The Southern Cross, February 19 to February 25, 2014
LOCAL
Friends and prayer are key for priests
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By HuGH LAGAN SMA
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HERE persists within popular culture a belief that Catholic priests live lonely and unhappy lives. Furthermore, the commitment to a celibate lifestyle by clergy is often assumed to stunt psychological health and promote psychosexual deviancy. These assumptions are challenged by the findings of recent research undertaken by Mgr Stephen Rossetti, with representative samples of Catholic clergy in the United States. His research suggests that the majority of priests experience high levels of satisfaction in their personal lives and public ministry. Similar work satisfaction studies across a broad sampling of occupations repeatedly report clergy as being the most satisfied of any career. Intuitively, these findings make sense as the ministry affords clergy the opportunity to live out their deepest convictions within a community of believers who share their values of compassion, service and social justice. While priests are as vulnerable as any other occupation to work stress and personnel challenges, these research findings would seem to suggest that the majority of priests enjoy being priests. The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s Ongoing Formation Committee, in collaboration with the Society of African Missions and the archdioceses of Cape Town and Johannesburg, recently welcomed Mgr Rossetti to South Africa for a series of symposiums and workshops. He is considered one of the
Dominican novicemaster Fr Albert Nolan with novices (from left) Brs Boiketlo Mohlokoane, Sikhosiphi Mgoza, Ernest Mwape and Guide Marambanyika.
Mgr Stephen Rossetti addresses the symposium for priests in Pinelands, Cape Town. leading international authorities on the psychospiritual health of Catholic clergy and has written several books and numerous articles on topics related to priestly wellness. In a series of workshops, Mgr Rossetti spoke about his research and what predicts happiness among Catholic priests. Key factors include a personal relationship with God, commitment to daily prayer, living a purposeful life, a strong love for the sacraments, a realistic self-image, healthy friendships, good selfcare practices, a positive view of celibacy and respect for religious authority. Detrimental factors undermining priestly happiness included loneliness, anger management problems, sexual conflicts, low self-esteem and dysfunctional early life. The importance of healthy, appropriate and supportive interpersonal relationships was repeatedly emphasised by Mgr
Rossetti. He found in his research that the strongest predictor of a positive relationship with God was having close friends. The practice of daily prayer was also found to be a powerful protective factor against depression, emotional exhaustion and loneliness in the lives of clergy. There is no question that priests experience many challenges in the daily living out of this commitment within a secular culture which provides little validation. However, they also experience many consolations. The SACBC Ongoing Formation Committee is tasked to promote wellness among clergy and religious and facilitates annual sabbatical programmes and educational workshops. Many priests who attended the clergy day symposiums in Cape Town and Johannesburg reported feeling affirmed in their vocational calling and challenged to live their priestly lives with joy and gratitude.
Dominicans on the move STAFF REPORTER
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HE year has started with great forward momentum for South Africa’s Dominican order as 20 Dominican friars gathered at La Verna, Johannesburg, for their annual retreat which saw not only a special time of bonding but multiple professions too. This year’s retreat was directed by Fr Bafana Hlatshwayo CSsR. After the retreat, the friars held their annual assembly. The theme this year was “Our Dominican heritage in Southern Africa”, in preparation for the 800th anniversary of order, in 2016. Br Damazio Ngoma was ordained to the deaconate by Bishop Peter Holiday of Kroonstad. Many priests of the Kroonstad diocese and other friends came for the occasion. Br Damazio, together with Br Neil
Mitchell, had been training future deacons for the diocese. Br Damazio has now been transferred to EmaPhethelweni Priory in Pietermaritzburg where he will be the chaplain to university students while finishing his doctorate in moral theology. Br Damazio comes from Malawi, where he studied for the priesthood, and then came to Johannesburg, where he worked as a gardener for several years before joining the Dominicans. He did his novitiate in Nairobi, Kenya. The assembly took place in the presence of two official visitors from Rome—Fr Dominic Izzo, the assistant to the master general for North America, and Fr Gabriel Samba, the assistant for Africa, who were on an official canonical visit to the Dominican friars of Southern Africa.
Jo’burg holds a Day of Prayer By PORTIA MTHEMBu
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HRISTIANS from the archdiocese of Johannesburg gathered in Pimville, Soweto, where a Day of Prayer was held. Archbishop Buti Tlhagale was requested by the archdiocesan sodalities to pray for the evils present in communities around the country. “Rapes, killings, Satanism, drug and alcohol abuse, abuse of
women and children, crimes in our communities and churches, abortions, accidents on the roads and many others are rife in our country”, Odilon Molapo, head of evangelisation, said. “As Christians we feel like we have lost our moral fibre and human values, ubuntu, and we are asking God to intervene and help us,” he said. The Day of Prayer commenced with a procession from Maponya Mall to the Nike Devel-
opment and Training Centre, to proclaim to all Christians that “Christ wants all people to live in peace and harmony, not with all the evil that is affecting us these days,” Veronica Pieterson, from the Department of Evangelisation, told The Southern Cross. Benediction, prayers and praise and worship also formed part of the event, which culminated in Mass concelebrated by the archbishop and priests of the archdiocese.
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