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LOCAL
The Southern Cross, January 19 to January 25, 2011
Archbishop appointed Grand Prior By CLAIRE MATHIESON
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URING his first trip to the Holy Land, Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town was instated at the Grand Prior of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Selpulchre of Jeruselem. The international order, which has its origins in the First Crusade, has had a presence in South Africa, under the guidance of the branch of England and Wales (also known as a lieutenancy), where the order is well recognised. By placing Archbishop Brislin as the Grand Prior, a South African lieutenancy can be established. “As Grand Prior, I will be responsible for the order in South Africa,” Archbishop Brislin said, adding that he will be assisted by an ecclesiastical chaplain who will take care of the day to day running of the order. The Archbishop said he was excited about his involvement as the order does not discriminate against the gender of its members and pointed out that it was an order of volunteers from all walks of life, “not just religious men or women”. The Order of the Holy Sepul-
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HESE are the names of the Associates of The Southern Cross, who have contributed to our Associate’s Campaign in 2010. The Chairman of the Board and Editor of The Southern Cross thank the Associates and contributors for their generous support. By becoming Associates or contributing otherwise, they have helped put The Southern Cross on a safer financial footing. They have also assisted us in our apostolic outreach. Thanks to our Associates, every seminarian in South Africa now has access to the weekly Catholic newspaper. The newspaper is also sent to prisons for inmates who wish to follow a Christian way of life, and to the Catholic university chaplaincies. These needs are ongoing. Existing Associates will be invited to renew their support for The Southern Cross as their annual associateship expires. Readers who have not yet done so may become Associates at any time. Cardinal McCann Associates are those who contributed R1 500 or more to the Campaign; Maximilian Kolbe Associates between R500 and R1 500; St Francis de Sales Associates between R100 and R499. An annual Mass is celebrated for the intentions of our Associates on January 24, feast day of St Francis de Sales, patron of journalists, and on All Soul’s Day for the deceased Associates and deceased family members of Associates.
chre was founded to protect the Holy Sepulchre, the tomb in which Christ was buried. Today the order’s objective is to help ensure the Holy Land is preserved through three acts: to pray for the Holy Land, to encourage pilgrimages and to raise funds to assist Christians in Palestine through education and development programmes. Having just returned from his first pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Archbishop Brislin said he was inspired to encourage others to become pilgrims as it has changed the way he sees things. “The Gospel has come alive! It doesn’t change the things that I have said and done but the pilgrimage has allowed the Gospel to come alive and [has] given me new insight,” he said. Archbishop Brislin said there were many special moments during the pilgrimage. “To walk where Jesus walked, to rub shoulders with the descendants of those who rubbed shoulders with Jesus, to celebrate Mass where significant events occurred—it was all deeply spiritual,” he said.
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Visiting the Holy Land, the archbishop said he was able to appreciate the complexity of the arguments in the Holy Land and described staying in Bethlehem as a “real eye-opener”. The Archbishop said pilgrimage is a time of prayer and should be considered by all. “Everybody should go! It’s difficult to put into words just how amazing the city is and the journey that one takes while there.” He added that facilitators like The Southern Cross and Val Tangney were providing “excellent opportunities” for people to go on pilgrimage. Archbishop Brislin described his experience as deeply moving as he saw young and old from different religions praying and bringing “their deepest sufferings to God”. He said the atmosphere of millions praying was stirring. One of the most memorable things said to him were words from a waiter, said Archbishop Brislin. “I told the waiter that it was my first time to Palestine and I was having a wonderful experience. The waiter looked at me and simply said ‘Welcome home’.”
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ASSOCIATES CARDINAL McCANN ASSOCIATES Rev Bishop Edward Adams, Oudtshoorn; Mr Nigel Bands, Newton Park; Mr Christopher Bradley, Vyeboom; Mr Louis P Chappel, Springs; Mr Desmond Cox, Rondebosch; Mr Michael Denoon, Klein Nederburg, Durbanville; Mr Benjamin Diab, Randburg; Diocese of Dundee, Newcastle; Mrs Margaret du Toit, Stirling, East London; Professor Brian Figaji, Durbanville; Rev Fr Alois Ganserer, Bloemfontein; Mr Robin Goestsch, Polokwane; Mr Ronald Graef, Glenvista; Professor Patricia Harrison, St James; Mr & Mrs Adrian & Marie Laros, Denneoord, George; Marist Brothers - Rondebosch; Missionary Sisters of the Assumption, Highlands North; Mr Christopher Moerdyk, Glencairn; Miss Sheila J Mullany, Vredehoek; Cheryl Nolan, Meredale; Mr Gavin O'Connor, Durbanville; Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Durbanville; Mr Kurt Overton, Gardenview; Frank Parau, Randfontein; Dr Mulimisi Ramavhuya, Musina; Mrs Marie Luise Reid, Alrode; Eileen Reynolds, Mowbray; Bishop Emeritus Michael Rowland OFM, Wasbank; Mr Henk Schoots, Edgemead; Mr Paul Schwieger, Swakopmund, Namibia; St Michaels Catholic Church, Rondebosch; Mr David G Taylor, Constantia; Mrs Lorna Wicks, Kokstad
ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE ASSOCIATES Mr Peter Attenborough, Fish Hoek; Prof D W Brokensha, Fish Hoek; Mr Patrick Cosgrove, Simonstown; Mrs Adele Dawson, Parklands; Manny de Freitas, Cleveland; Mrs Merrilyn de Gersigny, Durban; Shelagh de Vries, Somerset West; Miss A T Downs, Primrose; Dr Elizabeth Fisher, Durban; Maria Frade, Randfontein; Mr Mervyn Gatcke, East London; Mrs Jackie
Harper, Claremont; Knights of da Gama, Edenvale; Dr Nicholas Luyckx, Bryanston; Pauline Books and Media, Johannesburg; Dr George Pillay, Bellville South; Mr Christopher Rasefako, Gaberone, Botswana; Mr Henk Rubidge, Sea Point; Mr Peter Sangiorgio, Oranjezicht; Samantha Singh; Sts Simon & Jude Parish, Simonstown; Mrs Michelle Trevor, Muizenberg; Dr Johannes van der Mey, Amsterdamhoek, Port Elizabeth; Mr Hans K Wagner, Stirling, East London; Mr Ashley Theron Williams, Malabar, Port Elizabeth; Mr Mark Yazbek, East London;
ST FRANCIS DE SALES ASSOCIATES Mrs Monica Alson, Elsies River; Mrs Jacqueline Barbot, Morningside, Durban; Mr Beeh Dhlongolo, Olifantsfontein; Dr Francis Diab, Tyger Valley; Mr Lawrence Gorman, Scottburgh; Rev Joseph Ovis, Holy Rosary Church, O'Kiep; Mary Lack, Rondebosch; Mrs Evelyn Lebona, Ladybrand; Clive Leon, Primrose; V T Mangan, Port Elizabeth; Mr Carl Maske, Gordon's Bay; Richard & Val Matten, Mowbray; Mr Brian O'Reilly, Uitenhage; Mrs Bernadette Patterson, Red Hill, Durban; Mr Arthur Pieterse , Durbanville; Mr Kenny Rangasamy, East London; Sadie Family, Sandringham; Mrs Joan Swanson, Kenridge, Durbanville; Ms Diane Towers, Greytown; Mr Peter D Yazbek, Bloemfontein
DONATIONS Mrs Margaret Baxter, Gonubie; Garreth Bloor; C Collignon; Mr Paul de Chalain, Umhlanga Rocks; Mrs Hazel de Kock, Tableview; FPR, Oudtshoorn; Mr Johannes Gumede, Bramley Gardens; Mrs Bridget Kurian, Mthatha; Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood Ashwood; Mrs Estelle Moodaley, Malabar, Port Elizabeth; L Parker; Mrs J B Tory, Berea
■ Should you wish to become an Associate now, please contact Pamela Davids at (021) 465 5007 or e-mail admin@scross.co.za for further details.
Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town is installed as Grand Prior of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal. The Archbishop said it was a simple thing to say but it held much meaning. While many experience similar feelings while in the Holy Land, Archbishop Brislin said his appointment to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre made his trip particularly special on a personal note. It was also the first time a Grand Prior has been installed by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Arhbishop Fouad Twal, in his pri-
vate chapel. The archbishop said he was looking forward to growing the order, only made up of six members in South Africa, slowly to ensure its effectiveness. He added that his highly enlightening pilgrimage was fuelling his enthusiasm for the new position. Those interested in finding out more can contact Msgr Clifford Stokes at the Cape Town Chancery at 021 462 2417.
Redemptorists re-elect provincial superior, shuffle personnel STAFF REPORTER
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HE Redemptorists in South Africa have re-elected Fr Larry Kaufmann to serve as provincial superior for the next four years. The provincial council consists of Fr Sean Wales (vicar) and Br Richard Maidwell. This month also sees a reshuffling of personnel with Fr Wales as superior and parish priest at the Monastery in Bergvliet, Cape Town; Fr Wandile Dingiswayo as superior and parish priest at Retreat, Cape Town; Fr Anthony Padua in Rustenburg; and Fr Scott Davidson as prefect of students in Merrival, and parish priest of Howick. Frs Cecil Dowling and Sizwe Zungu will form the core parish mission team, with Fr Zungu also appointed vocations director. With reference to the parish mission apostolate, the Redemptorists believe it is time for some “stock-taking”, exploring new models. They will be holding a twoweek mission symposium/preaching academy early in the year, which will include Redemptorist mission preachers from Zimbabwe, Kenya and Nigeria, Fr Kaufmann said. “One of the new approaches to parish missions will probably involve an initial week of retreats and workshops for various groups in a parish, from those in pastoral
leadership—such as parish councils—to proclaimers of the word, ministers of communion, religious educators, those separated and divorced, the bereaved, and the youth,” he said. Last September and October, Fr Gerard McCabe CSsR spearheaded a new model at Rivonia parish in Johannesburg. Titled “Why Believe?”, Fr McCabe’s four-week series of talks on difficulties and opportunities to faith attracted over 200 participants each week, with Fr Kaufmann describing it as “a journey of exploration”. “The talks dealt with plausible modern philosophical challenges to faith, the problem of evil and suffering, and finally the person of Jesus, in his humanity, as showing us the way to faith in a personal God,” he said. Fr Kaufmann said that Redemptorist Pastoral Publications has been increasing production of its weekly Catholic Link from 23 000 a few years ago to 60 000 today. The short booklets the Catholic Link produces also continue “to reach many, complementing the spoken word during missions”, Fr Kaufmann said. The most recent example is the book published “Why Are You Weeping?” which arose from the practice during parish missions of dedicating an evening to the bereaved.
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