.

Fr Van der Schyff was ordained to the priesthood in August 2019.

Due to his pastoral duties, he could not personally receive the chalice at Mass in St Anne’s church, so Fr Masters presented the chalice to the young priest’s parents, Leonard and Delores van der Schyff.

Fr van der Schyff said he was humbled by Fr Masters’ gift.

“The fact that Fr Masters choose me really humbled me but also

made me realise the connection we each have as priests, being part of the one priesthood of Jesus Christ,” the priest told The Southern Cross.

“This new tradition of handing on a chalice to a newly-ordained priest, I believe, is a beautifu ul gesture,” Fr Van der Schyff said.

“It reminds us of priests who have gone before us and the many sacrifices they have made, especially through the example of their lives, living out this symbol of the chalice being conformed to Jesus Christ who sheds his blood for the salvation of the world and who offers his body to be broken for us,” he said.

“I pray that by God’s grace I too, one day as a retired priest, may hand on the chalice to a newly-ordained priest,” Fr Van der Schyff said.

Daswa’s mother dies at 95 STAFF REPORTER

O

NLY a few weeks before the 30th anniversar y of her beatified son’s martyrdom, Thidziambi (Theambi) Ida Daswa died at the age of 95.

The mother of Bl Benedict Daswa was a committed member of St Anne’s Sodality, which she joined after her conversion to Catholicism.

She died on December 24.

The Daswas are members of the Lemba tribe often referred to as the Vhashavhi (or Black Jews). Mrs Daswa converted to Catholicism following Bl Benedict’s murder by a mob on Februar y 2, 1990.

Mrs Daswa (née Gundula) was married to Tshililo Petrus Daswa, with whom she had four sons and a daughter, of whom Tshimangadzo Samuel, born on June 16, 1946, was the eldest. On becoming a Catholic in 1963, Tshimangadzo took the name Benedict.

To Mrs Daswa, Benedict was not just a son but also a friend, she told The Southern Crooss in 2014, a year before she witnessed her son’s beat-

ification at Tshitanini village near Thohoyandou.

After his father’s death in an accident, Bl Benedict took over as the breadwinner of the household, making sure his siblings were properly educated.

After her son’s death, Mrs Daswa saved all her money to buy a tombstone for his grave, which she tended until Bl Benedict’s remains were transferred to the Catholic church at Nweli ahead of his beatification in September 2015.

A friendly woman of deep faith, Mrs Daswa would walk 5km to Sunday Mass until old age. As a member of St Anne Sodality, she was generous with giving advice and guidance to young Catholic women.

She was always ready to help those in need—even some of the people who were in the mob that murdered her son.

Mrs Daswa is sur vived by two sons, her daughter, and grandchildren Mrs Daswa’s funeral Mass was celebrated on Januar y 1.

Thidziambi Ida Dawsa, mother of the martyr Bl Benedict Daswa, has died at 95.

Vines to be blessed for good harvest STAFF REPORTER

N N e w l y - o r d a i n e d F r s K g a o g e l o N t s i e ( s e c o n d f r o m l e f t ) a n d Ts h e p o D u i k are presented by Archbishop Buti Tlhagale (left) and Bishop Duncan Ts o k e a t t h e i r o r d i n a t i o n M a s s i n S t A l b e r t ’s c h u r c h i n Vo s l o o r u s , a r c h diocese of Johannesburg. (Photo: Sheldon Reddiar)

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AGENOEG wine farm at Stellenbosch, Western Cape, will host its 21st annual Blessing of the Vines on Saturday, January 25, and the annual Winemakers and Distillers Mass will be celebrated on Januar y 30.

The Blessing of the Vines will be preceded by Mass in the farm’s St Anthony’s chapel at 11:00 to pray for a good har vest and for all who work on the farm.

Mass is followed by a ride through the vineyards for the actual blessing, in a procession of tractors with trailers, trucks, bakkies and cars.

“We will drive through the vineyards at a slow speed and stop for photo opportunities and to admire the views,” said farm owner Schalk Visser. Guests can use their own vehicles but must be aware that they will be driving on farm roads.

After the blessing, a picnic will be held under the trees. Guests are asked to bring their own tables, chairs, blankets or groundcovers, picnic baskets, refreshments and wine.

As Nagenoeg is a wine farm, guests are asked to bring only wine for their alcoholic entertainment, and to appoint a designated driver.

A collection will be held during e picnic for the St Anthony’s hapel Fund, to be used for the keep of the chapel and also for onsoring school clothes and hool fees for the farm children, d other necessar y expenses such educational tours and extra courses.

“It is a fund that we created for

A t r a c t o r d r i v e s g u e s t s a r o u n d N a g e n o e g f a r m i n S t e l l e n b o s c h , We s t e r n C a p e , d u r i n g l a s t y e a r ’s a n n u a l B l e s s i n g o f t h e Vi n e s , w h i c h i s p r e c e d e d b y M a ss i n th e fa r m ’s C a th o l i c ch a p e l o f St An th o n y. the community,” Mr Visser said.

“This is an opportunity to enjoy a day picnicking on a farm with friends and family in a safe environment,” he said. “Even if we do not know you, you are most welcome.”

The Winemakers and Distillers Mass will be at St Nicholas’ C a t h o l i c c h u rc h i n P a u l K r u g e r Street, Stellenbosch, on Thursday, Januar y 30, at 11:00.

The annual Mass is traditionally held on the Thursday closest to the January 22 feast day of St Vincent of Saragossa, the patron saint of vintners. Due to scheduling issues, this year’s Mass is held a week later.

“Most winemakers and distillers

bring a bottle or more to go into the basket at the entrance to the c h u rc h , ” o r g a n i s e r D a v e H u g h e s said. “These donations will go up to the altar with the offertor y procession. These bottles get shared with the clergy after Mass.”

The Mass collection will go to the Stellenbosch Hospice.

The Mass will be followed by lunch at La Pineta restaurant in Stellenbosch, which is owned by a parishioner of St Nicholas’.  F o r q u e r i e s a n d d i re c t i o n s f o r t h e Blessing of the Vines contact Schalk Vi s s e r a t b e e s t i n g @ m w e b . c o . z a o r 021 855-5767. For infor mation on the Winemakers Mass, contact Dave Hughes at 072 775-2484 or hughesd @iafrica.com

The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

LOCAL

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Priest: Judgment a win for undocumented kids

By ERiN CARElSE

A

JUDGMENT by the Eastern Cape High court in Makhanda that all undocumented children, including children of illegal foreigners, are entitled to receive basic education is a victory, according to the director of the Justice & Peace Commission.

Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge ruled that parts of the school admission policy which denied access to education for learners without a birth certificate were invalid, and that the constitutional right to basic education, as outlined in section 28, reigned superior.

He also ruled that the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) were acting unconstitutionally, and interdicted both departments from removing or excluding learners of any nationality from schools.

The court ordered that should learners be unable to provide schools with documentation, schools must accept an alternative such as an affidavit or sworn statement by a parent, guardian or caretaker.

The judgment was handed down following an application by the Centre for Child Law, Phakamisa High School, and 37 children—represented by the Legal Resources Centre—against the Department of Basic Education, the Eastern Cape education department and the Department of Home Affairs.

“This ruling will have a positive impact for both children of migrants and South African children who do not have documents through circumstances that are beyond their control,” Justice & Peace Commission director Fr Stan Muyebe OP told The Southern Cross.

He noted that it has often been argued that opening up education ac-

cess for illegal immigrants will create incentives for illegal immigration, but said that the court affirmed there is no evidence to support this.

“The Gospel challenges us to reach out to the most vulnerable and the little ones in our society, which children of migrants and refugees are,” Fr Muyebe said.

“Depriving these children of education does not constitute an effective and legitimate form of immigration control. There are other measures that are more effective and lawful, and these need to be explored.”

According to the DBE, 998 433 children currently attending school in South Africa are undocumented and cannot be accounted for by the DHA. Only 16,7% of these learners are foreign nationals, while 83,2% are South African children whose parents, guardians or caregivers have not managed to secure birth

certificates for them.

J&P field workers in rural areas have encountered situations of children born at home who are not registered in terms of the Birth and Death Registration Act; often the caregivers themselves lack the documentation required to register the birth, or lack the resources to travel to the nearest home affairs office.

They have also encountered situations of South African children growing up with extended families and struggling to obtain the necessary documents when parents are no longer around.

The court judgment “is a victory for them as well”, Fr Muyebe said.

“Access to education opens up opportunities for a better future. As a society, we should commit ourselves to a principle that all children—irrespective of their nationality and immigration status—should have that opportu-

nity,” he said.

Fr Muyebe did point out that although the judgment now allows undocumented children to access education, the struggle is not over.

“When the children are readmitted, there is a need to monitor enforcement to ensure that they are not subjected to harassment and exclusion that could force them to drop out,” he said.

“The Department of Home Affairs must also work hard to put additional measures [in place] and ensure that all South African children have the necessary documentation,” Fr Muyebe urged.

“Undocumented persons are highly vulnerable in society. They encounter multiple obstacles in accessing basic services and economic opportunities. Policy and operational barriers with respect to birth registration should therefore be addressed,” he said.

Dominican celebrates 50th jubilee Veteran writer of letters dies at 77

By PhiwOkuhlE Xulu

T

HE life of the Dominicans in South Africa has always been centred on preaching to those at the frontiers. The period has seen many excellent preachers, and one of them was celebrated in Pietermaritzburg on the occasion of his 50th ordination anniversary.

Fr Joseph Falkiner marked his golden jubilee at Emaphethelweni Priory.

Ordained in Stellenbosch on the same day as the future Pope Francis was in Argentina, Fr Falkiner shares a lot with the Holy Father in thought and compassion.

A jubilee Mass was concelebrated

by Fr Thomas Chuma OP, with Br Philippe Denis OP preaching in the priory chapel.

As a young man, Fr Falkiner was a geologist who worked around Africa. On Good Friday 1961, he experienced the first signs of vocation.

He discerned a great desire to serve the Lord through working among the people of God, advocating for justice and compassion.

While working in Tanzania and

Fr Joe Falkiner (left) celebrated Mass on the 50th jubilee of his ordination with Fr Thomas Chuma OP at Emaphethelweni Priory in Pietermaritzburg. a year later in Namaqualand, Fr Falkiner realised a need for better treatment in the workplace. As a newly-ordained priest, he would find himself working successfully with the Young Christian Workers movement. In the 1980s, he contributed to the formation of Cosatu.

Tony Wyllie & Co.

After Mass, Fr Chuma read out a letter from Fr Stan Muyebe OP, the local provincial, followed by speeches from friends, and gifts and refreshments shared in the conference hall.

Fr Falkiner has remained faithful to the pillars of Dominican life: Common Life, Preaching, Prayer, and Study. He has also been dedicated to promoting vocations in the Church.

At Emaphethelweni Priory, it was Fr Falkiner’s vision that saw it opened to cater for students studying in Cedara and to the community at large.

Fr Falkiner recently published a book of reflections on Mass readings, An Introduction to the Sunday Readings for Year A of the Lectionary.

Positive feedback over the years, including from priests who said his introductions had helped them with their sermons, prompted him to write the book.

Fr Falkiner said he “looked for a common theme that could be connected to all three readings. I tried to choose a theme that would be relevant to the reader.”

A

FREQUENT contributor to The Southern Cross’ letters page, John Lee of Johannesburg died after a long illness on December 12 at the age of 77.

Born on September 12, 1941, in Sabie, he spent his early childhood in Springs where he attended Springs Convent. He matriculated from CBC Boksburg, and was always considered a brilliant scholar.

Mr Lee worked in the financial sector as well as at the Australian embassy, from which he retired.

He married and was a dedicated father to four boys.

For more than 30 years, Mr Lee was an avid letter writer to The Southern Cross.

He had a long relationship with Charismatic Renewal. In 1975 he attended a charismatic congress in Rome where he met the late Cardinal Leo Suenens of Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium, one of the leading bishops at the Second Vatican Council.

“I began to correspond with the cardinal afterwards and treasure his

letters, especially the first one where he began with: ‘Your letter came to me as a smile from the Lord,’” Mr Lee recalled in a Southern Cross article in 2017.

He was a vigorous advocate of a Christ-centred evangelisation that draws from Scripture.

With Frank Bompas, Mr Lee produced a newsletter of apologetics.

He was a knowledgable fan of the movies, and especially of actress Susan Hayward, a Catholic convert.

Mr Lee’s greatest love was music, especially opera. He met the famed Spanish soprano Victoria de los Ángeles when she visited South Africa; after that they stayed in contact.

Through his love of music he had the opportunity to work with Richard Cock on the latter’s Sunday radio programme “People of Note”.

This led to Mr Lee having his own Saturday night radio programme on Radio Veritas.

He enjoyed his retirement at Nazareth House in Johannesburg, surrounded by his friends.

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The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

INTERNATIONAL

Pope sets 5-year term for dean of College of Cardinals

By CiNdy wOOdEN

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FTER accepting the resignation of 92-year-old Cardinal Angelo Sodano as dean of the College of Cardinals, Pope Francis changed the norms of the office so that the dean would be elected to a five-year term renewable only once.

Cardinal Sodano, the former Vatican secretary of state, was elected dean in April 2005 after Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, dean under Pope John Paul II, was elected Pope Benedict XVI. In his apostolic letter issued motu proprio (on his own accord), Pope Francis said that given the size of the College of Cardinals and the workload being dean entails, he decided it was best for the office to have a defined term of service.

The letter was released by the Vatican after Cardinal Sodano performed his last official task as dean by offering Pope Francis Christmas greetings on behalf of the cardinals and top officials of the Roman curia.

Pope Francis used the occasion to express “my gratitude, including in the name of the members of the College of Cardinals, for the precious and punctual service Cardinal Sodano has offered as dean for many years with availability, dedication, efficiency and a great ability to organise and coordinate”.

“Now it is up to the cardinal bishops to elect a new dean,” the pope said, referring to a group of 12 topranking cardinals. “I hope they elect someone who will occupy this very important role full-time.”

Members of the College of Cardinals are divided into a three-tier in-

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M PA I G

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HESE are the names of the Associates of The Southern Cross, who have contributed to our Associates’ Campaign in 2019.

The Board of Directors and the Editor of The Southern Cross warmly thank the Associates and contributors for their generous support. By becoming Associates or contributing otherwise, they have helped The Southern Cross to survive.

They have also assisted us in our apostolic outreach. Thanks to our Associates, every seminarian in South Africa and many beyond have access to the weekly Catholic newspaper.

The newspaper is also sent to prisons for inmates who wish to follow a Christian way of life, to the Catholic university chaplaincies and to hospitals.

These needs are on-going.

Existing Associates will be invited to renew their support for The Southern Cross as their annual associateship expires.

Readers who have not yet done so may become Associates at any time.

An annual Mass is celebrated for the intentions of our Associates on January 24, feast day of St Francis de Sales, patron of journalists, and on All Soul’s Day for deceased Associates and deceased family members of Associates.

The cathedral of Our lady of the immaculation Conception in Ouagadougou. (Photo: Rita willaert)

Over 800 extremist attacks in West Africa in 2019

By COuRTNEy MARES

Pope Francis greets Cardinal Angelo Sodano, now dean emeritus of the College of Cardinals, during his annual audience to give Christmas greetings to members of the Roman curia at the Vatican. (Photo: Paul haring/CNS) ternal hierarchy: cardinal bishops, cardinal priests and cardinal deacons. The cardinal bishops historically were those who had titular dioceses near Rome rather than titular churches inside the city. However, Pope Paul VI added to the group cardinals who are patriarchs of Eastern Catholic churches. In 2018, Pope Francis added four more cardinals: the Vatican secretary of state and the prefects of the congregations for Eastern Churches, Bishops and the Evangelisation of Peoples.

Generally, the cardinal priests are cardinals who are diocesan bishops, while cardinal deacons are other cardinals working in the Roman curia.

Pope Francis reaffirmed the practice that the cardinal bishops elect the dean, who presides over the Col-

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lege of Cardinals and has special duties when a pope dies or resigns.

The dean is charged with officially informing the other cardinals and heads of state that a pope has died; he establishes the date the cardinals will begin their “general congregations” to discuss the current status and needs of the Church; and he presides over those meetings before the cardinals enter the conclave to elect a new pope.

If the dean is under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to enter the conclave, he issues the oath of secrecy to the cardinals and determines whether the college is ready to begin the election. He also is the one who asks the person elected if he accepts and what name he wishes to use.— CNS

XTREMIST Isalmist attacks have risen dramatically in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, from 180 incidents in 2017 to more than 800 violent attacks in 2019, according to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Christians have been the target of a number of such attacks in the Sahel desert region in the north of Africa this year. Most recently, gunmen attacked a Protestant service in Burkina Faso, killing 14 people, including several children.

More than 60 Christians have been killed in Burkina Faso alone in 2019, according to Aid to the Church in Need.

Ten Catholics were murdered by gunmen in one week and during Mass, attackers shot and killed five men, including the priest, and then burned down the Catholic church in Dablo. The following day, gunmen killed four more Catholics during a

religious procession and then burned the Marian statue.

The escalation in violence in Burkina Faso led to the displacement of an estimated 486 000 people, the UN reported.

A CSIS report on the violence in Sahel concluded that the governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are “ill-equipped” to confront the region’s security crisis.

Pope Francis has urged interreligious dialogue in Burkina Faso in response to the ongoing violence by jihadist groups after 38 people were killed and 60 injured in an attack on a Canadian mining company convoy.

“I address a special thought to dear Burkina Faso, who for some time has been tried by recurrent violence,” the pope said. “I entrust to the Lord all the victims, and those who suffer from these tragedies. I appeal for the protection of the most vulnerable.”—CNA

A heartfelt thanks to our

ASSOCIATES IN 2019 Nigel Bands, Newton Park; Heinz Betz, Walmer; Christopher Bradley, Somerset West; Michael Brand, Camps Bay; Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi, Westville; Desmond Cox, Rondebosch; Catholic Women’s Leage, Fish Hoek; Adele Dawson, Parklands; Fr Ralph de Hahn, Vredehoek; Michael Denoon, Durbanville; Peter & Dorothy Fewell, Sunvalley; Patricia & Vincent Horrigan, Milnerton; Barry Jordan, Rondebosch; Cely & Terry Kingston, King William’s Town; Cyril Leibach, Boksburg North; Carl Maske, Gordon’s Bay; Walter Middleton, Johannesburg; Mary Eleanor Molyneaux,Umbilo; Gavin O’Connor, Durbanville; Michael Philips; Mervyn Pollitt, Link Hills; John Reid, Heidleberg; Eileen Reynolds,

Mowbray; Fr Kevin Reynolds, Pretoria; Henk Schoots, Edgemead; Paul Schwieger, Swakopmund, Namibia; George Skinner, Dullstroom; HD Swinney,Sydenham; Hans Wagner, Stirling-EL; Lorna Wicks, Kokstad; Nigel Catholic Church; St Michael’s Catholic Church, Rondebosch; v v v Denise Armstrong, Dalpark; Louis Chappel, Springs; Audrey Downs, Germiston; Stephen Fanner, Durbanville; John & Maureen Kilroe, Claremont; Timothy Largier, Constantia; Paddy Milner, Constantia Hills; Moore Family, Worcester West; Vincent Motabogi, Klerksdorp; Busisiwe Mphuthi, Annlin-Pretoria; J P O’Connor, Camps Bay; Lawrence Osborne, Spring-

bok; Dr George Pillay, Bellville; Peter Sangiorgio, Oranjezicht; Garth Towell, Honeydew; Ashley Williams, Malabar, PE; Catholic Women’s League, Table View; St James Catholic Church, St James v v v Monica Alson, Elsies River; Margaret Baxter, Gonubie-EL; Vic & Maureen Blair, Parkdene; Dr Francis Diab,Tyger Valley; Ursula Douglass, Welgelegen; Robwynne Fuller, Plumstead; Laurence Gorman, Scottburgh; Elizabeth Lynch, Durban; Pamela Maccelari, Stellenbosch; Br Daniel Manuel SCP, Rocklands; Gordon Rizzo, Linton Grange; Piet & Hanneke Roos, Wierda Park; Sacred Heart Home, Ixopo; Dominic Sam, Malabar-

PE; Faith Tasker, Kokstad v v v BAA Bailey, Elsies River; ZLJ Basich, Camps Bay; Megan Brennan,Vredehoek; Priscilla Francis, Newlands West; Val & Richard Matten, Vredehoek; Estelle Moodaley, Port Elizabeth; Peter Onesta, Johannesburg; Michelle George, Grassy Park; AP Goller, Johannesburg; Prof John & Mrs J Greene, Observatory; SG Hartwanger; C Herde; Ursula Kohler, Lonehill; GJW Lavis; Patrick & Jane Pedersen, Fish Hoek; Enid Pemberton, Fish Hoek; Joan Swanson, Durbanville v v v JC & Debs; Elizabeth Skiliros, Birchleigh North Plus those who asked not to be named.

Find out more about the Associates’ Campaign and how to contribute to it at

www.scross.co.za/associates-campaign

The Southern Cross, Associates Campaign, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000 l Account details: Standard Bank, Thibault Square Branch (Code 020909), The Southern Cross, Acc No: 276876016 (please fax or e-mail deposit slip or confirmation) l Fax Number: 021 465-3850, Email: admin@scross.co.za

INTERNATIONAL

The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

5

Polish actress read saint’s diaries to prepare for film role

BY MARK PATTISON

K

AMILA Kaminska, the Polish actress who played St Faustina Kowalska in the new movie Love and Mercy: Faustina, read the diaries her fellow countrywoman wrote to help prepare for the role.

“It was an amazing experience,” Ms Kaminska said.

“I was reading, I was listening to the audiobook of the diaries. And my goal was before the starting the shooting, I had to read the diaries. Because it’s a message from her. It helped me know what I’m supposed to do in the movie,” the 31year-old said.

“I had a lot of spiritual experiences. Sometimes I was crying, sometimes I think that my life had to change, for example.”

Ms Kaminska auditioned for the title role in the biopic and was called back to read the part, but was given another role—which she accepted— and was asked to help find someone to play St Faustina.

“Of course I helped him, but a few months later he and the director and an expert of St Faustina decided that I would be Faustina,” she said.

Love and Mercy: Faustina was made in both Polish and English, so it was like making two movies at the same time. But for Ms Kaminska, she also was acting in another film that was

Kamila Kaminska stars in a scene from the movie Love and Mercy: Faustina. The new film is on the life of St Faustina Kowalska, the Polish nun whose visions of Jesus led to the Divine Mercy devotion. (Photo: Kondrat-Media) shooting concurrently.

“Sometimes it was hard because I was playing to be serious—and at the same time, I had to go to Krakow and play a dark character, a bad girl, and next day play St Faustina.”

When making Love and Mercy, “it was quiet all the time on the set,” recalled Ms Kaminska, a Catholic. “Between the scenes, I’d go somewhere and focus and sometimes pray and talk with nuns, and for example, they taught me a lot of songs, but for me it was really a silent time on the set.”

In front of the cameras, “it

was funny during the scene of St Faustina dying. I couldn’t close my eyes! My eyes were busy all the time. I wanted to look away. I wanted to keep calm but all the time, I wanted to look.”

D

uring the film shoot, “Some of us met God, met Jesus during the movie”, she added. “It was surprising for them, and they are thankful for this experience, because they got called this way, so it was amazing.”

“When I come from the cinema for the screening, people ask me, ‘Do you know

where the actress who played Faustina is here?’” Ms Kaminska said. She revealed to one woman, “Actually, it’s me.”

She acknowledged that inside the cinema, “it was dark”.

“We go out from the screening, and she was crying, ‘Oh, my God! Thank you, thank you, you have done such a good job. Thank you!’”, Ms Kaminska said.

While not everyone might have had the same kind of experience that Ms Kaminska described, audience reaction to Love and Mercy: Faustina was very strong.

“I am very excited—second place in the American box office (in revenue per screening), right behind the movie Joker,” Ms Kaminska said. “It is very successful and very important for a Polish production.”

In Poland, St Faustina is “very famous. You can meet her in every church, and everybody knows her”, she added.

“I think we can be thankful for Faustina that she gave that simple message: a simple message that we are loved,” Ms Kaminska said.

“We are loved, we are all deserving of the love of God. Sometimes we are individuals, sometimes we are different nationalities, and skin colours, but we all deserve the love of God.”—CNS

There is a 50% chance that Notre Dame cathedral in Paris cannot be saved, according to Mgr Patrick Chauvet, the cathedral’s rector. The 12th-century cathedral was severely damaged in a fire in its roof on April 15. It remains fragile because scaffolding installed before the fire could collapse on the vaults, Mgr Chauvet told the Associated Press that restoration work is not likely to begin until 2021, and it may take another three years after that to make it safe enough for people to enter the cathedral.

This Christmas was the first time since the French Revolution that no services were held in the landmark cathedral. (Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes, Reuters/CNS)

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Charred Iraqi cathedral to be rebuilt

T

he Great Al-Tahira Immaculate Conception cathedral in Bakhdida remains charred black inside, five years after ISIS plundered and set it aflame; however, the Syriac Catholic cathedral will be restored as Iraq’s largest Christian community fights to rebuild and regain what was lost.

“It is a very significant church because it was built from the donations of local people, agriculture workers,” Fr Georges Jahola, a parish priest from Bakhdida, told Catholic News Agency.

Bakhdida, also known as Qaraqosh, is located 32km south-east of Mosul. Fr Jahola said that the local Christians

Fr Georges Jahola in Al-Tahira cathedral in Bakhdida in November 2016, shortly after the town’s liberation. (Photo: Fr Jahola) hope that in the future their town will be referred to as Bakhdida, the Aramaic and

more historical name of their town, rather than Qaraqosh, a Turkish name that came from

the Ottoman Empire.

The cathedral in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains was constructed from 1932-48 as Catholic farmers donated each year from their harvest, the priest explained.

The Great Al-Tahira served a growing Christian community, until ISIS turned the cathedral into an indoor shooting range from 2014-16.

After Bakhdida’s liberation from ISIS in 2016, Masses resumed in the damaged cathedral as Christians returned to rebuild their community. Aid to the Church in Need committed to completely restore the cathedral’s fire-damaged interior in late 2019.

Soldier donates liver to save priest’s life

BY ANDREW FOWLER

F

ATHER Dennis Callan’s health was rapidly declining. His situation was so dire that his dentist refused to even pull a tooth out of fear that he would bleed to death.

The cause? Advanced cirrhosis of the liver.

A Divine Word missionary, Fr Callan was stationed in South Korea, serving as a military chaplain. He would have to leave Korea to return to the United States for treatment.

When he announced to his parishioners that he had to leave for “personal reasons”, one parishioner took notice: his friend US Army Chief Warrant Officer Chris Moore.

Mr Moore and his wife, Heidi, met Fr Callan at Camp Humphreys, a US army base 60km from Seoul. The Moores and Fr Callan would share meals together and socialise after Mass.

“He was a support during our time in Korea because my

Fr Dennis Callan and Chris Moore, who donated part of his liver to the priest. (Photo: Knights of Columbus/CNS) wife was new to Catholicism,” said Mr Moore.

“Fr Dennis was there to guide us and strengthen us in our relationship and help us to get to where we are today.”

When Fr Callan returned to the US, he was told that his only chance of survival was a liver transplant.

Members of his family were tested to see if they could donate, but no one was compati-

ble. Fr Callan began arranging his funeral.

“I decided I did not want to go on this donor list,” Fr Callan said. “I figured, I’m a priest and I would accept whatever the Lord had in mind for me, and I did not want to take the opportunity away from another to receive a liver.”

When Fr Callan told the Moores that every option seemed exhausted, they offered

to be tested to see if one of them was a compatible donor.

Chris Moore was a match.

Mr Moore and Fr Callan went in for surgery in Chicago.

“We said our ‘goodbyes’ and I told the Moores, ‘I’ll see you on the other side,’” Fr Callan said.

Fr Callan was in surgery for ten hours and received more than 1,13kg of his donor’s liver.

“We call each other brothers now because we share something in common, our livers,” Mr Moore said with a smile.

“We share a special bond and he’s able to do what he does, continue to be able to do what he wants to do, which is minister to people.”

When reflecting on this period in his life, Fr Callan sees God’s providence.

“What we have to realise is that God is present with us,” Fr Callan said. “God is leading us, guiding us through the many, many things, many trials that we face.”—CNS

Contact Vocation Coordinator on 072 989 2286 nardvocprom1855@gmail.com Facebook: Franciscan Nardini Sisters of the Holy Family

6

The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

LEADER PAGE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor: GĂźnther Simmermacher

Road commandments

T

HIS week the news will again report frightening statistics of road fatalities on South Africa’s highways as convoys of holiday-makers return home.

South African drivers have a deserved reputation of being among the worst in the world, and annual road fatality statistics bear this out.

The numbers likewise indicate that South African pedestrians tend to be a danger to themselves and others—often not helped by the absence of safe pavements.

Much as traffic safety campaigns focus on the obligations of motorists, these must also include exhortations to pedestrians to reciprocate the drivers’ duty to exercise responsibility on our roads.

Some years ago, the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travellers issued a set of Ten Commandments for Drivers in a document titled “Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road�.

At this time of the year—and, indeed, at any time—it is good to revisit these traffic instructions.

Following the good advice contained in the commandments would have the effect of changing the driving habits of motorists, Catholic or not.

The commandments are based on the self-evident injunction, “You shall not kill.� Motor vehicles are potentially lethal instruments, and all we do while in control of them should be based on this simple mandate.

The Vatican document rightly noted that the road is a means of communion between people, which requires courtesy, decency and prudence in our relations with fellow motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

This is not empty rhetoric: when we angrily hoot at another driver, we should ask ourselves whether we would also shout loudly at a passerby on the pavement or a fellow shopper in the supermarket whose actions displease us.

Conversely, when we are being correctly reprimanded by others, our reaction should be guided by humility, giving an apologetic wave rather than an angry finger, as so many boorish South African drivers do. “Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin,� the Vatican’s fifth commandment reminds us.

Commandment six is impor-

tant. It calls us to convince others not to drive when they are unfit to do so. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in particular is an act of gross recklessness which is, thankfully, slowly becoming a social taboo.

The eighth commandment advises bringing motorists who have caused harm and their victims together, “so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness�.

Models of restorative justice could be applied with relative ease in instances of motor accidents, particularly as traffic tragedies tend not to be premeditated or desired by the offending party.

It may well be that the prospect of having to look into the eyes of a grieving widow or orphan while asking for forgiveness and offering reparation serves as a greater deterrent to irresponsible driving than the possibility of facing a judge in court.

It would be naive to think, however, that good intentions alone are going to cure South Africa’s bad driving. The rules of the road must be enforced in a way that would place an emphasis on eliminating reckless driving.

South African motorists frequently complain that the traffic authorities show greater enthusiasm for accumulating fines for relatively minor offences than for enforcing traffic rules by pulling over dangerous drivers.

Such complaints are usually accompanied by a notion that traffic officers lack visibility on the road, and that drivers of minibus taxis tend to get away with wild disregard for the law.

Whether or not such observations correspond with reality is not for us to say. It is true, however, that these perceptions have existed for a long time.

That perception, in turn, has resulted in a breakdown in discipline on our roads as motorists claim for themselves the same levels of impunity they see in the behaviour of taxi drivers.

This culture of impunity must be resolutely challenged, through education as well as by reassignment of traffic officers manning speed cameras on lonely rural byways to roads that urgently require active law enforcement.

The Vatican’s tenth commandments for drivers articulates a rule all drivers would do well to live by at all times: “Feel responsible towards others.�

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

Name and address of the writer must be supplied. No anonymous letter will be considered.

Fair capitalism essential to country’s survival I READ with interest part two of Bishop Sipuka’s interview headlined �What is needed to help fix SA’’ (November 27).

I want to stress that true and proper capitalism, especially that practised by Christians (Catholics) and the many other good people, is essential to South Africa’s survival.

May I define this type of capitalism. It starts off by people investing in a business which is expected to give them a reasonable return. Just like you and I do when we open a savings bank account; we expect interest in return.

A business creates employment, and these employees are expected to do their best and work productively without stoppages in thanks for their jobs and their salaries or wages, which were agreed to by both parties. This is fair practice.

The case against George Pell’s guilt

I

WAS sent an article written by Phil Lawler called “The Pell Case: Australia’s Dreyfus Affair?� (from Catholic Culture).

In view of the correspondence on this matter, readers may be interested to hear of Mr Lawler’s article.

He says that Cardinal Pell became a favourite target of the media because he was “unapologetically orthodox� in a country where such courage is a rarity.

Mr Lawler quotes US law professor Gerard Bradley, of Notre Dame University, saying that, when weighing the evidence, it was unreasonable to credit the accusation.

These are Prof Bradley’s points: • The accuser said he was one of two choirboys molested by thenArchbishop Pell. The other boy, now deceased, denied that he had ever been molested. • The accuser said he was molested in the cathedral on two occasions, but on one of those occasions he and his alleged comrade had to leave the procession of choristers, but no one noticed that they were missing and choir directors said it was highly unlikely anyone could slip away unnoticed. • The accuser said he was in the sacristy sipping sacramental wine, but the wine was locked away. He said the wine was red. It was not. • The accuser said the archbishop came upon him alone in the sacristy.

But multiple witnesses said the archbishop was never alone in the sacristy: a room in which the door was always open, a room buzzing with priests and acolytes and other archdiocesan functionaries. • The accuser said that the archbishop parted his vestments to expose himself. But an archbishop’s

Furthermore, the profit that the business owner makes is equivalent to the interest that we earn on our savings in the bank. The net profit is generally not much more than this. This profit is then shared with government in the form of tax.

These taxes are then used by government to help mainly the poor.

The more profit businesses make, the more tax they pay. That is fantastic support for our economy, GDP and country.

If the business does not make a profit, then it does not pay any tax, and so the people dependent on government taxes for their education and health will suffer.

If the business does not make a profit, then the owner will close it down. Just like we all would withdraw our savings from the bank which does not pay interest.

vestments do not allow that action.

As Mr Lawler says: “Beware of empty accusations and convenient victims.�

Peter Onesta, Johannesburg

What I wrote to pope on abortion

I

PRESENT below a copy of a letter that I recently sent to His Holiness Pope Francis I: “Dear Holy Father “I am a retired South African Catholic lawyer and pro-life activist, and respectively urge Your Holiness’ attention to the following. “Three years ago I sent to Your Holiness American Randy Alcorn’s booklet ‘Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?’, which proves that it often can, and certain cards based on this booklet which I have printed and circulated worldwide. “I respectfully asked Your Holiness to read this booklet and these cards and give them your official and public approval. “Despite numerous letters of reminder I have sent over the past three years, no letter from Your Holiness acknowledging receipt of my said letter has ever reached me. “I thus wish to reluctantly but respectfully inform Your Holiness of the most serious consequences of this omission, which I once more respectfully call on Your Holiness to remedy. “It will result in the continued millions of unborn infant abortifacient deaths worldwide by users of ‘the Pill’, who are in mortal sin if aware of its possible consequences, and in serious error if they are not. “I continue to keep Your Holiness in my prayers. “Your obedient and loving son.�

Damian McLeish, Johannesburg

We should be very grateful for all investors who open businesses that employ us. These investors, many of whom hopefully have confidence in our economy, are the main ones that can create employment.

We also hope that many investors are from overseas and hence also help our foreign exchange situation, as well as increase our GDP. The bigger the investment, the more people are employed by businesses and able to make a living.

So we should remember and favour companies—especially the large ones—because of all the people they employ, and all the profits they make, since almost half of that profit goes into our tax coffers to support our economy and thus the poor.

Frans van Neerijnen, Roodepoort Opinions expressed in The Southern Cross 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

Face it that no gay gene exists

D

EACON Tony de Freitas asserts that people with same-sex attraction (SSA) are not born that way (December 11), based, inter alia, on Professor Francis Collins’ book The Language Of God. Science magazine of August 29, 2019, likewise states there is no gay gene, the outcome of a major study on human sexuality’s genetic basis.

Time and The Economist reported this year on that Science article.

But the deacon will find it hard to change obstinate believers in the “born that way� theory, believers like June Boyer, Neil Cochran, Paul Collins, Vincent Couling, Shirley Doyle and Tony Meehan.

SSA, which is not sinful but nevertheless disordered, can be traced to the psycho-dynamics of the young person’s relationship with his parents and peer groups.

People who engage in gay sex stick to the “born that way� theory because they mistakenly think that this theory will absolve them from their feelings of guilt and shame.

They will say: “God made me that way. Do not blame me for my behaviour.� That is nonsense, of course. They have a free will.

People with SSA have to live a chaste life, just like anybody else.

Those with SSA have a cross to bear. They should take up that cross, and some might be lucky to find a priest to help them carry it.

JH Goossens, Pretoria

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PERSPECTIVES

Should churches pay tax?

S OUTH Africa has to face a difficult reality. The cupboard is bare. The delinquent children and their friends have eaten the provisions, then eaten the pantry, the house, the electricity and then the whole block.

They have then gone to live in sealed homesteads or foreign tax havens—or even claimed Shabirshaikitis, that mysterious disease found surprisingly in KwaZuluNatal where you can be at death’s door every time a court issue arises and play golf or take another wife at all other times.

But back to the empty public purse. The Church fits into a very interesting space in terms of taxes. In terms of the law, we are primarily a Public Benefit Organisation, a PBO. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has rather benevolently turned a blind eye to this sector, allowing churches and their activities to register as PBOs. All SARS basically wants to have is financials once a year, and then we are left alone.

Two problems arise from this.

Firstly the Church is essentially not tax exempted, but tax condoned. SARS, facing the growing pressure of a horrifically managed system with a black hole of deficit, has warned that the ancient regime will soon be coming to an end.

This will leave the Church with her pants down. Many dioceses and parishes— depending on the structures chosen years ago—are nowhere near SARS compliant.

Either they have not registered as PBOs or haven’t kept to their part of the bargain by submitting their returns.

Of course, this exposes another massive hole: that very often the Church lives from a hand-to-mouth state that is a reminder of the “struggle accounting” of the period before 2000.

Our books and oversight are tragically deficient. What risk is this to us? Huge!

If you don’t bother to register and you don’t “render unto Caesar” even a simple return, then SARS can quite legitimately

consider the Church as a business, liable for all the things of a business: business tax rates, skills development levies, and— worst of all—the removal of rates exemptions.

Our fat flabby bums are exposed and the smack we will receive is massive. And the Constitutional Court will allow this punishment…

The second issue is that the Church cannot be Section 18a-exempted. Somehow in the drafting of the tax legislation, churches and other faith- or communitybased organisations were specifically excluded from being tax exempt.

The Section 18a exemption allows the designated organisations to accept donations for specific purposes in return for a tax certificate which can be submitted when (or if) tax returns are submitted. This is a deal sweetener in so many cases.

T

he twofold nature of this issue needs robust engagement with the civil authorities and with SARS in particular.

Using a “when-we” approach allows us to be lulled into complacency, like so many South Africans are. We don’t like paying tax, but the due fines and penalties could float another power station (or a firepool-equipped rural homestead).

it is just a matter of time before the state will demand taxes from churches—and we’d better be prepared, writes Fr Chris Townsend. (Photo: Steve Buissinne)

A Church divided will fall F OR as long as we identify ourselves as “us” and “them”, we will remain divided—as a nation, but also as a Church.

It’s a continuous fight within the Church between self-proclaimed traditionalists and liberals.

Both sides are trying to get their voices to be louder in debates over whether Mass be celebrated facing the wall or whether there is salvation outside of the Catholic Church.

Instead of just trying to be good Christian Catholics, we have become little groups fighting over hymns of ancient or modern tradition. The Church is divided.

A couple of months ago I attended a youth leaders’ forum set up by the youth chaplaincy of the archdiocese of Cape Town. It was heartbreaking to hear of how some parish communities were divided within themselves.

One of the youth leaders told of how the youth within his parish couldn’t function because of the divisions which still existed within the community.

Another spoke of how parents from a more well-off area within the parish didn’t want their children mixing with youths from “less desirable” areas. The parish was divided.

A couple of weeks later I attended a youth forum with the foreign community of Cape Town, where youth were given a platform to dialogue on how the Church could better make them feel welcome.

It was evident that we South Africans weren’t welcoming our foreign brethren;

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if we Catholics are divided, our Church will fall, warns keenan williams. (Photo: Randy Fath) sadder yet, as Catholic communities, many of us still discriminate against our foreign family, with stereotypes existing, even within the core and functions of many parishes. The Church remains divided.

A

fter the youth forum, I found a few traditionalist Catholics tearing a liberal apart on Facebook.

I came to my brother’s rescue. The debate got heated, and no punches were pulled. For my troubles, I was cast into the fiery depths of hell a few times for being, according to them a “heretic”.

Within the hour, the number of comments from liberals and traditionalists on the group went from 20 in the first few minutes to nearly 80. It was evident that we were all Catholics (even though the traditionalists didn’t classify the rest of us as such), yet we were divided.

I left it at that and decided to accept my

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Morally we must be in the position to claim tax avoidance, rather than tax evasion.

The SACBC’s finance committee and legal advisory group once again need to prioritise this compliance, possibly by starting to use a few well-qualified accountants (perhaps retired; or better yet, retired SARS officials) to engage to make this process simpler.

The archdiocese of Johannesburg has in place a very competent team of people who assist both the archbishop and his curia and parishes to practise sound, transparent and accountable policies.

Sadly, many of our other dioceses do not, for lack of skill and lack of will and that enormous taxpayer problem: inertia.

With the state potentially reading the Church and her many arms as one body, we also cannot exclude sodalities and groups. Many of these groups suffer from the same inertia and avoidance—possibly evasion—as many dioceses and parishes.

There is also a need to get serious with the minister of finance, the treasury and SARS about the position of churches and other faith-based organisations.

We mustn’t wait until the summons and fines start arriving. Rather, let’s take the proactive step of looking at how churches and others report, and how they can be supported in that with the extension of something like Section 18A exemption.

There are more than enough Catholics engaged in all levels of government, the treasury and SARS to make this a fruitful dialogue. I know quite a few of them. Use their expertise.

The benevolence of government will soon end and the requirements of justice are soon going to hit us hard.

Let’s take the first steps: register, submit, and push for greater compliance.

Keenan Williams

Talking Faith

fate of being thrust into the eternal damnation of Hades by the traditionalists.

The next day, I stumbled across Abraham Lincoln’s quote (based on Mark 3:25): “A house divided will never stand.” And then, while reading through scripture, I came across the verse where Jesus prayed:“Father let them be one as You and I are one” (John 17:21).

I then decided to inbox one of the more vocal traditionalists, one who knew that my eternity was a fiery one because she said so.

In my message I made it clear that I would rather dialogue with her privately because non-Catholics might see the Facebook thread, and it was off-putting for an outsider to see us, as brothers and sisters, fighting among each other.

Weeks went by and I got no response then my Facebook Messenger alerted me that a message had arrived from my sisterin-faith.

“This has got to be a juicy piece,” I thought. After all it took more than two months for a response to be received. But I celebrated too early. All it was, was an image saying: “I don’t care, I did not read.”

But there was something else brewing, something which would eventually unite her and me as Catholics fighting for the same cause. Some parishioners and clergy within her parish were abusing their power.

Continued on page 11

1 Plein Street, Sidwell, Port Elizabeth

The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

Chris McDonnell

7

Point of Church

Is the call to care just a dream?

T

HE phrase “Dream on!” is often used as a shorthand for saying it will never happen. It is a way of summing up the hopelessness that many feel in the affluent Western society.

Most of us dream at one time or another, the daydreams of personal ambition, hope and vision.

For others there is the intensity of the dreams of night-time sleep, often confused and muddled, sometimes joy-filled.

There is an irrationality in stories, a jumbled sequence of events that we cannot understand. On waking, for a few moments there is a freshness of vision that can quickly fade with the onset of another day. Those dreams may be linked to short- or long-term experiences, The name of the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud will always be associated with the belief that dreams represent a disguised fulfilment of a repressed wish. He suggested that the study of dreams provided the easiest road to understanding of the unconscious activities of the mind. His position is now not widely accepted.

These few words attempt to describe that dreaming experience.

Our young people have a dream of their future that is overshadowed by the threat of climate change, not at some future time but within the reality of their own lifetime.

Last year’s UN conference on climate change held in New York City was addressed by one such young person, Greta Thunberg, in an impassioned speech.

To quote only a few brief words of hers: “How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood!”

Her words were spoken through tears of anger and despair; US President Donald Trump has repeatedly disparaged the reality of climate science, withdrawn his country from the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015, and systematically set about scrapping agreements that would seek to limit carbon pollution. He remains impervious to the consequences of logical argument.

I

n contrast, Pope Francis, in a message broadcast to the same UN conference, called for honesty, responsibility and courage to face “one of the most serious and worrying phenomena of our time”.

We can construct whatever rules for life that we like; but if the earth that is our common home fails to have conditions that are compatible with the continuation of life, then it will have all been in vain. It is ours to care for.

Dreams are intertwined with memory. The older we get, the more memories we have stored for reflection. Gradually those memories begin to fracture but the dreams we once had remain.

I read somewhere that the life of a Christian is the continuing experience of the dream of the Gospel narrative that was given to us by Jesus of Nazareth.

“Dream on!” might have a secular context of hinted despair, but for the Christian there is the dream of hope arising out of our trust in the Christ.

That was the great story of the Second Vatican Council. Its message invoked dreams of a better and more meaningful way of living the Christian life.

That is why the memory is so strong for those who are now in the autumn of their years. It is a pity that those who are still young hear so little of such heady days.

In October a synod was called to listen to the voices of South America. It will have repercussions for the whole Church. Not only did it consider issues specific to that community of our Church, but it also told us a story of how our dreams are shaped and cared for.

We must listen, we must respond, we must care for each other. Caring for each other is a prime responsibility that comes as part of the package of being who we are.

There lies the nub of democracy: that we care for each other by listening to the need of the greater good of all. n This article was first published in the Catholic Times.

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8

The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

COMMUNITY St henry’s Marist College in Berea, durban, has been making a difference for the greater Marist community by donating to impoverished families helped by the Sisters of Mercy in Addo, Eastern Cape.

Marist Mercy Care thanks St henry’s head students kelsey Jones and Njabulo Radebe for running the collection drive.

Four parishioners from Bl liberat parish in Newlands west, durban, received certificates from Cardinal wilfrid Napier for completing courses on the New Evangelisation.

Pictured are (from left) devesh Arulappan, Rose Pillay, Priscilla Francis and Joe Naidoo. (Submitted

by Elaine Prosper)

The church of the Resurrection in dawn Park, Boksburg, welcomed Bana ba Maria sodality members from St Albert the Great parish in Vosloorus who visited to explain the sodality to them. Seen are Bana ba Maria Vosloorus members (from left) chairperson Jabulile Matsau, Noluthando Mkhize, lebogang Mogotlane, Mpumelelo Ndlovu, Simkhethile khumalo, Nelson Sithole, Mihle Sobantu, Makgabo Sithole and Tebello Raliboke, with dayn Park young people kutloano Molete (altar servers’ chairperson), Noluthando Ndawo, Matisetso Matsobane, katleho khosa, Mandi and Ntando. (Submitted by Modjadji Motupa)

The divine Renovation team of the church of the Resurrection in Table View, Cape Town, launched the programme in their parish.

St Anne’s Sodality members at St Peter Claver parish in Pimville, Soweto, hosted children from the Orlando Orphanage during Sunday Mass and treated them to lunch. (Photo: Sello Mokoka)

Children celebrated their First Communion at St Francis’ parish in Mahlabathini, Eshowe, with parish priest Fr Sifiso Ntshangase.

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On the fourth Sunday of Advent, a packed St Mary’s cathedral in Cape Town hosted a lessons and Carols service, with dale de windt conducting the Cathedral Choir, backed by Mikyle Adams and Steven Siljeur on the organ. Fr Rohan Smuts presided.

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PERSONALITY

The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

9

A journey of miracles and fraud In part 2 of the Pauline Jaricot story, COllEEN CONSTABlE explains how Pauline was miraculously cured, how she handled betrayal and poverty, and what lessons her life holds for us today.

thorised liturgical celebration of St Philomena.

Pauline lived a healthy life after her miraculous healing and her heart condition returned only in 1861, a year before her death.

During this period, she experienced loneliness and feelings of abandonment. She described herself as “a poor woman who has only God for friend, only God for support...but God only is enough”.

Pauline died in on January 9, 1862 at her home, Lorette House, having lived in poverty brought on by financial misfortune caused by others.

In her last days she surrendered herself to Mary. Her last words were: “Mary, O my Mother, I am thine.”

L

ONG before St Thérèse of Lisieux, the French lay missionary Pauline Jaricot (17991862) taught the spirituality of childhood.

The founder of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith and the Living Rosary Association told her companions: “I recommend to you among all virtues: child simplicity, spirit simplicity, heart simplicity towards God, towards fellow-creature; simplicity in action, simplicity in humility spirit, such as to appear always inferior to the poor which we must serve.”

The key was humility.

Pauline’s reputation as a pious woman earned her the respect of clergy, including the Holy Father— many sought her advice.

Born into wealth, Pauline might have been a socialite but gave her life to evangelisation.

After 1845 Pauline experienced the hardships of ministry. When she reached out to the Society of the Propagation of the Faith and the Association of the Living Rosary for financial assistance, she encountered rejection and abandonment from both institutions which she had founded and built up.

She was denied recognition and financial assistance at a time when she became, as her lawyers put it, “an innocent victim of fraud”.

In 1845 Pauline undertook a new project: the evangelisation of the working class, an indication of her interest in social reform. She spent two years in spiritual reflection, prayer and seeking advice to ensure that the inspiration was not based on personal interest.

Her project was a model Christian town: she purchased a factory with a building adjacent to accommodate families, and a school and chapel close by. Aligned to this business model was the concept of a “Bank of Heaven”.

Victim of fraud The management of the business was assigned to people who turned out to be dishonest. The

St John Vianney, seen in the church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre in Paris, was Pauline Jaricot’s spiritual director.

Lessons from Pauline’s life

Pauline Jaricot: Enlightened businesswoman and property owner; agent of change and transformation; social entrepreneur; fundraising genius; spiritual writer; spiritual mother who broke new ground; philanthropist; recruitment agent; woman of great faith and action, love and devotion. funds raised for the project were handed to a man who was tasked with finalising the transaction. He stole the money.

A French bishop who served in the United States also embezzled funds, intended for the struggling diocese of New Orleans.

The Bank of Heaven was Pauline’s idea of financing the needs of the working class, to establish a community of workers where men and women would be paid a living wage, children educated, the sick and aged cared for.

After the theft of donations for the bank, Pauline committed to repay the generous investors and ended up begging in order to raise funds.

Her attempts to absorb the burden of her debts were fruitless. As a last resort she turned to both the Society of the Propagation of the Faith and the Association of the Living Rosary for financial assistance, but without success. Not even the intervention of Pope Pius IX, through a written note asking that they should help her, was heeded.

Instead the Association of the Living Rosary refused to give her recognition as its founder, relieving themselves from any moral obligation to assist her.

Pauline became severely indebted and fell into a state of poverty. She joined the list of the poor in Lyon to receive food.

In all of this her love for God, Our Lady and the missions never ceased.

The thought of dying in debt was Pauline’s greatest cross. In her sorrow she turned to her spiritual director, the saintly Curé of Ars, John Vianney.

He told her: “Through the hands of the Blessed Virgin, the Good God frequently grants one of the greatest gifts in heaven’s treasury— an understanding of the Way of the Cross; love of trials and sufferings.”

He advised her about the Way of the Cross: “My sister, to try to get from under the cross is to be crushed by its weight, but to suffer it lovingly is to suffer no longer.”

Fr Magallon, a family friend of the Jaricots, gave Pauline a relic of Philemona as a gesture of appreciation for the generosity he received from her family. Pauline responded

by saying: “Let us pray for Philomena’s canonisation. If we do, I am sure she will bless our work in many ways.”

A healing miracle Philomena, who was said to be a Greek princess, was martyred at 13 in Rome in 304 AD. Her remains were found in 1802 in the Roman catacombs of St Priscilla, along with a small glass phial containing remnants of blood.

Pauline had suffered from advanced heart disease since age 36.

She decided to travel to Rome to get Pope Gregory XVI’s blessing en route to the shrine in Mugnano to seek a cure through the intercession of Philomena.

The pope did not believe that Pauline could be cured of her serious illness. He told the superior of the Sacred Heart Sisters: “How ill our daughter is! She seems to me as if she had come forth from the grave. We shall never see her again.

She will never return.”

Pauline was miraculously healed the next morning, on the August 10 feast of St Philomena, at the shrine of Philomena in Mugnano, while receiving Holy Communion near the relics of the martyr.

When she returned to Rome, Pope Gregory was amazed to see her in perfect health.

He asked her to remain in Rome for a year to investigate the validity of the healing. He granted her request to build a chapel in honour of Philomena, and named Philomena patroness of the Living Rosary.

In January 1837, as a direct result of Pauline’s cure, the pope au-

The

In the 21st century we should celebrate Pauline Jaricot’s missionary achievements with an open The church of St Nizier in lyon, mind to understand the challenges which holds the tomb of Pauline Jaricot. (Photo: wikipedia/Comshe faced in the 19th century.

She had to overcome resistance mon licence) from within the system. In 1826, when Pauline’s missionary work Today Pauline Jaricot is best unflourished, some men from the derstood as a strong woman, a misPropagation of the Faith tried to sionary and contemplative who suppress the Living Rosary out of took a different approach to evanfear that its success would decrease gelisation. their financial collections.

She was an enlightened busiThrough dialogue and interac- nesswoman and property owner; tion, Pauline eventually won their an agent of change and transformawholehearted support. tion; a social entrepreneur; a When her creative fundraising fundraising genius; a spiritual strategy produced the first fruits for writer; a spiritual mother who the Society of the Propagation of broke new ground; a philanthrothe Faith, it triggered resistance at pist; a recruitment agent; a woman parish level. She was accused by the of great faith; a woman of action; a parish priest of beginning “non-au- woman of love and devotion. thorised work” in Lyon, and this atShe encompasses many roles: titude against her was also adopted her spirituality integrates many difby other parishes. ferent aspects of devotion.

Pauline, being a savvy, innovaAfter she was defrauded, Pauline tive and assertive 19-year-old mis- did not succumb to a victim-mensionary at the time, tality. She fought back by ensured that common trying to reclaim lost tersense prevailed. Instead Pauline was ritory, although without of disbanding her organsuccess. isation, as demanded, she miraculously She is a woman whose expanded it. role in the Church, healed on the It was love of God and though recognised in loyalty to her mission feast of 1962 when she was dethat enabled her to stand clared venerable, still refirm, eventually giving St Philomena, mains hidden. She was a the Church great works of “soul of fire”, a true discicharity. She said: “I lit the at her shrine, ple whose actions sprang match that lit the fire.” from contemplation. while The spiritual journey Pauline’s concept of of Pauline Jaricot chal- receiving Holy practising Christianity is lenges our concepts of an extraordinary example evangelisation, parish Communion for our own time. She was ministry, our notions to smart: an intelligent respond to the call of bewoman who used her skills, talents coming disciples wherever we are, and spiritual gifts and her financial and the issue of women’s spiritual- security to serve the poor, the ity, in particular the spirituality of Church and the mission of Christ. laywomen.

She was a missionary way ahead Today in the 21st century, many of her time. She gave essence to the women in the Church still experispirituality of the youth. She ence much resistance at parish level shaped the spirituality of single layand sometimes even at diocesan women, breaking ground outside level when responding to the call religious life. of mission.

In prayer she conceptualised The parish politics of the 19th century is replaced with 21st cen- great works of charity and impletury resistance, embodied in a mented them with prudence.

She combined evangelisation parish culture that points towards scepticism, lack of creativity and with common sense, intellect, alienation of those with progressive transformation, restoration and piety. or innovative ideas.

Her life illustrates that selfless action, love, humility and suffering Wither lay missionaries?

Today few dioceses can celebrate forms an integral part of the spiritual the emergence of 21st-century lay journey and women’s spirituality.

Venerable Pauline Jaricot is a missionaries, let alone women lay missionaries, who have the poten- saint for the modern world. tial to contribute to the mission of n Colleen Constable writes from Pretoria. the Church in breathtaking ways.

S outher n C ross

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10

The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

FILM

Film tells tales of two popes A new movie tells the story of a fictional encounter of the future Pope Francis with Pope Benedict XVI. MARk PATTiSON talked to the movie’s screenwriter.

A

NTHONY MCCARTEN is a double-dipper. Not that there’s anything wrong with

that.

The Catholic-raised writer first wrote a non-fiction book called The Two Popes, then was commissioned to write its fictional screenplay, which centres on fly-on-the-wall conversations between Pope Francis (played by Jonathan Pryce) and retired Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins).

It also focuses on the struggles of young Jesuit Father Jorge Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis, in Argentina during the South American nation’s “dirty war� years in which it routinely “disappeared� its own citizens, priests included—anyone it viewed as a threat to the regime.

For Mr McCarten, it was not the first time he had turned the bookand-movie double play unassisted.

But in his previous efforts, the screenplay came first.

It started with Darkest Hour, which dealt with Winston Churchill’s decision on whether to go to war against Nazi Germany or negotiate for peace with Adolf Hitler and spare Great Britain from the horrors of war.

“A publisher in London called me and said, ‘Is your movie script based on a book, because I think we could sell a great many of these books.’ ‘I don’t think so, it’s not based on a book.’ He asked, ‘Could it be based on a book?’ ‘What do you mean?’ ‘If you could generate a book in six weeks we think we could sell a lot of copies,’� Mr McCarten recalled. “I thought he was crazy,� the writer said.

Pondering the publisher’s suggestion, “I thought I might be able to deliver this thing in six weeks; I think I’m crazy, too,� he said. “It’s an unsustainable practice.�

On the other hand, his last three screenplays—The Theory of Everything, Darkest Hour and Bohemian Rhapsody—have won their leading man the Best Actor Oscar.

The jury is out as to whether Hopkins or Pryce will be nominated for The Two Popes, much less take home similar trophies come February.

Setting the scene Mr McCarten outlined one scene that he thought director Fernando Meirelles captured perfectly. “There’s a moment about a third of the way through the film where up to then, the two popes had been exchanging philosophical blows, and they’ve kind of worn each other out, [and] they retired to a small antechamber. They say to each other, ‘Let’s just sit in silence’,� Mr McCarten said. “In that silence it’s like the real conversation begins between these two men—when they leave behind

thrown open, and it’s a fresh breeze. I’ve revived my interest in this institution in a way that’s surprised me,� he continued. “I think my interest now is an analog to society at large. If the institution can make decisions, and start to serve its people more effectively, then there’s also the question of why society at large cannot also do the same.�

Pope Francis’ headwinds

Anthony hopkins as Pope Benedict XVi and Jonathan Pryce as the future Pope Francis in a scene from the movie The Two Popes. The film was written by Catholic-raised screenwriter Anthony McCarten. (Photo: Peter Mountain, courtesy Netflix) their ideologies and interact as human beings,� he said. “Anthony Hopkins [as Pope Benedict] talked about when he first heard God’s voice. He didn’t just sit there, and, almost with tears in his eyes, he said, ‘It gives me peace, such peace,’� Mr McCarten said. “The real human exchanges are happening almost on a nonverbal level. It’s the beginning of trust and understanding and eventually,

even friendship.�

The New Zealand-born Mr McCarten had his bout of disaffection with the Catholic Church. “It was a kind of growing apathy. I’m 58 years old, and for the first 50 years of my life, the Church was like an airless room: Nothing is changing in this institution even though the times cry out for change,� he said. “With the advent of Pope Francis, it was like the windows were

As for Pope Francis’ papacy, Mr McCarten noted: “I think he is evolving in real time, all the time.

That gives me comfort. Not many years ago, he said homosexuality was the devil’s work. Fast-forward a few years [and he said]: ‘God loves people of colour. God loves you like this and I love you like this. Don’t change.’�

He added the pope is “facing severe and profound headwinds within the Church�, and said that “Catholics should support Pope Francis. The journey he’s embarked on should be viewed as one for the whole Church. If it would come as a small way this movie can support him, then great.�

After a brief three-week run in cinemas in 50 countries in December, The Two Popes went on the streaming service Netflix.

That means the film is available in 50 million homes around the world. “Multiply that by the average size of households, that means our story will be available at least to a vast global audience. That’s very exciting as a storyteller,� Mr McCarten said.—CNS

Review: The problems with ‘The Two Popes’

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The new movie The Two Popes has its charming moments, Catholic film critic JOhN MuldERiG writes in his review, but many more problem areas.

I

N The Two Popes, the glossy but highly speculative account of supposedly real events, screenwriter Anthony McCarten and director Fernando Meirelles ill-advisedly try to extol Pope Francis (played by Jonathan Pryce) by trashing retired Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins).

They even go so far as to give brief screentime to two people who label the pontiff emeritus a “Nazi�.

We know what we’re in for early on as, in the wake of the death of Pope John Paul II, thenCardinal Joseph Ratzinger swans around the conclave practically begging his peers to elect him.

In truth, it’s pretty well established that Cardinal Ratzinger would have much preferred to be left in peace to read his books and play Mozart on the piano.

Flash forward to the main encounter with which the film is concerned: a visit to the Vatican

by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires shortly before his predecessor’s 2013 resignation.

By now, the portrayal of Pope Benedict is that of a doddering old buffer so out of touch with the realities of modern life that he has only a vague conception of who The Beatles are. (An earlier scene has hipster Bergoglio, by contrast, whistling Abba’s “Dancing Queen�.)

The filmmakers somewhat counterbalance their hatchet job

A scene from the movie The Two Popes, set in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. (Photo: Peter Mountain, courtesy Netflix) on Benedict by an extended sequence of flashbacks showing Jesuit Father Bergoglio’s supposedly quasi-collaborationist approach to the brutal military regime that came to power in Argentina following a 1976 coup d’etat.

They seem to imagine that they have acquired a clarity and certainty about the details of the situation in question that has evaded many others.

Be that as it may, when it comes to the two pontificates, their bias is more than apparent.

I

nformed Catholic moviegoers will wince at a series of distortions, some of which are downright weird.

The future Francis says, for instance, that there was no mention of angels in the Church until the fifth century. That will certainly come as a surprise to anyone conversant with the New Testament.

The dialogue also has Cardinal Bergoglio informing Pope Benedict that God changes, an obviously heretical statement.

The gravest misrepresentation, however, comes when the script implies that Benedict covered up for the now-notorious founder of the Legion of Christ, Fr Marcial Maciel.

That monstrous hypocrite may have successfully duped St John Paul, but Cardinal Ratzinger was a leading force in the revelation of his wrongdoing and, as pope, ordered that abuser and fraud to relinquish all ministry and lead a life of penitence and prayer.

Fine performances by the leads and high production values do not compensate adequately for a fast and loose version of recent—or ancient— Church history.

Still, The Two Popes is not without its charming moments. The concluding scenes, in particular, which find Francis and Benedict watching the 2014 football World Cup final between Germany and Argentina together, are touching as well as humourous.

But much of the preceding material remains problematic.— CNS

The Southern Cross, January 8 to January 14, 2020

YoUR CLASSIFIEDS

Fr Sibusiso Zulu

F

ATHER Francis Sibusiso Zulu of Eshowe diocese died in a motor accident in Mokopane in Limpopo on December 3, along with his colleague Fr Owen Wilcock (see December 18 obituary).

Fr Zulu was born on November 21, 1973, at Matheni reserve near Nongoma in KwaZuluNatal, into a deeply Catholic family.

As early as in primary school, in vocations workshops, his desire to become a priest was nurtured.

He matriculated from Hambangendlela High School in 1993.

Fr Zulu started his training for the priesthood at St Peter’s Seminary in Cape Town, and completed it at St John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria in 2001.

At St John Vianney he showed great responsibility and was academically one of the best.

His rector at the time recommended him to then-Bishop

Mansuet Dela Biyase of Eshowe, stating that the seminary would be happy if Fr Zulu, after a stint of pastoral work, was sent to further his studies so that he could return to join the teaching staff at St John Vianney.

On December 15, 2002, Fr Zulu was ordained a priest. He went on to work in the parishes of Mangethe, Mbongolwane, Nquthu, Nongoma and Mondlo.

In 2015, Bishop Xolelo Thaddeus Kumalo of Eshowe released him to pursue further missiology studies at Urbaniana University in Rome. On completion of his masters in missiology, he returned to South Africa and joined the staff at St John Vianney as formator and lecturer.

Fr Zulu’s sudden death in the motor accident in Mokopane shocked his community.

He leaves behind his elder brother and two young sisters.

His parents died while he was at the seminary.

Anniversaries • Milestones • Prayers • Accommodation • holiday accommodation Personal • Services • Employment • Property • Parish notices • Thanks • Others Please include payment (R1,90 a word) with small advertisements for promptest publication.

In MEMoRIAM

HERDE—Charlotte Elizabeth (kohler). 13.01.2014.

Always lovingly remembered by her daughter Siobhan, son-in-law Gary, grandsons Matthew and Stuart Brown, and sisters Margaret and ursula. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him (1 John 4:16).

Fr Zulu’s Requiem Mass and burial was held at Holy Cross mission on December 9.

Bishop Kumalo presided at the Mass, assisted by Archbishop Abel Gabuza of Durban, Bishop Vincent Mduduzi Zungu of Port Elizabeth, Bishop Mandla Siegfried Jwara of Ingwavuma, and almost 100 priests.

By Fr Sifiso Ntshangase

Let’s unite our divided Church Continued from page 7 Here we both were as Catholics, with very different opinions but united in wanting to eradicate the evil which exists within our Church and which continues to hurt and tear us apart.

Yes, we may have differences about theology and doctrine, but that was minor compared to the abusers who lurked around her diocese and parish.

My new friend and sister in faith helped me understand that traditionalists and liberals will always exist within the Church—it is what makes the Catholic experience so exciting.

We are a Church where we can enjoy the aroma of incense and have hymns ancient and modern sung, or have a more relaxed worship with youth dancing in

the aisles with hands held high in adoration.

The key to us existing together as people of different views is that we embrace it, and we embrace one another—even if our toes are stepped on and our opinions disagreed with.

The devil lives to see us divided, and if we keep looking at minor errors of opinion and ignore the abuses and other evils which exist within the core of the Church, then we might as well accept that our Mother Church will sink to the depths of the ocean as did the Titanic.

Let us learn to dialogue with each other, to break racial stereotypes, to integrate alternative ways of worship and embrace them (and one another).

We may not agree with one

another all the time, but that’s what makes our family special.

We are indeed a family, who need to love one another and continue praying the Father will unite us as one, just as he and Jesus our brother are one—and leave the casting into hell to Christ, whose rightful authority it is.

So instead of classifying yourself as “black” and “white”, rather see yourself as a South African.

And instead of classifying yourself (or others) as “conservative” or “liberal”, rather work for the common purpose of being a good Christian Catholic through the love for your fellow brethren—even your fellow Christian brethren not in union with us, who are also inheritors of Christ’s heavenly promise.

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FROM OUR VAULTS 84 Years Ago: January 15, 1936

Death of SA’s great Churchman The great Churchman Mgr Frederick Kolbe has died in Cape Town, aged 82. Known to generations of Catholic children as “Uncle Joe”, Mgr Kolbe retained his faculties until the end, even following every phrase of the service before the viaticum with great interest. He had finished his last article for The Southern Cross, titled “How Phoebus Apollo slew the dragon”, only a few days before his death. The son of a Congregational minister, he had converted to Catholicism in 1877 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1882.

Get active, SA Catholics told

11

PARISH noTICES

nEW PARISH noTICES MoST WELCoME: if any parish notices listed are no longer valid, call us on 021 465-5007 or e-mail us at m.leveson@scross.co.za so that we can remove them. Also, we’d welcome new notices from parishes across Southern Africa to run free in the classifieds.

CAPE ToWn: A holy hour Prayer for Priests is held on the second Saturday of every month at the Villa Maria shrine from 16:00 to 17:00. The shrine is at 1 kloof Nek Road in Tamboerskloof. The group prays for priests in the archdiocese, and elsewhere by request.

DURbAn: holy Mass and Novena to St Anthony at St Anthony’s parish every Tuesday at 9:00. holy Mass and divine Mercy devotion at 17:30 on first Friday of every month. Sunday Mass at 9:00. Phone 0313093496 or 031 209-2536.

St Anthony’s rosary group.

Every wednesday at 18:00 at St Anthony’s church opposite Greyville racecourse.

All are welcome and lifts are available. Contact keith Chetty on 083 372-9018.

nELSPRUIT: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St Peter’s parish every Tuesday from 8:00 to

16:45, followed by Rosary, divine Mercy prayers, then a Mass/Communion service at 17:30.

PRAYERS

ST FRAnCIS PRAYER: 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 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.

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 897. ACROSS: 5 Back, 7 Altarpiece, 8 Echo, 10 Ignominy, 11 Uplift, 12 Sacked, 14 Steeps, 16 Coptic, 17 Albanian, 19 Corn, 21 Archpriest, 22 Imam. DOWN: 1 Name, 2 Canonise, 3 Spoilt, 5 Beam, 6 Chandelier, 9 Capitalism, 13 Capuchin, 15 Stitch, 16 Canopy, 18 Adam, 20 Nets.

Liturgical Calendar Year A – Weekdays Cycle Year 2 Sunday January 12, Baptism of the Lord Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7, Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10, Acts 10:34-38, Matthew 3:13-17 Monday January 13, St Hilary 1 Samuel 1:1-8, Psalm 116:12-14, 1719, Mark 1:14-20 Tuesday January 14 1 Samuel 1:9-20, Responsorial psalm 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8, Mark 1:21-28 Wednesday January 15 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20, Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10, Mark 1:29-39

Visiting Irish De La Salle provincial Br Philip told a Catholic Men’s Society meeting in East London that as a rule Catholics are too passive and quiescent. However, Catholic energy might change the world if effectively put into action. It is therefore essential that every Catholic become actively involved in organisations such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Catholic Action.

Thursday January 16 1 Samuel 4:1-11, Psalm 44:10-11, 1415, 24-25, Mark 1:40-45 Friday January 17, St Anthony the Great 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22, Psalm 89:16-19, Mark 2:1-12 Saturday January 18 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1, Psalm 21:2-7, Mark 2:13-17 Sunday January 19, 2nd Sunday of the Year Isaiah 49:3, 5-6, Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10, 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, John 1:29-34

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2nd Sunday: January 19 Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6, Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-10, 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, John 1:29-34

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EXT Sunday, after the excitement of Christmas, and the slightly solemn mood of Jesus’ baptism, we continue watching Jesus’ ministry unfold. The readings also, of course, have something to say about our own ministry.

The first reading is part of the second of the Songs of the Suffering Servant, from the prophet who continued the Isaiah scroll for the exiles in Babylon; we hear God saying to him: “You are my servant Israel, in whom I reveal my glory”; and we can imagine this also as spoken to Jesus (and to us, of course).

Here we notice the very strong sense that God is in charge, “who formed me from the womb to be his servant, so that Jacob may be brought back to him, and Israel be gathered to him; and I shall be glorified in the eyes of the Lord; and my God shall be my strength”.

And it is a major task, this ministry of his: “He said: ‘It is too small that you should be a servant for me, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the remnant of Israel. I shall give you as a light for the nations, for my victory to reach to the end of the earth.’”

Every word of this, of course, can apply to Jesus’ ministry (and, dare we add, to our own).

The psalm for next Sunday focuses, as al-

S outher n C ross

ways, on God: “I waited, I waited for the Lord, and he leaned down to me and heard my cry.” Not only that, but God gives him a song to sing: “He gives to my lips a new song, praise for our God—many people saw and were in awe.”

Then comes a very shocking picture of our ministry: “You are not pleased with sacrifice and offering, but you gave me ears open to obedience.”

What counts is simply doing what God wants (which is what Jesus did, of course): “To do your good pleasure, O God, is my pleasure; your Law is in my heart”, and then he tells everyone about this God: “I announced your righteousness in the great assembly; I did not restrain my lips—Lord, you know it.”

That is surely going to be our task this week.

In the second reading, we learn something about Paul’s view of his own ministry.

Notice how he introduces himself: “Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ.” So he is well aware, and wants the Corinthians (who have not been behaving all that well) to know he has a mission given to him by God; for it is

by God that he has been “called”. And if we had not grasped that already, the next phrase,

T

Conrad

3. Rachel Held Evans: This past year, scanning book reviews, I discovered the writings of Rachel Held Evans. I cite three of her works here that spoke to me very deeply: Searching for Sunday, Loving, Leaving, and Finding Church; Inspired, Slaying Giants, Walking on Water, and Loving the Bible Again; and A Year of Biblical Womanhood.

Rachel grew up a cradle Evangelical with a deep and solid faith, but adulthood brought its own challenges, particularly for someone of her courage and honesty.

These books chronicle Rachel’s struggle with her religious mother-tongue, her falling out of her faith story, and her particular way of finding her way back in.

Her story articulates the struggle of millions. It’s an invaluable read, irrespective of one’s religious mother-tongue. She was also an exceptionally gifted writer.

Sadly, she died in May at the age of 37.

We lost a needed religious voice, but what she left us can help many a person sort through his or her religious struggles.

4. Jean Bosco Rutagengwa: Love Prevails, One Couple’s Story of Faith and Survival in the Rwandan Genocide.

Someone once said that if you want to understand the tragedy of World War II you can read a thousand books about it and watch a thousand hours of film—or you can read the Diary of Anne Frank. This is such a “diary”, written inside the horrors of the Rwandan genocide.

5. Robert Ellsberg: A Living Gospel, Reading God’s Story in Holy Lives.

Sunday Reflections

“by God’s will”, makes it absolutely clear.

We should also notice the mention of “Sosthenes”. This character does not appear again in the letter, but the point is that Paul’s ministry is not something that he (or we) can do on his own.

Then we are told who the addressees of this letter are, namely “the Church of God that is in Corinth”; Paul’s ministry is to this group precisely in that restless city.

A further aspect of the ministry is conveyed by the fact that “Jesus Christ” (or “Christ Jesus”) is mentioned no less than four times.

Paul cannot conceive of any ministry of his that does not centre on Jesus; and that makes a difference to the way he sees his correspondents there, namely as “those who have been made holy in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, to all those who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Finally, casting the seal on the kind of ministry to them that he envisages, he wishes them “grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.

Does all that arouse some thoughts in you of the kind of ministry that is yours?

The Gospel for next Sunday does not de-

My Top Ten books in 2019 HERE’S a Latin axiom which argues that there’s no accounting for taste, “de gustibus non est disputandum”. I reference it as to preamble to my annual list of the ten books I most enjoyed this past year because, admittedly, taste is somewhat subjective.

I chose these particular books because they’re the ones that spoke most deeply to me. Perhaps they wouldn’t speak to you in the same way. Fair enough. There’s no accounting for taste.

So, my chosen authors and books…

1. Bernardo Olivera: How Far to Follow?

The Martyrs of Atlas.

This book helps tell the inside story of the Trappist monks who were martyred by Islamic extremists in Algeria in 1996. Similar to the movie Of Gods and Men, it focuses on the deep struggles these men underwent in making the decision not to leave their monastery and, instead, face martyrdom.

2. Donald Senior: Raymond E. Brown and the Catholic Biblical Renewal.

Well-researched and well-written, this is a biography of the renowned scripture scholar Raymond E Brown, who stood out both for his scholarship and for his exemplary discipleship and priesthood.

The book is more of an intellectual history of Brown than a chronicle of his life. It’s interesting too because, by sharing Brown’s intellectual history, Senior also highlights the particular theological and ecclesial struggles of Brown’s generation. For many of us this will be hauntingly familiar.

Nicholas King SJ

Our ministry unfolds

pict precisely the ministry of Jesus, but rather that of John the Baptist. For he now does what we must all do in our ministry, and points to Jesus, whom “he sees coming to him” and then he finds a title for Jesus.

This title has resonated in the Christian imagination, and we use it at least four times when we celebrate the Eucharist: “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.

It is a powerful title, evoking the paschal lamb, and the scapegoat of the Day of Atonement, and one or two other ideas as well; and it leads into other titles also: “the one coming after me, who came to be before me, because he was my Number One”; and John realises that “this was why I came baptising with water”, as well as having “seen the Spirit coming down like a dove from Heaven”.

He is now in a position to go further in identifying Jesus: “the One who baptises with the Holy Spirit” and “this One is the Son of God”.

Could your ministry, this week, have to do with pointing at Jesus and identifying him in this startling way?

Southern Crossword #897

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final Reflection

The lives of the saints are our living Gospel, and Robert Ellsberg is the foremost hagiographer in the English language today. This wonderfully readable book teaches us both what hagiography is and why it’s important.

6. Margaret Renkl: Late Migrations, A Natural History of Love and Loss.

This is a unique kind of book, a poetics of sorts on love, nature, adoration, family life, death, dying, and human resiliency.

This is a piece of art.

7. Richard Rohr OFM: The Universal Christ.

This book will challenge you and will, with a sound scriptural theology, challenge mainline theology in its popular conception of both the intent and the scope of the incarnation. An important read.

8. Ruth Burrows: Before the Living God. I first read this, Ruth Burrows’ autobiography, 32 years ago. It moved me then and it moved me even more 32 years later.

In her story, you will better understand your own story and the movement of God in your life.

9. David Brooks: The Second Mountain, The Quest for a Moral Life.

Brooks’ Second Mountain very much corresponds to what spiritual writers like Fr Richard Rohr call the Second-Half of Life.

Drawing upon his own story and creatively mixing secular and religious perspectives, Brooks lays out a challenging vision of what it means to mature, to move from being the hungry child to becoming the blessing adult. An excellent read.

10. Mary Jo Leddy: Why Are We Here, A Meditation on Canada.

Not least, a book from a Canadian, like myself. Mary Jo Leddy, the founder and director of Romero House for refugees in Toronto, has always been a prophetic voice.

In this book, she submits that every country has its “original sin”, some primal fault in its origins that now taints its present.

For Canada, she argues, it was how it treated its indigenous peoples as it formed itself into a nation. Canada is not unique in having such an “original sin”. Every country has it.

Everyone should read this book.

S outhern C ross Pilgrimage

Led by Archbishop William Slattery www.fowlertours.co.za/passion

5. Kind of ground at the rear (4) 7. Placate ire about sanctuary artwork 8. Reflected sound (4) 10. Initially, I get none of mine in New York. A disgrace! (8) 11. Raise your spirits in the elevator? (6) 12. Put in the bag and fired (6) 14. Immerses (6) 16. Name of Egyptian Church (6) 17. Mother Teresa’s nationality (8) 19. Ruth gleaned in this kind of field (4) 21. Reap Christ around high churchman (10) 22. He’s a Muslim. I’m amazed, a bit (4)

DOWN

1. Title (4) 2. Announce a saint (8) 3. Pilots can become ruined (6) 4. Begins to be creatures (6) 5. Shaft of light (4) 6. Her candle I find lighting above (10) 9. A plastic I’m involved in economically (10) 13. Franciscan friar (8) 15. You need one in time for knitting (6) 16. Article in copy covers the high altar (6) 18. The first man to show us a water barrier (4) 20. St Peter’s traps?

Solutions on page 11

CHURCH CHUCKLE

A

T Mass, the priest announces to the congregation: “I have good news and bad news.”

As the people wait to hear the news, he continues: “The good news is that we have enough funds to pay for our new building project.”

The congregation is about to applaud, but the priest raises his hand: “But the bad news is, the funds are still out there in your pockets.”

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