The Southern Cross - 101013

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Parish mourns after murder

Stained glass preservation

Healing power of relics

Parish of the month

www.scross.co.za

October 13 to October 19, 2010 Reg No. 1920/002058/06

No 4697

R5,50 (incl VAT RSA)

SOUTHERN AFRICA’S NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY SINCE 1920

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RCHBISHOP Stephen Brislin of Cape Town will celebrate a Mass followed by a special benediction service to mark the 90th birthday of The Southern Cross this month.

The Mass will be celebrated on October 15 at 13:10 at St Mary’s cathedral.

The Southern Cross will publish a special anniversary edition on October 27. Parishes may order extra copies by contacting Avril Hanslo at subscriptions@scross.co.za or 021 465 5007

Inside Calls for better water use A parish in Rosebank celebrate World Habitat day by warning about water crisis—Page 3

Attracting youth to religious life Dozens of religious and lay Church leaders have looked at the next steps needed to attract more youth to religious life —Page 4

Where was my Church?

Mphuthumi Ntabeni discusses an eviction crisis—Page 9

What do you think?

In their Letters to the Editor this week, readers discuss The Southern Cross under threat, homosexuality and immodest dress—Page 8

This week’s editorial: Driving safely

The annual Blessing of the Fishing Fleet took place the first weekend of October in Cape Town. The Portuguese tradition sees prayers offered for the forthcoming fishing season and an anchor of flowers is thrown into the sea for those who have been lost. Statues of St Peter and Mary were carried to the boats, followed by an at-sea blessing given by Archbishop Lawrence Henry.

PHOTO: CLAIRE MATHIESON

Bad driving to be punished

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

T No laughs for Berlusconi

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HE Vatican newspaper has criticised Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (pictured above) for telling a “deplorable” joke about the Jews and the Holocaust.

Mr Berlusconi, chatting with supporters outside his home, told a joke about a Jew who charged a fellow Jew 3 000 euros a day to hide him in his basement during World War II. Mr Berlusconi’s punch line was: “The Jew says, the question now is whether we should tell him Hitler is dead and the war is over.”

The joke was videotaped and posted on the website of the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

The Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano said the story “offends both the sentiments of believers and the sacred memory of the six million victims of the Holocaust”.

It said the prime minister’s words were a “sad” example of the uncivil language being used increasingly in politics and public life, a trend recently condemned by the Italian bishops’ conference.

The newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference, Avvenire, said Mr Berlusconi’s joke was “offensive and inexplicable”.

Mr Berlusconi’s office issued a statement saying the joke was told in private, and that the responsibility for bad taste belonged to those who publicised it.—CNS

HE negative statistics that govern our roads “have to change”. This is the message behind various safe-driving campaigns currently on the go and is the philosophy behind the government’s Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto), or driver points-demerit system, which will be rolled out in 2011.

Transport minister Sibusiso Ndebele said in a statement that the new system will “certainly reduce lawlessness on our roads and contribute significantly to a reduction in road crashes and deaths”. The system aims at encouraging responsible use of the road.

At OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, a Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) education campaign this month informed people about the Aarto system and encouraged people to sign their names on large canvas walls as a pledge towards driving sober and within the speed limit.

The Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) has welcomed the proposed AARTO demerit system. CPLO Researcher Lois Law said: “The Demerit system has proved a successful deterrent against reckless driving in other countries, notably in Australia.”

The main objective of the campaign is driver responsibility as well as educating drivers of the future repercussions of the new demerit system.

Aarto will add to the current fining system by leading to the suspension and cancellation of driving licences, professional driving permits or operator cards through the accumulation of demerit points.

While the system was meant to be implemented in July, RTMC acting chief executive Collins Letsoalo said problems were identified during a pilot programme in Tshwane and Johannesburg with communication and information available to the public on their rights and duties within the system. There are further plans for educational campaigns to be

Visitors to OR Tambo International Airport pledge to drive safely, particularly not to drink-drive or speed and to wear a seatbelt. The signature campaign formed part of an education campaign on the new points-demerit system..

PHOTO: GÜNTHER SIMMERMACHER

launched nationally before the official launch of the system.

Aarto has met with opposition, most notably from taxi associations who have suggested it will have a detrimental impact on the taxi industry.

The CPLO has urged further consultation among stakeholders in the industry and broader society to chart a way forward to end the continued carnage on the country’s roads.

“To this end we welcome the recently proposed measures on the part of the ministries of transport and education to ensure the safe conduct of children to and from school,” Ms Law said.

According to the transport ministry’s Arrive Alive campaign, the current cost of accidents on the road is intolerable in both

lives lost and financial expenses. “It is estimated that the cost of traffic crashes to individuals, commerce, communities and the country is in the region of R38 billion annually,” said the 2009 road traffic Arive Alive campaign report. Statistics from December 2009, traditionally the most dangerous month on South African roads, showed a daily average of 36 lives lost and around 20 people permanently disabled as a result of traffic accidents.

Mr Ndebele said the number of road deaths in our country was “completely unacceptable” and was confident the system will change people’s behaviour and ultimately reduce the accidents on the country’s roads.

The minister said one death should not be associated with the country’s roads and “as government, we want to make roads safe”.

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LOCAL

The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

Catholics mourn the death of ‘much-loved’ community leader

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

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T John’s parish in North Riding, Johannesburg, has been shocked by the killing of a popular member of the community in a robbery at the Northgate shopping centre in north-west Johannesburg.

Kevin McLoughlin, 38, was killed on October 4 when a gang of between eight and 12 robbers hit the NWJ jewellery store where he was working. Four other people were injured in the incident, which occurred shortly after the centre opened.

Police reports indicate Mr McLoughlin was shot in the left side of his chest and was declared dead by paramedics on the scene. His wife, who was 12 weeks pregnant at the time, was left physically unharmed but was hospitalised for observation after going into shock.

Mr McLoughlin was also brother to Fr Donald McLoughlin of

St Patrick’s parish in La Rochelle, Johannesburg.

Lieutenant Colonel Dlamini Lungelo, spokesman for the South African Police Services, said the suspects fled from the scene in two vehicles, but added that police had “already identified the suspects and several leads [were] being followed to arrest them”.

The loss has been felt by family, co-workers and the Catholic community.

Parish pastoral council chairman Roy Lailvaux said Mr McLoughlin was a highly respected and an active member of the parish community.

“He was particularly committed to the education of the youth and practised this by being a Phase 4 confirmation teacher.”

Mr Lailvaux said Mr McLaughlin was also an “extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and was always willing to assist in any manner required”.

He said that in a spontaneous prayer evening arranged by the youth of St John’s on the evening of Mr McLoughlin’s murder, some 200 parishioners arrived at the parish to offer their prayers and support.

“This is a great indication of the love and respect that the community held for Kevin and the McLoughlin family,” Mr Lailvaux said.

Mr McLoughlin was a “devoted and loving husband to Mary and father to Matthew, and the passion for his ministries were shared with his wife,” Mr Lailvaux said. “A large hole has been left in the community with Kevin's tragic passing.”

Other members of the community have voiced their anger at North Gate's centre management as this was the fourth armed robbery at the centre. It was also the second incident to hit a NWJ store in four days after a robbery at the Carnival City mall in Boksburg.

Preserving heritage through stained glass

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

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TAINED glass commissions and restorations are the “greatest passion” of Danie de Klerk of DR Art Glass Studio.

Once a full-time electrician, Danie de Klerk has been responsible for the transformation of many churches around the country by building stained glass windows. He describes his work as a way to create and preserve heritage.

“It all started as a hobby when I was still in my teens and saw an article of somebody building a stained glass window,” Mr de Klerk said. An “uphill battle” then took place as he tried to find people to teach him the art form.

After minimal training and much experimentation, Mr de Klerk said it was not long before his hobby turned into a passion and his “regular” job as an electrician started to fall away as stained glass became a full time vocation. Today, Mr de Klerk is well reputed in the local Catholic Church and has been commissioned for projects across the country.

“Stained glass and other art has

“Stained glass was often used as a storybook for parishes,” said Danie de Klerk, who builds and restores stained glass windows. always been promoted and protected as well as sponsored by the Catholic Church through the centuries. Today it is the same as most restorations and new commissions are from the Catholic community.”

Mr de Klerk said stained glass was often used as a storybook for parishes. The art could be decorative and meaningful with the use of symbols and rites. Usually considered an expensive endeavour, stained glass has been known to last more than

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100 years.

His recent projects include the Cape Town parishes of St Patrick’s in Mowbray, St James in St James and all 13 windows at Holy Cross in District Six. Stained glass windows do require maintenance. Without care, neglected windows can fall out and “are lost forever as a piece of heritage”, Mr de Klerk said, adding that it is sometimes more expensive to restore badly neglected windows than building new ones. He called on caretakers of buildings to invest time and effort into the windows to ensure their longevity.

Mr de Klerk said stained glass and other art has always been promoted and protected as well as sponsored by the Catholic Church through the centuries. Today it is the same as most restorations and new commissions are from the Catholic community.

“It is a way to honour a variety of holy people and family. I really hope that it will draw more people to the Church in these turbulent times that we live in”.  For more information visit www.stained-glass.co.za

New head of communication for Joburg archdiocese

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

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OMINICAN Father Emil Blaser, executive director and station manager of South Africa’s Catholic broadcaster Radio Veritas, has been elected episcopal vicar of communications in the Johannesburg archdiocese.

The new position was created to provide a positive contribution to media in the archdiocese.

Fr Blaser explained that a committee previously handled communication in the diocese, but at a meeting Johannesburg priests felt more authority was needed.

The proposal was made for an episcopal communications vicar— someone to be the archbishop’s “right hand man for different areas of responsibility in the diocese”, he said.

“By acclamation the lot fell on me. The bishops asked if I could do it, and since I was already in the ‘game’ I was quite happy to share the knowledge I had and said yes, ‘I’ll do it!’”

Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg accepted the result of the election.

In an interview on Radio Veritas Fr Blaser said he was going to work closely with the already established communications offices in the diocese, saying “it’s not a promotion; it’s another job to do”.

Fr Blaser has already identified certain tasks, including the redesign of the archdiocese website to make it even more user friendly.

Fr Blaser wants to make better use of technology available to the Church and suggested spaces where parishes would be able to update parish records online.

When asked about social media, Fr Blaser said Facebook pages and Twitter accounts were likely in the future.

“I am keeping my finger on the pulse with what is happening in Church media,” he said.

Dominican Father Emil Blaser Fr Blaser has been presenting radio and television religious programmes since 1976, including a weekly Catholic television programme, Lumen Gentium, on the pay-to-view channel M-Net in the mid-1990s. As well as working as a pastor for many years, the former provincial of the Dominicans in South Africa, Fr Blaser was also associate secretary general of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference. It was there where Radio Veritas was conceived.

“I think [the appointment] is also an acknowledgment to the role Radio Veritas is playing. I hope that through this department, I will be able to reach out to all parishes and give hope and inspiration,” Fr Blaser said.

“The Church needs to be put on the map. We need to make the Church relevant and in touch with people. I want to bring the Church to people so that they feel a part of the Church wherever they are.”

Fr Blaser hopes to improve communication throughout the province from Church organisations, parishes and secular media to the general public.

Correction:

In the edition of September 8, “Mother of two priests dies at age 67”, The Southern Cross incorrectly identified Catherine Smuts in the third paragraph, and Josephine Stevens’ name is incorrectluy spelt in the sixth paragraph. The Southern Cross regrets the errors.

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LOCAL

Gisela Röntch (left), a member of the the Church of Immaculate Conception’s Justice and Peace Eco group engages with parishioners at the mini water expo. In the foreground is a jar of heavily polluted water from the Braamfontain Spruit.

PHOTO: KEVIN LEO-SMITH

Eco group calls for good water use

BY STAFF REPORTER

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N the eve of World Habitat Day, a Johannesburg parish’s Justice and Peace Eco group mounted a mini exhibition of water as an issue of justice.

The Rosebank parish cited the “serious ecological problems call for an effective change of mentality leading to the adoption of new lifestyles in which the quest for truth, beauty, goodness and commu-

nion with others for the sake of the common good are factors that determine consumer choices, savings and investments”, the church’s social doctrine explained.

During a Mass celebrating World Habitat day, parishioners were reminded that South Africa is “water-stressed”.

They were encouraged to change their attitude to water and to make changes to their lifestyle by reducing their water

consumption.

Through presentations, parishioners were encouraged to start food gardens, mulching and other water-wise gardening usage including rainwater harvesting.

Parishioners were discouraged from consuming bottled water, and were asked to cut down on the excessive use of household chemicals and the planting of exotic alien invader plants.

Thumbs up for sports policy

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

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HE CATHOLIC Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) has announced its support for the drafting of a national policy, making sport part of the national education curriculum.

Research consultant Kenny Pasensie said the reason for the call comes from the “direct correlation between sport and academic excellence”.

Mr Pasensie said that beyond the correlation the call was inspired by late Pope John Paul II who said: “The potential of sport makes it a significant vehicle for the overall development of the person and a very useful element in building a more human society.”

The pope also said sport could become a means to encouraging people and a way to avoid “what might be dangerous or seriously harmful to themselves or to others”.

The Department of Sport and Recreation of South Africa (SRSA) and the Department of Basic Education (DoBE) presented the Draft School Sport Policy for Schools in South Africa.

Mr Pasensie said the idea of an inclusive sport policy was not new. He pointed out the “Getting the Nation to Play” initiative of the early 1990s and the establishment of the United School Sport Association of South Africa (USSASA) in 1994,

which was established as the only recognised body to coordinate, control and promote all school sport related matters.

However, USSASA and other sporting bodies were dissolved to make way for a more streamlined structure.

The most recent flaws in the education system regarding sport included the lack of or limited participation of learners and teachers in physical education, backlogs in facilities and equipment, and a lack of capacity and financial resources.

Mr Pasensie said the new framework aimed to formalise government’s responsibility for physical education, cultivate a sense of pride and patriotism, ensure and increase access to facilities and to strategically link sport programmes to national interventions such as substance abuse, HIV and Aids and crime.

“Besides re-introducing physical education as a subject, promoting professional development of teachers in sport, and ensuring that all schools have access to sporting facilities and offer school sport programmes, [the policy] is to clarify the roles of all those involved in sports education,” he said.

A further issue in the implementation of the new system was that of finance. Mr Pasensie felt the system would be manageable for financially viable

schools but many schools would need additional funding for their sporting activities and “that is, per the draft policy, the responsibility of the DoBE and SRSA”.

He said the task was “mammoth” and challenging. The success of the policy lies with the work done jointly by the DoBE and SRSA, he said.

With the draft policy the two departments will be tasked to coordinate national school sporting events, monitoring all school sport activities, funding all school sport, assisting with the development of the school sport infrastructure and the recruitment and development of high-performing athletes for provincial and national levels.

“The old adage of ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’ is certainly true not only for the older generation but more so for the young school-going generation. If you have a healthy body you have more energy to do more, both physically and mentally,” Mr Pasensie told The Southern Cross.

He said the plans to prioritise school sport should be welcomed, despite the many flaws of the draft policy. “In coming months the policy will be further refined and all stakeholders will have another opportunity to contribute to its development.”

German choir to sing for cardinal

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

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OCAL and international musicians are set to take to the stage at the annual Cardinal’s Concert in Durban this year.

Emmanuel cathedral in Durban’s city centre will play host to the world-acclaimed Aachen Cathedral Choir from Germany.

The visiting choir is the oldest boys’ choir in Germany and one of the oldest in the world with more than 1 200 years of history.

Aachen’s Cathedral Choir performs around 70 services and

concerts annually in the historical German cathedral, the oldest in northern Europe, and has travelled to several countries including Italy, South Korea and now, for the first time, South Africa.

Organisers said the event would be a “multi-cultural choral experience” with a number of local musicians also performing.

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban will be the guest of honour along with Mahmoud Youssef-Baker, chairman of the humanitarian Iqraa Trust.

Funds raised will go towards the Denis Hurley Centre, a project of Emmanuel cathedral.

The centre, situated between the cathedral and the Juma Musjid mosque, provides all day outreach to refugees, homeless people, people with HIV/Aids, and others in distress.

The show starts at 14:30 on October 17 at Durban’s Emmanuel cathedral. Tickets cost R20 and can be bought at the cathedral office or at the door.  For more information call 031 306 3595.

The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

Justin Skea has been appointed as the new head of St Joseph’s Marist College in Rondebosch, Cape Town. He succeeds Hugh Fynn, who retires in January 2011. Mr Skea is a former learner of St Henry’s Marist Brothers in Durban. After school he went on to graduate with a BA and HED at Unisa. After completion, Mr Skea taught English for eight years at Durban High School, and later became the academic director at the school. After his tenure as director, Mr Skea moved into the skills development and corporate training arena, becoming the general manager of the Skills Development and Technology Transfer at the Durban University of Technology. In 2008 he completed his Master of Arts in Linguistics through Stellenbosch University. Mr Skea took up the position of deputy principal at St Joseph’s in October 2009.

Besides working towards his doctorate, Mr Skea is a fitness fanatic, having worked as a group fitness trainer and fitness advisor to the Natal Rugby Union.

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The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

INTERNATIONAL

Steps to attract youth to religious life

BY NANCY FRAZIER O’BRIEN

ters, younger religious, media and communications experts, and church researchers and statisticians.

The gathering was a follow-up to a study of recent vocations to religious life conducted by the Centre for Applied Research in the Apostolate, for the vocation conference. The study, released in August 2009, found that although the numbers in religious orders may be decreasing, new members are passionate about religious life and religious communities following more traditional practices have better success attracting younger members today.

Br Bednarczyk said young people today no longer have the opportunity that past generations had to interact with members of religious communities.

“Just recall the impact that men and women religious have had in your own life,” he said. “While they taught you how to multiply numbers and how to diagram a sentence properly, through their example they also taught you how to treat others justly and fairly and to show a special sensitivity to the needs of the poor and less fortunate. Maybe during a time of personal crisis, illness or grief, they taught you the importance of a caring presence.”

But “a smaller and older religious population has lessened the

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T what one participant called a “critical juncture in consecrated life”, dozens of religious and Catholic lay leaders gathered in Chicago to hash out the next steps needed to attract young people to religious life today.

“Together we are seeking to discover a truth of how we may effectively promote religious life to a new generation in a new century,” said Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, executive director of the US National Religious Vocation Conference, as he opened the invitation-only symposium titled “Moving Forward in Hope”.

The gathering, funded by a foundation that wished to remain anonymous, featured a combination of talks and small group discussions designed to result in an action plan for promoting vocations in the United States. Br Bednarczyk said a final report on the symposium and the proposed plans would be presented to the foundation by the end of the year, and made public after a board meeting of the vocation conference in February.

Participants in the symposium included vocations directors, Catholic educators, major superiors, diocesan personnel, parents, young adult and campus minis-

opportunity for such encounters to occur today, especially with our younger Catholics”, he said. “It is testimony to God’s providence that despite their lack of knowing another religious personally, today’s men and women, even though they are in smaller number, continue to come to the vowed life.”

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iting divisions in the Church on issues ranging from hierarchal leadership to women’s roles to sexuality and immigration, Br Bednarczyk noted that the study conducted by CARA showed that younger Catholics entering religious life “are clearly disheartened by this polarisation they see in the Church, in religious life and in their religious institutes”.

Those divisions must be acknowledged as part of “the reality to which we attempt to invite women and men to a radical following of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a life of consecrated chastity, poverty and obedience”.

Other speakers raised similar issues, citing a need to recognise the differing worldview of today’s young Catholics in order to discover what might attract them to religious life.

For them, “Vatican II is someone else’s history”, said Br Sean Sammon, a former superior general of the Marist Brothers and for-

mer president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. “Today a new generation, many of whose members lack a strong Catholic identity as defined by the practices of the past, is looking at religious life and mission through eyes shaped by a world that is foreign to many of us over the age of 50,” he said.

“Theirs does not include John F Kennedy or the Cold War. Nor is it a world that has cause to remember Woodstock, the sexual revolution, Dag Hammarskjold, a war in Vietnam, Watergate, the early days of the women’s movement,” Br Sammon added. “These persons and events may have been a part of your world or mine, but for the emerging generation, they serve as content of the history books that they read.”

He said the greatest differences between the younger and older generations are seen in the “desire to belong to a group whose commitment and fidelity to the Church is unquestioned, the wearing of a religious habit, the form of community life and style of prayer”.

Br Sammon said a key ingredient in establishing “the necessary lines of communication between this population and our congregations” is the creation of a “culture of vocation promotion”, including the appointment of at least one

full time vocation promoter in each of the congregation’s provinces or districts.

“If General Motors or IBM faced the personnel crisis that we have had on our hands for the last few decades, they would have long ago had their best people working to recruiting men and women for a career with their corporations,” he said. “At the same time, each of us must learn to take some responsibility for this work.”

He also suggested taking advantage of “opportunities available to educate as wide a population as possible”, such as with a parish adult education course on religious life, yesterday and today.

“In so doing, we might consider targeting parents especially,” Br Sammon said. “They were once one of the strongest allies of those encouraging vocations; they need to be brought into that same position again.”

Another crucial factor is visibility, he said, noting that “a number of us from older generations of religious have, to a large extent, become invisible in the places in which we serve and the communities in which we live”.

“If we are truly interested in improving the witness value of our way of life,” he said, “a number of us will need to find some new and more effective ways to be more visible.”—CNS

Five saints to be canonised in October

Blessed Stanislaw Soltys, 1433-89, devoted his life to caring for the poor in his native Krakow. He was famous as a preacher and confessor. His reverence earned him the title of “Apostle of the Eucharist”. When he died his grave became a shrine and 176 miracles were reported within a year of his death.

Blessed Camilla Verano, 1458-1524, was an Italian Poor Clare mystic, whose writings were based on her meditations of the passion of Jesus Christ including the Treatise on the mental sufferings of Jesus Christ our Lord. She died during the plague in 1524.

Blessed Giulia Salzano, 1846-1929, was the first city-paid school teacher in the Italian town of Casoria, near Naples. After school students would gather in the stairwell of her apartment building to learn Catechism and prepare for their first Holy Communion. In 1905 she founded the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to continue her work, offering religious education to children of all ages, their mothers and regular labourers at a time when it was limited to sacramental preparation or the private education of those who could afford it.

CONGREGATION OF MARIANNHILL MISSIONARIES

Ora et Labora The Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, CMM, sprung from the Trappist Monastery of Mariannhill founded by Abbot Francis Pfanner in South Africa in 1882. We believe that: “Our missionary field is the Kingdom of God and that has not boundaries!” Faithful to the example of Abbot Francis Pfanner, the Mariannhill Brothers and Priests try to be of service to the local church through pastoral, social and development works. We make our contribution to the call for renewing, uplifting, developing and sustaining the human spirit, as our response to the signs and needs of the time. In our missionary life of Prayer and Work (Ora et Labora), we try to effectively proclaim the Good News to all people, especially to the poor and needy, so that there are “Better Fields, Better Houses, Better Hearts!”

To know more about us contact: Director of Vocations PO Box 11363, Mariannhill, 3601 or PO Box 85, Umtata, 5099

Blessed Juana Cipitria Barriola, 1845-1912, also known by her religious name, Mother Candida Maria de Jesus, was a champion of education for girls and young women and founded the Daughters of Jesus with five other young women. Although her own education was limited and she lacked resources, she believed she was called by God to help the young improve their lives through education. The Daughters of Jesus now run schools in 16 countries.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAUGHTERS OF JESUS/CNS

Evangelisation not a religious competition

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S Catholics pursue their missionary duty, they must understand the church is not in competition with other religious groups or ideologies trying to win over believers but is working to make the Gospel accessible to everyone, Pope Benedict said.

“Evangelisation is not an attack on religious freedom because it fully respects the freedom to believe and does not impose anything on another person’s conscience.”

The pope made his remarks as he met with bishops from the heart of Brazil’s Amazon region, an area that covers about 1,24 million square km2.

The pope noted the difficulty of evangelising such vast and at times inaccessible areas.

“Sometimes we find this objection: to impose a truth, even if

it is the truth of the Gospel, to impose a way, even if it’s the way to salvation, can be nothing but an assault on religious liberty,” the pope said.

To answer that objection, the pope quoted Pope Paul VI’s 1974 apostolic exhortation on evangelisation, Evangelii Nuntianti, which stated: “It would certainly be an error to impose something on the consciences of our brethren.

But to propose to their consciences the truth of the Gospel and salvation in Jesus Christ, with complete clarity and with a total respect for the free options which it presents—without coercion, or dishonorable or unworthy pressure—far from being an attack on religious liberty is fully to respect that liberty.”— CNS

Blessed André Bessette, 1845-1937, a member of the Holy Cross Brothers and founder of St Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal in Montreal, is set to become the Holy Cross Brothers’ first saint. He is known for his intense piety, miraculous cures and for his dedication to the building of the shrine honouring St Joseph.

PHOTO: ARCHIVES OF ST JOSEPH’S ORATORY/CNS

Experiments on Guatemalans condemned

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ATHOLIC leaders condemned the Tuskegee-like medical experiments US researchers carried out on Guatemalans in the 1940s, calling them a “deplorable” abuse of power.

From 1946 to 1948, American researchers infected 696 Guatemalans with the sexually transmitted diseases syphilis and, in fewer cases, gonorrhea.

The patients were then treated with penicillin, a relatively new medicine at the time. The study was aimed at testing the drug’s effectiveness in fighting those diseases, but the participants did not know they were part of a trial.

The unpublished study was discovered by Wellesley College medical historian Susan Reverby while sifting through archives at the University of Pittsburgh.

On October1, the United States formally apologised to Guatemala.—CNS

INTERNATIONAL

The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

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IVF opened ‘wrong door’ to treating infertility

BY CAROL GLATZ

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HILE honouring one of the inventors of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) with the Nobel Prize for Medicine recognises his contribution to human reproduction, it ignores the ethical consequences of his opening “the wrong door” in the fight against infertility, said the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

British scientist Robert Edwards, a retired professor at the University of Cambridge, England, was named the Nobel winner for the development of in vitro fertilisation.

His work led to the birth of Louise Brown, the world’s first “test-tube baby”, in 1978.

In a press release, the award committee said: “Approximately four million individuals have so far been born following IVF. Many of them are now adult and some have already become parents.

“A new field of medicine has emerged, with Robert Edwards leading the process all the way from the fundamental discoveries to the current, successful IVF therapy. His contributions represent a milestone in the development of modern medicine.”

In the statement released by the Vatican, Mgr Ignacio Carrasco de Paula said while Dr Edwards presented a whole new approach to the problem of infertility, “he opened the wrong door from the moment in which he focused

everything on in vitro fertilisation”, which also meant he implicitly permitted people to turn to donations and a buyers-and-sellers market “that involves human beings”.

By focusing so much research and action on the in vitro method, Dr Edwards did not confront the pathological causes or epidemiological aspects of infertility, he said.

A more ethical and effective solution to the “serious problem” of infertility is waiting in the wings with methods that are also less expensive, he said.

The Vatican-based International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations also expressed its dis-

Pope: Reject mafia’s ‘path of death’

P

OPE Benedict urged the young people of Sicily to reject the “path of death” offered by organised crime and to stand up to evil by witnessing the values of the Gospel.

The pope made his comments during a one-day visit to Palermo, the Sicilian capital, where he celebrated a seaside Mass in the port area, met with priests and religious and spoke to youths and families of the region.

Before returning to Rome, he paused to pray at the site of the assassination of anti-Mafia prosecutor Giovanni Falcone, who was killed by a bomb in 1992.

Addressing the young in a central square in Palermo, the pope encouraged them to reshape Sicilian society.

“Don’t be afraid to fight against evil!” he said. “Don’t give in to the suggestions of the mafia, which is a path of death, incompatible with the Gospel, as your bishops have so often said!”

Throughout his visit, the pope pointed to the example of Fr Giuseppe “Pino” Puglisi, a popular anti-crime pastor in Palermo who was slain in 1993, and urged priests and the faithful to

Pope Benedict waves as he meets with youths during his pastoral visit to Palermo, Sicily. The banner reads, “Trust in you”.

PHOTO: TONY GENTILE, REUTERS/CNS

“imitate his heroic example”.

The pope also acknowledged the difficulty in breaking through a culture of crime, especially when many people are out of work and uncertain about their future.

“Today I am here to strongly encourage you not to be afraid to witness with clarity the human and Christian values that are so

deeply rooted in the faith and in the history of this region and its people,” he said.

The pope reminded Sicilians that their island has been “a land of saints who belong to every condition of life”.

He asked them to renew their own faith and bring it to bear in society with a greater sense of determination.—CNS

WYD organisers preparing for Madrid 2011 with Facebook, social media

W

ORLD Youth Day organisers, who are expecting more than 2 million participants, are preparing for the 2011 event in Madrid with Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and fundraisers using text messages.

Social networking sites have been key outlets “for raising awareness, mobilising, communicating and financing World Youth Day,” said Auxiliary Bishop Cesar Franco Martinez of Madrid, general coordinator of

the August 16-21 international event. Bishop Franco and others spoke at a Vatican news conference on the preparations involved in next year’s gathering.

Maria de Jaureguizar, vicedirector of communications for World Youth Day 2011, said: “It will be a WYD that is fully immersed in the Internet, the place where young people today meet.”

All information and all promotional materials can be found on the official website,

(www.madrid11.com). Interested participants can plan and “interact” on special pages and accounts organisers have been set up on a variety of social networking sites, Ms de Jaureguizar said.

As of October 5, there were more than 165 000 fans of World Youth Day on Facebook, she said.

WYD organizers set up 19 separate Facebook accounts in different languages, including Chinese and Arabic.—CNS

Post-colonial African identity conference for Ivory Coast 2011

C

HURCH officials met in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to plan for a conference on the experience of Africa in the 50 years since the end of colonial rule on that continent.

The Pontifical Council for Culture and the Congregation for Evangelisation are joint sponsors of the conference to be held in Abidjan in March 2011, on the development and identity of African peoples, the Vatican Information Service reported.

“This year Africa is celebrating 50 years of independence of

many countries from colonial rule. How far has this culturally rich and diverse continent, made up of different colours and hues, profited from independence?” a communiqué issued by the Pontifical Council for Culture asked.

A preparatory meeting for a forum on “Cultures, identities of peoples and development in Africa and the Black Diaspora” was held in Abidjan.

“The Pontifical Council for Culture, in collaboration with the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, aims to create a forum with representation

from different ecclesiastical, international and non-governmental organisations in order to find ways and strategies through which development can be promoted while focusing on the human person made in the likeness and image of God,” the statement said.

The forum is also intended “to become a permanent place of reflection, for concrete proposals for a cultural and educational engagement which will promote a body concerned with development in Africa”.—CISA

may about the Nobel committee’s announcement.

“Although IVF has brought happiness to the many couples who have conceived through this process, it has done so at an enormous cost. That cost is the undermining of the dignity of the human person,” said the federation’s president, José Simon Castellvi.

The IVF process has created and discarded millions of embryos that have been treated and used “as experimental animals destined for destruction”, he said.

“This use has led to a culture

where [embryos] are regarded as commodities, rather than the precious human individuals which they are,” he wrote.

“As Catholic doctors we recognise the pain that infertility brings to a couple, but equally we believe that the research and treatment methods needed to solve the problems of infertility have to be conducted within an ethical framework which respects the special dignity of the human embryo, which is no different from that of a mature adult with a brilliant mind,” he wrote.—CNS

6

The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

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CHURCH LIFE

The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19 2010

7

St Rose of Lima, Bloemfontein

A parish at the centre of its community

BY CLAIRE MATHIESON

F

OR 57 years, St Rose of Lima parish has become a valuable part of the densely populated township area of Bochabela in Bloemfontein.

For more than 39 of these years, parish priest Fr Leo D’Aes OMI originally from Belgium, has served the 3 500-strong community through education, spiritual growth and support.

After he arrived in South Africa on October 15, 1955, Fr D’Aes had to learn English, and when after just two years he was asked to go to Lesotho, he had to learn Sesotho to better serve the community.

According to Br Rex Harrison OMI, parishioners of St Rose live in a caring community. When Fr D’Aes arrived in November 1971, he introduced the concept of mabatowa, or Small Christian Communities (SCC).

“Fr D’Aes visited all the families of the parish, divided them into mabatowa, and taught them to visit the homes of each other, taking care of the sick, and teaching catechism to the small children.”

Growth in the parish is largely attributed to the active SCCs. Br Harrison explained that there are “17 vibrant SCCs that organise the life of those units and con-

tribute to the participation of the whole parish”.

Growth has also been attributed to the positioning of the parish—on the crossroads of the Bloemfontein access and taxi routes. Still, personal interaction is particularly important to this community with the priest and Oblate community visiting all the homes in the parish on a regular basis.

The annual confirmation class is a highlight, attended by people who need the sacraments and for those who want to refresh their faith. Adult catechism classes range from 45-65 members a year, so “annually there is this anticipation and reception of highly enthusiastic and motivated confirmandi revitalising the parish”, Br Harrison said.

The community is proud of the two associated schools that have also contributed to the ongoing growth of the Church by their networking involvement in the life of the parish.

“St Mary’s Primary and St Bernard’s High School have 900 and 600 pupils respectively coming from all over the Bloemfontein archdiocese.

Each year the matric pass rate is between 95% and 100%, a consistency it has maintained over many years,” Br Harrison said.

St Rose of Lima parish has been at the centre of the community of Bochabela in Bloemfontein for more than half a century. Parish priest Fr Leo D’Aes (left) has been instrumental in forming structures to provide support for its community. Above: Parishioners celebrate World Cup Sunday in June at the official outstation of St Rose, Kriste Bophelo ya Rona, in Lourier Park.

He said that St Rose of Lima parish and its youth are considered synonymous with the area.

Today a government-erected monument in honour of the youth who died on the grounds of the parish in the years of struggle for freedom stands in the town.

The parish cares for the sick and the poor via the lay ministries and SCCs and dedicated

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associations like the Society of St Vincent de Paul. St Rose parish has two main outstations; Dewetsdorp and Lourier Park, where more than 30 lay ministers attend to the communities’ needs.

The parish has had a history of lay training, whether for lay ministry or for general growth in spirituality or scripture and theology, Br Harrison said.

The achievement of becoming the Parish of the Month—parishes are selected according to increases of orders of The Southern Cross in a given month—is all the more impressive because English is not

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For those who read it, The Southern Cross is a valuable source of information on the Catholic world, said Br Harrison.

The Southern Cross also welcomes its new readers of St Benedict’s parish in Fochville, Klerksdorp.  Each month the featured parish will receive a valuable Southern Cross Press Office free of charge for a year. The Press Office will be permanently displayed on The Southern Cross website at www.scross. co.za, and The Southern Cross E-newsletter.

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8

LEADER PAGE

The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Editor: Günther Simmermacher

Driving with care

S

OUTH Africans concerned about road safety will welcome the traffic pointsdemerit system which will come into effect nationally in April 2011—with the caveat that the system should be administered competently and efficiently.

According to the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system, those found guilty of multiple traffic violations risk suspension or even repeal of their drivers’ licence. It must be hoped that the system will persuade imprudent drivers to modify their attitudes when in control of a vehicle.

The points system has functioned successfully in many countries. In Germany, where the system was first introduced in 1974, it has become part of national culture, giving rise to jokes that compare the performance of football teams with the accumulation of punitive points.

The fear of losing their drivers’ licence animates German motorists to drive with care.

The Vatican, in a 2007 document on road safety titled “Guidelines for the Pastoral Care of the Road”, rightly pointed out that “cars tend to bring out the ‘primitive’ side of human beings”. This is certainly true in South Africa, where reckless driving, inconsiderate conduct and road rage—what the Vatican called “psychological regression”— are common.

Many otherwise responsible individuals abandon reason once they take charge of a motor vehicle. Not a few imitate the anarchic approach to traffic shown by reckless minibus taxi drivers. It must be hoped that the demerit system will disabuse motorists of such mistaken notions—and that it will persuade those who set bad examples in the first place to mend their ways.

South African motorists need to collectively reform themselves, recognising that their actions behind the wheel have an immediate impact—sometimes literally—

on others. As participants in traffic, we must be conscious of our mutual obligations because our safety depends on the actions of others. Therefore we must also consider the consequences of our decisions on others.

It should alarm us that often the deterrent to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs resides in the possibility of being caught. Surely the increased risk of causing an accident, perhaps lethal, should inhibit thoughts of drink-driving.

Likewise, those who drive while talking on a cellphone are a threat to other people, as attention to traffic is gravely compromised. This behaviour must not be trivialised, as it often is.

Welcome as the pointdemerit system is, it must be applied fairly, consistently and competently. It requires a more visible law enforcement presence on our roads, perhaps with a shift of emphasis from the issue of parking fines to correcting the use of cars that actually are in motion.

Such enforcement must be consistent. Minibus taxi divers must be subject to traffic law enforcement just as civilian motorists are, inevitable protests and even the threat of disorder notwithstanding.

Traffic restrictions must be fairly applied. Arbitrary speed limits that seem designed to aid not road safety but revenue origination via traffic fines must be revised and, if necessary, challenged.

However, the responsibility for making South African roads safer should be directed primarily to motorists themselves, guided by the principles of courtesy, integrity and prudence.

Motor vehicles are potentially lethal instruments, and all we do while in control of them should be predicated on the simple mandate of the fifth commandment— “You shall not kill”—and on the intolerable possibility that our driving decisions might cause injury or death.

Bill puts The Southern Cross under threat HE Southern Cross, our Catholic weekly newspaper carrying invaluable news to all Catholics in Southern Africa, may come under threat if the Protection of Information Bill is passed by South Africa parliament.

The Bill is being introduced to protect activities that are not in the best interest of South Africa.

This proposed Bill is no better than those prohibition acts of the apartheid in South Africa. In essence this Bill is about hiding things that the public should know. The Southern Cross has always been an invaluable carrier

T

of messages to the laity from our cardinals and bishops who have a responsibility to speak out on matters of injustice and that which does not promote peace amongst South Africans at large.

Why are we as the laity so quiet on the Protection of Information Bill? Do we as laity understand the impact the Protection of Information Bill could have on our beloved Southern Cross?

Our laity has a responsibility, like our cardinal and bishops, to become active in fighting this Bill.

As God’s chosen people we

must become active and engaged in issues that will harm the nation.

We must become Christ-like in fighting that which is intended to promote activities that are not in the best interest of South Africans.

As Christians and as Catholics we must show we care about South Africa and the South African Constitution of 1996. We are not remote from those activities that are being motivated to undermine our freedom. Finally without peace we cannot have justice, and currently peace does not seem to reign supreme.

Allan Sauls, Kempton Park

Sexual orientation

does not constitute a consensus) in our tradition, it may not be a valuable insight, so much as a dangerous deviation.

The new theological theory by “today’s Biblical scholars” is that the Catholic tradition got it wrong about homosexuality. But it is the unanimous interpretation of the fathers and doctors of the Church and all traditional exegetes that the sin of homosexuality was the cause of the divine chastisement in Sodom and Gomorrah even if there were other interrelated sins (See Jude v 7). Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the Church and protect her from error. Denying this would do incalculable harm to the Church’s credibility.

The Jewish tradition is also unanimous in rejecting active homosexuality—Rabbi Immanuel Jakobovits says that “Jewish law holds that no hedonistic ethic, even if called ‘love’, can justify the morality of homosexuality”.

So this is why, as claimed by Alfred Kinsey, “homosexuality was phenomenally rare amongst Orthodox Jews”. Did traditional Judaism and traditional Catholicism get it wrong about homosexuality and “today’s Biblical scholars” get it right? Obviously not.

Other questionable claims by Mr Lee—firstly, that 10% of the population is gay. This is a myth like the “gay gene”.

The official figure is less than 3%.

Secondly, that homosexuality is “natural”. Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud saw it as abnormal as did the American Psychiatric Association until 1970 when they were so browbeaten and intimidated that they

were forced to redefine it as normal.

Thirdly, that St Aelred was “gay”.

There is no evidence whatsoever that proves this. CS Lewis in his book The Four Loves in a chapter on Friendship writes: “It has actually become necessary in our time to rebut the theory that every firm and serious friendship is really homosexual.”

Attie Schlebusch, Camperdown

T

HE letter Homosexuality and the Bible, (John Lee, September 1) refers. First of all it is important to distinguish between homosexual orientation and homosexual behaviour.

Whether the basis of the condition is biological or sociological, it is certainly not their fault. There should never be condemnation for anyone being homosexually orientated. It is the sexual act that is wrong.

God did not design our bodies for homosexual practice. Nowhere does the Bible comdemn homosexual orientation, feelings or temptation. Temptation is not sin. What the Bible condems is not preference but homosexual practice.

The Oxford English dictionary gives the meaning of sodomy as “unnatural sexual intercourse between males”. It gives the meaning of the word catamite as “boy kept for homosexual practices”. St Paul writes (1 Corinthians 5 vs 1-8) that “adulterers, catamites, sodomites etc, will never inherit the kingdom of God”.

According to Mr Lee many of these prohibitions were culturally conditioned. Am I now to understand that the sexual sins mentioned by St Paul are now acceptable in this “superior” day and age?

None of us is in a position to throw stones at others, we are all sexual sinners, but we are called to follow Jesus’ example, which is to love people unconditionally. We are also called to recognise sin as sin rather than condoning it. Love does not involve condoning sin.

Jill Petzer, East London

Dangerous deviation

M

R Lee does not seem to be aware of the Catholic principle that if a new theological theory develops that does not have a precedent (or if precedented,

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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.

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Opinions expressed in The Southern Cross, especially in Letters to the Editor, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or staff of the newspaper, or of the Catholic hierarchy. The letters page in particular is a forum in which readers may exchange opinions on matters of debate.

Letters must not be understood to necessarily reflect the teachings, disciplines or policies of the Church accurately.

I

Mixed messages

AM pleased to see how the Church is becoming more creative in evangelisation by using various new channels in media to reach more people.

When I saw the posters advertising a parish fundraising event in Port Elizabeth on the front cover, I found them full of energy and very creative. As a young woman, I can identify with the vigour the youth have.

However, I was deeply offended by the poster depicting the young woman. I found it rather insulting and disrespectful to the dignity of women, because the girl modelling is wearing hardly any clothes to cover her body whereas the men are appropriately covered. The Catholic Church clearly teaches modesty (cf.

The Catechism, par 2521-2526), but if images of women like this are displayed under the name of the Church, then confusing messages are sent out to the youth, suggesting that immodesty is acceptable.

I would have no objection to the poster if the girl was dressed properly and not showing her thighs and midriff. I make an earnest appeal to Church advertisers that when women or girls are depicted, that they model dignity above all else.

We cannot compromise with the world.

Dolores Steenhuis, Cape Town

PERSPECTIVES

Played with Passion

Mphuthumi Ntabeni

Pushing the Boundaries

And where was my Church?

H

ANGBERG in Hout Bay, Cape Town, was in the news lately because of police brutality that was visited on that community under the apparent direction of the city of Cape Town and the premier of the Western Cape.

Eviction forces, accompanied by the Metro Police and the South African Police Services, invaded the little fishermen community on September 21 to demolish poor people’s homes. The official line was that these shacks, built on the mountain firebreak, had to be torn down to prevent fires.

The irony is that in the area and those that adjoin it firebreaks are extended all the time when developers buy the land on the mountain. In fact, the controversy of this particular mountain, the Sentinel (Hangberg lies at its foot), started because the mountain was privatised—it has been sold to the SANParks since.

What we saw on that fateful Tuesday morning was reminiscent of the apartheid years: a well orchestrated violence against poor people, some of whom lost their sight because police fired rubber bullets at their faces. Women were humiliated in their homes, Muslim women made to go out without their headscarves, and so on. The boot of the security forces was literally on the neck of the community.

Subsequent to that many organisations, especially faith-based, came to bandage the community and cry with it. An Anglican priest pertinently pointed out that “the church is the bone for the suffering flesh of the people, especially the poor”. With those words he reminded me of the late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Naturally I was concerned that there was no official representative from my Catholic Church, even though the incidents of that day happened at the threshold of the Catholic church in the area, Our Lady of the Sea.

T

he Church teaches that defending the poor is the necessary consequence of incarnating the Church in the world; that the preference for the poor is the most fundamental characteristic of our faith and God’s idea of bringing good news to the world.

Yet we see it growing slowly and timidly, not always showing signs of concretely confronting the idols of wealth and power, not just in words, but in action—to dirty its hands and be found standing in courage with the plight of the poor.

Archbishop Romero once wrote that “the world of the poor teaches us what the nature of Christian love is, a love that certainly seeks peace, but also unmasks false pacifism—the pacificism of resignation and inactivity”.

These thoughts came back to me again as on the Sunday morning of October 3 I thought it to be my duty to join the “March for Peace” in Hout Bay to lament what had happened that Tuesday. Again, among the faith-based representatives mine were not present.

Many people I was with questioned our Church’s commitment to the poor. Even though I know of many instances when the Catholic Church does show its preference for the poor, on that Sunday I was unable to defend its absence, except by saying the parish was currently without a priest.

Sometimes our faith, words and teaching are tested against our actions. In those times it is not possible to be neutral, lest by our silence we find ourselves on the wrong side.

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The Oberammergau Passion Play closed this month for another ten years . Veteran journalist JOHN PATTEN shares his impression of the famous play.

O

BERAMMERGAU’S Passionspiele originated as the result of a vow made by this small Bavarian town’s inhabitants in 1633: to perform a passion play every ten years in thanksgiving for being spared from a plague epidemic.

The play still changes its form in subtle ways, but it remains a major drawcard for Christians from around the world.

The 2010 Passion Play, for instance, was performed as an afternoon-evening event (instead of the traditional morning-afternoon) for the first time this year. Previous bans on married women and those over 35 taking part have been removed. Sensitivities that Jewish communities had expressed about the play being antiSemitic were addressed through changes to the text made before the 2000 Passionspiele.

The play is still performed, with backstage support, only by people who have resided at least 20 years in the town. Only some musicians in the orchestra and certain members of the 110-strong choir may be drawn from other areas. Almost half the population of the town has some role in the production. Previous controversy over whether the Passionspiele constituted a church service or a play has long since been resolved, and the version we see today is quite clearly a play.

Though some Western nations’ commitment to Christianity has been wavering in recent times, the Oberammergau play remains a huge attraction, attended by more than 500 000 people during the summer months of the Passion Play year. The huge auditorium, open to the skies at one end, seats nearly 5 000 people at a sitting.

I think the decision to move the play into an afternoon-evening slot was a happy one, not only for the townspeople, who gain commercially, but also for the visitors attending the play. The mornings can now be used to wander around the attractive town and view (and buy) goods from the large assortment of carvings and other memorabilia on display while enjoying the ambience of a town with a distinctly old-world feel to it.

The vast crowds visiting the town are handled with admirable efficiency. Along with thousands of others, I was booked into accommodation in the category of my choice for two nights either side of the performance, with lunch and dinner vouchers provided as part of the ticket price. My hostess went to special lengths to ensure a happy stay, even offering me an umbrella against the drizzle and a blanket against the cold night air.

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he play is, of course, performed entirely in German, but the full text was given to each ticketholder— in German and English. So it was possible to follow word by word in the booklet as the play develops. I preferred to read the text outside of the performance, but there were many who followed the script during the performance, even bringing torches to read the script in the darkness of the second act. Those who did that missed quite a lot, I think, because it isn’t easy to keep track of the text in English while it is spoken in German and at the same time watch the action.

The play is performed on a very wide stage, stretching across the width of the large auditorium. The choir sang many of its choruses in a single-line formation stretching across the entire width of the stage.

The play covers the period from Palm Sunday to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, details of which are very well known to most Christians. Nevertheless, watching these scenes unfold in their re-enactments made it much starker and more alive than brief readings at church services could ever achieve.

The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

Michael Shackleton answers your question

Open Door

John Patten

Traveller’s Notebook More detail than we are used to in church service readings was provided in several places.

For example, the debate between Pontius Pilate and the head of the Jewish High Council, Caiaphas, over the significance or otherwise of the following Jesus was attracting was particularly interesting, with Pilate claiming that “it is always such insignificant itinerant preachers who instigate revolt and rioting under the guise of divine mission and bring people to religious fanaticism”.

Caiaphas, intimidated by Pilate, then tricks Judas into betraying Jesus.

What I have never heard of was the indignation of Judas when he realised he had been tricked. His suicide was most realistically staged.

Another impression from the play is the absolute horror modern Western audiences must feel for the treatment of prisoners in those days. The trial of Jesus itself was a travesty of justice, virtually mob bloodlust regardless of the evidence.

The agony on the cross was not prolonged as a spectacle, but a dramatic moment came when, with Jesus proclaimed dead and being taken down from the cross, a mighty rumble of thunder filled the auditorium and the sounds of the temple being destroyed offstage made the scene vivid for the audience.

The final scene, when the body of Jesus was found to be missing from the tomb, would have been an anticlimax, I thought, if it were not for the uplifting music composed for the occasion, and sung with spirit by the large choir.

A friend in Cape Town, whom I met at Bayreuth (the Bavarian town of Wagner), said he wasn’t interested in seeing the Passion Play at Oberammergau, because he couldn’t imagine words alone capturing the emotion of the occasion. “If it was set to music, I would have been interested,” he said.

I didn’t then know how much music there is in the Passion Play, but I think my friend would have been impressed by the quality of the music and the way it added to the overall emotional effect.

The play was an enlightening, rousing, gripping, horrifying, and also wonderful experience. I am very pleased I made the effort to see it, even though I had to travel half way round the world to be there.

9

Creation: nothing is something Lately, the physicist Stephen Hawking stated categorically that the universe needed no creator because it creates itself from nothing. I find this impossible to comprehend, despite Catholic scholars’ attempts to refute Professor Hawking’s contention.

Please help me.

J Quirk OR some years now, physicists such as Prof Hawking have agreed that the entire universe creates itself from nothing. In his new book, The Grand Design, Hawking seems to clarify this contention in a way that theologians still cannot accept.

By creation he means the entire physical universe. This universe creates itself from “nothing”. This nothing does not make up the fabric of creation. It is outside creation and consists of basic physical laws or principles.

Hawking names gravity as an example.

Of course, theologians are going to see the contradiction here. They insist that creation is all inclusive of everything that exists, and this includes physical reality and the laws, such as gravity, that govern it. Consequently, Hawking’s concept of nothing refers to something.

From the theologian’s point of view, God’s creation came from nothing, that is, from complete non-existence. There was not even a time when creation came into being because time itself is created by God. It is impossible to imagine a “time” before creation.

Jesuit physicist Robert Spitzer argues that Hawking has a very curious definition of “nothing” if he considers the law of gravity to qualify as nothing. Gravity, he says has specific characteristics and specific effects on massenergy and on space-time itself. It simply cannot be written off as “nothing”.

In approaching this discussion we have to recall that hard scientists need data that they can measure and analyse before they can proceed with their study and research. For the physicist, therefore, when certain principles or physical laws appear to be beyond what is immediately measurable, these can fall into the category of “nothing”: there is nothing there to preoccupy the enquiring mind in the first place.

As Christians who accept God as the transcendent Creator of all that exists, this difference over the use of words should not disturb us. Scientific opinion has no roots in faith and cannot be expected to conform in every respect with what we believe. Our faith remains: God creates freely out of nothing and not from anything that pre-exists creation.

F

 Send your queries to Open Door, Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000; or e-mail: opendoor@scross.co.za; or fax (021) 465 3850. Anonymity can be preserved by arrangement, but questions must be signed, and may be edited for clarity. Only published questions will be answered.

10

FAITH

The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

The healing power of relics Last week Fr SEAN WALES CSsR looked at the veneration of relics in other faiths. This week he looks at the practice of venerating relics in the Catholic Church.

I

T is not difficult to uncover the theological roots of a practice which sprang up spontaneously in the early Church: the veneration of relics.

From the understanding that we are “one body, one spirit” in Christ, the mystery of the Communion of Saints means that the lives and deaths of each of us have their influence on others (Rom 14:70).

The saints are our brothers and sisters in the faith and their death does not terminate their care for us; indeed we believe that their care and intercession is greatly enhanced through their present participation in the fullness of the Kingdom.

What we would now call the “theology of the body” means that our bodies are not flimsy envelopes which are thrown away at death; rather, in our highly incarnational religion we believe that the body— and indeed all matter—is part of the redeeming and transformative work of Christ. Our bodies participate in our sanctification here in this life and can continue to do so in the fullness of the Kingdom.

What is referred to in 2 Peter 1:4 as “sharing the divine nature” (and in Orthodox theology as “theosis”) has implications for our bodies.

This is expressed in Catholic tradition and teaching as “the Resurrection of the Body” and it means that our bodies significantly share in the transformation of all matter.

Hence the bodies of the saints can continue to radiate the grace and power of the Redeeming Christ.

In his masterpiece Summa Theologica, St Thomas Aquinas wrote: “[I]t is manifest that we should show honour to the saints of God, as being members of Christ, the children and friends of God, and

our intercessors.

“Wherefore in memory of them we ought to honour any relics of theirs in a fitting manner: principally their bodies, which were temples, and organs of the Holy spirit dwelling and operating in them, and are destined to be likened to the body of Christ by the glory of the Resurrection. Hence God himself fittingly honours such relics by working miracles at their presence” (Tertia Pars. Q.25 art 6).

Despite the very careful, sober and restrained presentation of the theology of relics by people like Aquinas, it has to be admitted that in the Middle Ages relics took on a significance far beyond their intrinsic importance.

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eople started going in droves to shrines of the saints and there quickly began the practice of bringing home some portion of the relics visited—to bring the saints to the people, as it were. The practice of buying relics led to many abuses and the whole “relics industry” distorted the spiritual meaning of relics.

Some outrageous claims by the Reformers of the 16th century added to the confusion and the reforming Council of Trent had to reassert the basic theological foundation for proper veneration of relics: “The sacred bodies of the holy martyrs and of the other saints living with Christ, which have been living members of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit and which are destined to be raised and glorified by him unto life eternal, should also be venerated by the faithful” (Council of Trent 1563, 24th session).

It is interesting that Trent deals with relics in the context of belief in saints and in the role of sacred images. This has been the constant practice of the Church down to and including the Second Vatican Council, the teachings of Pope Paul VI and John Paul II: that Christians, living or dead, are members of the Body of Christ, that they influence one another (imitation/example), that they can help one another (intercession)

Matron/Administrator

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Far left: St Thérèse in costume as St Joan of Arc.

and that the images (or relics) of the saints are ways of showing homage to the saints and that such homage and reverence leads directly to Christ the Lord.

E

arlier this months the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux left South Africa, having been exhibited throughout South Africa since June. Many people came to see and venerate her relics. Many experienced some form of healing.

When Thérèse died in 1897, some new local legislation about burials meant that she could not be buried within her Carmel convent, and so she was the first member of her community to be buried in the Carmelite plot in the public cemetery of Lisieux.

Stories of miracles and cures started circulating, and on May 26, 1908, a four-year old blind girl named Reine Fauquet instantaneously received her sight at Thérèse’s grave. This caused a sensation in the town and triggered a “shower of roses” in terms of cures, answers to prayers, graces and blessings.

Between 1907 and 1925 seven volumes of these “showers of Roses” were published.

The day Thérèse’s remains were exhumed and brought from the public cemetery back to the Carmel of Lisieux, on March 26, 1923, a seriously wounded soldier, paralysed for 15 months, began to walk as the carriage with the remains

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passed by. A young blind woman waiting at Carmel for the arrival of the relics felt her eyes open suddenly and she was able to contemplate the triumphant entrance of Thérèse into her Carmel. The next month Thérèse was beatified by Pope Pius XI, 26 years after her death.

That St Thérèse and her relics have been associated with the gift of healing ever since is very much in line with the history of the intercession of the saints in our tradition.

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hose who are “in Christ” share his ministry of healing. It is always Jesus who heals: he began his healing ministry in Palestine with numerous healings as recounted in the gospels. The healings Jesus worked are remembered in the gospels in many specific instances—with names or descriptions of the persons healed—and also in a general way.

“Going into Peter’s house Jesus found Peter’s mother-in-law in bed with fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. That evening they brought him many who were possessed by devils. He cast out the spirits with a word and cured all who were sick. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah: He took our sickness away and carried our diseases for us” (Mt 8:14-17).

Jesus explicitly commissioned his disciples to share in his healing ministry: “The Lord appointed 72

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others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them: ‘Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, the Kingdom of God is close at hand’” (Lk 10,1,8-90).

The healing that Jesus brings about (either directly by himself or though his disciples and saints) is not only a compassionate response to human suffering but points to something greater: to the Presence of the Kingdom and to the New Creation. “For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone and now the new one is here” (2Cor 5:17).

There has been a wonderful renewal of the ministry of healing among Christians; we have learned to pray for: healing of memories, healing of relationships, healing the wounds of sin, healing of our spirit.

The visit of the relics of St Thérèse around the world has alerted many to her continuing ministry: “If God grants my desires, my heaven will be spent on earth until the end of time. Yes, I want to spend my heaven doing good on earth.”  Fr Sean Wales is a former provincial of the Redemptorists in Southern Africa. This is the second and final of his articles on relics.

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The Southern Cross, October 13 to October 19, 2010

Sr Cora Tohill HC

S

ISTER Cora Maria (Peggy) Tohill was born into a large family of four boys and five girls, on July 5, 1928 in Swatragh, Co Derry, Northern Ireland.

She received her Secondary School education at Loreto Grammar School in Coleraine, Co Derry, and went on to train as a teacher at St Mary’s Training College in Belfast.

She taught near her home in a local school in Moneyglass for six years. She had a life-long love of teaching and working with children and young people.

In 1956, at the age of 27, she felt a call to missionary life and entered the Holy Cross Sisters in Belfast. She was first sent to the international novitiate in Switzerland.

There she learned German, which she later put to good use

when she was asked to act as a translator at the 1960 Eucharistic Congress in Munich. Sr Tohill made her First Profession in 1958 and taught in both South Africa and Zambia before returning to Belfast as novice directress.

When she returned to Africa, she took up teaching again in schools in Zimbabwe and South Africa, including Immaculata High School in Diepkloof, Soweto.

In her last school, Holy Cross Primary School in Aliwal North, she taught Grade 4.

Sr Tohill was a very dedicated and committed teacher. She was strict and insisted on high standards, but she loved the children and they loved her. In her latter years she suffered from a limp and the children always looked after her, waiting for her at the gate and holding her tightly till she got to school.

She had a passion for nature, flowers, plants and birds. She created and tended flower gardens wherever she was stationed.

She was prayerful, very conscientious about her life as a religious and was a good community member. She had a great devotion to Our Lady. She was quiet and loved her own company.

In her retirement in Fatima House in Aliwal North, daily adoration meant a lot to her. She bore the infirmities of old age with faith and patience.

Despite her growing weakness her death was unexpected, but she was ready to go home to God and died peacefully on July 1 in the presence of the Sisters. By God’s providence one of her nephews from Ireland had come out for the World Cup and had visited his aunt that morning.

May her good soul rest in peace.

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CONDOLENCES MCLOUGHLIN—Dear Fr Donald McLoughlin, no words can express our sincere sadness of the tragic loss of your brother. We extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family, and pray that God will give you all the strength and comfort at this time. Our prayers are with you and your family.

God bless. From Rev Malcolm and St Patrick’s La Rochelle community.

DEATH

COMMUNIT Y CALENDAR BETHLEHEM:  Shrine of Our Lady of Bethlehem at Tsheseng, Maluti mountains; Thursdays 09:30, Mass, then exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.  058 721 0532 CAPE TOWN:  Holy Redeemer, Bergvliet, Padre Pio Prayer group, 15:30, 3rd Sunday of the month. Dates for 2010: October 17 and November 21.  Adoration Chapel, Corpus Christi Church, Wynberg: Mon-Thurs 6am to 12pm; Fri-Sun 6am to 8pm. Adorers welcome  021-761 3337  Good Shepherd, Bothasig Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our chapel. All hours. All welcome.

JOHANNESBURG:  First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10:30.

First Saturday: Devotions: Our Lady’s Cenacle, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Rosary, 15:00–16:00. Special devotion to Our Blessed Lady for her priests. Our Lady of the Angels, Little Eden, Edenvale,  011 609 7246  First Saturday of each month rosary prayed 10:30-12:00 outside Marie Stopes abortion clinic, Peter Place, Bryanston.  Joan Beyrooti, 011 782 4331 KIMBERLEY:  St Boniface High School celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2011. The St Boniface Past Student’s Union is currently preparing to celebrate this event. Past students are requested to contact the Union’s PRO and chairman of the board of governors, Mr Mosalashuping Morundi  073 768 3653 or at sbonifa@iafrica.com for further information.

PRETORIA:  First Saturday: Devotion to Divine Mercy. St Martin de Porres, Sunnyside, 16:30.  Shirley-Anne 012 361 4545 To place your event, call Claire Allen on 021 465 5007, or e-mail c.allen@scross.co.za

All Souls Day Tuesday, 2 November 2010 His Grace, Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence Henry, will celebrate Holy Mass for the Souls in Purgatory at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 2 November 2010 in the All Souls Chapel, Woltemade Cemetery, Maitland, Gate 1.

Please make every effort to attend this Mass.

For further information contact Colette Thomas 083 412 4936 or 021 531 0550

St. Jude Society P.O.Box 22230 7974 FISH HOEK

Mass readings for the week Sundays year C, weekdays cycle 2

Sun October 10, 28th Sunday of the Year: Hb 1:2-3, 2,2-4; Ps 95:1-2,6-9; 2 Tm 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk 17:5-10 Mon October 11, feria: Gal 4:22-24,26-27,31-5,1; Ps 113:1-7; Lk 11:29-32 Tue October 12, feria: Gal 5:1-6; Ps 119:41,43-45,47-48; Lk 11:37-41 Wed October 13, feria: Gal 5:18-25; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 11:42-46 Thur October 14, St Callistus: Eph 1:1-10; Ps 98:1-6; Lk 11:47-54 Fri October 15, St Teresa of Avila: Eph 1:11-14; Ps 33:1-2,4-5,12-13; Lk 12:1-7 Sat October 16, Ss Hedwig; St Margaret Mary Alacoque: Eph 1:15-23; Ps 8:2-7; Lk 12:8-12 Sun October 17, 29th Sunday of the Year: Ex 17:8-13; Ps 121:1-8; 2 Tm 3:14-4,2 ; Lk 18:1-8

CULLIGAN—Monica Mary. Dearly beloved wife of Denis Culligan, mother of Beverley, Padraig, Barry and Kieran, and grandmother of Kieran, Leonie, Sean, Martin, Garret, Liam, Caitlin and Megan, passed away on September 29 after a short illness.

Deeply mourned by Culligan, Ballard-Tremeer and Botha members of the family.

MATTHEE—Merle.

Passed away suddenly on October 5. The Board of Directors, Editor, and staff of The Southern Cross extend their deepest condolences to Desiree and Bryane (Chanquin) and family on the death of their mother, mother-in-law and grandmother.

IN MEMORIAM

Thoughts for the Week on the Family FAMILY CALENDAR 2010 FAMILY THEME: “Families Play the Game.”

OCTOBER : ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE 17th 29th Sunday of the Year C. Christ always interceding for us. MISSION SUNDAY message of Pope Benedict XVI.” Building ecclesial communion is the key to mission.” The Sunday readings remind us that Jesus is with us, for us and behind us as the mission of the church to build the kingdom is his. How do we as families, as little churches of the home, play our part? Timothy in the 2nd reading challenges us to use Scripture to proclaim the message, refute falsehood, correct error and call to obedience. Families are encouraged to read the Scriptures, together as a family at home and word games and puzzles can also be used as teaching tools.

11

TUCK—Maureen.

Passed away October 13, 2009. In loving memory of our beloved wife, mother and gran. You are always in our hearts.

May your soul rest in peace. From your husband John and children John, Mary, Bernard and Margie and all the families.

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PRAYERS HOLY St Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor for all who invoke your special patron

in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to come to my assistance. Help me now in my urgent need and grant my petition. In return I promise to make your name known in publication of this prayer.

Amen. Gabriela Carvallo.

HOLY SPIRIT you who makes me see everything.

You showed me the way

to reach my ideal. You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget all that is done to me and you are in all the instincts of my life with me. I want to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory. This prayer should be said on 3 consecutive days, after the 3rd day, the request will be granted, no matter how difficult it may be. Promise to publish the entire dialogue with the condition of having your request granted. Farrel.

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Tel/fax:021 782 3647, alisona@xsinet.co.za GORDON’S BAY: Beau tiful en-suite rooms available at reasonable rates. Magnificent views, breakfast on request. Tel: 082 774 7140. E-mail: bzhive@telkomsa.net KNYSNA: Self-catering garden apartment for two in Old Belvidere with wonderful lagoon views. Tel: 044 387 1052.

KOLBE HOUSE is the Catholic Centre and residence for the University of Cape Town. Beautiful estate in Rondebosch near the university. From mid November, December and January, the students’

rooms are available for holiday guests. We offer self-catering accommodation, parking in secure premises. Short walks to shops, transport etc. Contact Jock 021 685 7370, fax 021 686 2342 or 082 308 0080 or kolbe.house@telkomsa.net MARIANELLA Guest House, Simon’s Town: “Come experience the peace and beauty of God with us.” Fully equipped with amazing sea views.

Secure parking, ideal for rest and relaxation. Special rates for pensioners and clergy. Tel: Malcolm Salida 082 784 5675 or mjsalida@mweb.co.za NEWLANDS—THE CATNAP: Self-catering accommodation available December/January.For details phone Leslie Pretorius 021 685 2821.

SEA POINT: Double room, own bathroom in heart of this prestigious suburb, near all amenities. Tel: 082 660 1200.

SOUTH COAST: 3 bedroom house, Marine Drive, Uvongo Tel: Donald 031 465 5651, 073 989 1074.

STELLENBOSCH: Five simple private suites (2 beds, fridge, microwave). Countryside vineyard/forest/moun tain walks; beach 20 minute drive. Affordable.

Christian Brothers Tel: 021 880 0242 / cbc—stel@mweb.co.za STRAND: Beachfront flat to let. Stunning views.

Fully furnished and equipped. Garage, one bedroom, sleeper couch in lounge. R375 per night for two people.  Brenda 082 822 0607.

UMHLANGA ROCKS: Fully equipped self-catering 3 bedroom, 2 bath room house, sleeps 6, sea view, 200 metres from beach, DStv. Tel: Holiday Division, 031 561 5838, holidays@lighthouse.co.za WILDERNESS: Rustic farm cottage. Sleeps five, self-catering. Ph 073 478 9038.thewoodvillecot tage@gmail.com

PO Box 2372, CAPE TOWN, 8000 Tel: (021) 465 5007 Fax: (021) 465 3850

www.scross.co.za Editor: Günther Simmermacher (editor@scross.co.za)

Advisory Editor: Michael Shackleton Editorial staff: Claire Mathieson (c.mathieson@scross.co.za)

Nadine Christians (n.christians@scross.co.za)

Claire Allen (c.allen@scross.co.za)

Manager: Pamela Davids (admin@scross.co.za)

Advertising: Elizabeth Hutton (advertising@scross.co.za)

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Accounts: Desirée Chanquin (accounts@scross.co.za) Published independently by the Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Company Ltd, Cape Town Opinions expressed in this newspaper do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, staff or directors of The Southern Cross.

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Published by the proprietors, The Catholic Newspaper & Publishing Co Ltd, at the company’s registered office, 10 Tuin Plein, Cape Town, 8001.

October 13 to October 19, 2010

SOUTHERN AFRICA’S NATIONAL CATHOLIC WEEKLY SINCE 1920 Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000  10 Tuin Plein, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001 Tel: (021) 465 5007  Fax: (021) 465 3850 Editorial: editor@scross.co.za  Advertising/Subscriptions/Accounts: admin@scross.co.za

30th Sunday—Year C (October 24th) Readings: Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14, 16-18 Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18, Luke 18:9-14

W

HO does God listen to? Not the ones you might expect, according to the readings for next Sunday.

Again and again, unless we are careful, we shall find ourselves unconsciously supposing that God prefers the prayers of “people like us”. The first reading, however, written for Jews trying to live out their faith in an increasingly hostile and sceptical society, insists that “the Lord is a just judge, and does not engage in snobbery with regard to the destitute; he listens to those who have suffered wrong”. The standard test for religion is, and should remain, “what have you done for the orphan and the widow?”, because those are the people in whom God is interested; “the prayer of the humble passed through the cloud”. And the cloud, of course, is the standard metaphor in Judaism and Christianity for the presence of God that is experienced also as absence.

The psalm, as so often, is an exuberant song of enthusiasm: “I shall bless the Lord at all times.” And the word “humble” reappears from our first reading. “The humble shall hear and rejoice,” he sings, in an untranslatable

The winner of the gold medal Fr Nicholas King SJ

Scriptural Reflections Hebrew pun, and “the Lord is near to the broken-hearted”. We might find it profitable to ask this week whether we really believe this, that God is really on the side of those who are at the bottom of the heap, and whether that should make a difference to what we shall be doing on Monday.

The second reading is a lovely passage from a letter purporting to come from Paul as a very old man, in prison awaiting execution.

Once again, this is not the kind of person whom (unless you stop and think about it) you would expect God to take seriously; but that is what Paul claims: “I am already poured out as an offering, and the time of my dissolution is imminent.” Then he uses two metaphors from athletics to make his point: “I have played a great game; I have completed

the marathon,” but above all, “I have kept the faith.”

That is our task, no matter how weary or exhausted we may be. Then he continues the sporting metaphor, “the gold medal of righteousness is being kept aside for me, which the Lord, that impartial referee/umpire, is going to award me on That Day”. Then he adds, to make the point, “and not just me, but all those who have loved his appearance”.

This is odd, of course, because normally only one person wins the gold medal; but that is God for you. Paul makes the point that he is utterly alone: “No one stood by me at my first trial...but the Lord did stand by me, and gave me power...and I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” He knows that it is all God’s doing.

This is of course in stark contrast to our normal behaviour; so the parable that constitutes the gospel for next Sunday is delivered to “some people who were self-confident about being righteous, and who despised the rest”. The parable is deeply shocking. The characters are “two men went up to the Temple to pray”. That is a familiar enough activity, and we are not surprised to discover that

The world in 1920

O

CTOBER 16 this year is a great day for The Southern Cross because it was on Saturday of that date 90 years ago that the first issue of this great newspaper went on sale.

In Durban’s Emmanuel cathedral alone, 800 copies of the initial print run of 3 500 were sold. Within weeks, circulation increased to 6 000, making The Southern Cross one of the biggest South African weekly newspapers of the time.

Quite remarkable is the fact that not once over these nine decades has this newspaper missed a publication.

What was the world like in those days, I wonder?

Well, January 1920 sees the establishment of the South Africa Air Force and later in the year Prince Arthur of Connaught is appointed the third GovernorGeneral of the Union of South Africa.

Olive Schreiner, author and feminist, dies in Wynberg, Cape Town Lt Col Pierre van Ryneveld and Flight Lieutenant Christopher Joseph (Flossie) Quintin-Brand leave London on February 4, 1920 from Brooklands Aerodrome in Surrey, England, in a Vickers Vimy named the “Silver Queen” in an attempt to be the first to fly from Britain to Cape Town.

On February 27, the competing aircraft crashed at Tabora in Tanganyika, without injury. The “Silver Queen II” crashes in Bulawayo due to being overloaded on March 6. The hot and high conditions over Africa are taking their toll.

But, the South African government and the two South African pilots are determined that they would be the first airmen to complete an end-to-end trip to their homeland. Another aircraft, this time a de Havilland DH9, part of the Imperial Gift, is flown to Bulawayo and handed over to the

083 640 5848

Chris Moerdyk

The Last Word two pilots.

Their journey resumes on March 17, and the aviators land three days later at Young’s Field, Wynberg, Cape Town.

Their mail cargo of letters had been transferred from aircraft to aircraft and so safely reaches its destination.

Their flight took a total of 45 days with a flight time of 109 hours and 30 minutes.

Meanwhile at the Vatican, Joan of Arc is canonised. Over 30 000 people attend the ceremony in Rome, including 140 descendants of Joan’s family. Pope Benedict XV presides over the rite, for which the interior of St Peter’s basilica in Rome is richly decorated.

In October 1920 the world’s first domestic radio sets come to stores in the United States; Adolf Hitler makes his first public political speech in Austria; Polish troops take Vilnius; a large part of Carinthia province votes to become part of Austria rather than Yugoslavia; the Polish army captures Tarnopol, Dubno, Minsk, and Dryssa and a ceasefire is enforced; a peace treaty between the Soviet and the Finnish governments is concluded at Tartu.

Thousands of unemployed demonstrate in London; the League of Nations moves its headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland.

Earlier in the year the New York state

CONRAD WHOSE BRIGHT IDEA WAS IT TO CHANGE FROM THE ORIGINAL GREEK ALL THOSE YEARS AGO?

assembly refuses to seat five duly elected Socialist assemblymen as thousands of onlookers watch as “The Human Fly”, George Polley, climb the New York Woolworth building. He reaches the 30th floor before being arrested. Prohibition begins in the United States with the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution coming into effect.

The Australian Country Party is officially formed, led by Nelson Pollard. On January 28, Turkey gives up the Ottoman Empire and most of the non-Turkish areas. On February 9, the League of Nations gives Spitsbergen to Norway.

On February 17, a woman named Anna Anderson tries to commit suicide in Berlin and is taken to a mental hospital, where she claims she is Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia.

Irish War of Independence: The Black and Tans special constables arrive in Ireland. On March 31, the Government of Ireland Act 1920 is presented in the British parliament.

April 4, 1920 Palestine riots: Violence erupts between Arab and Jewish residents in Jerusalem; nine killed, 216 injured. The 1920 Summer Olympics open in Antwerp, Belgium.

The first flight of Dutch air company KLM, from Amsterdam to London, takes place. On June 12, the Red Army retakes Kiev and a month later the London County Council bars foreigners from council jobs.

On July 31, France prohibits the sale or prescription of contraceptives.

August—The British parliament passes a bill to restore order in Ireland, suspending jury trials. Catholics riot in Belfast. The town hall of Templemore, Ireland, is burned down during the riots. The Flying Squad is formed in the London Metropolitan Police.

November 21—Bloody Sunday: British forces open fire on spectators and players during a football match in Dublin’s Croke Park, killing 14 Irish civilians. This follows the assassination of 12 British agents by the IRA in an earlier attack elsewhere.

December 11—Martial law is declared in Ireland.

Born in a tempestuous year, The Southern Cross has survived all manner of hurdles—political, financial and logistical.

With your support here’s hoping it will last another 90 glorious years.  Look out for our special anniversary edition on October 27.

“one was a Pharisee”, for the Pharisees were good men, whose aim was to live the purity demanded of Israel in such a way that the Messiah would be able to come. The other character, however, is a definite shock to the system, for he is “a tax-collector!”.

These were corrupt, collaborators with Rome, traitors to their own people, dishonest frauds who were not above handling unclean goods. You may say that they did not have much going for them. But see what happens next: the Pharisee offers a list of things that marks him out as having God’s pleasure: “I give you thanks that I am not like the rest of humanity,” he says, and gives a sharp glance at “this tax-collector here”.

Now we are invited to listen to the prayer of the tax collector, and it is astonishing: “God—have mercy on me, a sinner,” as he “stands a long way off, reluctant even to raise his eyes to heaven”. Then we cannot conceal our amazement as we hear Jesus’ verdict: “I’m telling you: this [tax-collector] went home far more in God’s favour than that [Pharisee]”.

How is God going to listen to you this week?

Southern Crossword #414

ACROSS 1. English poet with papal connection (4) 3. One who’s had chrism applied (8) 9. Driving force (7) 10. Of low intelligence (5) 11. Without any faith (12) 13. Ali Baba’s opening word (6) 15. Division of the liturgical year (6) 17. How to handle problems when out walking (2,4,6) 20. David’s deadly weapon (5) 21. A Noble A mollusc (7) 22. Considered and gazed at (8) 23. Money due (4)

DOWN 1. She heads the convent (8) 2. Reference to the bishop of Rome (5) 4. Greek hero of Troy (6) 5. Highly educated one (12) 6. Wants liquid refreshment (7) 7. It prevents flooding in the lowlands (4) 8. One in charge of parish concert (5,7) 12. Kind of exposure that’s improper (8) 14. Kind of feeling St Peter had (7) 16. Get away quickly (6) 18. A hole prized by golfers (2,3) 19. He applies (4)

SOLUTIONS TO #413. ACROSS: 3 Archivist, 8 Amen, 9 Sepulchre, 10 Hooded, 11 Pearl, 14 Moist, 15 Salt, 16 Ships, 18 Gong, 20 Tithe, 21 Salem, 24 Denied, 25 Cupbearer, 26 Mean 27 Repentant. DOWN: 1 Pay homage, 2 Devotions, 4 Rued, 5 House, 6 Vicars, 7 Sari, 9 Sects, 11 Priam, 12 Last rites, 13 Attendant, 17 Steer, 19 Gabble, 22 Enact, 23 Rule, 24 Dean.

CHURCH CHUCKLE “How many people work here at the Vatican?” a vistor asked the pope.

The pope shrugged his shoulders and replied: “About half of them.”

Send us your favourite Catholic joke, preferably clean and brief, to The Southern Cross, Church Chuckle, PO Box 2372, Cape Town, 8000.