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[email protected] 2020 Volume 35 No 3 1
Pope Francis invites Marian shrines throughout the world to pray for Our Lady's help during Covid-19. He has written a letter from the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangeli- sation to Shrine directors saying he will be praying the Rosary in the Vatican Gardens on May 30, at 5:30 pm Rome time. The prayer will be live-streamed. Shrines, even though many are still closed, are encouraged to participate in the Rosary.
The Pontifical Council announced that at the end of this Marian month, Pope Francis will place the sorrows of all humanity at the feet of our heavenly Mother, certain that she will not fail to help.Link:https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-05/pope-to-pray-the-rosary-along-with-shrines-of-world-covid19.html Courtesy: Vatican News
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A publication of the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg
newsnewsADADTelephone (011) 402 6400 • www.catholicjhb.org.za JUNE 2020
6Creative catechismCreative catechism
355Friends of the
Shrine retreatFriends of the Shrine retreat
Caring for refugeesCaring for refugees
Are you looking for a tranquil place to spend time with God or a venue
for your retreat after lockdown?
Why not try the Mother of Mercy Shrine in the Magaliesburg.
Conference rooms, accommodation and breakfast are available throughout the year.
For bookings contactFr Nkosinathi Nkabinde 072 918 6192
[email protected] Nkomo
083 585 5813
Target: R25 millionDonations to date including expenditure
Is Covid-19 an expression of God’s anger or a mere accident
in the affairs of nations?
THE widespread fear, and indeed the devastation of the Coronavirus, cannot
be seen as the work of a God who seeks to pass judgement on the human race. Disasters have come and gone including the Black Death and the Spanish flu. Covid-19 will, God forbid, also have its successors.
These are the words of Arch-bishop Buti Tlhagale in a pastoral letter sent to the Archdiocese. The sealing of borders and the stopping of international flights appear to have come in a little too late, like locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. Coro-navirus is now found virtually in every corner of the globe. Human failure, tardiness and sinfulness creep in at this juncture. It has at times been observed that “there is frightful human evil at the root of much suffering and absurd death” (Power, D. Calling up the Dead in Concilium 1993 (3).
Saving livesSpeaking on saving lives, the Archbishop said Government leaders consider it their sacred duty and privilege to persuade every citizen to recognise the gravity of the threat imposed by Covid-19 and consequently to follow the directives aimed at fighting the disease. “The gift of human life is “like a pearl of great price. The merchant who finds it sells everything he owns and buys it” (Mt.1 3:4.5).” This is virtu-ally what the Government has done. R500 billion will be raised to respond to the challenge of the deadly Corona virus.
The inestimable value of life Archbishop Buti said the aspi-ration to preserve, protect and enrich human life is at the heart
of the Gospel message, hence the words of Jesus: “I came that you may have life, and have it abun- dantly” (Jn. 10: 10).
According to John Paul II, it is this exceptional nature of the calling of human beings that high-lights the sacred value of human life, its greatness and its inestima-ble value (Evangelium Vitae, no. 2:1-2). In light of the incompar-able value of life, the church fully
supports the selfless efforts by the Government to keep the threat of the Corona virus at bay.
Empty churches at EasterThe lockdown on the eve of Easter celebrations meant that there would be no liturgical celebrations of any kind. The strict regime of “stay at home” revealed or perhaps brought into the open, some of the more serious societal challenges.
Continued on page 8.
Continued on page 2.
Sr Breda Grehan HF Provincial Superior Holy Family Provincialate
The month of May heralded a huge milestone for Holy Family Sisters of Bordeaux
as they celebrated their 200 years of existence. The Congregation forms part of the Association of the Holy Family founded by an enthusiastic young priest, Fr Pierre Noailles in France, Bordeaux on 28 May 1820.
Our Family mission is to share with Jesus in the gathering to-gether of the Family of God, to be signs of communion in a divided world. Wherever we are, whatever
we do, we bear witness to the Church as Family as we try to show that communion among all
Holy Family Sisters of Bordeaux celebrate their bicentenary
Fr Jean-Marie Kuzituka Did’Ho has been appointed as the new episcopal vicar of the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees. He is pictured with
head of Department Sr Marizete Garbin, office assistant Bienvenu Boleko and office assistant Nadine Longo.
We wish him all the best in his new mission.
Sr Marizete Garbin, Head of Department of Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees
New episcopal vicar for the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees
CORONAVIRUSStay at home
Practice social distancing Wash hands
Abide by the rules
– by Archbishop Buti Tlhagale
[email protected] June 2020Volume 35 No 32
The old End Street Convent. Pic: Janet Elizabeth
Moira Black
A special cake was made for a reunion for the class of 1964. Pic: Loredana Cinti Kaminski
Make use of our Archdiocesan websiteLooking for church contact information about the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, events and organ-isations? We have a comprehensive list of parishes, priests, schools, homes, creches, shelters, sodalities and secular orders. All are welcome to submit upcoming events and news for the website.
The addresses are:www.catholicjhb.org.zawww.catholic-johannesburg.org.za
Pope’s Intentions: June
The way of the heart
We pray that all those who suffer
may find their way in life, allow-
ing themselves to be touched by
the Heart of Jesus.
PATRONAL FEASTS: JUNE7th Holy Trinity, Braamfontein14th Blessed Sacrament, Malvern
ORDER OF CARMELITES DISCALCED SECULAR
(OCDS)
Do you want to be ‘LOVE’ in the centre of the World –
‘Love comprises ALL VOCATIONS…!’
(St Therese de Lisieux)Make a deeper commitment to JESUS
today by ….Taking the promises of Poverty, Chastity
and Obedience…EVEN IF YOU ARE MARRIED!Enter The Order of Carmelites
Discalced - Secular (ocds)Where and How? COME AND SEE!Telephone: Bridget McIntosh-Hodge
on 083 703 2301
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Coronavirus RosaryCreated by “a friend of Our Lady”.
Please join “a friend of Our Lady” in praying and sharing the Coronavirus Rosary to unite Catholics around the world in the battle against the Coro-
navirus pandemic, armed with our greatest weapon – the Holy Rosary.
Guided by the Holy Spirit and a Love for Our Lady, the CORONAVIRUS ROSARY was created to unite Catholics
all over the world in asking Our Lady to intercede to the Holy Trinity, to Combat the Coronavirus pandemic affecting us all.
Click on the link below to download the Coronavirus Rosary.https://bit.ly/3etq2XJ
(Document has been designed as a booklet. When printing set the page layout to booklet)
Join us on FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/A-Friend-of-our-Lady-111487553651637
Email us at a [email protected]
Together in prayer“a friend of Our Lady”
Uncapping the CAPS Mathematics for Teachers | R 500Specifically designed for experienced and new teachers, this SACE endorsed course is aligned to the CAPS curriculum for Grades R-12. This online self-paced course from St Augustine College is based on four broad key mathematical concepts: number, geometry, algebra and analysis.
Introduction to Ethics and Ethical Decision Making for Accountants | R 500This CPD course is suitable for those who work within the accountancy industry, the course provides a basis for the identification and discus-sion of ethical and similar challenges, also differentiating ethical issues and challenges from the non-ethical. It discusses ethics in the context of organisational culture and enables participants to understand the ethical implications and actions within the work context.
Tel: 011 380 9000 • Email: [email protected]
Take advantage of the lockdown and register for St Augustine's College Self Paced Online courses.
Add our courses to your to-do list – all at discounted prices!
Kholofelo Ya Josefa Community Care Centre (Kholofelo)
is a home-based and orphanage project of St Hubert, Alexandra.
We are currently looking for volunteers as Care Givers, Fundraisers, Treasurer and
Board of Trustees. For more info contact Poshela Kekana 0760627499
Abortion warning‘The pill’ can abort (chemical abortion), Catholics must be told,
for their eternal welfare, and survival of their unborn infants.
www. epm.org.statitic/uploads/bcpill pdfCoLA082 609 6919
is possible in Jesus Christ, they explained.
As sisters of the Holy Family, we continue the mission of Christ, the Word incarnate: “We affirm the dignity of all human beings made in the image of God, Jesus’ preferential love for the poor and lowly, and his desire that one day all God’s children be gathered together in unity.
As apostolic religious, we share in the missionary life of the Church. We are called to spread and strengthen the faith by what we say, what we are and what we do.” (Holy Family of Bordeaux Constitution)
Over 150 years ago, the sisters came to our shores, first settling in Durban. Like many religious women and men of the times, they were at the cutting edge of minis-try, health care and education.
They ensured that young black girls attended school. They worked under strenuous condi-
tions doing laborious work but nonetheless persevered.
The sisters spread their mission to other areas of the country arriving in Johannes-burg in 1887.
They established critical medical institutions which are today known as The Wits Don-ald Gordon Medical Centre and the Charlotte Maxeke Johan-nesburg Academic Hospital.
They also founded Holy Family College, Parktown in 1905, St Theresa Convent, Coronationville and Holy Fam-ily Convent School, Yeoville.
With these schools, their in-tention was to create the envi-ronment, spirit and atmosphere of ‘family’, so that a young person may grow up as a con-fident and responsible member of the larger community.
It was imperative that the developmental dimensions of children be formed holistically through academics, sports, culturally and spiritually.
The Holy Family Sisters have gone on to also assist with remedial work at the St John Berchmans School in Orlando East ensuring that children who struggle with academics eventually get integrated in the normal schooling system.
Until recently those trained in social work also worked with the Catholic Women’s League adoption society.
To this day, they are still attentive to needs in spaces
Holy Family Sisters of Bordeaux celebrate their bicentenary – continued from page 1.
they find themselves in working with people of different religions and background.
They are still very involved in catechesis, pastoral work, social work, social justice community development and formation of teachers in townships and rural areas.
Although with the diminishing numbers of vocations they might be dying out as a congregation but the spirit of their founder is still alive in many of their associ-ates and people whose lives they have enriched.
On the Continent, not only do they have a long-lasting legacy of shaping and changing people’s lives for the better in the various provinces in the country, but also in Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda and Uganda.
Lerato Mohone
The high school of Holy Family Convent, Yeoville with the St Francis Church, Yeoville in the background.Pic: Gail Scott Wilson
Holy Family Convent Parktown, now known as Holy Family College. Pic: The Heritage Register
[email protected] 2020 Volume 35 No 3 3
Father Thomas Plastow S.J. Answers Liturgy Questions
Liturgy under lockdown
We need more questions about the Liturgy!
You are welcome to send questions directly to Fr Plastow:
• PO Box 46876 Glosderry, 7702
• e-mail [email protected]
• fax 011 402-6406
vary, we are in danger of divorc-ing the consecration from the communion. The Body and Blood of Christ are given as food and drink. The priest is ordained to lead the people in thanksgiving, prayer and sacramental worship, not to consume the host on their behalf.
Daily Mass from our parish is posted on YouTube and, because we cannot receive, we are invited to recite a prayer of Spiritual Communion. Is this a sacrament?
Spiritual communion is nothing new. It can be made by anyone at Mass who may not receive Holy Communion, e.g.: because they have not kept the Eucharistic fast. They ask the Lord to join them to himself spiritually, if not sacra-mentally. This is a worthy spiri-tual exercise but it is not consid-ered a sacrament.
God works outside of the sac-raments as well as through them. Those who die while preparing for baptism are said to have “baptism of desire”. In times of disaster, couples may make their marriage vows to one another and later ratify them in church. Lately a South African bishop sent out a letter about “spiritual confes-sions”. After an examination of conscience and prayer, individuals confess to God and ask for for-giveness. They must remember to give an account of everything next time they are able to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a priest. All these examples show that we do not need a live-streamed Mass in order to make a spiritual communion. As baptised Christians, we have the privilege of being able to speak to the Lord at any time. We can unite our-selves in heart and mind to our brothers and sisters throughout the world, and with all those who have gone before us, putting our-selves in spiritual communion with them and with Christ.
Can we have “virtual assemblies”?
Perhaps not, though participating in common worship through Zoom or Skype may be more meaningful than watching some-one else’s Mass. The gathering of the assembly is vital for liturgy. Let us pray that we will value it more highly in future.
If you are reading this then you have accessed it on the internet. During the
Coronavirus lockdown the inter-net has become a valuable means of linking up with fellow Catholics and many find solace in being able to watch Masses being streamed live through various social media sites. But this prac-tice has also raised deep ques-tions, some of which I will try to answer here.
What are your thoughts about televised and live-streamed litur-gies? Are we actually a part of the worshipping congregation, or are we just watching? For many years, Radio Veritas has broad-cast Masses celebrated in the studio. Are listeners celebrating or just listening?
If we are to go to the root of these questions we have to ask: what is the Mass? Is the Mass one of the seven sacraments, or have we come to see it as something more? Allow me to explain further…
We would never consider hold-ing a Skype wedding during which the bride, groom and min-ister would be in different places, each looking at a computer moni-tor. We would never think about an internet confirmation in which the bishop speaks the words while each sponsor anoints a candidate in the safety of his or her own home. If, then, we would not con-sider an online ordination, or going to confession over the phone, why would a priest cele-brate Mass without a congrega-tion with whom to enter into Holy Communion?
Some international commenta-tors have complained bitterly about these live-streamed Masses because, they say, the priests get to receive Communion while the people just watch. The assembly has been reduced to an audience. It is as though parents cooked a splendid dinner and then invited their children to watch them eat it, but not to share in it.
This situation stems from an imbalance in the history of our theology. For a long time we for-got that the Eucharist is a sacra-mental meal because, back then, we focused solely on the Mass as sacrifice. For many centuries the liturgy used an archaic language. Holy Communion became the bread of angels which only the very pious dared to receive fre-quently. Priests said their daily Masses at side altars, often with-out a congregation. When the people were present, they knelt in silence and heard Mass while the priest said Mass.
If our theology emphasises the need for daily Masses to ensure the graces of the sacrifice of Cal-
The start of Covid-19 lock-down measures announced on March 26, impacted the
delivery of congregational services and masses. At the time, public schools and catechism classes were on their first quarterly break. As catechists, we endeavored to keep contact with parent groups to offer support during this period of uncertainty.
The urge to connect directly with our parish family became a fundamental desire probed by Holy Week which took place during this world pandemic. Lent is an essential period in our faith community, which inspired us to explore alternate channels to cre-ate a platform to communicate.
Various forms of social media platforms became the viable choice for communications be-cause they offered an accessible space for interaction between parents and children. This form of engagement enables us as catechists to nurture spiritual for-mation, encouraging the “domes-tic church’’ to participate deeply within their households.
During the period of Holy Week through to the Easter Sunday celebration, we shared activities and prayer services, which offered a space for parents to participate with their children.
We have been communicat-ing with parents via WhatsApp, SMS, Google classroom, email and phone call. These platforms fos-
Catechists nurture spiritual formation with candidates
Creative Catechism continues despite Covid-19
tered a virtual connection with the parents, inspiring and offering us a space to prepare and share weekly lessons according to our catecheti-cal syllabus. Invitations to partici-pate in lessons were encouraged.
The pace of completion was dependent on the parents as no deadlines or pressure was added because of our awareness of the demands parents face. Parents are working from home, assisting chil-dren with schoolwork, completing everyday household demands and still faced with the stress brought about by this pandemic. So our desire was to create a space that did not offer additional pressure.
The interaction and response from the parents via social media
has been very positive. A sense of excitement is experienced by the families when they post their ‘family participation pictures’. The drawings, messages and images received from the children offers us catechists a sense of joy, watching them attain spiritual nourishment. Initially, the parent’s response to the catechetical programmes on social media was slow, however progression is grow-ing steadily. We are aware that this is a new platform that requires time to adjust and get used to.
We continue to pray for an end to this pandemic and for all affected by the disease.
Roxane Carolus, Catechetical Coordinator/ Lisa Cruichank, Parish
Community, St Therese, Alberton
During this time of lockdown, many parents have to man-age working from home,
which, without the boundaries of fixed office hours and exacerbated by diminished income, inevitably leads to longer working hours. Most children have been given school-work to complete during their time at home, so parents are tasked to supervise and assist with academic learnings they have long forgotten.
Children themselves are also unduly stressed, lacking the struc-ture their individual development usually thrives on, and missing the company of their playmates. Cognisant of the challenges families are facing and motivated by both the desire to encourage continual catechesis, as well as wanting to support and keep in touch with families, the parish priest and cate-chetical team of St Thomas in Lena-sia are developing creative ways to keep the children occupied without over-burdening their families.
For Holy Week, one activity was for children to make a cross and/or home paschal candle using the materials available to them. The aim of this exercise was to encourage creative learning and foster a sense of contribution to, and personal re-sponsibility for, family prayer time. In addition, the decorated items would serve as reminders to pray.
We received an overwhelmingly positive response. Families were also encouraged to decorate their homes with greenery for Palm Sunday and light candles around the yard for the night of the Easter Vigil – an action the Hindu commu-nity do the same for their festival of Diwali. Photos and video clips were shared in parish WhatsApp groups, so that we can remain united in prayer, although physically apart.
Deacon Kenna James and Jude James (Catechetical Coordinator)
Palm Sunday celebrated from home as part of the catechetical lessons.
Some of the many paschal candles crafted are shown off by their proud creators.
Alleluia prayer cards made by catechetical learners.
[email protected] June 2020Volume 35 No 34
Life can be very interesting and full of surprises. On
1 June, thousands of young people are expected to go back to school as we begin Level 3 lockdown. The Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, stated that they are guided by scientific research-ers, doctors and what is happening in other countries. After schools reopened in France recently, 70 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported. We are still waiting to see the outcome.
However, one has to wonder when is government reopening the Parliament? Why are they still at home? With all the comfort and social distancing they enjoy in their big cars and being chauf-feured around, why can’t they go back to work? Is their life more important than those of the thou-sands of South Africans expected to go back to school? Maybe they are concerned about the future of our youth, but why can’t they be brave and lead by example?
A true leader is not afraid to lead the way and show others by example what is possible, but
cowards plan and give direc-tives. How I wish our leaders were the ones on the ground to experience, not just the pain of going back to school during the epidemic, but the stigma and fear in the minds of our young people and parents.
To all young people and parents who are angry, confused and afraid of what is to come, do not be afraid! Let us entrust our children and their teachers to the Lord. He will take care of them.
Let us support them and take full responsibility of making sure that they are safe. Hopefully, the government will take responsi-bility and keep their promises of taking care of the teachers and our children.
Mary Our Mother, embrace and intercede for all your chil-dren during this time. God, we place our hopes in You.
Fr Nkosinathi Nkabinde,Vicar for Communications.
Birth, childhood and growth through adoles-cence are the most
vibrant stages of life in all of cre-ation, human, animal and plant. We understand that family rela-tionships do exist too in the ani-mal kingdom. Vigorous growth and regrowth happen in phases that can often be stressful and conflict-filled. However, ideally in a family, the young need con-scious protection, care and sup-port to monitor and direct their youthful energy towards full and responsible maturity.
Pope Francis tells youth in his letter Christus Vivit, to young people and to the entire people of God: “Young people intensely feel the call to love; they dream of meeting the right person with whom they can form a family and build a life together. This is undoubtedly a vocation which God himself makes known to them, their feelings, desires and dreams.”
“It is true that the difficulties they experience in their own family can lead the young to ask whether it is worthwhile to start a new family, to be faithful, to be generous. However, it is worth your every effort to invest in the family, there you will find the best incentives to mature and the greatest joys to experience and share. Don’t let yourselves be led astray by those who propose a life of rampant individualism that in the end leads to isolation and the worst sort of loneliness.”
At the time of writing this early in May, our country is still partially on lockdown with pre-schools, schools and tertiary institutions still closed. It’s been a very hard time for children, their parents and other carers too. Some families have become clos-er, others have struggled and may have resorted to violence espe-cially against their women and children. But lessons have been learned about life as it was and as it could be. The whole world is changing. Will our values change? Almost everyone will be poorer. How will we address the extremes of greed and poverty, inequality and the need to keep a
cleaner environment in the forefront of our planning and actions. Much of this is to be imparted in families to the younger generations.
The focus of the world of crea-tion as a family of families can serve this vision for the future. With churches closed it has been more difficult to practise our religion as we were used to. At this time is Jesus welcomed in our little churches of the home, through moments of prayer and reflection and a time to share thoughts and feelings, fears and hopes for the future that requires solidarity with everyone? Is our solidarity lived out in caring for one another and the environ-ment? How many young people are working alongside the St Vincent de Paul Society or other Catholic NGOs during this time? All that might be the new normal for confirmation and faith devel-opment leading to the Sacrament
Family theme:
Children belong in families
Peter Keshwar national president of St Vincent de Paul Society shared their work for the poor
at this time with Toni Rowland and listeners
of Radio Veritas.
OPINION
Let us entrust our
children and teachers to
the Lord of Marriage as still a basis for family life that we dare not neglect.
Young people experience set-backs, disappointments and very painful memories. They feel the hurt of past failures, frustrated desires, experiences of discrimi-nation and injustice, of feeling unloved and unaccepted. There are moral wounds, the burden of past errors and guilt for having made mistakes. Jesus makes his presence felt amongst these crosses and offers them his friendship.
For resources for family faith development, the 2020 Family Year Planner, family prayer and sharing or to register for a daily email visit www.marfam.org.za. Call Toni 0825521275 for information.
In May, the Mother Church celebrated the centenary of the
birth of Karol Jozef Wojtya who became Pope John Paul ll – a great saint of our time.
He was a true prophet sent to us, to enlighten our world and to draw all to God. He used dialogue with other religions to improve Catholic relations with others. His love for young people drew many young people back to the Church. His devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary helped many to understand Our Lady in the life of the Church. A man of peace, ever smiling. Open for dialogue with a very big sense of humour, not forgetting his wis-dom in dealing with the people of
God and Church matters.In difficult moments like this
during the Covid-19 pandemic, I just hear him saying: “Do not be afraid, Christ is with us.” He always gave the children of the Church hope and never ceased to journey with them as a priest, servant and a shepherd. He left a good example as a leader in imi-tating Christ the Good Shepherd who washed the feet of His dis-ciples and called them to do the same. This time of Coronavius, we celebrate St John Paul ll 's life. May we be servants to each other, especially to those who are sick and affected.St. John Paul ll, pray for us!
Fr Nkosinathi Nkabinde Vicar of Communications
“Be not be afraid” – Pope John Paul II
[email protected] 2020 Volume 35 No 3 5
Lydia Mashaba, Thandi Mlotswa, Linda Mngadi, Susan Manyoni and Dorcas Mokale during registration.
Palesa Setsubi and Veronica Peterson manned the Shrine merchandise stall.
Above and left: Recitation of Mary’s litany.
Beautiful, colourful Shrine merchandise in all its splendour.
Presenting petitions and asking the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede on their behalf.
Each participant had the opportunity to present his/her petition.
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI delivering his address.
Women light their candles as they prepare to present their petitions
Friends of the Shrine gathered at the Mother of Mercy Shrine
site in the first quarter of the year for their annual retreat, just before lockdown.
This included praying for the success of the building of the Shrine as there have been chal-lenges such as environmental authorisation and rezoning to overcome. Activities included “A talk about Mary” presented by Fr Thabo Motshegwa and a strategic and planning meeting.
Rector of the Shrine, Fr Nkosi-nathi Nkabinde welcomed every-body and, in a special way, Arch-
bishop Buti Tlhagale. In light of Covid-19 which
was still in its early stages, chair-person Tshepo Mofokeng admitted that 2020 seemed poised to be challenging year. However, times of great strife present new oppor-tunities to spring forth, he encouraged.
With Mogale City having approved township establishment
we are another step closer to our dream, he continued.
Archbishop Buti said it seemed like they were moving both for-wards and backwards. On a posi-tive note he said environmental authorisation was one of the big hurdles they have had to overcome.
He exhorted them to be innovative, sharing practical
examples with them. The different deaneries and groupings presented their financial reports.
Although they encountered challenges, the fact that some reached and exceeded their target was a source of encouragement for all.
At the conclusion of Mass at which he was the main celebrant, Archbishop Buti, extended his gratitude to the clergy, religious and laity who have supported the activities of the Shrine. “You give us hope, trust and confidence that this project will be realised”, he said. Lerato Mohone
Friends of the Shrine retreat
Joyce Maphisa and Ndivile Mokoena
selling candles.
Thabo Msiza, Sr Juliana Abioye EHJ and Tello Lazaro.
Busi Tladi (Vaal), Fikile Mlotshwa (Regina Mundi), Thoko Mlungwana (St Michael) and Thandi Tshabalala (Nyolohelo).
Betty Sello, Susan Manyoni, Fr Nkosinathi Nkabinde and Linda Mngadi
Above and right: Men belonging to Friends of the Shrine pictured with Fr Thabo Motshegwa
in a cassock.
Above and left: Participants pose questions to Fr Thabo Motshegwa after his talk on Mary.
Women who also belong to the Sodality of St Anne lead every-
body in song.
[email protected] June 2020Volume 35 No 36
Riverlea
COVID-19 FOOD PARCELS FOR THOSE IN NEEDWE WILL BE FEEDING– Families at St Charles Parish– Polokong Children’s Village– Frederic Place Home for Aged– Noordgesig Community– Mercy House– Kliptown & Freedom Park– Nazareth House– Zimbabwe refugee families– Sisters of Charity
Daily we tune in to the news to get updates on the Cov-id-19 pandemic. So many
people have suffered and continue to suffer due to this pandemic.Hunger has struck households of low-income families; those who depend on piece jobs or informal vendors now find themselves inca-pable of putting food on the table.
The Department of Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees and Bi-envenu Shelter (home for migrants and refugees’ single mothers and children), ensure that migrants and refugees are treated with the utmost respect, dignity and equality. We network via Zoom with other shel-ters and NGOs to coordinate food relief and Covid-19 emergency
response efforts in the surround-ing neighbourhood of Bez Valley, Troyeville, Bertrams, Yeoville and Mayfair, amongst others.
Our action was to:- Continue working with our network partners and prioritise the most vulnerable and undocument-ed migrants and refugees.- Help the most vulnerable families living in the surrounding areas and beyond.- Provide essential services during the lockdown period in dropping food parcels to families we identi-fied as most in need.
Pastoral Care – update on activities
Nazareth HouseMayfair
Dobsonville
Fr Jean-Marie helps offload
vegetables from the truck.
Pastoral carers help sort and pack food parcels for those in need.
- Compile a list through the community-based network pro- gramme of 364 vulnerable migrants and refugee families – totalling 1 746 people. They were assisted with food parcels. Vouch-ers were sent on the beneficiaries’ cell phones. We ran short of funds to help them all as the need for assistance grew daily.- Contact beneficiaries telephoni-cally informing them about how to proceed in obtaining foods.
Challenges for the distribu-tion of food parcels was of great concern as there are so many desperate and hungry people, thus making it unsafe to travel with
food inside the vehicle.We received donations from
individual Catholics and Catholics who own businesses in Johannes-burg through the help of Sandra de Ponte who is connected to farm owners who donated vegetables and sausages.
We gratefully received food par-cels through the Ugandan Christian Community of the Archdiocese and from Mayfair Convent School through Mandy Burley, the princi-pal of the school, which enabled us to assist 91 families in the commu-nity. A Good Samaritan, Mrs Rijuta also gave food parcels to feed 50 families. Many other individual donors contributed to the purchase of non-perishable foods.
We appeal to people of goodwill to donate to the department of Pas-toral Care and to Bienvenu Shelter, so they can assist more people in need.
Sr Marizete Garbin, MSCSHOD Pastoral Care Department
[email protected] 2020 Volume 35 No 3 7
Fr Victor Kotze 28-06-59Msgr Barney McAleer 21-06-64Fr Michael Murphy 09-06-73Fr Kieran Birmingham 29-06-75Fr Lazlo Karpati 10-06-80Fr Jeffrey Johnson 27-06-87Fr Marian Kulig 16-06-88Fr Karmelo Stric 04-06-89Rev Ronald Harvey 27-06-93Fr Taelo Kimane 05-06-04Fr Andrew Knott 23-06-07Fr Elijah Otu 21-06-08Fr Francis Anyanzu 19-06-08Fr Johnson Ugwu 23-06-12Fr Sean McEwen 23-06-12Fr Godwin Garuba 23-06-12Fr Brian Mhlanga 29-06-13Fr Henri Denoukouia 28-06-14Fr Ernesto Zunguze 21-06-15Fr Nqobile Mzolo 30-06-18
1st Rev Kevin Kilroe2nd Fr Victor Kotze Fr Solomon Mphela5th Fr Boniface D’Souza7th Fr Ernesto Zunguze Rev Alpheus John10th Fr Ernst Halbe Rev Aubrey Damster12th Fr Sikhosiphi Mgoza18th Fr Kieran Birmingham Rev Ronald Peters20th Fr Thomas Devoy22nd Fr Victor Ngwenya23rd Fr Radoslaw Szymoniak Fr John D’Souza26th Fr Jean-Marie Kuzituka Did’Ho Rev Ronald Harvey27th Rev Herman Wiechers
DEADLINE FOR JULY ISSUE 10 JUNE
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We celebrate with our Priests
Ordinations
The following priests and deacons celebrate their
birthdays and anniversaries of their ordination. Please keep
them in your prayers.
Birthdays in June
Editor’s note: Please accept our apologies should there be any errors or omissions. We are unable to check records during lockdown.
St Teresa’s Junior Primary in Craighall Park joined people
around the world in the global movement for rare diseases by taking the #Reframe Rare cam-paign just before lockdown.
There are over 7 000 rare dis-eases affecting over 350 million people worldwide and medical expertise and knowledge on rare diseases is scarce resulting in people often having to wait years for a diagnosis. Rare Disease Day 2020 was an opportunity to be part of a global call on policy makers, healthcare professionals, and care services to better coor-dinate all aspects of care for rare disease patients and families and dispel the myths and misconcep-tions around rare diseases.
The theme for Rare Disease Day 2020 is #ReframeRare:
Sunday, 10th May 2020
St Teresa’s School/ Rare Disease Day
Rare = Strong: Patients with rare diseases live a life of continuous health challenges, and continued illness, yet they remain strong and courageous, fighting daily with
Left (L-R): Dasha Mapamba, Nandi Hlophe and Eva van der Walt show off their imaginative hairstyles.
Below: Rethabile Mphahlele, Kwanda Kumalo, Abigail Nichol, Sadie Roberts and Sophia Kast model their colourful accessories for Rare Diseases Day.
Above: Sofia Fernandez, Liyabukwa Godlwana and Paballo Risimati show off their crazy hairstyles.
grit and determination.Rare = Many: Latest prevalence studies show rare diseases impact approximately 3 million South Africans, Rare patients are many.
Rare = Proud: As a community, we should no longer stand for the stigmatistion and exclusion of rare disease patients in society but should be proud of rare patients and their achievements.
By voluntarily purchasing a Rare Disease Day sticker, the girls raised R2 100 and could adorn their hair with various hair acces-sories to show their support for this worthy cause.
Marist Brothers Linmeyer celebrates Mothers’ Day
[email protected] June 2020Volume 35 No 38
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During Covid-19, in some areas, the people living with HIV are facing difficulties in accessing ARV treatment. Others struggle to continue treatment on an empty stomach. The Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference's Justice and Peace is assisting United Nations in its project of reducing the impact of Covid-19 on people living with HIV in informal settlements with the donation of food parcels to those living with HIV in Gugulethu, Nyanga, Strand, and Kraaifontein.
Justice and Peace assist with food parcels
This year, 2020, the Easter celebrations would have been particularly significant because worship would have been offered to God amidst fear, frustration, anger, uncertainty and indeed the real threat of Covid-19 that has already devoured more than 300 000 around the world.
There is a collective com-plaint against God as to why His “wrath blazes out against His own people”, His own inheri-tance (Ex.32.10). Is Covid-19 an expression of His anger, a punish-ment for the sins of our ancestors or our contemporaries, or a mere accident in the affairs of nations? Is God not “a God of tenderness and compas- sion, slow to anger, rich in mercy and faithfulness?” (Ex.34:6, Eph.2:4).
Legendary generosityApart from the R500 billion com-mitment by the Government, a Solidarity fund was set up and the public has been invited to make contributions. The Executive of Government took a pay cut for three months and encouraged oth-er executives to do likewise. The words of Christ come to mind: “I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you” (Jn.13:15).
The scourge of joblessness The Covid-19, once set in mo-tion became the Pandora’s Box that brought into the open ills of
society that have been lurking in the background. Within a month of the attack of the Coronavirus, the lives of many people have been thrown into disarray. Many employers did not have enough money to pay their employees.
Many lost their jobs, thus bringing hardship, disappointment and unhappiness to many fami-lies. This is not the kind of fasting people had in mind during this year’s Lenten Season. Those who have lost their jobs join the 29% who are already unemployed.
Violence against womenThe lockdown has also shown South Africa to be still a deeply patriarchal and violent soci-ety. Many men still lord it over women. This primitive and mor-ally reprehensible attitude still prevails in spite of the affirmation that in law, men and women are both equal. Christianity teaches the equality of man and woman. Many men who exchange mar-riage vows of equality, of belong-ing together, of becoming one person, do not appear to believe in what they say.
Crime during lockdownDuring the lockdown, there has been some break-ins and looting. But what has been most unusual has been the vandalising and setting alight of more than 200 schools across the country. Wan-ton destruction of property ap-pears to be the South African way of expressing deep seated griev-
ances and of rebelling against society. The burning of schools is done by young men who appear frustrated, angry and alienated.
They appear to have an axe to grind. They are destructive because they seem to have no purpose in life. They claim that society does not care about their plight. Their relationship with society is at best tenuous. They therefore do not feel responsible for the public good.
Schools are about the welfare and advancement of the next generation.
Dissenting voices There are those who now feel strongly that the lockdown has lasted for too long. They stub-bornly wish to ignore the advice that infections are still on the rise and that it is desirable to see the number of inflections drop. Some argue that they are suffocat- ing inside their homes and wish to
Is Covid-19 an expression ... – Continued from page 1
move about in order to breathe. They ignore the growing ravages of the virus. The fickleness and recklessness of the rebel group is reminiscent of our impatient and headstrong ancestors in the faith. Moses had hardly gone to the mountain of Sinai to receive the two Tablets of the Testimony when they complained to Aaron that Moses had been gone for far too long. They demanded that he make them “a god to go ahead of us.” From the gold rings of their womenfolk, Aaron made them an effigy of a golden calf (Ex.31 : 1-4) in order to deal with their impatience, frustration and lack of faith.
Empty tomb and empty churches
When Level 1 permits re-ligious gatherings, Christian believers will link the victims of Covid-19 and their families with the painful crucifixion of Jesus
Since the lockdown period started on March 27, the Department of Pastoral
Care for Migrants and Refugees of the Archdiocese and Bienvenu shelter of Missionary Sisters of Saint Charles Boromeo (Scalabrini Sisters) are in the field every day assisting vulnerable families of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and locals, assisting them to put food on the table. The two organi-sations have secured funding that allowed them to provide food parcels for 600 families for three months. These families received a R500 voucher to purchase their food at Spar in Bertrams.
The department also received donations of two full trucks of vegetables and maize meal from a farm owner who is connected
Christ. We will celebrate our litur-gies in solidarity with the dead, not in their anonymity, but as deceased persons whose hope is brought to fruition in the resur-rection of Christ the Redeemer of humankind.
Good jobMuch has been said about the health workers who have risked their own lives and that of their families by serving people who have been infected by Covid-19. The concern centred on the lack of protective gear for them. Some health workers have lost their lives after being infected by the patients they served in hospitals. This no doubt has had a devastat-ing effect on their families.
+Buti Tlhagale omi Archbishop of Johannesburg Cathedral of Christ the King
through a Catholic businesswom-an, Sandra De Pontes. The depart-ment received the first truck on April 30 and the second on May 3.
With these donations, the department was able to serve 1 793 families or almost 6 000 people of these parishes: The parishes of the Cathedral of Christ the King; St Francis of Assisi, Yeoville;
Helping refugees and migrants during lockdown
Charity at workThe Catholic Women’s League from St Martin de Porres, Orlando West donated groceries to the parish to help feed destitute families in the area. They are represented by Pamela Tsagae, Nhlanhla Khanyile, Doris Mondlana and Lindi Ndaba.
St Lewis Bertrand, Payneville; St Rose of Lima, Delmas; St Joseph, Mayfair, St Maria Goretti, Riverlea; Holy Spirit, Dobsonville; St Philip Neri, Moletsane; Sacred Heart, Katlehong; St Teresa, Zondi; Divine Mercy, Walkerville, St Francis of Assisi, Vanderbijlpark and St Anthony’s Day Care Shelter for Elderly in Boksburg.
The department also received from another private donor, 78 food parcels and 120 loaves of bread and 60 bath towels.
We are grateful to the invaluable time and help our new Episcopal Vicar, Fr Jean-Marie Kuzituka Did’ho is putting in the offloading and distribution of food parcels. We are also grateful to Bienvenu Boleko who works tirelessly at the department and to the volunteers and the parish representatives of the Pastoral Care Department.
Sr Marizete Garbin, MSCSHOD Pastoral Care Department
The full text of the pastoral letter can be found on www.catholicjhb.org.za
CORONAVIRUSStay at home
Practice social distancing Wash hands
Abide by the rules
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