170510 by The Southern Cross

The Southern Cross, May 10 to May 16, 2017

Cardinal gives inaugural lecture honouring Little Eden founders

UPPORTERS of Little Eden, a home for children and adults with profound intellectual disability, gathered at St Augustine College in Johannesburg as Cardinal Wilfrid Napier presented the inaugural Danny and Domitilla Hyams Memorial Lecture, honouring the founders of the home. The day started with Mass celebrated by Cardinal Napier. Among the guests were delegates from Associazione Domitilla Rota Hyams Onlus in Italy, who presented a replica statue of Our Lady

of Cornabusa to Little Eden. The original statue is displayed in the Cornabusa sanctuary in Italy, and the replica will be permanently placed at Little Eden’s Elvira Rota Village in Bapsfontein. The write-up of Cardinal Napier’s keynote address is available on www.littleeden.org.za n For more information about the work carried out at the home, and how you can help, contact Nichollette Muthige on 011 609 7246 or e-mail info@ littleeden.org.za

Dr Paula Galo addressed the 27th annual general meeting of Kolping South Africa (KSA) at the Holy Cross Retreat Centre in Parow Valley, Cape Town. The AGM was attended by more than 50 delegates from the dioceses of Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Kimberley and Cape Town. (From left) Simphiwe Ralane (Johannesburg Kolping), Fr Dominic Helmboldt (acting KSA national praeses), Andries van der Poll (KSA national secretary), Dr Galo (KSA national chairperson) and Fr Christian Frantz (KSA outgoing national praeses).

LOCAL

Farewell to ‘housemother’ of many St Joseph’s priests BY ERIN CARELSE

HE “housemother” to many priests who studied at St Joseph’s Theological Institute (SJTI) in Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal, died on April 22. Lorraine Kalicharan, bookkeeper-receptionist at the scholasticate that trains many religious priests, was “a friend and a second mother to many students, and was loved by all the brothers, priests and colleagues who worked and studied there for over 20 years”, said Fr Neil Frank OMI, president of St Joseph’s. Mrs Kalicharan had worked at SJTI since 1996. “Lorraine was known to keep a candle lit in her office during exam time, interceding for worried students,” said Fr Frank. Former and present staff and students recalled her helpfulness and her generosity. “When I left SJTI she gave me an image of the Divine Mercy, telling me never to lose my trust in Jesus and in his mercy. She really did trust in Jesus,” said Tshepo William Duik, a former student. Philisiwe Mncube, a former colleague, said: “Lorraine taught me to be a good mother to my daughter and to put God first.” At a memorial service held at the Institute, she was described as a “valiant woman”, someone who faced the struggles of her life with deep faith and constant attentiveness to the grace of God. “Lorraine’s life was a testament to the life of a true disciple of

SPRINGFIELD CONVENT SCHOOL Applicants are invited for the following post:

HEAD OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT To commence 1 January 2018

Springﬁeld is a day school for girls from Pre-School to Matriculation, set in beautiful gardens on Wynberg Hill in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. Founded by the Irish Dominican Sisters in 1871, Springﬁeld has a caring, Catholic atmosphere, a proud academic record, vibrant Music, Art and Drama Departments and excellent facilities for Sport.

Springfield Convent School requires the services of a suitably qualified full-time Head of our vibrant Music Department. The successful applicant will: •Be a fully qualified, enthusiastic teacher, experienced in teaching both practical and subject music, theory, history of music and aural •Understand, identify with and contribute to the Catholic ethos and values of the school •Have a proven record of good leadership qualities and people skills in managing a vibrant, diverse group of full-time as well as part-time staff •Have a proven record of innovation, commitment and professionalism •Be well versed in curriculum and assessment for Creative Arts in the Senior Phase •Have an interest in Junior School music in order to build a growing number of musicians for the Senior School, with the possibility of choosing music as a subject choice in the FET Phase •Have effective organisational and administrative skills •Be available in afternoons, evenings and at other times for extra-curricular teaching, involvement in special events and concerts, school productions and tours •Have good computer skills •Be registered with SACE •Be willing to become fully involved in the school’s curricular and co-curricular programmes Apply in writing to: The Headmistress, Springfield Convent School, St John’s Road Wynberg, 7800, Email: headmistress@springfieldconvent.co.za giving details of qualifications, experience and names of two contactable referees.

Closing date: Monday 29 May 2017

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.

Please note no faxed applications will be considered and only those applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. Springﬁeld is a member of the Independent Schools’ Association of Southern Africa.

Lorraine Kalicharan, who has died, was a beloved “housemother” to many students at St Joseph’s Theological Institute. Christ, acknowledging that life would not always be easy or fair or comfortable; but that it would always be full of peace if you placed your hope in God—for in him all things are possible,” said Ryleen

Balawanth, her grandchild. “Although Lorraine would be wholeheartedly described as a devout Catholic, her life was by no means typical, lacklustre or easygoing. She worked hard to provide for her family and experienced many hardships in her life,” said Fr Frank. She had lost a 20-year-old son, an infant grandson and her husband in the space of five years. She also suffered from various illnesses throughout her life which sometimes made daily activities difficult. “Despite all this, we cannot say she was not blessed,” said Fr Frank. Mrs Kalicharan, through her steadfast faith, taught her family how to centre their lives on Christ—a lesson, her children testify, that had kept their family unit from falling apart during the extreme periods of their lives. “She taught us to always set our sight upon God, to consult him in every plan made, and to pray about every situation and decision. Even on family holidays we knew always to choose a destination with a Catholic church nearby, as our mother would not let us skip Holy Mass,” they said. “Mom loved the Divine Mercy, she taught so many people about Jesus and his mercy and it was so apt that she went home during the week of Divine Mercy. Her life was a testimony to the mercy of God,” said her daughter Michelle Francis. Mrs Kalicharan leaves behind three children and their spouses, and six grandchildren.

Soweto hosts vocations day BY TEBOGO PETJA

HE call to vocations was in the spotlight when the youth group of a Soweto parish invited different religious orders in the archdiocese of Johannesburg to present their charism and teach young people about God’s invitation to follow him. The Vocations Open Day was organised by the youth group of St Martin’s parish in Meadowlands, with young people from neighbouring parishes also attending. It was a response to Pope Francis’ prayer intention for April: “That young people may respond generously to their vocations and seriously consider offering themselves to God in the priesthood or consecrated life.” It was also a response to a

Young people gathered at St Martin’s parish in Meadowlands, Soweto, for a Vocations Open Day, including the vocation of marriage. challenge the pope had posed: “You, young people, are the ones who hold the future! I ask you to be builders of the world, to work for a better world. It is a challenge, yes, it is a challenge, and do you accept it?” Jesuit Father Bruce Botha gave

an introductory talk on vocations. Different religious orders were represented by their vocations promoters. The Sisters of the Holy Cross were led by Sr Teresa Mafutha, Fr Bruce represented the Society of Jesus, Br Clarence Watts represented the Salesians of St John Bosco, Fr Innocent Daniels the Claretians, and Fr Patrick Dladla the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Sr EstherMaris Okoro from the archdiocesan vocations office also addressed the youth. The vocation to marriage was also presented by Mr and Mrs Moeketsi of the St Martin’s Renew married couples group. During a break, attendees had opportunities to meet representatives of the orders one-on-one, and to ask questions about their congregations.

Namibian bishops warn on new abortion law STAFF REPORTER

S Namibia is considering the legalisation of abortion on demand, the Catholic bishops of the country have called on citizens to constitute themselves and “investigate the root causes prompting the shocking increase of abortion instead of passing the law”. The present law allows for abortion only in cases of serious threat to the maternal or foetal health, or when the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest. Namibians must be looking at the causes, effects and aftermath of abortion, the Namibian Catholic Bishops’ Conference said in a position paper, signed by its president, Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda. The bishops noted that the “Catholic Church from the be-

ginning has consistently upheld the sanctity of the life of the unborn child,” citing the 1st-century Didache, which taught: “You shall not procure abortion, nor destroy a newborn child.” The Namibian bishop quoted Pope Francis in his 2016 apostolic letter Misericordia et Misera: “I wish to restate as firmly as I can that abortion is a grave sin, since it puts an end to an innocent life. In the same way, however, I can and must state that there is no sin that God’s mercy cannot reach.” Pope Francis has granted to all priests the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion. Priests, the Namibian bishops said, “should be available for counselling of people affected by abortion”.

David Worswick is an enthusiastic seller of The Southern Cross at the parish of the Resurrection in Table View, Cape Town. We love receiving your photos of parishioners selling The Southern Cross—and so do our readers! Please keep them coming. Send photos to pics@scross.co.za