The Southern Cross, March 16 to March 22, 2016
LOCAL
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Church seeks mediating role amid campus violence
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Police forces clash with protesters at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last year. The bishops’ Justice & Peace Commission has called for the Church to be included in finding a solution to the higher education crisis. (Photo: Kim ludbrook, EPA)
HE Justice and Peace Commission (J&P) of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for Church leaders “to be included in mediating campus deadlocks”. “As the Church we firmly support the campaign of the students to end financial barriers to accessing and completing higher learning and other equity-related concerns,” said J&P chairman Bishop Abel Gabuza. “However‚ the escalation of campus violence and vandalism is playing into the hands of those who seek to discredit the legitimacy of this important campaign.” The commission also said that government and university leadership “have not been proactive enough in addressing issues raised
(Back from left) CPlo research assistant danielle Hoffmeester and CPlo research coordinator Mike Pothier, and (front) Raymond Perrier, Mary Hames and Andile Mngtixama at a round table discussion on race.
CPLO round-table tackles race debate
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HE Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO) hosted a round table discussion recently on “The Race Debate: Where to from Here?” The panellists were Andile Mngxitama, national convenor
of the Black First, Land First Movement; Mary Hames, director of the Gender Equity Unit at the University of the Western Cape; and Raymond Perrier, director of the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban.
The three panellists’ observations on racism left the audience calling for a series of these discussions. The talk was attended by individuals representing civil and political society.
Call to join Pfanner pilgrimage
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HE Missionaries of Mariannhill and Sisters of the Precious Blood are inviting the public to join them in a local pilgrimage to a KwaZulu-Natal shrine to mark the 117th anniversary of the death of their founder. The pilgrimage to Emaus on May 21 will celebrate the life and work of Abbot Francis Pfanner, the founder of the two congregations, who died on May 24, 1909. Emaus was Abbot Pfanner’s last and favourite station. It is located in the diocese of Umzimkulu. Every year in May, the Mariannhill Missionaries and Precious Blood Sisters, associates, friends of Abbot Francis, and the faithful gather at Emaus to celebrate the life of one of the country’s great missionaries. “This is a special day when we ask him to intercede for us to God,” organisers said. The day will begin with Stations of the Cross at 10:00 followed by Mass at 11:00.
by the students”. “They have not done enough to promote an environment that enables open and honest dialogue to happen. We call for honest dialogue on the issues raised by the students at various campuses,” the statement said. “Honest dialogue includes being clear and transparent to the students about the time-frames by which the university and the government would address student concerns‚ including calls for tuition-free higher education. Honest dialogue includes having clear policies about transformation of our universities to end racism and colonial models of being a university,” Bishop Gabuza said. J&P called on the government to
include Church leaders in mediation processes. “We call upon the government‚ university leadership‚ political parties and Church leaders to sit around the table and address the issues at various academic institutions that are marked by campus violence,” the statement said. The commission called on political parties and their youth wings “to show greater ethical leadership in relation to the current crisis in tertiary education”. “Political parties are a part of the problem but can also be part of the solution. They should make a commitment to refrain from discourses that discourage honest dialogue and fuel campus violence‚” Bishop Gabuza said.
Pupils of Brescia House School in Johannesburg gathered on their field to celebrate Brescia’s 50th jubilee year and show their support for the one Billion Rising campaign. one Billion Rising is a mass movement to end violence against women. The campaign, launched on Valentine’s day 2012, began as a call to action based on the statistic that one in three women will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than 1 billion girls and women. The one Billion movement has a theme song, Break the Chain, and the Brescia pupils sang and danced to Break the Chain after their 50 formation. See www.onebillionrising.org
Sacred Heart Private Primary School
teaCHiinG PoSt – CreatiVe art anD muSiC eDuCator
Sacred Heart Private Primary school, founded in 2000, is an independent catholic English-medium primary school situated in the rural area of Taung, St.Pauls Mission, Northwest province. The school is well established with proud academic record and still developing and growing. The School Board of Governors invites applications for the above post to be filled on the 4th of April 2016.The successful applicant must be able to subscribe to and promote the Catholic Ethos of the school.
Pilgrims on a walk to Emaus this month. An annual pilgrimage to the KwaZulu-Natal shrine will be held in May to mark the anniversary of Abbot Francis Pfanner’s death. Between 13:00 and 14:00 pilgrims have time to make a short private visit to the room where Abbot Pfanner died to make their personal petitions. Lunch will be at 14:00 before
pilgrims depart. About 2 000 people took part in a pilgrimage to Emaus earlier this month. n For information contact yvesmll cmm@gmail.com
journeyS oF a liFetime! Pilgrimage with Fr Brian Mhlanga OP of Radio Veritas
HOLY LAND 23 July to 1 August 2016
SPECIAL PRICE: R27 450 www.fowlertours.co.za/holyland
Contact Gail at 076 352 3809 or 021 551 3923
info@fowlertours.co.za
the following criteria will also be considered; • Teaching experience preferably in a catholic educational environment. • A committed professional with a dynamic, visionary approach to challenges of present-day education in South Africa. • Be fully acquainted with current trends and developments in Education particularly in the learning area(s) advertised. • Suitable teaching Qualifications with experience in a primary school. • Students with experience in the advertised fields and studying to qualify in education will be considered. • Can play a musical instrument Salary package is negotiable. Please send your CV to: the Principal, Sacred Heart Private Primary School, P.o Box 5826, taung, 8584. email: Saheta@lantic.net - Giving details of Qualifications, experience and names of two contactable referees. Closing date: 30 march 2016
The school reserves the right not to proceed with the filling of the post. An application will not in itself entitle the applicant to an interview or appointment and failure to meet the requirements of the advertised post will result in applicants automatically disqualifying themselves from consideration. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.