The
S outhern C ross
March 4 to March 10, 2015
reg No. 1920/002058/06
Sizanani founder priest dies at 81
No 4914
www.scross.co.za
Ntabeni: Meet a new day in Lent
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r7,00 (incl VaT rSa)
St John XXIII’s church in Istanbul
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Bishops post synod survey on Internet By STuarT GraHaM
Pop star Daniel Baron promoted his upcoming new album, Apollo, which is due to be released on March 12, at Holy rosary School in edenvale, Johannesburg. Baron, an ex-De La Salle pupil and parishioner of Victory Park in Johannesburg, spoke about his faith in a Southern Cross interview in the christmas issue. He is known for hits such as “So Much More”, “Not Here” and “all Over Now”. He is seen here with Holy rosary Grade 9 pupils Daniella ribeiro, Bontleng Dibakwane, chrislin Nieuwoudt and amy Law.
Swiss Guard on popes’ top dishes By Laura IeracI
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COOKBOOK featuring favourite dishes of the three most-recent popes and their elite military corps will be published in English this year. Buon Appetito, Swiss Guard was written by David Geisser, 24, who had worked as a chef and published two popular cookbooks in his native Switzerland before joining the Swiss Guard nearly two years ago. “Many people do not know about the Swiss Guard,” said Mr Geisser, whose commander conceived of the coffee-table-size book as a means to make the Guard better known. The book serves as a fascinating and unlikely point of entry into the daily life, history and tradition of one of the world’s most enigmatic military corps. The book’s more than 70 recipes are organised into nine main sections, including everyday meals, holiday dishes and desserts, recipes from the guards’ two favourite Roman restaurants, and dishes from three towns on the outskirts of Rome where the guards often go on days off. The truth of the old adage, when in Rome do as the Romans do, comes to life in the section on everyday meals. The soldiers are all Swiss, but the Polish sisters who run the kitchen cook mostly Italian cuisine, said Mr Geisser. Daily meals tend to the richer side, with lots of cheese, creams and butter, and in-
clude pastas, soups, meat and fish. While the Swiss Guard keeps the traditional practice of Friday abstinence from meat, soldiers are not required to fast, even during Lent, “because of the needs of the work,” Mr Geisser said. There are no restrictions on their diet, as they burn lots of energy in training and on the job. The book also includes guards’ mealtime prayers. Perhaps the book’s biggest draw is the section of regional menus based on the tastes of the three most-recent pontiffs. The menu inspired by Pope Francis consists of Argentine classics: empanadas (dough pockets stuffed with meat, cheese or vegetables), a beef dish called colita de cuadril and the milk-based dulce de leche for dessert. German sausage salad, schweinsbraten (southern German roast pork) and baked cherries with whipped cream are on the menu inspired by retired Pope Benedict XVI. And Polish pierogi (stuffed potato dumplings), a stuffed beef roll and beets, and apple tart are included as having been among St John Paul II’s favourites. “Good food is important” for an army to stay “motivated and ready”, said Geisser, whose term with the Swiss Guard was due to end at the end of February. He will return to Switzerland, where he said he has a few projects simmering, including plans for a new cookbook. The original German hardcover edition was released in October.—CNS
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VATICAN questionnaire dealing with controversial topics of divorce, co-habitation and “same sex attraction” has been distributed to parishes around the country ahead of the family synod in Rome this October—and Southern African Catholics can respond to it on the Internet. The questionnaire, which covers many of the issues that caused heated debate at last year’s family synod, calls on Catholics to “create an accurate picture of family life”. “This is an open debate which we hope will assist the Church in responding more generously and mercifully to family issues while still maintaining the Church’s values,” said Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria, spokesman for the Southern African Bishops’ Conference (SACBC). In December the Vatican sent the world’s bishops’ conferences a list of 46 questions asking them to consult with “academic institutions, organisations, lay movements and other ecclesial associations” in preparing their responses. The responses, due to be returned to the Vatican by mid-April, will be the basis for the working document for the synod, which will run from October 4-25. The SACBC’s Internet survey closes on March 27. In the run-up to the 2014 synod, a list of 38 questions was sent to the world’s bishops. The bishops of England and Wales posted the questionnaire on the Internet with the invitation for public responses. Other bishops’ conferences, including those of Germany, Switzerland and Japan, published the findings before the synod. The questionnaire for the 2015 synod encourages discussion on the Church’s pastoral response on issues such as divorce, the sanctity of life, cohabitation and homosexuality,. While the basics of Catholic doctrine will not change, the synod will discuss the pastoral application of Church teachings. On a proposal to make it easier for a divorced and civilly remarried Catholic to receive Communion, the questionnaire asks: “How can we respond compassionately to
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people in irregular unions while remaining faithful to the teachings of Christ and the Church,” asks a follow-up question. Questions 12 asks whether Catholics understand and accept the Church’s teaching on “the transmission of life”. The questionnaire later asks what pastoral care is being given to those who have participated in abortions. Homosexuality is dealt with in question 30 which asks: “How serious a concern is the pastoral care of those with same sex attraction.” The questionnaire, which clearly is addressed also to pastors, asks how many couples are known to be cohabiting in the parish and whether they intend to marry. It also asks whether polygamy is “a significant issue in your parish” and “how widespread the problem is”. The Vatican has urged bishops’ conferences to voice responses with “a formulation of pastoral care based simply on an application of doctrine”. Archbishop Slattery said the SACBC would prepare a national report for the Vatican, based on the responses. It is not certain whether the Southern African report will be made public. Some conferences have already said that their questionnaire results will not be publicised. Archbishop Slattery said the purpose of the questionnaire is to encourage “open debate”. “Above all we want to point out the beauty and the importance of family life,” he said. “We know family life can be difficult. What is the role of the spirit of Christ in preparing us for married life? How can we deal with difficulties in family life?” Issues such as “dealing with a world where divorce and marriage break-up is common place” and protecting children in fragile marriages must be discussed. “We must also look at situations of people who are divorced and remarried,” he said. Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town and Bishop Zolile Mpambani of Kokstad have been selected to represent the SACBC region at the synod which will have as its theme “The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the modern world”. n The Internet survey can be filled in at www.surveymonkey.com/r/SACBC-family
Rome, Assisi, Florence, Siena, Padua, Milan, Venice and more 6 - 18 September 2015