The Southern Cross, December 18 to December 24, 2019
Your CLASSIfIeDS
Fr Owen Wilcock
F
ATHER Owen Mark Wilcock of Port Elizabeth diocese died in a motor accident in Mokopane in Limpopo on December 3, the 24th anniversary of his ordination. Fellow priest Fr Sibusiso Zulu of Eshowe diocese also died. Frs John Selemela and Ricardo Smuts were injured. All four priests were from St John Vianney Seminary. Fr Wilcock was born on November 15, 1963, in East London. He attended St Mark’s Primary School in Mbabane, Holy Cross Convent in Aliwal North and Komga Secondary School, and matriculated from Queens College. After he matriculated, he worked for Standard Bank before entering St John Vianney Seminary. Fr Wilcock was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Michael Coleman at Sacred Heart parish, King William’s Town on December 3, 1995. After his ordination he served the communities in Woodlands, Keiskammahoek, St Andrew’s Breidbach, Dimbaza and outlying areas and Immaculate Conception in East London. From 2007-09 Fr Wilcock studied moral theology at Urbaniana University in Rome. Upon his return he was appointed formator and financial administrator at St John Vianney until 2014. In 2015 he returned to the diocese and was appointed as priest in charge at Holy Spirit parish, Arcadia. From 2018 to the time of his death, Fr Wilcock was back at St John Vianney as a formator and lecturer. He also served as alternate dean, diaconate coordinator and secretary to the Eastern Province Sick Priests’ Fund. Fr Christopher Slater, vicar general of Port Elizabeth diocese, said Fr Wilcock possessed a softnatured personality and firmness of heart. “His gentleness embraced his
heartfelt devotion and dedication to his call to the priesthood. He lived his life with honest integrity, and this was reflected in his pastoral and teaching ministry,” Fr Slater said. “He loved the task of forming prospective priests just as he loved the pastoral mission of instructing people in the faith. “Fr Owen had an unpretentious approach to life and a conscientious attitude towards all tasks, and his celebration of the sacraments was always done with liturgical care and depth. “His death was completely untimely and will leave a void in the lives of so many in the Church community, the seminary community, his parents and siblings, his family and friends.”
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r Lubabalo Mguda, dean of the Port Elizabeth deanery, also paid tribute to Fr Wilcock. “I met Owen for the first time in 1997 in Woodlands mission outside King William’s Town. He was an assistant priest at the time and I had just completed my first year at St Francis Xavier Seminary,” said Fr Mguda. “It was an encounter that started an unlikely alliance, association and friendship. “Owen was a very caring, friendly and genuine person. He never forgot a birthday or an anniversary. “He was a man of integrity, honesty and fairness. In the language of the Bible, he was a righteous or just man. “He gave the whole of himself to the priesthood. He was dedicated to his role as a seminary lecturer, formator and administrator. There were no half measures with him, it was all or nothing. “His tragic passing has left us completely shattered and confused. There is no theological explanation that can make any sense of the wasteful death of our beloved Owen.” Fr Jerry Browne, chair of the
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In MeMorIAM
Port Elizabeth Diocesan Council of Priests, said Fr Wilcock was “a priest of immense talent and integrity who sought to live in his life the values of the Gospel that he professed”. “Fr Owen had a gift for organisation and administration, gifts that came to the fore in the parishes in which he served and later in his work and ministry at the seminary,” Fr Browne said. “He will be greatly missed by the many parishioners he served, the clergy who worked alongside him, and his family and friends.” Mgr Brendan Deenihan, senior priest of the diocese and chair of the Eastern Province Sick Priests’ Fund, commended Fr Wilcock as ”a most efficient and diligent secretary of our sick priests’ fund”. “My fondest memory of Owen is when he was studying in Rome for his future assignment to lecture at St John Vianney Seminary,” Mgr Deenihan said. “I spent a week in Rome with him and he took me all over and introduced me to so much of our Catholic heritage. “The morning of his tragic death, I was in communication with him wishing him a blessed ordination feast day. So sad to think he died on his feast day. “Owen was a most wonderful and faithful priest.” Fr Wilcock is survived by his mother and father Chris and Sanet, and family members Lisa and Niekie, and Wendy.
FROM OUR VAULTS 54 Years ago: December 22, 1965
De oLIveIrA: Jose. Died December 27, 2018, in his 80th year. I miss you. I miss your voice. I miss your smile. I miss your smell. I miss your hug and kiss. I miss your jokes. I miss how you made me feel. I miss your everything. Loving memories forever. Eileen. DonneLLY: Eugene. In loving memory of our longstanding colleague, friend and loyal servant of The Southern Cross who left us on December 18, 2011. Fondly remembered by the staff of The Southern Cross. SWArDLInG: Reece Miyagi. 05/10/1988 to 20/12/2012. As we reach seven years since your passing, we are still left broken-hearted, void of your smile, your laugh, your stories, your bubbly outgoing nature and all the amazing love you showed us every day. We miss you dearly. We love you with all our hearts. Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our family. Thank you for being our guardian angel now. Love always from Mum, Dad, Livy, Reagan and Trinity. SWArDLInG: Christine Tootoo. 25/12/1931 to 26/11/2019. Eighty-seven years and 11 months was not enough. Your passing has left a huge hole in our
Bl Simon venerated no more The Vatican Congregation of Rites has banned further veneration of Bl Simon of Trent, a small boy allegedly murdered by Jews in 1475. Investigations established that Simon was probably killed by nonJews who blamed Jews for the crime.
Now implement Vatican II In his editorial, Fr Louis Stubbs writes that with the final session of the Second Vatican Council drawing to an end, “it is now that throughout the whole Church the work of implementing the directions of the council must become more and more effectively done”.
ABortIon: Monthly Sunday Mass bidding prayer: “That Almighty God guide our nation to cease our murders of our unborn infants.”
hoLIDAY ACCoMMoDAtIon
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MArIAneLLA Guest House, Simon’s Town: “Come experience the peace and beauty of God with us.” Fully equipped, with amazing sea views. Secure parking, ideal for rest and relaxation. Special rates for pensioners and clergy. Malcolm Salida 082 784-5675, mjsalida@ gmail.com
PrAYerS
ALMIGhtY GoD, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed, kindle in the hearts of all men the true love of peace, and guide with Your pure and peaceable wisdom those who make decisions for the nations of the earth; that in tranquility Your kingdom may go forward, till the earth be filled with the knowledge of Your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let nothInG DISturB You, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing; God only is changeless. Patience gains all things. Who has God wants nothing. God alone suffices. St Teresa of Avila
This week we congratulate: December 23: Bishop Graham Rose of Dundee on his 68th birthday December 26: Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg on his 72nd birthday
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The Rhodesian government has banned The Southern Cross issue of December 8, 1965, which included an article headed “Blank space on page: Rhodesian government censors editorial in Catholic paper”. That Catholic paper was Moto, an influential lay-run publication which criticised Prime Minister Ian Smith’s unilateral declaration of independence. Two South Africans will be ordained to the priesthood by Pope Paul VI: Revs Edward Adams (future bishop of Oudtshoorn) and Gerard Masters of Cape Town. Rev Maxwell Salsone of Port Elizabeth will be ordained in his home diocese. All three are studying at Propaganda College in Rome.
PerSonAL
ABortIon WArnInG: The truth will convict a silent Church. See www.valuelifeabortion isevil.co.za
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Our bishops’ anniversaries
The Southern Cross banned!
Pope to ordain SA priests
hearts. We miss you so much already. Our first Christmas and your birthday without you. We pray the angels celebrate with you. We love you Tootoo. We miss you dearly. Thank you for your unconditional love. Love always, Anthony, Charmaine, Olivia, Reagan and Trinity
Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 894. ACROSS: 3 Antiochus, 8 Leah, 9 Plainsong, 10 Severe, 11 Amber, 14 Henry, 15 Tear, 16 Sheba, 18 Mass, 20 Thing, 21 Taunt, 24 Anselm, 25 Handshake, 26 Acts, 27 Amendment. DOWN: 1 Blasphemy, 2 Calvinist, 4 Nile, 5 Idiom, 6 Casket, 7 Urns, 9 Prays, 11 Alert, 12 Residence, 13 Trigamist, 17 Atone, 19 Sadden, 22 Nahum, 23 Palm, 24 Akin.
Liturgical Calendar Year A – Weekdays Cycle Year 2 Sunday December 22, 4th Sunday of Advent Isaiah7:10-14, Psalm 24:1-6, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew1:18-24 Monday December 23, St John of Kanty Malachi 3:1-4; 4: 5-6 (3: 1-4, 23-24), Psalm 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14, Luke 1:57-66 Tuesday December 24 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16, Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29, Luke 1:67-79. Evening Vigil: Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29, Acts 13:16-17, 22-25, Matthew 1:1-25 Wednesday December 25, Nativity of Christ Midnight Mass: Isaiah 9:2-7 (1-6), Psalm 96:1-3, 11-13, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14 Mass at Dawn: Isaiah 62:11-12, Psalm
97:1, 6, 11-12, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 2:15-20 Mass During the Day: Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm 98:1-6, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 1:1-18 Thursday December 26, St Stephen, First Martyr Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59, Psalm31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17, Matthew 10:17-22 Friday December 27, St John 1 John 1:1-4, Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12, John 20:2-8 Saturday December 28, Holy Innocents 1 John 1:5--2:2, Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8, Matthew 2:13-18 Sunday December 29, Holy Family Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, Psalm 128:1-5, Colossians 3:12-21, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
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