200826

The Centenary Jubilee Year

S outher n C ross www.scross.co.za

August 26 to September 1, 2020

Interview with SACBC’s new ‘No. 2 leader’

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Reg no. 1920/002058/06

no 5200

R12 (incl VAT RSA)

How a priest found out he was no priest

The people behind new Fatima film

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Bishop: Let women lead in the Church

By AgneS AineAH

A

Archbishop Dabula Mpako of Pretoria ordained Frs Johannes Sibanyoni (inset top left) and Harry Bopape (right) to the priesthood and Rev Jason Lottering to the transitory diaconate at Sacred Heart cathedral. (Photos: Mathibela Sebothoma)

BISHOP has lauded women who assume ministerial roles in the absence of clergy, and urged the local Church to find ways of encouraging more women to take up leadership positions in the Church, including enrolling for theology classes.

“We must ensure that women are included in the heart of the Church so that we can enjoy the fullness of human reflection, male and female, in the formation of our moral, doctoral and pastoral life,” Bishop Victor Phalana of Klerksdorp said in a video.

“Women must also be encouraged to be trained in theology and in other Church disciplines. This is our weakest point in Southern Africa.”

According to Bishop Phalana, other countries in Africa perform better than South Africa when it comes to encouraging lay and religious women to train in canon law, scripture and theology.

“We still have a lot of work towards encouraging women in South Africa to follow this path, and it is perhaps time for the Church in Southern Africa to create a special scholarship for women and girls who would like to go and pursue those studies, so that we can have this kind of resources in our Church,” the bishop said, adding that “we need more Catholic women writers”.

The message to commemorate South Africa’s Women’s Month, Bishop Phalana said, is a call for everyone to celebrate the role of women in the country’s liberation.

“I am proud to say that in our diocese, women play a very significant role. They are

part of our leadership structures in our diocese,” he said. “We have opted for a collaborative type of leadership where the laity and particularly women play a significant role.”

Women also lead funerals services which, according to Bishop Phalana, is a very important ministry.

“During funerals they [women] are there comforting the bereaved, ministering to them and preaching the Word of God and leading burial rites,” he said. “They are the ones who are there with the dying, giving them the bread of life especially in cases where the priest is not present,” he says.

The bishop noted that texts, prayers and hymns—especially English ones—sometimes are sexist.

“We cannot tolerate the liturgy of males.

It must be a liturgy of men and women who are equal members of the Body of Christ.

We are a Church that speaks of justice and must first be just in our actions,” said Bishop Phalana.

“Let us check sexist language and perhaps work at eradicating it.”

According to the 59-year-old bishop, the traditional role of women in the Church has been to pray, to pay, to obey, to clean the Church, to arrange flowers and wash vestments, and to go home.

“Today, however, the Church has roles open for women and, thank God, they are exercising those roles in our diocese,” he said, referring to positions such as proclaimers of the Word of God, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, catechists, and parish finance committee members as some of the roles women can participate in.— ACI Africa

How parishes can earn with us!

As you will have seen by now, The Southern Cross will relaunch as a magazine in late September — in print and digitally.

We are very excited about the magazine, which will sell for only R30, and we are certain that many Catholics will be interested in this new publication with a proud history.

And for parishes and sodalities and organisations who sell The Southern Cross magazine in their communities we have more good news:

For every magazine sold, we give a commission of R5,00.

Of course we are aware that nobody knows when parishes can return to holding their full schedule of Masses. But we could not delay the launch of The Southern Cross magazine any further — the alternative was to close the

publication down altogether.

So we need help in the parishes and sodalities to make sure the printed magazine gets into people’s hands. This is a matter of keeping The Southern Cross alive!

We are asking parishes to stock The Southern Cross magazine, and make it known to parishioners through your various channels of communication, like Facebook and WhatsApp: to spread the word about the magazine and to encourage parishioners to order theirs.

They could fetch it from your parish office while we wait for Masses to resume, or maybe a kind parishioner might drop copies off at the homes of those who can’t or shouldn’t come out.

Or parishes could appoint one of their ministries (like the ushers) or sodalities or the SVP to take charge of making sure that all parishioners who would like the magazine will get it.

Maybe even YOU might volunteer to get together a group of people from your parish to make sure there’ll be a Catholic magazine in as many Catholic homes as possible.

The possibilities to help keep The Southern Cross alive are endless!

Is the magazine the end of Catholic news? Of course not: our website and Facebook page will continue to bring the latest news.

And what will feature in the magazine? Well, an array of articles relating to all things

Catholic: faith and society, interviews, personalities, burning questions, travel, prayer, millennials, family, education, spiritual reflections, a pull-out poster of a Saint of the Month, as well as fun stuff like the popular crossword, wordsearch, trivia quiz, and much more...

We are taking orders already so that we can get the magazine to you by the beginning of October. Parishes and sodalities/organisations/shops can order copies for sale by emailing admin@scross.co.za or calling Pamela on 083 233-1956.

Remember, the cover price is R30, including VAT and we are offering R5 to the parish as commission for every copy sold. You will not be charged for any unsold copies!

The future of our Southern Cross is in your hands! PLEASE help us get the new magazine out there.

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The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

LOCAL

Archbishop: Remain vigilant for Covid-19

BY MAGDALENE KAHIU

E

VEN though the government has lowered the alert level in the national state of disaster to Level 2, the archbishop of Cape Town has urged people to remain vigilant and continue taking necessary precautions because the coronavirus has not yet been eliminated from the country.

In a video reflection posted on his archdiocese’s website, Archbishop Stephen Brislin said that while the lowering of regulations to Level 2 was “wonderful news”, people must remain vigilant and not to become complacent and careless.

“The Covid-19 virus is still present among us, and so we must continue to take all the precautions, such as washing or sanitising our hands, wearing masks, and maintaining social distancing,” the archbishop said.

“We have a responsibility to do so, in order that the virus may be managed until such time as the danger has passed, which is going to take some time,” he said.

“We are told that we will probably have to continue wearing masks for at least the next 12 months and this part of the ‘new normal’,” Archbishop Brislin said.

Statistics indicate that South Africa has recorded the fifth-highest number of cases globally, after the United States, Brazil, Russia and India.

In his message, Archbishop Brislin recalled how the prophet Ezekiel pointed to the leaders of Israel who were self-centred, focusing on their

Archbishop Stephen Brislin of Cape Town offered his prayers and reflection in an online video message urging people to continue taking precautions against Covid-19. personal needs instead of caring for the people of God. “It has always been one of the greatest temptations of leaders to slip into bad ways, to give way to greed and self-interest,” the archbishop said.

Referring to the Covid-19 corruption allegations in South Africa, he noted: “We often see it in political leadership; regrettably we hear of it in our own country where there are even allegations of the gross misuse of funds dedicated for the health of people in these times of Covid-19.”

He continued: “Sadly, throughout history, there have been faith leaders who have not taken their responsibilities seriously and have placed their own interests above those of their flock, feeding them-

selves while disregarding the welfare of others.”

Archbishop Brislin called on South Africans to follow the teachings of Ezekiel and apply his words “to our role in society, in the workplace and our involvement in different societies or organisations”.

Turning to parents, Archbishop said: “All too often we hear of those who neglect this beautiful vocation of parenthood, either by not caring about their children and ensuring that their needs are met, or by allowing their children to live their lives without guidance and without imparting Christian values to them.

“Fathers and mothers too, are shepherds of their families and they have been given the responsibility of nurturing, loving and guiding their children.”—ACI Africa

Fr Raphael Thomas baptises Alyssa Williams, the younger daughter of Southern Cross columnist Keenan Williams (right), at St Ninian’s church in Kuils River, Cape Town. Holding Alyssa is mother Nicolette.

“It was a different kind of initiation into the Church as we had to adapt to a new normal of having a maximum of ten of us present, including the priest and godparents,” said Mr Williams. “But the intimacy reminded me of the stories of old where Christians would meet in secret to praise and to worship and be received into the Church. The times where the Church was stripped of its pomp and circumstance and that true intimacy of the relationship and faith with Christ was initiated and ingrained in the hearts of the faithful.”

Jesuit Institute hosts mindfulness workshop

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ED by Fr Russell Pollitt SJ and Gillian Hugo, the Jesuit Institute is hosting an online mindfulness workshop which aims to teach the power of mindfulness and the physical and psychological benefits of this practice.

Especially beneficial to work through in turbulent times, the workshop topics include “What is mindfulness”—a history and what

has been learned, benefits of mindfulness and laying the foundation for mindfulness.

The workshop will have times of sharing, questions and practical exercises.

The mindfulness workshop runs from 9:00 to 15:00 on August 29, at a cost of R200. n Book on their website or email retreats@jesuitinstitute.org.za

Sign up online www.digital.scross.co.za/associates-campaign or contact Pamela for further information admin@scross.co.za

The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

LOCAL

The Grade 11 class at Holy Family College in Johannesburg shared their journeys of life in an open discussion in solidarity during religion classes. Learners, including Francine Nzombo (left), designed and made crosses which depicted moments of hope and sorrow, challenges and trials, dreams and disappointments.

They explained the symbols they had chosen in their designs and shared the wisdom they gleaned from scripture and the promises of God. Their openness and honesty uplifted spirits and helped others to realise we are never alone in our journey of life. As Christians, our hope and vision for the future always rests with our messiah, who carried the burden of the cross for each one of us.

SACBC defends Zimbabwe’s bishops T

HE Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) and the regional association of bishops’ conferences have issued messages of support to the bishops of Zimbabwe after they were attacked by the government over a critical pastoral letter.

In their August 14 pastoral letter “The March has Not Ended” the Catholic bishops of Zimbabwe condemned what they called an “unprecedented” crackdown on dissent in the country (as we reported last week).

In reaction, Zimbabwe’s minister of information, publicity and broadcasting services Monica Mutsvangwa harshly attacked the bishops’ document as “shards of a pastoral letter issued under the misguided if [not] evil-minded leadership of the archbishop of Harare”, referring to Archbishop Robert Ndlovu.

In their message of support, the SACBC noted “with increasing concern the unabated situation of repression in Zimbabwe, resulting in increasing hardship and suffering to the citizens”.

The message, signed by SACBC president Sithembele Sipuka of Mthatha, commended the bishops of Zimbabwe for their “prophetic voice in naming and condemning the brutalisation of ordinary people by security forces and the underlying corruption that has led to the

total collapse of services to the people by the government”.

“The Catholic Church and its bishops in Southern Africa stands in unconditional solidarity with you as leadership who are being targeted by the government and with masses of the people who are suffering from this situation,” the message said.

The SACBC said the pastoral letter “clearly describes the hardships and problems faced by Zimbabwe, and analyses the causes, which those in authority do not want to hear. Your voice of encouragement to the people of Zimbabwe is what they needed to hear in this time of their greatest need.”

The bishops of the SACBC— which includes South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini—criticised the attack by Zimbabwe’s government, through Ms Mutsvangwa, as “projecting its own tribalistic agenda to fuel divisions in the country”.

“Keeping quiet is not an option, and as shepherds of the people your voice of support gives hope to the people entrusted to you to carry on.

As your brothers and sisters in Southern Africa, we assure you of our support and prayers that this time of suffering in your country may soon come to an end,” the SACBC said.

The Inter-Regional Meeting of Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA)

also sent a message of solidarity.

IMBISA is an association of bishops of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, São Tomé e Principe and Zimbabwe.

“The bishops of Zimbabwe have only called out the government of Zimbabwe to their true role as political leaders to protect all peoples, especially the poor and marginalised,” said the IMBISA message, signed by IMBISA president Bishop Lucio Muandula of Xai Xai, Mozambique.

“No society can truly call itself human if it neglects the poor and marginalised. Moreover, silencing different voices in society can only lead to more frustration and make a bad situation worse,” it said.

“As bishops of Southern Africa, we can never rest in supporting our brother bishops in Zimbabwe who continue fulfilling the divine ministry, received from Christ, that all indeed have life, and have it to the full,” the IMBISA message said.

Meanwhile, President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government summoned the apostolic nuncio and ambassador to the country, Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, to explain whether the bishops were speaking on behalf of the Holy See. Archbishop Rudelli met last week with Sibusiso Moyo, Zimbabwe’s minister of foreign affairs.

(Front from left) Amphelele Mbambo, Francine Nzombo, Lungelo Dlamini, (middle) Grace Kisonga, Esihle Mazwana, Bernice Kisonga, Aphiwe Manyaku, Nolwazi Mazibuko, Joel Kisonga, (back) Kirsten Goad and religious education teacher Mrs Stephenson.

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The Southern Cross has moved its office to the archdiocesan chancery at 12 Bouquet Street in Cape Town. The admin manager, Pamela Davids, can be reached at admin@scross.co.za. Before the move, The Southern Cross donated a collection of books, including a full set of the Catholic Encyclopedia, to St Francis Xavier Seminary. Pictured at the handover are (from left) Thabiso Mthalane of Durban, Senzo Mbuzwa of Johannesburg, and Elmon Malleka of Witbank, with Pamela Davids, Jean van der Westhuizen and Michelle Perry, all properly wearing facemasks.

carol@wylliefunerals.co.za andrew@wylliefunerals.co.za Member of the NFDA

Online marriage course offers practical support

T

HE archdiocese of Johannesburg invites married couples to explore and enrich their relationships by registering for “The Marriage Course” online, hosted for the Johannesburg archdiocesan family desk.

The Catholic Church has acknowledged the importance of a strong marriage as the foundation of a strong family, which in turn builds a strong Christian community, the archdiocese noted “The marriage course is designed for any couple that wants to invest in their relationship. It covers a range of practical tools such as communication and conflict resolution,” it said.

Whether couples have been married six months or 40 years, are in a good place or are struggling, the marriage course offers practical support to strengthen relationships.” Watch the promo HERE. The marriage course will be run on Zoom. Once the hosts have introduced the topic for the evening, couples watch the videos in a session with their zoom screens off. There will be hosts available should viewers

need assistance, but there are no group discussions.

There are breaks in the video when couples will work through their relationships with the marriage course journals.

Although there is no cost for the online course, the organisers suggest that couples invest in two copies of the marriage course journal in which they complete exercises during the session each week. Alternatively, couples who sign up will receive a free digital journal to print out each week.

The archdiocese of Johannesburg encourages all married couples to consider how they can strengthen and grow their marriages especially during this difficult time.

The seven sessions of the marriage course cover the following: strengthening connection, the art of communication, resolving conflict, the power of forgiveness, the impact of family, good sex, love in action.

The course starts on September 8 at 19:30. CLICK HERE to register online. n For more information on the marriage course e-mail bnstonmc@gmail.com

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Contact Vocation Coordinator on 072 989 2286 nardvocprom1855@gmail.com Facebook: Franciscan Nardini Sisters of the Holy Family

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The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

INTERNATIONAL

Church calls on Nigeria to protect its citizens

BY PETER AJAYI DADA

A Benedictine Sisters Maria Victoria Cutaia and Laurentia Doyle check hosts at the congregation’s altar bread factory in Clyde, Missouri, US. Each one of the millions of hosts is personally checked for quality before being shipped to customers around the world. (Photo: Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration/CNS)

Communion-makers hit

by Covid-19 recession

U

S orders of women religious who make altar bread and ship it out to churches around the US and internationally— the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, Missouri, and the Poor Clares of the Franciscan Monastery of St Clare in Langhorne, Pennsylvania—have seen a small increase in sales since churches have slowly reopened. But they still have a huge surplus of altar breads.

Benedictine Sister Ruth Elaine Starman talked about her religious order’s business picking up slightly.

“Parishes started opening up again, so we saw a bit of an increase in sales beginning with the first part of June and gradually increasing as more parishes have opened up again,” she said.

Sr Ruth explained that sales are not back to normal because the

Covid-19 shutdown meant there would be no Easter Mass and that was rough on the Benedictine Sisters.

Easter is one of the main times the nuns sell their altar bread, so they saw their sales decrease dramatically. “Our sales were below 5% through April and May,” she said.

Along with the Benedictine Sisters, the Poor Clares have seen a gradual increase in sales as well. Sr Anne Bartol said the Poor Clares were getting about three orders per week, a dramatic decrease from their usual 40 or 50 orders a week, but at least they were getting something.

“Basically, we’ve been at a standstill since late March,” Sr Bartol said.

The Poor Clares usually send out multiple orders of altar bread to not only Catholic churches but to a few Protestant accounts as well.—CNS

RCHBISHOP Antonio Filipazzi, papal ambassador to Nigeria, said the government was not doing enough to protect its citizens from violence, insurgents and other social vices. He also said the people being killed were not just Christians but also Muslims.

Speaking at a news conference he said the federal government must awaken to its responsibility of protecting citizens.

“Although southern Kaduna is an area where Christians and Catholics are mostly affected, it is important to note that many Muslims are also being killed in other parts of the north, such as in Maiduguri, Borno state, where Boko Haram have bombed many mosques,” he said. Boko Haram is a Muslim militant group active in north-east Nigeria.

Archbishop Filipazzi advised the government to focus its attention on protecting citizens from the various vices ravaging the country instead of creating antagonism and divisions between Christians and Muslims.

On August 18, Boko Haram attacked the village of Kukawa in Borno state. Many of the residents had just returned to their homes after spending two years in camps for internally displaced persons.

BBC News reported that after a gunfight with security personnel, Boko Haram abducted dozens of residents. At least seven security personnel were killed.

Coming in September

A woman reacts during a protest in Abuja, Nigeria. The demonstration was against the continued killings in southern Kaduna and lack of security in Nigeria. (Photo: Afolabi Sotunde, Reuters/CNS) Bishops in the Kaduna region met and issued a statement that said: “The dark clouds of violence have enveloped our land. Our country is in the firm grip of the Grim Reaper.”

“Two years ago, the military announced that it had defeated Boko Haram and we basked in the euphoria that Boko Haram was no longer holding Nigerian territory hostage. But our joy was shortlived as the story has progressively gotten far worse,” the bishops said.

“Today, almost the entire northern states are in the grip of these purveyors of violence and death.

In the last three years, we have witnessed the relentless attacks and ransacking of entire communities by bandits in states like Benue, Kebbi, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina,

Nasarawa, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara.

“Thousands of lives have been lost to these bandits, who have operated with relentless abandon,” the bishops said.

They credited state governors with trying to negotiate with criminals but criticised them for trying to appease them with money.

“This is unacceptable. We appeal to the governors to place the welfare of the victims of violence before these murderous criminals.

Unless they are defeated in an allout war, all appeasement by way of endless payments of our money will only feed their armoury and strengthen their evil enterprise.”

The bishops said the federal government also has ignored attacks by ethnic militias in northern Nigeria.—CNS

Vatican aims to stop mafia from abusing Our Lady

BY CAROL GLATZ

G

IVEN the many criminal organisations and gangs worldwide that have distorted the true role and image of Mary, a pontifical academy has unveiled a new department dedicated to fighting “this deviant spirituality”.

The Pontifical Marian International Academy will be working with the Italian government and law enforcement on a number of initiatives through the department dedicated to the “analysis, study and monitoring of criminal and Mafia-related phenomena” and to promoting “a theology of liberation from the Mafia”, according to its website.

Pope Francis praised the “important initiative” in a letter sent to Franciscan Father Stefano Cecchin, the academy’s president.

“Marian devotion is a religious-cultural heritage whose original purity needs safeguarding. Protecting the heritage includes liberating it from superfluous elements, powers or

social conditioning that do not comply with the Gospel criteria of justice, liberty, honesty and solidarity,” the pope wrote.

In particular, he “noted with pleasure” the creation of the new department and a conference the academy will hold on September 18 with other Church leaders and public entities for finding effective ways to raise awareness and begin a cultural shift towards a correct understanding of Mary, human dignity, civic duty and legality.

Fr Cecchin said that the figure of Mary is often distorted and exploited by criminal organisations as a way to make people more submissive and “turn them into slaves”.

They use religion to “enslave and not help people live an authentic religiosity”, he said.

Another problem, Fr Checcin said, is distorting the Catholic faith to promote superstitions, magic and special powers to frighten and manipulate people, especially for making money off them by promising they can be

healed or have their problems solved, he added.

The main task of the pontifical academy is to offer “a healthy formation” in the study, understanding and theology of Mary, the priest said.

The academy’s new department will include judges, criminologists, law enforcement officers, and state and Church leaders “to work together for the good of the human person and society, the common home, as Pope Francis says”, Fr Cecchin said.

When asked about the practice in southern Italy of participants in Marian processions tilting the statue of Mary in a bow before the homes of presumed mafia bosses, he said the practice “is not religion; it is superstition”.

Fr Checcin said that the practice suggests that Mary and even God submit to the bosses, “to teach the people that God is on their side” and it uses people’s religious inclinations “to lead them to be slaves, not free”.—CNS

Pope extends Loreto jubilee to 2021

S Pre-order the first issue NOW and have it sent to you fresh off the printing press. R30 per copy plus p&p (order extra for friends!). email admin@scross.co.za or call Pamela at 083 233-1956 Also available in digital!

INCE many of the celebrations of the Our Lady of Loreto jubilee year were grounded because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis has extended the celebration to December 2021.

“In this difficult time for humanity, Holy Mother Church has gifted us another 12 months to start again from Christ, allowing ourselves to be accompanied by Mary, a sign of consolation and certain hope for all,” said Archbishop Fabio Dal Cin, the pontifical delegate for the Shrine of Our Lady of Loreto, Italy.

The jubilee year began on December 8, 2019, to mark the

100th anniversary of the declaration of Our Lady of Loreto as the patron saint of aviation, aviators and air travellers. According to pious tradition, Mary’s house in Nazareth was flown by angels to Italy in 1294 after a brief stop in Yugoslavia.

Special pilgrimages and prayer services were scheduled for the Loreto shrine, at military airbases and in civilian airport chapels around the world.

The jubilee celebrations were to conclude this year on December 10, the feast of Our Lady of Loreto, but many of the events never took place.

In a decree extending the jubilee, Cardinal Mauro Pia-

cenza, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican office that promotes and regulates indulgences, said that the jubilee “unfortunately could not be celebrated to its full extent because of the Covid-19 epidemic”.

But, he said, “by a special mandate of His Holiness Pope Francis”, the jubilee would be extended a year as would the possibility of receiving an indulgence for visiting the shrine at Loreto or a designated military or civilian airport chapel, going to confession, receiving Communion, and praying for the intentions of the pope.— CNS

The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

INTERNATIONAL

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Man who thought he was a priest Pope phones bishop defamed wasn’t even a baptised Catholic

by Mozambique president

BY JD FLYNN

I

F you think you’re a priest, and you really aren’t, you have a problem.

So do a lot of other people. The baptisms you performed are valid baptisms. But the confirmations?

No. The Masses you celebrated were not valid. Nor the absolutions or anointings. And the marriages?

Well...it’s complicated. Some yes, some no. It depends on the paperwork, believe it or not.

Fr Matthew Hood of the archdiocese of Detroit learned all this the hard way.

He thought he’d been ordained a priest back in 2017. He had been doing priestly ministry since then.

And then this month, he learned he wasn’t a priest at all. In fact, he learned he wasn’t even baptised.

If you want to become a priest, you must first become a deacon. If you want to become a deacon, you must first be baptised. If you’re not baptised, you can’t become a deacon, and you can’t become a priest.

Of course, Fr Hood thought he had been baptised as a baby. But he read a recently-issued notice from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The note said that changing the words of baptism in certain ways makes it invalid. According to the Vatican, if the person doing the baptising says, “We baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, instead of, “I baptise you...”, then the baptism is not valid.

Fr Hood remembered a video he’d watched of his own baptism

Fr Matthew Hood who found out that his baptism wasn’t valid and therefore also his ordination to the priesthood was invalid. ceremony. In it the deacon said: “We baptise you...”

His baptism wasn’t valid.

The Church presumes a sacrament is valid unless there is some proof to the contrary. It would have presumed that Fr Hood was validly baptised, except that he had a video showing the contrary.

Fr Hood called his archdiocese.

He needed to be ordained. But first, after three years of acting like a priest, living like a priest, and feeling like a priest, he needed to become a Catholic. He needed to be baptised.

In short order, he was baptised, confirmed, and received the Eucharist. He made a retreat. He was ordained a deacon. And on August 17, Matthew Hood finally became a priest. For real.

The archdiocese of Detroit announced this unusual circumstance in a letter to the faithful.

The letter explained that after he

realised what had happened, Fr Hood “was validly baptised. Furthermore, since other sacraments cannot be validly received in the soul without valid baptism, Fr Hood also was recently validly confirmed and validly ordained a transitional deacon and then a priest”.

The archdiocese released a guide, explaining that people whose marriages were celebrated by Fr Hood should contact their parish, and that it was making its own efforts to contact those people.

The guide clarified that while absolutions performed by Fr Hood before his valid ordination were not themselves valid, “we can be assured that all those who approached Fr Hood, in good faith, to make a confession did not walk away without some measure of grace and forgiveness from God”.

The archdiocese also answered a question it expects many Catholics will be asking: “Isn’t it legalistic to say that, even though there was an intention to confer a sacrament, there was no sacrament because different words were used? Won’t God just take care of it?”

“Theology is a science that studies what God has told us and, when it comes to sacraments, there must not only be the right intention by the minister but also the right ‘matter’ [material] and the right ‘form’— words/gestures such as a triple pouring or immersion of water by the one saying the words. If one of those elements is missing, the sacrament is not valid,” the archdiocese explained.—CNA

New booklet for Church helps to spot all types of domestic abuse

BY SIMON CALDWELL

R

ESPONDING to a pandemic-related surge in domestic abuse, including against gay and transgender people, Britain’s National Board of Catholic Women urged priests and fellow Catholics to learn the signs of abuse and how to help victims.

The booklet, which defines abuse and provides examples of abusive behaviour, pointed out that domestic abuse also occurs in same-sex relationships and is experienced by transgender people as well.

The booklet, “Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse”, was published in mid-August on the website of the bishops’ conference and will be distributed to parishes throughout England and Wales.

Margaret Clark, president of the National Board of Catholic Women, said that the document

replaced an outdated resource published a decade ago and was necessary because of a reported surge in domestic violence during the coronavirus lockdown which, she said, had seen as many as one in four women abused in their homes.

Besides new sections on emotional, coercive and spiritual abuse—in which no physical violence takes place—the booklet includes sections on the abuse of men and of members of the LGBTQ community for the first time.

Ms Clark also said that biblical and theological references were purged during revisions of the booklet because “we don’t want it predominantly thrown in your face”.

The booklet on domestic abuse has drawn criticism from some senior figures within the English and Welsh Church.

They include Bishop Philip

Egan of Portsmouth, who said: “I was very disappointed. It never once referred to Jesus, to the Gospels or what Jesus teaches about the care of the vulnerable and Jesus’ advocacy of the poor and the marginalised.”

“I am surprised and disappointed, too, that it signposts vulnerable people and victims to organisations which are fundamentally opposed to Christian anthropology. It doesn’t point people to equivalent Catholic organisations,” he said.

“We do and should reject any violence and discrimination against those struggling with their gender or sexual identity,” the bishop said. But to define abuse as withholding hormones and surgery for trans teenagers was “surprising in a Catholic document”, he said, “because it’s implicitly against Catholic anthropology and the theology of the body”.—CNS

BY EDUARDO CAMPOS LIMA

A

PAPAL phone call on August 19 to Bishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa of Pemba, Mozambique, was not just an expression of concern about his diocese, but a sign of support during a defamation campaign launched by Mozambique’s president.

Since the beginning of the attacks in the province of Cabo Delgado in 2017, Bishop Lisboa has been one of the few voices calling attention to the violence and its social consequences. More than 1 100 people already died and 250 000 have been displaced in the armed conflict between Muslim insurgents and the army, but the violence remains mostly unknown to the international community.

Bishop Lisboa’s denunciations of what he called the “government’s lack of transparency” in its campaign apparently displeased Mozambican leaders. On August 15, during a visit to Cabo Delgado, President Felipe Nyusi accused “certain foreigners” of lacking respect for “the sacrifice of the ones who keep this young nation standing”, disguising their attitude with the “human rights” agenda.

“That commentary was undoubtedly aimed at Bishop Lisboa. His work has enormous relevance. If it wasn’t for him, the world wouldn’t know what’s happening in Cabo Delgado,” said Adriano Nuvunga, director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, a nongovernmental organisation in Mozambique that promotes democratic values.

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Bishop Luiz Lisboa of Pemba in Mozambique. (Photos: Archdiocese of São Paulo/CNS) The wave of defamation against the bishop rang the alarm on his safety. On social media, many in the African country compared his situation to the case of the French-born lawyer Gilles Cistac, killed in 2015 for suspected political reasons.

Regarding the current defamation campaign, Bishop Lisboa said he considers that the target is not him, but the Church.

“The Church is invited to reveal the truth and to work for justice and peace. But the truth always hurts.

The Church in Mozambique has been talking for a long time about the importance of social and democratic coexistence,” he said.

“What’s at stake here is not the persecution of a bishop, but to the most important of the Church’s values: justice, truth, and peace,” he added.—CNS

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Brothers of Charity

Turkey turns second historic Istanbul church into mosque A MONTH after the former cathedral Hagia Sophia was converted from a museum into a mosque, another Istanbul church-museum, renowned for its exquisite Byzantine frescoes and mosaics, will undergo the same transformation.

Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ordered that the 700-year-old Chora church—currently the Kariye Museum—be turned into a fully functioning mosque.

The building’s history mirrors that of the famous former Byzantine cathedral Hagia Sophia.

Holy Saviour in Chora is a

The Chora church in Istanbul, home of the most exquisite frescoes and mosaics of the Byzantine period, has also been turned into a mosque.

4th-century Greek Orthodox church whose structure was originally part of a monastery in Byzantine Constantinople.

The church’s current form dates from the early 14th century. It is highly valued for its masterful mosaics and frescoes.

After the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the church was taken for Muslim worship, and the wall paintings and mosaics thinly-covered with dye and lime.

In 1945, the secular Turkish republic declared the building a national monument, and extensive restoration and conservation work was carried out on the church’s artworks before it opened as a museum in 1958.

Like Hagia Sophia, the building is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.—CNS

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6

The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

The

LEADER PAGE

S outher n C ross Editor: Günther Simmermacher

Stand with Zim bishops

T

HE public support given to the bishops of Zimbabwe by the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) and other Church bodies has been a significant sign of solidarity—with the bishops of that country and its people who feel the repression of a Zanu-PF government that is simply unable to live by the basic principles of democracy or obligation of competence.

The messages of support, even tacitly by the apostolic nuncio, came in response to the government’s vitriolic attack on Zimbabwe’s Catholic bishops over this month’s pastoral letter “The March Has Not Ended”.

In the pastoral letter, the bishops called the present crackdown on dissent “unprecedented”.

Even if one allows for a measure of hyperbole, the situation in Zimbabwe must be distressing if the bishops deem it to be worse than the persecution of dissent under the regime of the late President Robert Mugabe.

Clearly President Emmerson Mnangagwa has abandoned his initial promises of reform, and now perpetuates his predecessor’s policies of despotism.

What has changed is that Zimbabwe’s bishops are now united in speaking out, and consent to external criticism of their government by brother bishops in other countries.

This was not possible in the 2000s, when Church conventions of diplomacy prevented our Catholic bishops from criticising human rights abuses in Zimbabwe without the consent of that country’s bishops’ conference.

At that time, it often was The Southern Cross which articulated a South African Catholic position on Zimbabwe, for which many bishops were privately thankful.

This month’s acts of solidarity with Zimbabwe’s bishops have set a marker for the Mnangagwa government. And still, the government’s attempts at de-escalating its attack on the bishops has been pitiful.

Subsequent statements softened the tone but not the content of what was a demagogic attack on the bishops.

At the very least, they should have drawn the sting of the chilling ethnic slur aimed against Archbishop Robert Ndlovu of Harare, who was born in Matabeleland—the region of the Gukurahundi genocide in the mid-1980s.

Zimbabweans need not be reminded that among those who led the genocide was President Mnangagwa.

The manner in which Archbishop Ndlovu was singled out for attack marks him as a public face of justice, whether he welcomes that role or not. And that means that the archbishop may well remain in the crosshairs of the government’s propaganda.

We do not know the contents of the meeting of the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, with Zimbabwe’s foreign minister, Sibusiso Moyo.

The nuncio was reportedly summoned to explain whether the pastoral letter of the bishops represents the views of the Holy See. We may presume that the nuncio outlined the Catholic principle of subsidiarity.

He might well have explained in broad terms the Holy See’s commitment to democratic principles and justice, without necessarily being explicit in applying them to Zimbabwe’s shortcomings in those areas.

We could speculate that the nuncio might have told Mr Moyo that the Holy See regards the personal safety of its bishops and clergy who are critical of their governments as imperative to good diplomatic relations.

After the government’s intemperate reaction to the pastoral letter, the Church will keep a close eye on the safety of the bishops and priests in the country—and especially that of Archbishop Ndlovu, whom the government accused of “evilminded leadership”.

During the Cold War, the Holy See often aided (if not always secured) the safety of Church leaders targeted by repressive governments by elevating them to the rank of cardinal. This also signalled the Church’s position to repressive rulers.

Deploying this diplomatic device may yet represent an option should human rights abuses and attacks on the bishops continue in Zimbabwe.

In the interim, the bishops and the people of Zimbabwe need our solidarity. We must not let them stand alone against a morally exhausted government.

The bishops of Zimbabwe need all the Church’s unequivocal support, for, as the SACBC message of support said: “Keeping quiet is not an option, and as shepherds of the people your voice of support gives hope to the people entrusted to you to carry on.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Editor reserves the right to shorten or edit published letters. Letters below 300 words receive preference. Pseudonyms are acceptable only under special circumstances and at the Editor’s discretion.

Name and address of the writer must be supplied. No anonymous letter will be considered.

Do we really need a Vatican visa for heaven?

I

T seems that the Vatican continues to find another stick with which to beat its faithful, as shown in your report “Vatican: Your baptism may be invalid” (August 12).

Beware, your baptism may be invalid and as a consequence thereof, probably negating any and all other sacraments received thereafter.

In spite of the catechism explaining the sacrament of baptism in great detail, nowhere does it, or the statement by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, indicate what sin or reprimand will be handed down to those whose baptisms have been invalidated by the

Free offer in a virtual world

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Saint of the Month: St Teresa of Avila

Why St Teresa’s feast took a big leap

UCH is being made of virtual communication these days because of the lockdown we have been experiencing.

National leaders of various countries are talking to each other, and the members of the bishops’ board in South Africa have followed suit.

There must be quite a saving in travel expenses, and one wonders if this virtual experience may become the norm in the near future.

Virtual communication is becoming so common that the other day someone wrote about a “nonvirtual” meeting, as though that were unusual!

Virtual conferencing is not new to members of the executive committee of the Catholic Theological Society of Southern Africa. For some years they have been discussing and planning on Skype or Google Hangouts—and now Zoom seems to be the in-thing.

This has become particularly important as the annual conference of the society cannot be held this year.

Under the leadership of Fr Tshepo Sebetseli and Dr Nontando Hadebe, its chair and vice-chair, virtual meetings take place regularly. The hope is that the next conference will be held early in the new year.

Meanwhile, the members of the committee are launching an occasional newsletter which will contain at least one serious theological article for reflection and discussion, as well as news about any recent events in field of theology.

Anyone may subscribe to the newsletter, which is free, and one need not be a member of the theological society.

To receive your free copy send your e-mail address to catholictheo logicalsociety@gmail.com. The first issue is ready for circulation.

Fr Anselm Prior OFM, Pretoria

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Vatican; and this because of the use of an incorrect word or “wrong” formula used by the priest administrating the sacrament.

In the “old” days, the Christian Brothers and Dominican Sisters told us that if we were not baptised, we would “never see God in the fullness of his glory”! Following this, we were led to believe that our Catholic “Christian God of Mercy” would treat millions and millions of people this way, including all Jews and Muslims.

In Mark 7:7-9, Jesus warns against human tradition for its own sake and refers to the prophecy of Isaiah and the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and

A

FEW HOURS COULD HAVE made the difference about whether St Teresa of Avila died on October 4 or on October 15 in 1582.

Teresa was already famous in her lifetime as the great reformer of the Carmelite Order. It was on a tour of convents she had founded that she fell ill, in the town of Alba de Tormes, near the great city of Salamanca.

She had arrived at the Annunciation Convent, which is still active today, in mid-September.

While she was ailing for 15 days, she asked that her sickbed be installed above the altar, so that she could be close to the Eucharist. She stayed there until just before her death.

Her tomb was eventually installed in that spot, looming above the altar.

October 5 cancelled

St Teresa was no conventional woman, and the timing of her death was suitably extraordinary.

The recorded date of her death is October 4, 1582. That was the day on which Spain and other Catholic countries switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar. So the day after Thursday, October 4 was

St Teresa at a glance

Name at birth: Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada Born: March 28, 1515 in Ávila, Castile (Spain) Died: October 4 or 15, 1582 (aged 67) in Alba de Tormes, Spain Beatified: 1614 Canonised: 1622 Feast: October 15 Attributes: Contemplative, mystic, visionary, religious reformer, writer Patronages: Spain, sick people, people in religious orders, people ridiculed for their piety, lacemakers

Friday, October 15.

It’s not clear whether St Teresa died before or after midnight, so by our reckoning the date of her death could be either October 4 or October 15. The official date is the 4th but — just to confuse things — the liturgical practice at the time counted the change of dates as of sunset, so according to that rule she died on the 15th, whether midnight had struck or not.

Teresa’s ecstasies brought her into perfect union with God.

From left: St Teresa’s tomb above the altar of the convent church in Alba de Tormes • Monument of St Teresa on Plaza San Pedro in Avila • Relic of St Teresa’s right finger (with ring) in Avila

Jewish grandfather

St Teresa was born there on March 28, 1515 as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada. The house of her birth is now a church, built in the 17th century, with an ornate chapel marking the spot where the future saint came into the world.

Her grandfather was a Jewish convert — though likely not by choice — who was condemned by the Spanish Inquisition for reverting to Judaism. But her father, Alonso, bought a knighthood and successfully assimilated into Christian soci-

The Southern Cross

In Trump’s defence

J

October 15 is St Teresa’s feast day, even though the 4th is her official date of death. Normally a saint’s feast day falls on the anniversary of their death, except when it clashes with another major feast. But October 4 was already the feast day of St Francis of Assisi (who actually died on October 3 but was given the 4th as his feast because of the liturgical rule mentioned above). So St Teresa couldn’t share St Francis’ feast and was allocated the day after her official date of death: not October 5, which didn’t exist that year, but October 15.

Now, with all that calendar excitement dispensed with, take a deep breath…

All photos: Günther Simmermacher

scribes: “Their reverence of me is worthless; the lessons they teach are nothing but human commandments. You put aside the commandments of God to observe human traditions.”

And he said to them: “How ingeniously you get round the commandment of God in order to preserve your own tradition.”

With all the blather issued by the modern-day Pharisees, I think we should rather align our thinking and validity of soul with Jesus and those such as the “good” thief and the woman at the well—and hope to be where they are without an invalid “Vatican visa”.

Tony Meehan, Cape Town

15

A sample page of the new Southern Cross magazine which will come out in late September.

Southern Cross mag? I love it!

T

HE 100-year-old Southern Cross newspaper will become a magazine in late September. I love it!

For the magazine, we have been invited to submit questions, some will be selected and published with brief answers.

I think this feature is a good idea.

Angela Botha, Cape Town n Questions can be e-mailed to editor@scross.co.za or sent through messages to The Southern Cross’ Facebook page.

Opinions expressed in The Southern Cross, especially in Letters to the Editor, do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or staff of the newspaper, or of the Catholic hierarchy.

Letters can be sent to PO Box 2372, Cape Town 8000 or editor@scross.co.za or faxed to 021 465-3850

UNE Boyer’s letter (August 12) shows that she does not like US President Donald Trump.

She accuses him of separating children, even babies still being breastfed, from their parents, who illegally immigrated into the US at the Mexican border.

She forgets that the policy of separating children dates from before Trump. Already during Obama and his predecessors, family separation had occurred. On June 20, 2018, Trump signed an order halting family separation at the border.

If Trump will not be reelected in November, many babies can forget about being breastfed. They will continue to be aborted before feeding time.

Mrs Boyer accuses Trump also of not doing enough to stop the damage done by the Covid-19 pandemic. But when Trump already in January 2020 imposed a travel restriction on incoming flights from China against the advice of everybody, he was called a racist.

Mrs Boyer accuses Trump of harming the environment by reversing agreements on climate policy. She forgets that there is no scientific consensus on climate change.

On June 28 this year, Time magazine’s “Hero of the Environment”, Michael Shellenberger, published an apology on behalf of environmentalists everywhere for the climate scare they created over the last 30 years.

I agree with Mrs Boyer that Trump is not easily stirred to sentimentality and tender emotion, but that is because God in his providence made him hard in order to withstand the vicious attacks of the Democrats and the left liberal media who promote abortion and sodomy, both abominations in God’s eyes.

JH Goossens, Pretoria

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PERSPECTIVES

The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

7

In the end, that’s how it all began Sarah-Leah B Pimentel ORN January 2014. Laid to rest in August 2020. This is the final “Mustard Seeds” column. It had a good run. This is its 80th and final edition.

Six and a half years is a long time to keep coming up with something new and refreshing every month. I’m sure you’ll agree that some months were more inspired than others!

In the life of South Africa’s centenarian Catholic newspaper, my contribution was simply a drop in an ocean filled with the faith, reflections, and life of the many generations of Catholic writers who have written for this publication for 100 years.

When I started this column, I expressed my hopes that it would be a space “to share stories of faith, to feed faith in one another and to encourage those mustard seeds to grow into blossoming trees that provide shelter for others”.

As I look back over the various articles that I wrote, it seems I wrote about absolutely everything from the liturgy to politics. I covered sex abuse by clergy, violence against women, and xenophobia. I shared travel experiences, books I’d read and little moments that brought me to prayer. I spoke about fear, suffering, and hope.

In all of these, I tried to find the “mustard seed” of faith that helped me on my Christian journey, and hoped that it served as an inspiration for readers as well.

And so, as this column takes its leave, I leave one final mustard seed. It is not an obituary. It is a challenge to every reader, because The Southern Cross is all of us.

Can you remember the first time you picked up copy of The Southern Cross? I remember seeing it in my home as a child. I was probably in my teens when I picked it up and paged through it for the first time.

I don’t remember what I read or even if it made an impact on me.

When I moved out of home and went to live in another city, I would also periodically buy The Southern Cross.

My job is to read newspapers, and as such, I don’t have the patience to read

much beyond the headline and perhaps the first paragraph. Something needs to capture my attention for me to read a piece through to the end. Each time I bought our Catholic newspaper, I could find at least one or two pieces that compelled me to read it all the way through.

Sometimes, it was a heartwarming story about the great work that a parish was doing. Other times, a letter to the editor made me angry. Sometimes I read the editorial and it inspired me. Other times it upset me. But I was never left unmoved.

Beginnings of a column One time, I got so upset by something I had heard that I penned a letter to the editor. He printed it as an article a few weeks later. That was in 2013. A few months later, he asked me if I would contribute to a monthly column. I got involved because Catholic media matters to me.

And here is the challenge. Do we see the value of our South African Catholic media?

This is everything from The Southern Cross to Radio Veritas, the “Catholic Link”, spotlight.africa, Worldwide, the Paulines in Johannesburg and the Catholic Bookshop in Cape Town, MARFAM, Mariannhill Publishers, and all the other media that enable

The Southern Cross is all of us. Now, how are we going to support our Catholic media, asks Sarah-Leah Pimentel.

Paths of Vocation

“We should not be afraid to recite the rosary, for Jesus is at the centre of every Hail Mary,” writes Fr Runaine Radine. see the effects of redemption in Christ.

The victory of Christ over sin and death, through the Resurrection, is central to our Christian faith—a victory which we wish to share as fully as Our Lady already does.

Made partakers in the life of God through baptism, though we live in these mortal bodies with the limitations of decay and death, we can hope for immortality, for new and glorious bodies at the resurrection on the last day, free from all that could harm us.

Mary always points to Jesus The Mother of Good Hope always points us to Jesus and never to herself.

True devotion to Mary means, to paraphrase many saintly devotees of Our Lady, all to Jesus through Mary; all to Mary for Jesus.

As Catholics we love the Virgin Mary for she is the mother of the Lord and our mother. After all, as St Maximillian Kolbe said, we can never love her more than Jesus does.

We should not be afraid or ashamed to

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us to access Catholic content.

If they suddenly had to disappear, what impact would this have on the nurturing of our faith? We would still find Catholic content on websites coming from the US or the UK, but would we still feel represented, as South African Catholics?

Catholics form a small percentage or South Africa’s religious demographic. This is why Catholic media is important. It keeps us united—something we experienced very vividly in our isolation during the pandemic with online Masses.

But YouTube Masses or beautiful sayings on a parish Facebook page do not fill the need for ongoing religious formation.

Nor do they take the place of a robust and free media environment that allows Catholics of all backgrounds and worldviews to express their varied observations and opinions, while simultaneously trying to grapple with Catholic teaching and its application to the experiences of real life and the real world.

Catholic media in South Africa needs voices from all language groups, sodalities, spiritual charisms, those at the centre and those on the fringes, so that all Catholics in South Africa can see themselves represented We need Catholic media. This kind of media work needs support, voices, and money.

As The Southern Cross takes its bow as a Catholic weekly newspaper in a few weeks’ time, what will we do differently to contribute to its success as a monthly magazine?

And in what ways can we support all our other Catholic media that are also struggling?

Fr Runaine Radine

Blessed to have Mary I N our Catholic devotion, the month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The feast of the Assumption, in the middle of this month, is the patronal feast of Southern Africa. As a nation, we are celebrating Women’s Month. There is no better model for all women to look up to than Our Lady.

Shortly after the end of the Second World War, which caused millions of deaths and left countless people injured or displaced, the Church interpreted the meaning of her ancient teaching on the bodily assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

On 1 November 1950, Pope Pius XII solemnly proclaimed ex cathedra: “We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory” (cf Munificentissimus Deus).

As it was then, so now and always— Our Lady assumed into heaven is a sign of hope for all of troubled humanity.

Mary, by a unique privilege, was preserved from original sin, so that she, full of grace, might bear God’s incarnate Son in her body. Therefore, that body—pure and chaste—could not be touched by the decay of the tomb. Mary, the true Ark of the Covenant, God’s dwelling place on earth, now dwells forever in God’s presence.

The Father looked to that lowly Virgin of Nazareth to bring forth the Saviour of the world by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, the redeemed of the Lord look on this blessed and highly favoured one to

The Mustard Seeds

recite the rosary, for it is truly a biblical prayer and the Lord Jesus is at the centre of each Hail Mary.

The nationwide lockdown is now slowly easing. For many, the rosary has been that chain which kept them connected to their faith during this time. It is because Mary always brings Jesus to us, as she did for Elizabeth and John the Baptist, at the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56). Here, when Elizabeth “praises” her, Mary turns and directs all praise to God: My soul magnifies the Lord.

This prayer, the Magnificat, echoed by the Church every evening, shows us the depth of Mary’s faith and hope in the Lord of justice. She continues to sing God’s praises in heaven, as she implores his mercy for all her children on earth.

As we continue to feel the effects of Covid-19 across the globe, along with the persecution of Christians in many parts of the world, the scourge of violence against the innocent in our country—especially woman and children—injustice and extreme poverty and hunger, we turn to Mary, a sign of comfort to God’s pilgrim people.

Created as we are, in the image and likeness of God, with an inviolable dignity, we long for justice and peace.

Imitating the Blessed Mother, the first and best disciple of Christ, we learn the ways of faith and charity. Relying on the grace of God, let us remain attentive to the things that are above, for all our hope is in God. Blessed are we when we, like Mary, faithfully believe that the Lord’s word will be fulfilled.

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Theewaterskloof Dam in the Western Cape was running on empty in 2018. It is now over 80% full, but water shortage will be the great point of crisis in South Africa in the future. (Photo: Mike Hutchings, Reuters/CNS)

Chris Chatteris SJ

Pray with the Pope

Hear the messages from our planet Universal Intention: Respect for the planet’s resources. We pray that the planet’s resources will not be plundered, but shared in a just and respectful manner.

HE inconvenient fact is that the planet’s resources are indeed being plundered. Humanity consumes more than the planet’s ecosystems can sustainably replenish. Hence the concept of “overshoot”. It’s a simple idea if you focus on something necessary such as water.

In Cape Town during the drought, the dams were emptying faster than they were filling, and so we were overshooting our water consumption. We were therefore forced to cut back drastically to avoid running out, and we waited for rain. We made it, but it was a close-run thing.

“Overshoot” is happening to many natural resources. The fundamental problem is that we live in a world of limits but run an economies based on the myth of infinite growth. This is the new “opium of the people”, according to the environmentalist Fritjof Capra.

But since nothing can grow forever, there comes a moment when nature’s bill comes in.

That moment is now upon us.

In this dry country the shortage we are going to experience more and more is that of water.

We have a very sophisticated system of dams, but if consumption increases and the climate continues to warm, then even the most elaborate system hits its limits.

Obviously, some are more responsible for overconsumption than others and they have a greater responsibility to use less.

If we all lived like the population of the United States or Qatar we would need four planet earths to survive. The problem is that many people who do not live like Qataris and Americans aspire to live like them.

People who have lived in poverty often feel that it is now their turn to taste the prosperity of the developed world—the rich diets, the large cars, the spacious houses, foreign travel.

It’s not a popular message to deliver, but we need leaders in developed countries to say that levels of consumption will have to fall.

In developing countries leaders must say that, although it’s reasonable to aspire to escape poverty, the notion that we are all going to live like Americans is a delusion. The planet simply cannot take it.

T

A matter of survival This is a matter of survival. If we destroy the natural systems that sustain us, then all bets are off, for both rich and poor.

But it is also a matter of justice. Those with too much need to share with those who do not have enough. The ecological crisis facing the world is a powerful sign of the times pointing to the absolute necessity of restoring greater equality in the world.

Non-replaceable resources need to be used extremely sparingly for important human needs, not in order to manufacture trivial consumer goods or to burn up in joyriding around in trophy cars.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced us to slow down and consume less, but we seem desperate for return to “normal” because we are now dependent on this consumer economy to provide employment.

If we want to do something on a personal level we can cut down on things like meat, electricity, water usage and travel.

But we also need to be pushing government and business to change the systems of production and the economy, to transition to renewable alternatives, particularly in energy.

In a way, the drought, the loadshedding and the coronavirus are messages from the planet.

We need to listen, prayerfully, and respond generously for the sake of future generations.

8

The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

FILM

A faithful telling of Fatima story This week a new film on the apparitions at Fatima will be released in South African cinemas. As this synopsis shows, it follows the story faithfully.

O

N August 28, the new film on the 1917 apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in Fatima will go on circuit in South Africa.

It is titled simply Fatima.

Endorsed by the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, the film is based on the real events 103 years ago, framed around a fictional encounter between a modern-day academic and the surviving of the three children who reported having seen Our Lady.

In modern-day Portugal, author and noted sceptic Professor Nichols (Harvey Keitel) visits a convent in the Portuguese city of Coimbra, where the elderly Carmelite Sister Lúcia dos Santos (Sônia Braga) recounts the story of her role in an historic event that took place in 1917.

The conversations between pragmatic academic and the spiritual ascetic illuminate a decadesold story that has moved and fascinated millions for more than a century.

Scenes from Fatima (from left): Mayor Arturo (former E.R. star Goran Visnjic) confronts Lúcia (Stephanie Gil) • Lúcia with Jacinta (Alejandra Howard) and Francisco (Jorge Lamelas) • The Fatima children with their parents, including Lúcia Moniz as Lúcia’s mother Maria at far left.

In 1917, while wandering in a cave near her home in the hamlet of Aljustrel, on the outskirts of Fátima, Portugal, 10-year-old Lúcia (Stephanie Gil) is visited by an angel who shows her a vision of a battlefield.

World War I is raging across Europe and claiming the lives of many young men in Lúcia’s village. In the vision, Lúcia sees her brother, Manuel (João Arrais), a soldier at the front, caught in an explosion.

Later, while tending her family’s flock of sheep, Lúcia and her younger cousins Jacinta (Alejandra Howard) and Francisco Marto (Jorge Lamelas) are visited by another apparition, this time of the

Virgin Mary (Joana Ribeiro). The “Lady of the Rosary”, as she calls herself, tells the children they must pray and suffer in order to bring an end to the deadly conflict.

She also tells them she will return to the same spot every month for six months.

The trials of the children Like many in the town, Lúcia’s devout mother, Maria (Lúcia Moniz), doesn’t believe the children’s story and chastises Lúcia for lying.

But as the mayor, Arturo (Goran Visnjic), and Church officials try to convince the youngsters to recant their story, word of

the sighting spreads.

Pilgrims from across the country flock to Fátima hoping to have their prayers answered, but only the children are able to see or hear the apparitions.

As more people come, the pressure mounts on officials of the newly installed secularist government to refute the children’s testimony. Arturo eventually resorts to imprisoning Lúcia and her cousins, hoping to have them declared insane. But the psychiatrist he enlists to examine them finds no evidence to support that claim and they are freed.

On the day of Mary’s final visit to Fátima on October 13, 1917, tens of thousands of believers ar-

rive, hoping to witness a miracle that will convince them of her existence. What they experience is still talked about to this day and the site remains one of the world’s most popular destinations for Catholic pilgrims.

Fatima is directed by Marco Pontecorvo, whose directorial debut, Pa-ra-da, was critically acclaimed.

As a cinematographer, the Italian director worked on TV hits such as Game of Thrones and Rome.

He also co-wrote the script, with Valerio D’Annunzio and Barbara Nicolosi. n Fatima opens on August 28 in NuMetro cinemas. Please consult local listings for screening times.

The people who brought Fatima film to life T

HROUGHOUT the Catholic world, the Portuguese town of Fátima is renowned for the miraculous appearance of the Blessed Virgin to three young shepherds in 1917.

However, producer of the Fatima film James T Volk said he had been unfamiliar with the story of Lúcia Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto.

But as he learned more about it, he knew he had found a narrative that was perfectly aligned with both his company’s mission and with events unfolding around the world.

He and his partner, Dick Lyles, founded Origin Entertainment with the intention of making transformative entertainment that inspires audiences to create a better world.

“When I heard about the events at Fátima, I was blown away. I thought everyone should know about it,” said Volk.

“A lot of people who grew up Catholic know this story, but someone like me, who grew up in Evangelical churches, is unlikely to be aware of it. This story can be a universal bridge between people of all faiths,” he said.

“The innocence of these three kids helped spread a message of peace and hope to an entire generation. Perhaps it can do that again today.”

Volk and Lyles optioned the rights to remake the 1952 Warner Bros film The Miracle of Our Lady of Fátima. They then approached Rose Ganguzza, who has been

The

shepherding indie films to success for almost 20 years, to help produce the film.

“I have been fascinated by the story since I was a child,” Ganguzza said. “At my Catholic school, the nuns would bring out the white sheets and the projectors and show that movie every year.

So I agreed to come on—but I had very strong ideas about how the script needed to change.”

She knew the story needed to be updated for modern audiences and that the film needed to place the events in the context of Western Europe in the early 20th century.

“You can’t tell this story in a vacuum,” the producer said.

“What was happening then is critical to understand. There was huge anti-Catholic sentiment across the Iberian peninsula. Churches were being closed down in Spain and Portugal and they were hanging priests in effigy.”

Tell the story anew Referring to World War I, Ganguzza noted: “They were in the middle of a military conflict unlike any the world had seen before. Droves of young men were being slaughtered daily. To tell this story like it was told in 1952 wouldn’t work today.”

She also felt it was essential to focus on the children as harbingers of hope and purity: “These three were giving a message of peace and belief at a time when people were in desperate situations. It seemed as if the war was never going to end, that it was going to keep ex-

history. Because it took place at the height of the First World War, the politics were an important element, but I focused primarily on the relationships, particularly between the mother and the daughter, and Lúcia and the Virgin Mary.

The triangle is quite interesting.”

In depicting the young shepherds’ visions of Mary, Pontecorvo chose to have her appear not as a gauzy apparition but as a fleshand-blood woman, played by Portuguese actress Joana Ribeiro.

“The children see her in a way they can understand and not be afraid: the figure of a mother,” explained the director.

Correcting old impressions Director Marco Pontecorvo prepares veteran actor Harvey Keitel, who plays a modern-day professor, for a scene with Brazilian actress Sônia Braga as Sr Lucia in Fatima. panding, that they were going to lose more loved ones.”

The Marto siblings were canonised by Pope Francis in 2017, and Sr Lúcia is on the road to sainthood. But the filmmakers have insisted on portraying them first and foremost as children.

“It would have been easy to put these kids up on a pedestal and venerate them as saints,” Ganguzza said. “But we wanted to examine their humanity. Is what they say real and true or is it not?

Do we believe the words of the children or do we doubt them as the adults in their lives did?

“It’s a moving rendition of the beauty of innocence. Their love,

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their devotion and their faith continue to fascinate people.”

Natasha Howes was added to the team because of her deep knowledge of and appreciation for the story of the children of Fátima.

In researching the 2009 feature documentary The 13th Day, which she produced, Howes became an expert on the subject of Fátima.

“Part of my role on this film was to ensure that we retained the historical authenticity of the story.

I have worked closely with the shrine of Fátima and key organisations dedicated to disseminating the meaning and message of Fátima throughout the world.”

Finding the director When it came to finding a director for the film, Ganguzza suggested Marco Pontecorvo based on the success of his first film, Pa-rada, and particularly his skilled work with child actors.

Pontecorvo, who featured in last week’s issue, has had a long and distinguished career as a cinematographer, serving as director of photographer.

Growing up in Italy, he was already familiar with the basic story of Fátima.

“It’s very well-known in a lot of Catholic countries,” he explained.

“I didn’t know any of the details of Lúcia’s life or about Portugal in that era, so I had to jump into the

With the help of Howes’ special knowledge and expertise, the filmmakers wove some lesser-known details into the narrative and corrected a number of longstanding misapprehensions.

For example, Howes pointed out that Lúcia’s mother and father have been mischaracterised in previous accounts: “In particular, her mother. She could be quite harsh but she wasn’t a bad woman. According to Lúcia’s memoirs, she was a humble woman devoted to her faith and she just could never believe that her daughter could be so blessed as to experience the Virgin Mary.”

Lúcia became a nun and lived in a Carmelite convent in Coimbra, Portugal, from 1948 until she died in 2005 at the age of 97.

She left a long legacy for the filmmakers to draw upon, including two volumes of memoirs.

“We recognised that there was an incredible story behind this miracle, the story of the children and their experiences of the Virgin Mary, as well as their ultimate persecution within their homes and their local communities, by the government and the Church,” said Howes.

“But they all remained true to their mission, even after their abduction by the authorities and interrogation under the threat of death. Whether they truly experienced the apparitions or not, whether the miracle happened or not, we continue to relate to Lúcia and her quest.” n Next week we meet the main cast of Fatima.

INTERVIEW

The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

9

Sister on vocation, Daswa and Church Until recently, Sr Tshifhiva Munzhedzi OP was the promoter of the cause for Bl Benedict Daswa; since July she is the SACBC’s new associate secretary-general.

DALUXOLO MOLOANTOA interviewed her.

vited me to come and see her, and asked me to consider the call to go and serve in the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference.

How have you found the new tenure since you started in your new position at the SACBC? Since I arrived I have been reading and listening, listening and reading. So it would be premature for me to speak about anything more than that.

What do you do for leisure, when you are not working?

AST month Dominican Sister Tshifhiwa Munzhedzi began I like reading all sorts of books. her duties as the new associI have an eclectic taste—spiritual ate secretary-general of the Southbooks, biographies, novels and naern African Catholic Bishops’ ture books.

Conference I also like sewing, and baking. I Before her appointment, Sr like the process of trying new Munzhedzi served as the promoter things and seeing how they come for the cause of canonisation of Bl out.

Benedict Daswa in Tzaneen.

When I am really relaxed, I She was born and grew up in sometimes draw. I am no expert in Sibasa, near Thohoyandou in any of the things mentioned, but I Limpopo. The eldest of nine chilam happy when I am doing them, dren–six girls and three boys—she and I’m also less tense when I force was named Tshifhiwa, which myself to take time to do these means gift. things and relax.

“They perceived my birth as a What are your hopes for the gift from God,” Sr Munzhedzi says.

Church and for South Africa in She did her primary education general? at the Dominican St Scholastica’s We are living through difficult Primary School, and her secondary times since March 5, when we had education at Motse Maria Secondour first Covid-19 case in South ary School, run by the Sisters of Sr Tshifhiwa Munzhedzi OP, the associate general-secretary of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Africa.

Since then life has never Conference.

Unusually, both top positions in the secretariat, which manages the SACBC, are filled by Charity. been the same in South Africa, and In 1984 she obtained a teacher’s religious women; the secretary-general is Precious Blood Sister Hermenegild Makoro. indeed the whole world. diploma at the Venda College of All aspects of life have been Education in Thohoyandou, and lowed the Catholic priests to celeAfter receiving the leadership’s contact with me. Their faith, trust then worked as a teacher at Gwa- brate Mass at my home for the permission I wrote to Bishop João and belief in God has really taught touched, and the Church has not masenga Secondary School in Catholic community. At the same Rodrigues of Tzaneen about my de- me humility. I still do not under- been spared.

It is hard not to be able to go to Tsianda Village—while discerning time every member of my family, sire to come and work in the dio- stand a lot, but I believe that life is church, and yet this time has also where God was calling her to.

Catholic or not, was expected to cese. in God’s hands. given us the opportuThat call led her to join the join the celebration.

We met and talked about possiI also learned through nity to strengthen our King Williams Town Dominicans When I was in high school I was ble involvement in the diocese. doing this work that, like relationship with the in 1986.

‘If I have a member of the Christian Life The promoter of the cause, Sr Bl Tshimangadzo BeneLord as we pray and After two years as a teacher, in Group (CLG). I enjoyed very much Claudette Hiosan, was leaving the dict, one needs to allow brought at have services in our own 1991, she went to further her stud- being a member of this group, es- diocese, returning back to her God to influence and homes. ies at St Joseph’s Theological Insti- pecially the reflections and prayers home country, which meant there touch every aspect of least one Looking at statistics tute in Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal, we had as a group. was a vacant post he needed filled. life, no matter how small and hearing of the where she pursued a theology deperson closer It was also a time of growth as So he offered me the job. or insignificant it might many people infected gree, finishing at the end of 1996. we visited other CLG groups in the I did explain that I had never seem; like when he inand affected by the She was then called to serve at diocese of Polokwane. to God, then done anything close to promoting sisted that they pray bevirus, one can easily get Lumko Institute, an SACBC pasIn 1986 January, I joined the a cause for canonisation, but I was fore driving. A small act, I am happy’ depressed. toral centre, as a pastoral agents’ Dominican Sisters of St Catharine willing to learn. With God’s help but a great act of faith However, there is so trainer. of Siena of King Williams Town. and all those who were working and trust in God. much good that has After four years at Lumko, she with Sr Claudette, I could try and I I hope that the many people I come up: people helping one anstudied for her licentiate in biblical Why did you choose the Domini- was willing to do it. was in touch with were able to other in whatever way they can; theology at the Catholic Univer- can Sisters?

When I grew up I lived in an What do you regard as your glimpse the love God has for each the health professionals’ dedicasity of Eastern Africa in Kenya. tion to serving the sick, knowing Among other responsibilities area served by the Holy Rosary Sis- greatest highlight of your time as one of them. ters and I went to school the promoter of the Daswa What’s your greatest achieve- they are putting their lives and the she undertook in her lives of their families at risk; people with the Dominican Sis- cause? ment in that role?

Dominican congregaters and the Sisters of I want to begin by saying there tion, Sr Munzhedzi was I do not see my work as one of faith praying together and for ‘There are Charity. are more saints in heaven than the which has achievements because one another. a teacher at the Catholic This indeed is a sign of hope, My choice of congre- Church has canonically acknowl- one can never tell what is happenBible College of South more saints gation to join was deter- edged. The few people acknowl- ing in another person’s heart. Only hope that comes from God and Africa. knowing that God is still there proShe has been in the in heaven than mined by the kindness edged are put up as models for all they and God know. of one of the Dominican of us. leadership of her conWhat I hope I have done in the tecting and caring for us.

One of the things that I learned short time I was there was to get at I do not fully comprehend what gregation for a long the Church has Sisters who taught me maths, my favourite sub- as soon as I started doing this work least one person closer to God. If I all this is saying to me and to all of time, both at the local acknowledged’ ject. I really loved who was that I needed to grow in my re- have done that, then I am happy. us, but my hope and trust is in God and regional level. this woman was, and I lationship with God. As a Catholic Sr Munzhedzi was Otherwise, on my part I am to whom I continue to pray. wanted to be like her. I grew up knowing about saints grateful for having “met” Bl Daswa What do you pray for? appointed promoter of the sainthood cause of Bl Tshiman- She was a quiet, gentle, prayerful and reading about them. What I as I learned about his faith-life and I ask that God may continue to and kind Sister, and really loved us did not know was the process of who he was. I am grateful that his gadzo Benedict Daswa in 2016. children in her class. getting one or more declared as family taught me the gift of for- guide all of us, to reach where we will be able to interact with one anThe Sister who was the spiritual such by the Church.

Tell us a bit about your upbringgiveness and openness to God’s in- other as we used to. leader of the CLG group one day I began to read and ask quesing and youth years. fluence. May they be blessed.

I see Psalm 121:1-2 as appropriasked me what I wanted to do tions of all those who had been inAll my education was done in when I finished school, and I told volved in the work before I came.

How did you find out that your ate at this time: Catholic institutions, except for her I would like to become a Do“I lift my eyes to the mounAs I leave the work I realise name had been included in the my teacher’s diploma. This meant minican Sister. there is still a lot to be done in candidates’ list for the position tains—where does my help come I was exposed to religious people A few weeks or months later I order to promote Bl Daswa and of SACBC associate secretary-gen- from? My help comes from the all the time.

LORD, who made heaven and eral? received a letter from my favourite what role saints play in our lives.

When I went home for school Dominican Sister, telling me she I feel that I have allowed myself First, I did not know there was a earth. holidays, one of my friends was a had been told I was interested in to be touched by the testimonies of list of candidates. I only knew Thank you for your time and religious Sister and I would go joining them. She welcomed me the many people who had been in when my congregational leader in- thoughts, Sr Tshifhiwa. with her on Sundays to communiand extended an invitation for me ties where she went to lead Comto come and visit them. munion services in the absence of I thought it was God’s provia priest.

I also come from a religious dence, showing me that it is what family. Both, my maternal grand- I am meant to do, that it had to be father and father were bishops in this particular Sister, who was sutheir churches. I was baptised into perior of the community when the the Catholic Church when I was letter arrived.

I do not know if I would have nine years old. personally made the contact if my We also had a rule at home CLG spiritual leader did not do when I was a child that Sunday is that for me. God works in strange the day of the Lord, so everybody ways. had to go to church. It did not matter which one, but you had to How did you become involved in the sainthood cause for Bl Benego to church.

When we prayed as a family, dict Daswa? everyone was given a chance to In 2016 I asked my congregalead the prayer from their church’s tional leadership if I could go and perspective, and all were expected work in the diocese of Tzaneen— to participate. my home diocese—for a short At one point my parents al- time.

L

10

The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

HOLY LAND

From left: A trilingual street sign—Hebrew, Arabic and Latin—in Jerusalem for the Via Dolorosa • The Ecce Homo arch, dating from Emperor Hadrian’s reign in the 2nd century. • Carving by 2nd-century Roman soldiers of the “King’s Game” on lithostratos, or pavement, in the church of the Condemnation. (All photos: Günther Simmermacher)

Jerusalem’s Way of the Cross In part 15 of our virtual pilgrimage to the Holy Land, we join GünTHER SIMMERMACHER on the Via Dolorosa, the route Jesus walked to Golgotha.

W

HEN we follow the Stations of the Cross in our churches, particularly during Lent, we do so in reverent calm, using the quiet to facilitate our prayerful meditations on the stages of Our Lord’s suffering before his broken body was finally laid in the tomb, from where he would rise again.

The Stations of the Cross in our churches were introduced in the 17th century for the benefit of the majority who would never travel to the Holy Land. They were even given the same indulgences as those who did the Stations in Jerusalem.

As so often, the Franciscans were the frontrunners in that endeavour. And rightly so: it was their founder, St Francis of Assisi, who first set up chapels for devotions to Christ’s final journey.

In reality, Jesus’ torturous walk to Calvary was not accompanied by a considerate hush. He had to navigate streets bustling with people making preparations for the Passover and throngs of visitors

on their pilgrimage to the temple.

Some of them didn’t pay the condemned man much attention, or perhaps glanced at him with cautious sympathy. Others jeered, taunted and mocked him, rather delighting in the anguish of this minor celebrity with his peculiar messianic ideas.

Most people on the streets that day were probably just annoyed at the interruptions caused by this miserable procession, which probably also included the other two men who would be executed at the same time.

It was a day when everybody was preparing for the Passover, and Jerusalem was bursting with pilgrims who had come for the feast. Josephus Flavius estimated the number of people in and around Jerusalem at Passover to be somewhere around 2,5 million.

He might have exaggerated a little, but the city, and especially the Temple, was teeming with people and sacrificial animals (it is said that about a quarter of a million lambs were sacrificed every Passover).

The historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, writing in his engaging biography of Jerusalem, suggests that to get an idea of the throng of people in Jerusalem one might look to the crowded scenes at Mecca today during the hadj.

And in the middle of all that madness, the condemned Jesus of Nazareth was led to his death.

Left: On the way to the Via Dolorosa. Right: Jesus receives his cross, depicted in the church of the Condemnation, Station II on the Via Dolorosa.

Locals, tourists & pilgrims Following the Way of the Cross—the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrow—in Jerusalem’s Old City gives the modern pilgrim a tiny hint of the chaos that surrounded Jesus as he walked to his death.

The route follows narrow streets through busy markets frequented by locals, tourists and fellow pilgrims.

The groups making the Stations of the Cross must be a nuisance in the lives of the locals, who nonetheless tend to accept it as the way of things, as generations before them did.

Most of the locals tolerate these cross-bearing pilgrims. As the restrictions in the coronavirus pandemic have made clear, without pilgrims, almost every Palestinian family suffers, directly or indirectly.

Soon the travellers will return, and few locals will resent them because they spend money and create jobs.

Local Christians have walked the Via Dolorosa since the earliest times, long before Islam was even a vague idea, and pilgrims have done so at least since the times of the Crusaders, even if that form was still rudimentary.

The Via Dolorosa, as a structured itinerary of prayer and reflection, was introduced by the Franciscans in the 14th century, though the route has changed since then. The current course, just under a kilometre in length, was appointed in the 1800s.

It is impossible to say by what path Jesus arrived at Golgotha— then a garden and cemetery at an exhausted quarry just outside the city walls—because there is no reliable record of the location of Pontius Pilate’s praetorium, his court when he was in the city, the place where Jesus was condemned, scourged and handed his crossbeam.

While the Via Dolorosa begins at the place where the Roman Antonia fortress once stood, most scholars now believe that Pontius condemned Jesus at the Herodian Palace in the city’s south-west, at Jaffa Gate, which throws the historical geography of the Via Dolorosa, which starts from near Lions’ Gate in the north-east, decidedly off-kilter.

Another, more recent, theory suggests that the praetorium was

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Pilgrims at Mass in the chapel of the Flagellation, next to the second station on the Via Dolorosa. located in what is now the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, though even those who propose that theory can’t pinpoint the exact location.

Biblical geography is fascinating, and we can locate the authentic sites of many events in the New Testament with various degrees of certainty.

A good rule of thumb is this: if a church marked a holy site in the 3rd-5th centuries, preferably mentioned by pilgrims of that time, then chances are good that veneration at these places goes back to the first Christians, who would have passed the living memory down the generations.

Regarding the route Jesus walked with his cross we have no such evidence until we arrive at the destination: Golgotha.

The first two stations Station I, where Jesus is condemned by the Roman procurator, then is scourged and given the crossbeam, is set at what is now a madrassa, the Umariyya primary school for boys, just inside Lions’ (or Stephen’s) Gate.

In Jesus’ time, that area was under water—it was the site of a large cistern known as the Struthion Pool, which was so significant as to merit a mention by the 1st-century historian Josephus Flavius.

The second station recalls Pontius’ uncharacteristic plea for pity, “Ecce homo”, or “Behold the man”. It was quite a strange thing to say by the man who had himself just ordered the brutal scourging which left the condemned Jesus in such a wretched physical state.

Tradition had it that he addressed the people from that arch, but it is in fact part of a triple arch built in the second century during Hadrian’s reign.

Station II is at the Franciscan chapel of the Condemnation and

Imposition of the Cross, built in 1903-04, which displays a model of first-century Jerusalem, including Calvary.

Inside the chapel, look out for the 2nd-century carvings of a dice game played by Roman soldiers in a pavement stone.

Adjacent to that is the chapel of the Flagellation, reconstructed by our old friend Antonio Barluzzi from 1928-30. It includes a ceiling mosaic which on a golden background shows the crown of thorns pierced by stars.

The museum of the Franciscan Biblical School on the site exhibits several archaeological finds from the Holy Land as well as a wooden 17th-century model of the church of the Holy Sepulchre (alas, pilgrim groups usually lack the time to visit the museum).

In the shared courtyard of the churches, pilgrims can borrow a cross which they then carry on their way along the Via Dolorosa; for a tip young lads will take the cross back for use by other pilgrims.

A little up the road is the convent of the Daughters of Sion, built in 1857 by Marie-Alphonse Ratisbonne, a French convert from Judaism, on top of the ruins of old Crusader structures.

It isn’t one of the stations, but it is worth a stop nonetheless. It houses a couple of archaeological treasures: remains of the Struthion Pool and a Roman-era cobblestone pavement. Initially it was believed that this was the lithostratus (Greek for pavement) mentioned in John 19:13 as the spot where Pilate sat as he delivered his historic judgment.

We now know that he did so at another place. Even so, the pavement, like the Ecce Homo arch, dates from the second century. It is a remarkable relic from the past. n This is an edited extract from Günther Simmermacher’s The Holy Land Trek. Next week: The remaining Stations on the Via Dolorosa.

The Southern Cross, August 26 to September 1, 2020

YOUR CLASSIFIEDS

Donovan Lowry

D

ONOVAN Lowry died this month in his 88th year. He and his sister Pam were born to a family well-established in both Mthatha, Church and society.

Donovan first appeared on the Wits University scene more than 65 years ago: the guru sitting in Pops cafe, intimidating not only very young students like this writer; already running his hands through his hair (something which Sydney Duval in Cape Town remembers to this day); but the only intellectual who might have outshone the charismatic student chaplain at the time, Fr Diego Connery.

The Transkei, his first love, his alma mater UCT, the Cape mountains his even bigger passion, and Cape Town-based Catholic Professor Martin Versfeld his intellectual idol—what chance did Johannesburg have to subvert his loyalties?

A passionate critic of Western history, culture and imperialism, he just managed to avoid the trap of cultural self-hatred. His interpretations have now become common currency.

Clearly, too, he was an exceptional teacher, a Catholic radical inspiring young Jewish learners over the years at King David School in Linksfield.

Donovan was a private person, it seems to me, for whom family was very important, but matched

equally by his concern for social justice, playwriting and intellectual activism.

Owen O’Leary, that spontaneous, impetuous Irishman who upset some local apple carts, was possibly the person whom he enjoyed the most outside his family in our early days.

I owe Donovan—and his wife and partner for more than 60 years, Etheen—a great debt for their patience and hospitality over the apartheid years. By then I was no longer intimidated, except at philosophical levels, and this contact probably helped to keep him more informed on local events and issues in the last decades of apartheid.

Donovan researched and wrote 20 Years in the Labour Movement (1999), the essential chronicle of the non-ANC, non-Cosatu Urban Training Project’s contribution to South African workers’ fight for their rights and for our general freedom. This had been in danger of being deliberately written out of the story.

He wrote two plays. The Things That Are Caesar’s (1987/88) which predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union. Spectators, Spies And Witnesses was written in reaction to the death in Special Branch detention of activists Looksmart Ngudle, Bellington Mampe, James Tyita and Suliman Saloojeein in 1963/64, and the muted protests

11

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against these by the Churches, the press and other domains of civil society.

Donovan is survived by his wife Etheen, and children Robyn, Stephen, Shirley and Jennifer, now scattered around the world.

Covid-19, advancing age and our own diaspora kept us surviving Johannesburg lay Catholic Justice & Peace veterans of the 1950s and ’60s from the recent funerals of Tom Manthata and now Donovan Lowry, but we are one in spirit: Frankie Connell, Ines Ceruti, Adrienne Koka, David and Jo Mayne, Marilyn Aitken, Sydney and Christiane Duval, Jean Tyacke, Margaret Hughes, Shirley Winter (Connolly), Tess O’Donovan (Murray), Geoff Mandy, Ian Thompson and others.

Rest in peace Donovan and Tom.

By Paul Goller

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ABORTION WARNING: The truth will convict a silent

O LORD may everything we do begin with your inspiration, continue with your help, and reach perfection under your guidance. My past life, O God, to your mercy, my present life to your love, my future life to your providence.

FATHER, you have given all peoples one common origin.

It is your will that they be gathered together as one

Southern CrossWord solutions SOLUTIONS TO 929. ACROSS: 1 Struck, 4 Judith, 9 Self-righteous, 10 Entrant, 11 Radio, 12 Worse, 14 Adorn, 18 Pasta, 19 Only one, 21 Child murderer, 22 Sussex, 23 Canyon. DOWN: 1 System, 2 Relationships, 3 Curia, 5 Uttered, 6 In order to pray, 7 Hyssop, 8 Agate, 13 Standee, 15 Spices, 16 Bonus, 17 Hebron, 20 Lydia.

family in yourself. Fill the hearts of mankind with the fire of your love and with the desire to ensure justice for all. By sharing the good things you give us, may we secure an equality for all our brothers and sisters throughout the world. May there be an end to division, strife and war. May there be a dawning of a truly human society built on love and peace. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord.

Amen.

O HOLY VIRGIN, in the midst of your days of glory, do not forget the sorrows of this earth. Cast a merciful glance upon those who are suffering, struggling against difficulties, with their lips constant pressed against life’s bitter cup. Have pity on those who love each other and are separated. Have pity on our rebellious hearts.

Have pity on our weak faith.

Have pity on those we love.

Have pity on those who weep, on those who pray, on those who fear. Grant hope and peace to all. Amen.

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Celebrate Mary’s 2000th birthday At an open-air Assumption feast Mass in Lourdes attended by 180 000 people, Pope John Paul II called on Catholics to celebrate Mary’s 2 000th birthday during the Holy Year 1983. Mary is believed to have been 17 when she conceived Jesus.

Liturgical Calendar Year A – Weekdays Cycle Year 2

Bigots resolve to hate Catholic Church A World Congress of Fundamentalists, headed

by US preacher Bob Jones and Northern Irish royalist Rev Ian Paisley, condemned the Catholic Church at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. A congress resolution called the Catholic Church the “mother of harlots and abominations on earth”. It also stated that Pope John Paul II’s travels around the world “are but subtle window-dressing behind which lies the unchanging hatred of that system for true biblical Protestant Christianity”.

SA bishop on dialogue body Archbishop Peter Butelezi of Bloemfontein has been appointed to the newly-refounded Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission.

Archbishop Butelezi is at present chairman of the SACBC’s ecumenical commission.

Editorial: How to tackle astrology In his editorial, Mgr Donald de Beer writes that the Church should tackle the superstitious phenomenon of astrology by instilling “firm convictions about the truths of faith: about the infinite wisdom and goodness of God, the efficacy of grace, and the Gospel of Christ as the one way of salvation”.

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Sunday August 30, 22nd Sunday of the Year Jeremiah 20:7-9, Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (2b), Romans 12:1-2, Matthew 16:21-27 Monday August 31 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, Psalms 119:97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, Luke 4:16-30 Tuesday September 1 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, Psalms 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 13-14, Luke 4:31-37 Wednesday September 2, St Ingrid of Sweden 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Psalms 33:12-13, 14-15, 20-21, Luke 4:38-44 Thursday September 3, St Gregory the Great 1 Corinthians 3:18-23, Psalms 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, Luke 5:1-11 Friday September 4 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Psalms 37:3-4, 5-6, 27-28, 39-40, Luke 5:33-39

Saturday September 5, Bl Teresa of Kolkata 1 Corinthians 4:6-15, Psalms 145:17-18, 19-20, 21, Luke 6:1-5 Sunday September 6, 23rd Sunday of the Year Ezekiel 33:7-9, Psalms 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9, Romans 13:8-10, Matthew 18:15-20

Sunday reflections every Friday online with Fr John Allen Green OFM Only on our website www. scross. co.za

Bl Teresa of Kolkata

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the

22nd Sunday: August 30 Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27 NE of the things about discipleship is that occasionally we are called to admonish our brothers and sisters about their behaviour.

But if you find yourself in response to this shouting “Yippee!” and setting out to lay into your fellow-Christians, watch out: because we are to do this not when we are feeling cross with their misbehaviour, but only when God tells us to do so.

In the first reading for next Sunday, Ezekiel is being instructed to be the “watchman”, appointed by God to tell Israel what is going on: “When you hear a word from my lips, you are to warn them from me.”

And it is a matter of life and death: “If I say to the wicked man, ‘Wicked man, you shall die’, but you did not speak to warn the wicked man against his way, he shall die for his sins, but I shall hold you responsible for his death.”

So it is not a matter of us deciding to criticise our co-religionists; rather what is expected is that we listen to what God is telling us, and then do it.

The psalmist for next Sunday does what the psalms always do, and puts God at the centre of things: “Come let us rejoice in the Lord, cry to the Rock of our salvation; let us draw near to his presence in thanksgiving,

O

S outher n C ross

Before you criticise...

Nicholas King SJ

with songs of praise to him.”

And it is a call to worship: “Come and let us bow down and worship, and let us kneel before the God who made us.” It is not, you see, all about us; it is all about God, and our task is to listen: “Today, if only you would hear his voice.”

Now our God-given task is not that we should criticise; the warning is, rather, to have a “listening heart” (“Do not harden your hearts”), and then he conjures up the memory of how the people rebelled against God in the desert: “As at Meribah, on the day at Massah in the desert when your ancestors tested me, though they saw my deeds.”

It is to God that we should be paying attention, not to the misdeeds of our co-religionists.

The second reading for next Sunday omits a passage that was recited by a previous president of South Africa in the days of apartheid, to the Church leaders that were opposed to that system. In it, Paul was urging the Christians in Rome that they had to obey “the powers that be”.

But at this point, Paul has moved on and sums it up in this way: “The only thing that you owe is to love each other” (that is not a

nesses, every matter may be established”.

But Matthew knows what human nature can be like, so he adds a third possible stage: “If the person does not obey them, tell the Church; and if they do not obey the Church, let them be to you like the Gentile and the tax-collector.”

At this point, we may care to remember that the very last words of this Gospel instruct us to “baptise all the Gentiles”, and that traditionally Matthew’s profession was that of a tax-collector, so this may not be quite as severe an excommunication as it sounds.

The Church is given that power of “binding and loosing, on earth and in heaven; but what counts is not the offence that has been committed, but “my Father, the one in heaven”, who will grant them any request that they agree on.

But there is more, for “wherever two or three are gathered into my name, I am there with them”.

So next time you feel drawn to criticise a brother or sister, just check that Jesus is indeed there with you. It makes a difference.

An invitation to courage C

Either way, it’s hasn’t particularly gifted me with the qualities that make for prophetic courage.

I want, habitually, not to upset people.

I dislike confrontation and want peacefulness at almost any cost, though I do draw some lines in the sand. But I’m no John the Baptist and it’s taken me many years to learn that, admit it, and understand why— and also to understand that my temperament and history are only an explanation and not an excuse for my cowardice at times.

In the end, the virtue of courage is not contingent upon birth, temperament or mental toughness, though these can be helpful. Courage is a gift from the Holy Spirit, and that’s why one’s temperament and background may serve only as an explanation and not as an excuse for a lack of courage.

A short supply of prophets I highlight this because our situation today demands courage from us, the courage for prophecy. We desperately need prophets today, but they are in short supply—and too many of us are not particularly eager to volunteer for the task. Why not?

Fr Bryan Massingale, a strong prophetic voice on the issue of racism, in a recent issue of Commonweal magazine submits that the reason we see so little real progress in dealing with racial injustice is the absence of prophetic voices where they are most needed—in this case, among the many good white people who see racial in-

Conrad

OURAGE isn’t one of my strong points—at least not one particular kind of courage.

Scripture tells us that as John the Baptist grew up he became strong in spirit. My growing up was somewhat different. Unlike John the Baptist, as I grew up I became accommodating in spirit.

This had its reasons. I was born with what the British author and Carmelite nun Ruth Burrows would describe as a “tortured sensitivity”, an oversensitive personality. I have never been able to develop a tough skin.

That’s not the stuff of which prophets are made. When you’re a child on the playground you better have the raw physical strength to challenge a situation that’s unfair, or you better let things be so as not to get hurt. You also better develop razorsharp skills at avoiding confrontation and in the art of peacemaking.

Also, when you aren’t gifted with superior physical strength and challenging situations arise on the playground, you quickly learn to walk away from confrontation.

On the playground the lamb knows better than to lie down with the lion or to confront the lion, irrespective of the prophet Isaiah’s eschatological visions.

And that’s not all bad. Growing up as I did didn’t make for the tough skin and raw courage it takes to be a prophet—but it did give me an acute radar screen, namely, a sensitivity which at its best is a genuine empathy (though at its worst has me avoiding situations of conflict).

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Sunday Reflections

bad injunction for those who wish to criticise; criticism must always be done in love).

Here Paul alludes to Jesus’ conversation with the scribe: “The one who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the Law; for ‘Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery’, ‘Thou Shalt Not Kill’, ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’, ‘Thou Shalt Not Desire’ and any other commandment, is summed up in the phrase, ‘You Shall Love Your Neighbour As Yourself.’” And it is all summed up with “Love is the fulfilment of the Law”.

We shall do well to remember this next time we are just longing to tell someone how badly they are behaving.

The Gospel is from that rather loose chapter 18 in Matthew, which is sometimes called the “Church Discourse”. It shows a deep awareness that sometimes it may be necessary to reprove our fellow Christians, and tells us how it is to be done.

The process comes in three stages. First, you approach them on a one-to-one basis: “…and if they listen to you, you have won over your brother or sister.”

Secondly, however, if that does not work, “you take two or three people with you”, in fulfilment of what it says in Deuteronomy, that “out of the mouths of two or three wit-

Southern Crossword #929

Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI

Final Reflection

justice, sympathise with those suffering from it, but don’t do anything about it.

Fr Massingale, who lectures widely across the US and internationally (including in South Africa) shares how again and again in his lectures and in his classes people ask him: “But how do I address this without upsetting people?” This question aptly expresses our reticence and, I believe, names both the issue and the challenge.

As Shakespeare would say, “Ah, there’s the rub!” For me, this question touches a sensitive moral nerve. Had I been in one of his classes I would have been one of those to ask that question: “But how do I challenge racism without upsetting people?”

Here’s my problem: I want to speak out prophetically, but I don’t want to upset others; I want to challenge the white privilege which we’re so congenitally blind to, but I don’t want to alienate the generous, good-hearted people who support our school; I want to speak out more strongly against injustice in my writing, but I don’t want multiple newspapers dropping my column as a result; I want to be courageous and confront others, but don’t want to live with the hatred that ensues; and I want to publicly name injustices and name names, but don’t want to alienate myself from those very people.

So this leaves me still praying for the courage needed for prophecy.

Several years ago, a visiting professor at our school, an Afro-American man, was sharing with our faculty some of the neardaily injustices he experiences simply because of the colour of his skin.

At one point I asked him: “If I, as a white man, came to you like Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and asked you what I should do, what would you tell me?”

His answer: Jesus didn’t let Nicodemus off easily just because he confessed his fears. Nicodemus had to do a public act to bring his faith into the light, he had to claim Jesus’ dead body. Hence, his challenge to me: you need to do a public act.

He’s right; but I’m still praying for the prophetic courage to do that. And aren’t we all?

ACROSS

1. How the Magi were affected by the star? (6) 4. She has a Jewish name among Old Testament books (6) 9. Your feeling of moral superiority (4-9) 10. The competitor who goes inside? (7) 11. Waves of messages (5) 12. Sower who may be sicker (5) 14. Dan or another can decorate (5) 18. Dough the Italian bishop may appreciate (5) 19. Unique, like the Son of God (4,3) 21. Suitable name for King Herod in Matthew’s Gospel (5,8) 22. English county of Prince Harry and Meghan (6) 23. Able over there to spot the deep gorge (6)

DOWN

1. My sets provide an organised whole (6) 2. Hope sin trail leads you to good connections (13) 3. Copper symbol and mixed air in the Vatican (5) 5. Said something (7) 6. Why did one join the religious congregation? (2,5,2,4) 7. Cleanse me with … and I shall be clean (Ps 51) (6) 8. Entrance to the stone? (5) 13. One in church who is not seated (7) 15. The women brought them to anoint Jesus’ body (Mk 16) (6) 16. A little extra for a good Roman (5) 17. Hoham was its king (Js 10) (6) 20. She dealt in purple cloth (Ac 16) (5)

Solutions on page 11

CHURCH CHUCKLES

A

doctor is urgently summoned to the monastery to treat a seriously ill monk.

After a brief examination, the doctor reassures the worried abbot: “Thank God, it isn’t serious.

We’ll bring him back on his knees within a week.”

T

*

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eaching the Grade 3 catechism class about the consequences of sin, the priest asked: “What happens if you break one of the Ten Commandments?”

Quick as a flash, Thandi answered the question: “Then there are only nine.”

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