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The Southern cross, July 29 to JulAugust 4, 2015
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Ignatian Day focus on loneliness BY DYLAN APPOLiS
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New priests (from left) Fr Basilio chilequene cMM, Fr Nkosinathi Vezi, Bishop Pius Dlungwane, Fr Thamsanqa Njiyela cMM and Fr Mandla Mchunu cMM. (Photo: Mauricio Langa)
Bishop: priests to be with the faithful BY MAuRiciO LANgA
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RDAINING four priests and two deacons at St Joseph’s cathedral in Mariannhill, Bishop Pius Dlungwane said: “We need committed priests who spend more time ministering to the people rather than priests who spend time in offices or indoors.” Three of the newly-ordained priests—Frs Basilio Fernando Chilequene, Thamsanqa Paulos Njiyela and Mandla Raphael Mchunu—are members of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, while Fr Nkosinathi Moses Vezi was ordained for the diocese of Mariannhill. The newly ordained deacons were Mthembeni Cosmas Khwela and Falakhe Issac Nyuswa. Bishop Dlungwane warned the ordinands that being ordained into priesthood does not mean that “you have made it” and that now it is time for relaxation. “It is a time in which you have to begin from scratch again.” One of the most important aspects of being a priesr is the ability to understand and embrace the ministry you have chosen in accepting God’s call, the bishop said.
He urged the newly-ordained priests and deacons to constantly strive to be real leaders in the Church, adding that such leadership qualities would be evidenced by their exercise of the virtues of compassion, understanding and love for the people they are ministering to and the people they are working with. “Today we are encouraging these young men whom we are ordaining to embrace God’s call and also to be honest in their ministry and never lose focus,” said Bishop Dlungwane. The bishop also addressed the clergy present at the ordination, saying office work was not a priest’s primary duty. Priests should work closely with members of the faithful to help them in bureaucratic tasks, counting the offertory collection, collecting pledges (isondlo) and so on. The bishop said priests can then supervise such helpers instead of “wanting to do everything” themselves. Mariannhill cathedral was filled to capacity, with a large number of people following the Mass from TV screens mounted outside. People came from as far as Mozambique and Zambia.
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METHODIST minister and author in Ignatian spirituality drew a record audience for the annual Ignatian Day, hosted by the Jesuit Institute at McAuley House School in Johannesburg. Rev Trevor Hudson, author of A Mile in My Shoes and The Way of Transforming Discipleship, outlined different “faces” of loneliness in his keynote address. He noted the different types of loneliness: the loneliness of grief, of superficial relationships, of depression, and of responsibility. Almost 200 people from a range of Christian denominations packed the school hall to listen to Rev Hudson. This was a record number for the 15-year-old event, said Annemarie Paulin-Campbell, who heads up the Jesuit Institute School of Spirituality. “We had people drawn to the event who have never experienced Ignatian spirituality yet.” Ignatian Day “brings together many people who are giving Ignatian retreats, parish retreats and engaging in the ministry of spiritual direction,” Dr Paulin-Campbell said. “It’s also a great opportunity to share something of the rich heritage of St Ignatius Loyola with people new to Ignatian spirituality.” Rev Hudson also spoke on friendship with God, and invited
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N agreement to curb Iran’s development of nuclear weapons while allowing it to continue to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is a “vindication of the principle of dialogue in international affairs”, Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office director Fr Peter-John Pearson has said. The Vienna Agreement—between Iran and the United States, France, Russia, China, Germany and Britain—will also end sanctions against Iran and allow it to resume normal trade and unfreezing of bil-
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people to respond to God’s invitation to friendship. Using the example of “Jesus the friend” he encouraged those gathered to reflect on the friendship God desires with each one of us, and ways that we can nurture that friendship. After the address, participants were able to join workshops on topics such as “Finding God in all things”, “Journalling as a spiritual practice”, “Unhooking from our busy life: The examined life is worth living” and “Why make the Spiritual Exercises?”. Jesuit Grant Tungay offered a well-received workshop on Pope
Francis’ new encyclical Laudato Si’, while Fr Anthony Egan SJ gave a lecture on “Turbulent priests and the prophetic calling”, which focused on the late archbishops Denis Hurley and Oscar Romero. Fr Egan also performed a oneman play on the life of Archbishop Romero, which he scripted and had previously performed at the National Festival of the Arts in Grahamstown. “The play gave a rich sense of the outer and inner influences through which Romero came to see and respond to God’s invitation in his own life,” Dr Paulin-Campbell said.
Iran agreement ‘vindicates’ dialogue
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lions of dollars in blocked assets. “This opens the way for Iran to play a more hands-on role in the region,” Fr Pearson said. He said there “can be little doubt” that Iran is seen as an important ally in the war against Islamic State and there is the hope that it will play a role in preventing any escalation in the Sunni-Shia conflict in the region. Both the Holy See and the South African government welcomed the agreement, which came after almost three months of intense negotiations and many years of diplomacy. The Vatican expressed the hope that the spirit of the agreement
would extend to other areas as well. It has described the agreement as “fruitful”. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite NkoanaMashabane said South Africa looked forward to the resumption of normal bilateral trade relations with Iran. She welcomed the agreement that the atomic and energy agency and Iran would resolve outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programmes by the end of 2015. In the month prior to sanctions being imposed in 2012, South Africa purchased oil from Iran in the region of 68 000 barrels per day.