HOME UPDATE

E Fr. Ntaka undergoes cancer treatment, from 6^th January.  Initially he received chemotherapy and in March he started radiotherapy, both at the National Hospital in Bloemfontein.  The OMI community of the Bloem-fontein Cathedral offered lodging for Fr. Ntaka for these days.

E Br. Joshua Mpiti spent almost his whole holiday attending “Initiation school”. After the home and family celebrations he went for the “SCJ initiation school”- Novitiate in Bethulie.

E Prior to his second renewal of vows Br. Abram Tsikanyane spent quite a few days in the Aliwal Monastery.

E Fr. Lemahieu accompanied Br. Abram and Br. Joshua in their spiritual preparation for, respectively, renewal of vows and the entry to the novitiate, in February in Aliwal North.

E In the presence of Frs. Przybys, Ntaka, Surdel and Grzelak, Br. Abram Tsikanyane renewed his vows, Br. Joshua Mpiti was admitted to the novitiate and 5 candidates were admitted to the Pre – Novitiate, in Bethulie on 01 February.

E Br. Tsikelelo Bambatha renewed his vows in Merrivale on 02 February.  Fr.Musialek acted as the delegate of Fr. Provincial.

E Fr. Mabheka finished his holiday on 02 February.  From that day he became a member of the Bethulie community as well as the assistant priest in the Bethulie parish.

E Fr. Mabheka had a car accident on the gravel road between Bethulie and Aliwal North, on 24 February.  Nothing has happened to the driver.  The VW Golf, however, suffered enough to discourage the owner – the Aliwal Diocese – from repairing it.

E The mother of Fr. Ofenloch passed away in Germany on 04 Feb, after short illness.  She was 81.  The family buried her on 10 Feb.  Fr. Ofenloch celebrated a memorial Mass on that day in the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

E Fr. Mutanyu has buried one of his sisters, who died while he was awaiting for work permit in Zimbabwe.

E The Mission secretary of the US Province, Fr. C. Brown, visited S. Africa from 18 Feb. to 10 March.  He met with Bps. Baaij, Potocnak, Lobinger, the AM Provincial Council, and probably all the SCJs here.  Fr. Brown is hoping to teach the Scripture at St. Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara next year.

E Fr. Koscielny represented Fr. Provincial at the “Joint Witness” meeting held on 26 Feb. at Assisi Mission.  This body was established in 1980 for the purpose of strengthening co-operation between SA Bishops and the major superiors in every archdiocese.

E Fr. Ciemiega survived Polish winter and sends greetings to all.  He ask also for “continuos prayers” since his dilemma “where to be or not to be” has not been solved as yet.  Do not stop trying, Michael!

E The Prov. Council held its annual bossberat in Port Alfred, on 24 – 28 February.

E Financial Commission met in Aliwal on 10 March.

E Our Prov. Assembly took place on 10 – 11 March in Aliwal North.  This time we succeeded to finish with lunch on the second day as well as to have nice evening with braai on the first one.

E The war in Iraq began on 20 March …

E Fr. Mutanyu succeeded to obtain work permit and then arrived to Aliwal North, that is his home for some time, on 01 March. Initially he will be working at St. Francis Parish in Aliwal North assisting the diocesan parish priest.

On Spirituality

How are we (SCJ members) going to enrich ourselves?

-         We need to inform ourselves by reading more as far as our spirituality is concerned.

-         We will, therefore, have at least three REFLECTION DAYS per year where we will be able to share on any material concerning spirituality and apostolate. We will later publish, for the consumption of all confreres , what we find to be of importance.

-         We will try to use, as much as we can, the SEE, JUDGE, ACT method.

-         We will, therefore, try to be observant in all spheres so that we can be effective in our tasks.

-         We will have to advise according to necessity.

-         We will have to teach/instruct according to necessity.

-         We will have to give necessary praise as an encouragement.

-         We will have to see that our spirituality is assimilated, lived and influences our apostolate.

The task of the Commission

1. Communication and co-operation with the Provincial Council.
2. To promote interest in our founder and our spirituality. Evaluate our apostolate in accordance with our charism.
3. Care for the spiritual well-being of each conferer and the community:

a)      in co-operation with the provincial administration:

§         organizing annual retreats

§         encourage monthly recollections

§         help prepare for Sacred Heart feast-days

b)      fostering SCJ, prayers in the daily prayer exercises

c)      incorporate sharing of experiences into provincial assemblies

d)      provide information about retreats, courses, articles etc. concerning Spirituality and Apostolate

4. Foster communication by means of a leaflet to appear when suitable.
5. Highlight the importance of recreation and relaxation for community life, ex. sharing of experiences.
6. Incarnate our spirituality in the totality of our life within our own context, ex. in prayer, work, pastoral commitment etc.
7. Support the representatives of the General Spirituality and Apostolate Commission.
8. We feel the need of and look forward to co-operating with the Justice and Peace Commission.
9. The General Chapter 1985 too must have a job description.

Ongoing formation courses available in various institutions

South Africa

E Catholic Bible College

Physical address: 13 Fifth Street

LA ROCHELLE 2190

Postal address: PO Box 1954

ROSETTENVILLE 2130

Phone: (011) 435 7997

E-mail: cbiblec@global.co.za

Course outline: The Torah; The Former and Latter Prophets; The Writings; The Songs of Israel; The Synoptic Gospel; The Gospel of John; New Testament Letters; Acts of the Apostles; The Book of Revelation.

Complementary Studies:

The Bible and the Christian Story; Biblical Foundations of Faith and Life; The People of God and Sacraments; Celebrating the Word of God; Scripture in the Lectionary; Biblical Spirituality and Prayer.

!! This program is designed for anyone who wants to deepen his knowledge of scripture.

E St. Augustine College of SA

Physical Address: 18A Gill Street

Observatory

JOHANNESBURG 2189

Postal Address: PO Box 436

BEDFORDVIEW 2008

Phone: (011) 4870301

Fax: (011) 6481877

E-mail: cusa@global.co.za

St. Augustine College offers a two-year Master Philosophy degree in Theology. It gives specialization, one in Christian Spirituality and the other in Cannon Law.

Some of modules in the general program scheduled for the next two years include New Testament Issues: God and Trinity; O. Testament Studies; Science and Religious; Church History.

E Human Sexuality and Priestly Celibacy: Fr. Raphael Gallagher CSSR

The visit of Fr. Gallagher has been discussed with the Administrative Board

E He is coming for two weeks in August 2003 and will give a two-day “workshop” in each of the four Provinces as follows:

1. Pretoria: 4^th and 5^th
2. Bloemfontein: 7^th and 8^th
3. Durban: 11^th and 12^th
4. Cape Town 14^th and 15^th

The following topics will be covered:

 - Vocation as a Moral Response to God’s Will

- Sexual Development and the Life of the Priest

- Celibacy: Gift and Task

- The Church and the Climate of Abuse

- Moral Responsibility and Ministry

- The Scandal of the Cross; the Scandal of Abuse

- The Moral Life is also for Priest

For further information contact:

Fr. Vincent Brennan

P.O. Box 8230, Rustenburg 0300

Tel/Fax: (014) 555 6640

Email: vbcathchu@mweb.co.za

E Next Iindaba will contain ongoing formation courses hold in Europe. !!!!!!

For further information on various sabbatical programs contact:

Fr. Paul Koscielny

Phone: 053-6311120

Email: pzk@intekom.co.za

Provincial

Fr. Provincial’s account:

Bloemfontein: 19.01; 14.02; 18.02; 24.03

Bethulie: 27.01; 01.02; 08.03; 23.03

Teresa Mission: 01.02

Middelburg: 10.02; 19.03

Virginia: 04-05.02

Dordrecht: 15-16.02

Port Elizabeth: 20-22.02

Merrivale: 02-06.03

Port Alfred: 24-28.02

Graaff-Reinet: 12-15.02; 16-18.03

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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

The Council held a formal meeting on 27 Feb. during the days of “Bosberat” in P. Alfred (24–28 Feb). The Council:

P Granted permission to Fr. Grzelak for 2-month sabbatical in Poland in connection with his holidays.

P Granted permission to Fr. Koscielny for a new stationary computer.

P In regard to the matter of Vocation Director the council recommended that the Vocation Commission come with some proposals.

P Recommended that Fr. Mutanyu be presented to the bishop of Aliwal North for temporal parish work.

P Prepared the agenda for the 11 – 12 March Provincial Assembly.

P Recommended that the Aliwal Community help to decide how to utilize the car received by Fr. Sompane.

During the “Bossberat” the Council discussed the following matters:

P Two- year Pre–Novitiate.

P Acts of the 2^nd Provincial Chapter (review).

P Vocation director of the Province.

P Admission Board of the Province.

P Situation in the Last Comfort funeral project in Middleburg and the other social involvement of our confreres.

P Of the personnel of the Province.

The Council met also with the US Mission Secretary, Fr. C. Brown, on 07 March in Aliwal North.  Fr. C. Brown shared about his work as Mission Secretary and the following matters were discussed:

P Competence of the US M. Secretary.

P Management of the AM financial assets in the USA.

P AM endowment in the USA.

P Bp. Baaij.

P Possibility of sending “lay helpers” from the USA to South Africa.

P Financing of the inter–provincial formation house in Cedara/Merrivale.

P Financing and development of the social projects in Middleburg, De Aar and Teresa Mission.

Aliwal North

_ Diocesan Pastoral Council gathered 150 representatives of the parish communities of the Diocese for evaluation of the past year and planning of the next one, on 7 – 8 Feb. in Aliwal.

_ “Epiphany collection” that is offered as a family contribution was introduced in Sterkspruit parish. Certificates are issued and given to those who pay as an honor to them. Some people are delighted to pay.

De Aar

_ The Sacred Heart Parish in Petrusville was 20 years old on 19 March 2003.  On this occasion Fr. Strittmatter, one of its “founder-fathers” presided at the Eucharist on 23 March and Bishop Potocnak blessed a stone plague, which will commemorate that event.

Z

Holidays:

Bp. Potocnak –  1 May till 10 June

Fr. Chris – May till …

Fr. Chwaja – from 8 May till late …

Fr. Przybys – 8 May till 4 Sept. (General Chapter, Germany and holidays)

Fr. Maslowski – 2 June till 3 September

Last Minutes News

E After the General Chapter, Fr. Chwaja will take his holiday in Poland and an unspecified length of time for addressing his health problems as well as for sabbatical activities.

E Fr. Przybys will pay a short visit to the German Province (after the General Chapter) and will take part in the council meeting of the German Prov. on 22 June.

E Fr. Provincial’s computer crushed completely on Sun. 23 March. Lord, help us, since not much backup was made…

SCJs IN THE WORLD

? The future of the SCJs of the Vietnamese origin as well as the SCJ “Vietnam” project was on the agenda of the SCJ meeting on 2 – 6 January in Rome. Representatives of the BH, PHI, IND, EF and US participated.

? BC stands for Brazil Central, remember…

? By the end of 2002 there were 2 289 SCJs, i.e. 43 less than a year ago.  37 SCJs were ordained for priesthood in 2002

? The School of Philosophy at Brusque (BM) became 70 years old, in Feb. 2003.  In that period the house has always served as an SCJ Formation facility.

? The second SCJ from MARANHAO Region has been ordained in March 2003.  The Region is an internal mission of Central Brazil.  It is located in the north of the country, in the pre – Amazon area.

? An encounter of 17 young SCJs from Argentina, Urugway and Chile took place on 25 – 27 Feb 2003.  The meeting aimed at better understanding of the life and times of Fr. Dehon.

? On 01 January 2003 – the World Day of Peace, many members of the SCJ community in Rome prayed for peace and joined a peace demonstration organized by the community of St. Egido.

VARIA

1. There will be SCJ SOCIAL GATHERING – on Easter Monday, in Bethulie from 2pm; be there!
2. Diocesan workshop on social action will be held in Aliwal North, on 6 – 8 May 2003.  Fr. Morar will conduct it.
3. Annual gathering of recently ordained priests will be held in Cape Town from 12 to 16 May. Fr. Koscielny is in charge of arrangements for those who are to participate.

Peace be with you!

            Let us start with a prayer, which I find very good

 and which could be used in our Communities and Parishes.

For Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

Lord God,

Grant that we may give life where there is death,

bring light where there is darkness.

Grant that we may work for justice by the way we relate to people,

that we may sow love where there is exclusion, oppression and injustice.

Grant that we may work for regeneration where there is destruction of the planet,

that we may be instruments of hope where there is despair.

Grant that we may think, speak and act non-violently at all times and in all places,

that we may be instruments of peace (in our families,)

in our communities and in our society.

Lord, grant that we may bring enlightenment where there is ignorance,

that we may sow truth where there is falsehood.

Lord, let your Spirit fill our hearts,

and bless us with a spirituality that is creation-centered,

so that together we can promote a culture of peace and justice in the 21^st century. Amen.

Catholic Social Teaching

The basis of our discussions and works concerning Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation must be the Teaching of the Catholic Church. This we find in the principal documents of Catholic Social Teaching which are:

Rerum Novarum, Leo XIII (1891)

Quadragesimo Anno, Pius XI (1931)

Mater at Magistra, John XXIII (1961)

Pacem in Terris, John XXIII (1963)  

Gaudiumet Spes, Second Vatican Council (1965)

Populorum Progressio, Paul VI (1967)

Octagesima Adveniens, Paul VI (1971)

Justice in the World, The Synod of Bishops (1971)

Evangelii Nuntiandi, Paul VI (1975)   

Redemtor Hominis, John Paul II (1979)

Dives in Misericordia, John Paul II (1980)

Laborem Exercens, John Paul II (1981)

Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, John Paul II (1987)

Centesimus Annus, John Paul II (1991)

Tertio Millenio Adveniente, John Paul II (1994)

Evangelium Vitae, John Paul II (1995) 

A good commentary I found in ‘THE NEW POLITICS. Catholic Social Teaching for the Twenty-first Century’, edited by P. Valely (1998).

Do not let us forget prayer: A WAY OF THE CROSS. A Reflection on Economic Justice for All, Carmen B. Mele (1992).

Globalization

‘Everybody’ speaks about Globalization with approval or disapproval, praise or condemnation. But the question of Globalization is very complex. The world becomes a village, or better a city with slums or favelas, which cannot be right because slums are opposite to the dignity of human beings. On local level we are most of the times only indirect involved. That means we experience the negative aspect of Globalization without realizing it. But we have to tackle the question of Globalization.

During the last few years a number of Theologians started to write concerning the question of Globalization.

Some articles concerning Globalization:

GLOBALIZATION AND ITS VICTIMS, Concilium, 2001/5

1.The General Dimension of Globalization and its Critics

The Ambiguities of Globalization, Etienne Perrot

Globalization as Cover-Up: An Ideology to Disguise and Justify Current Wrongs, Franz Hinkelammert

Religions Face to Face with Globalization, Felix Wilfred

The Effects of Free-Market Globalization on Women’s Lives, Maria Arcelia Gonzales Burton

2.A Biblical-Theological Critique

The Sin of the World: The Devil is a Liar, a Deceiver and a Murderer, Xavier Alegre

3.How Globalization is Affecting the Different Regions

Europe: Globalization and Poverty, Luis de Sebastian Carazo

Africa: Globalization and the Loss of Cultural Identity, Terese Okure

Latin America: Economics, Ethics and Alternatives, German Gutierrez

4.The Utopia of the Human Family

The Utopia of the Human Family: Among the Religions of Humanity, Michel Amaldos

The Utopia of the Human Family in the Biblical Tradition, Jose Luiz Sicre

The Utopia of the Human Family: The Universalization of the Truly Human

As Real Globalization, Jose Ignacio Gonzales Faus

Redeeming Globalization through its Victims, Jon Sobrino

HIV/Aids

I think the main problem we are dealing with in South Africa is the HIV-AIDS disease. As we all should know we are the worst country in the world. But it seems this is generally not known. Therefore, I think, it is our duty to look deeper into the whole situation to be able to help and ‘educate’ the people better. Only through ‘Education’ can this pandemic be stopped. To be able to do it we have to inform ourselves first. To establish and maintain hospices is praiseworthy and necessary, but it will not stop this disease. A change of mentality is necessary; EDUCATION FOR LIFE. A Behaviour Process (Workshops done in the Aliwal Diocese). One book, which can be helpful, is ‘AIDS. The Challenge for South Africa’, Alan Whiteside and Clem Sunter (2000). Another book is ‘JOURNEYS OF FAITH. Church-based responses to HIV and AIDS in three southern African countries’ by G. Byamugisha, L.Y. Steinitz, G. Williams and P. Zondi (2002).

As pastors we must not forget the spiritual side of the pandemic. Books which could help us in our pastoral work are:

- AIDS STRIKES AT THE HEART. Reflecting and Sharing as family people, MARFAM

- Prayer Journey For Persons With AIDS, Robert Nugent (1989)

- AIDS: Ethical and Spiritual Considerations, Noel Simard (1997)

- AIDS and Faith,  N. Bonneau, B. Bozak, A. Guindon, R. Hardy (1993).

Let me close with a long quotation: “At the start of the new century, South Africa probably had the largest number of HIV-infected people of any country in the world…The tragedy is that this did not have to happen. South Africa was aware of the dangers posed by AIDS as early as 1985…The situation is bad, and sadly the number of people falling ill, dying and leaving families will rise over the next few years…if we respond to the epidemic in the right way, not only can we reduce its impact, but perhaps we will emerge stronger as a result…it is up to each and every one of us making a small contribution in our own way. The battle against HIV and AIDS will only be won by millions of initiative at grassroots level.” (AIDS. The Challenge for South Africa, A. Whiteside and C. Sunter, Introduction]).

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Przybys & Maslowski & Mutanyu