August 2014 Volume 1, Issue 7 Ukuthula Nentando Enhle Inside this issue: Statement on Gaza and Iraq 2 Clergy Appointments 3 Sacred Heart Convention 5 New Chancellor 6 Special points of interest: outh Fiesta Ordinations Auditions for 2015 Passion Play Meet the What's happening in the Church? s Corner Action on the Family In response to the reports given to the pre-conclave meetings of s, Pope Francis has not delayed in addressing, as a matter of urgency, the situation facing marriage and the family in society and in the Church in a concrete and phased way, beginning with an extraordinary Session of the Synod of s in October this year. The first session of the Synod will seek to describe and define the actual state of marriage and family life as precisely as possible. It will draw on all the information received in response to the Questionnaire sent out late last year. The second phase is the ordinary Session of the Synod in October 2015,which will try to set out as concretely and practically as possible the best ways of responding to these situations under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. According to Pope Francis there are two qualities that ought to influence our treatment of the problems of marriage and the family. They are truth and compassion. In his inimitable way Pope Francis sums them up in three key words that ought to characterise relations in marriage and the family. They are: Please, Thank you and Forgive Me! These basic attitudes are well expressed in the Instrumentum Laboris (working paper) which reflects very closely the many and rich ideas sent in by s, Priests, Religious and thelaity. The aim of the Extraordinary Synod is to lay the foundations for next year's Ordinary Synod whose main purpose will be to set out in more detail what is called The Gospel of the Family or the practical ministry to be carried out by the Family of spreading the Gospel way of life and its teaching. It's almost as if the Church is telling the Families that they must carry out their fundamental role of making disciples by the testimony of their marriage and family life. This contains many challenges for us. The first is that we use our Diocesan Synod's vision and plan of action to the best of our ability. Both fathers and mothers must take seriously the duties which were given to them when God chose, called, blessed and sent them to be good parents and role models to their sons and daughters. The Instrumentum Laboris emphasizes repeatedly that the way to do this is by personal example of a good, faith-filled way of life, marked by personal, family and community prayer and worship especially the Mass. All of these will be greatly enriched by using the Reflection Material made available by the Adult Formation Team and the Synod Implementation Team. I use this opportunity to appeal once again to parishes in the person of the Clergy and parish Pastoral Council to ensure that there is an Implementation Team in place to help the parishioners engage in this crucial mission of Evangelisation that Pope Francis is asking them to do with him! + Wilfrid Napier OFM + Barry Wood OMI
Page 2 Volume 1, Issue 7 Southern Africa Catholic s Conference During the last days of the SACBC Conference the s issued the following three statementsand appealed fr Prayer, Fasting and a Collection. The week of Prayer for Peace, organized by the South African Council of Churches, will run from 21-27 September 2014 when a collection for a children's home in Gaza will be taken. Statement on Gaza August 2014 August 2014 marks 100 years since the beginning of the Great War: a century of war & violence. And over and over again, we witness the tragic consequences of lessons never learnt. The cry no more war! has gone unheeded and millions continue to suffer and die. In different parts of Africa, in Iraq and Syria and now in Gaza we are faced with stark and horrifying evidence of the moral bankruptcy of modern warfare. By its very nature: in situations and with weapons where no distinction is possible between combatants and non-combatants and where superpowers are stymied by lone suicide bombers, modern warfare shows itself to be obsolete. War that has become interminable - or self-perpetuating as in Gaza - solves nothing; it never reconciles but only succeeds in entrenching hatred and division. Whether perpetrated by Israeli or by Palestinian, the use of violence will never bring a solution to the problems of the Holy Land. First and foremost the Israeli offensive against Gaza and the firing of Palestinian rockets must stop. Then, it must be recognized that so long as structural forms of violence continue for example, the illegal settlements, the wall, the checkpoints and restriction of movement, the lack of security on both sides there is little hope for any lasting peace. These and other root problems must be engaged and resolved. It was said some 70 years ago, surely in the aftermath of August 1945 and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, that humankind is fast reaching a point where it must choose between a God of Love and biological suicide. It is no exaggeration to say that that point is upon us, that point has been reached. We call on the leaders of Palestine and Israel to put an end to the war and to cease the violence - to stop killing each other. We call upon them, in the name of the God of Love they both worship and with the collaboration of the International Community - to commit themselves: - to respect their common and fundamental dignity and rights; - to dialogue, to real negotiations and the building of a lasting peace. Statement on Iraq August 2014 It is absolutely abhorrent that the Christian community of Iraq, a tradition that goes back almost 2000 years, is suffering expulsion from their country and martyrdom. As Catholic bishops of Southern Africa, we beg for religious tolerance in Iraq. We assure our Christian brothers and sisters of our deepest concern and we assure them that we have not and will never forget them. The utter destruction of ancient dioceses, vibrant parishes and faithful families because of their loyalty to faith is a crime against humanity. We also bear in our hearts those other religious traditions of Iraq who suffer the same fate as the Christian community. We admire many of the great religious teachings of Islam, particularly their care for the poor and the needy. We call on faithful Muslims who believe in our common humanity to plead with those driven by extremism to cease their oppression of deeply religious communities and to seek that peace which Islam itself endevours to promote. Given at Mariannhill on this 11th day of August 2014. Enquiries: Archbishop William Slattery OFM 083 468 5473 Khanya House, 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria; PO Box 941, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Tel: +27 (12) 323 6458; Fax: +27 (12) 326 6218; E-mail: sacbc@sacbcgen.co.za
August 2014 Page 3 Southern Africa Catholic s Conference Catholic s Opposed to TV Porn Pornography is destructive of persons, detrimental to our society and is evil. As Catholic bishops we are totally opposed to the broadcasting of pornography in South Africa. Any form of commercialisation and screening of pornographic sex is exploitative, engenders addiction and can only bring about degradation of everyone involved. Entertainment should enrich and not diminish human dignity. We, therefore, call upon all people of goodwill, especially those with the responsibility of decision-making, to do all in their power, to protect our people, in particular women and youth from this evil of pornography. Given at Mariannhill on Women's Day, 2014 Enquiries: Archbishop William Slattery OFM 083 468 5473 Khanya House, 399 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria; PO Box 941, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Tel: +27 (12) 323 6458; Fax: +27 (12) 326 6218; E-mail: sacbcgen@sacbc.org.za The week of Prayer for Peace, organized by the South African Council of Churches, will run from 21-27 September 2014 when a collection for a children's home in Gaza will be taken. Ordinations Dc. Bonga Mkhize OMI will be ordained to the sacred order of Priesthood by Barry Wood OMI on Saturday 20 September 2014 at 10h00 in St Augustine's Parish, Machibisa. Wilfrid Napier OFM will ordain Peter Landsberg, Charles Parker and Andrew Small to the Permanent Diaconate on Saturday 27 September 2014 in Christ the King Parish, Wentworth at 10h00. Clergy Appointments We have pleasure in announcing the following appointments: v Fr. Brett Williams - Chancellor of the Archdiocese v Fr. Sifiso Ndlovu - Parish Priest, Imbali v Fr George Bidzogo SAC - Parish Priest, Point v Fr. Bheki Motloung - Parish Priest, Bergville v Fr. Sanil Michael SCJ - Parish Priest, Eastwood, Pmb. v Fr. Thami Zuma - Acting Parish Priest, Maphumulo v Fr. Zakhele Ndlovu - Assistant Priest, Isipingo and Woodlands Durban v Fr. Syabonga Mbeje CMM - Assistant Priest, Bellair-Queensburgh A sincere thank you to all for accepting this pastoral charge and we earnestly pray that the Lord may guide you in the exercise of your ministry and that his Spirit may be with you in the service that you render to his people.
Page 4 Volume 1, Issue 7 Diocesan Diary August 2014 1 SACBC Finances Catholics Awake, Marist College Holy Family Sisters 150 years in SA, Maris Stella 2 St Vincent's Parish, Pietermaritzburg 4 Chancery Meeting Johannesburg 5-13 SACBC Plenary Session 15 50th Anniversary of Our Lady of Natal School 17 Confirmation: Woodlands, Pietermaritzburg Confirmation: Amanzimtoti 18 KZN CHAWC 19 Clergy and Pastoral Assistants Day 20 Visit by Miseror 21 DMI Review Inter-Catholic Schools Concert, Cathedral 22 Missionaries of Charity Mass 24 Confirmation: Emolweni 25 Finance Board 26 Liturgy Commission 28 St Augustine's School Mass 29 Building Committee 31 Confirmation: Maphumulo Confirmation: Ntuzuma September 2014 1 Inter-religious Council AGM 2 6 Vatican Finances 2 Diakonia Council Meeting 3 Parish Visits 6 Couples for Christ Family Conference Children of Mary Mass, Newlands West 7 Confirmation: Bergville th Sister Catherine's 50 Jubilee, Kwa Madlala 8 Chancery Meeting Closing of Novena: Vailankanni, Chatsworth St Michael's Parish, Red Hill 12 Building Committee Confirmation: Durban North 13 Walk for Life 14 Confirmation: Kwa Mashu (OLL) Confirmation: Chatsworth 15 Metropolitan s 16 s and Superiors Zulu Regional Pastoral Council 16 KIB Holdings Board 19 's Concert, Emmanuel Cathedral 20 Adult Formation Festival Priestly Ordination of Dc. Bonga Mkhize OMI 21 Confirmation: Ntshongweni Confirmation: Kwa Mpumuza 22 Diaconate Board 23 Adult Formation Team 24 Deacons Day 26 St Theresa's School Mass Catholics Awake: St Henry's Chapel 27 Ordinations to Permanent Diaconate, Wentworth Pietermaritzburg Deanery Family Day Festival Confirmation: Red Hill Confirmation: ACTS Students, Dominican Priory 28 Confirmation: Kloof Confirmation: Wartburg 29 Finance Board
August 2014 Page 5 Dear Preists Sacred Heart Convention Please be informed that the Sacred Heart Sodality of the Archdiocese of Durban will hold its annual convention on the 26th to 28th of September 2014. This annual convention normally attracts +-5000 members of the Sacred Heart throughout the Archdiocese and so we have identified a school closer to Wartburg parish as the best venue. I, therefore, invite you to be part of our special celebration. I particularly invite you to assist me with confessions on Saturday morning and the celebration of mass. Both Wilfrid Napier and Barry will not be present, however Stanley Dziuba of Umzimkhulu diocese will stand in for them in celebrating mass. Ngisizeni ke bafowethu sizozimazisa umcimbi wenhliziyo eyingcwele Cwe kajesu, futhi samukele umbhishobhi osuka kude kangaka. The following is the Saturday program for which I particularly invite you to attend: 09h00-10:15 Confessions 10:15-10:30 Opening of Convention by Mrs Mthiyane 10:30-11:30 Speech by Fr Ngcobo (spiritual Advisor) 11:30-12h00 what the Word of God says about Family (Guest preacher) 12h00-13h00 Guest speaker from Department 13:30-13:30 Break 13:30-15:30. Holy Mass by Dziuba 16h00 Vote of Thanks (Executive member) 16:15-17:30 Lunch 17:30-18:30 Prayers 18:30-19:30 Praise and Worship 19:30-21h00 Guest preacher on Theme Further details will be sent to you via email. Please contact Fr Sifiso Mpanza for directions to the venue. Sincerely yours in Christ Fr Mhlengi Ngcobo HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN ON LEAVE Fr. Sean Mullin CSSp will be on leave in September. Parish priests are asked to care for their parishioners admitted to City Hospital, St Aiden's Hospital and Ascot Park Hospital during his absence.
Page 6 Volume 1, Issue 7 Auditions for Passion Play 2015 The Durban Catholic Players Guild will be staging the 14th production of the Durban Passion Play in the Playhouse theatre during Easter in 2015. Auditions for Passion Play 2015 to be held at Holy Family College Glenmore are as follows: Saturday 23rd August 2014: 11am to 2pm Female Leads (Madonna, Magdalen, Veronica, Martha) 2pm to 5pm Male Leads (Jesus, Caiphus, Peter, John, Pilate, Herod) Sunday 24th August 2014: 1.30pm to 5pm Crowds and People of Jerusalem. Saturday 30th August 2014: 1.30pm to 3pm Apostles & Sanhedrin 3pm to 5pm Dancers & Soldiers (Herod's dancer's, Roman army) Sunday 31st August 2014: Call Backs. For Enquiries please contact: Heather Neave 0842475597 Patti Hunt 0845112005 Dawn Haynes 0835642929 Welcome to our new Chancellor A very special welcome to Fr. Brett Williams who with effect from the 1 August 2014 took over the position of Chancellor at the Chancery. Father Brett was born in Pietermaritzburg on the 24 December 1969. He was educated at Kearsney College and the University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg). He was Head of the Department of Agriculture at Mangosuthu Technikon before he entered the seminary in 1999. Father Brett was ordained to the priesthood on 16 December 2005 at the Emmanuel Cathedral. His first appointment as Assistant Priest was to Hammersdale/Mpumalanga. He was then appointed Acting Parish priest of Elandskop. After three years he was asked to assist the Apostolic Nuncio to Southern Africa, Archbishop James Green in Pretoria. Father Brett returned to the Archdiocese after three years at the Nunciature. He was appointed Parish priest of St Michael s Red Hill. On 19 July 2014 Napier appointed Father Brett Chancellor of the Archdiocese. Father Brett s mother lives in Hillcrest, his younger sister lives in Waterfall and his brother in Pretoria.
August 2014 Page 7 Meet the Evening On Friday 1st August our had one busy day; meeting with the s in Gauteng all day and then, climbing on the 16h40 flight to be back in Durban by 18h30, to share his experiences with the Pope at the Catholics Awake, meet the function. Well, as usual, the did make it, although, slightly late, by 19h00 to tell the 50 guests who attended, how wonderful Pope Francis is; as our Father, friend and World Catholic ( Christian) leader. The meetings and experiences that our has had with him, each time, enhances his admiration for him. We must thank God for providing so greatly for us. On this occasion, Catholics Awake hosted a Cocktail Party at St. Henry's College, with the plan for those attending, to listen to our and meet with fellow Catholics ( we even entertained a visiting Anglican, who was suitably impressed, not only with our, but also those attending) and the focus to bring all our Catholics' attention to who our is, the works that he does and also the works that are being carried out by our Church. We are arranging similar functions, for all to meet with Napier, in Pietermaritzburg and Durban, throughout the year so, keep your eyes open for the next one; in Durban on 26th September, starting 18H00 with Mass, celebrated by our and followed by a get - together in the hall at, St. Henry's) Come join the "Friends of the " and share in the works of the Church. Youth Sports Day th The Archdiocese of Durban held their 5 Annual Sports day at the University of KwaZulu Natal on 2 August 2014. The morning started off with Mass by which time the young people had arrived in numbers. Holy Mass was celebrated by W.F. Napier OFM and the concelebrant was Fr. Peter Lafferty CSSp, Chaplain for three universities. After Holy Mass we got down to the days business, all of which was fun and greatly enjoyed by all who participated. One of the best events was the Priests' Race entered by our, who unbeknown to us all, made an arrangement with one of the young lads. The deal was: I start and you Finish. Nevertheless the race was won by the Dean of Durban South Deanery Fr. Cletus Mtshali, with a close second by Fr. Jean Kalala OMI youth Chaplain for the Highway Deanery. We all had a fabulous and enjoyable day. Special thanks must go to the, Priests and ALL OUR YOUNG PEOPLE for making the day happen.
Archdiocese of Durban 154 Gordon Road Durban 4001 South Africa Phone: (031) 303 1417 Fax: (031) 312 1848 E-mail: Johnwheatley@catholic-dbn.org.za This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you John 15:12 We re on the Web: www.catholic-dbn.org.za To advertise in the future editions of this News Letter please contact John Wheatley on 031 303 1417 or email on Johnwheatley@catholic-dbn.org.za Durban Metropolitan Province ES IS DUND EE M LLU CUR GI E DIOCES IA Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Mt. 5:5 SI