Iindaba02

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ÄÄFrs. Benno Hansel and Anthony Austin have spent a week in “Fatima” recuperating after some surgery they had undergone in Bloemfontein. Both of them felt strong enough to go back home on 19 March.

ÄÄFr Ntaka went to Johannesburg for health reasons on 06 March. Fr Mark accompanied him. Fr Ntaka will spend there around three weeks staying with the community of the Brothers of Charity. Iindaba wishes him all the God’s blessings.

ÄÄBr Sompane took part in the National Conference on Catechetics held in Bethlehem from 12 to 15 March. The conference dealt also with some liturgical issues and was looking for guidelines to all above mentions areas. Bishops Adams and Bucher participated. Br Sompane visited briefly his family nearby.

ÄÄFr Ofenloch is going to Bloemfontein hospital for a quick treatment of his knee on the 26 March.

ÄÄNovice Shawn still cannot be found; Fr Provincial, Middelburg confreres and his family are actively involved in search. It seems that Shawn disappeared deliberately.

ÄÄFr Notermans, 88, was awarded with the free annual ticket to the Aliwal Spa. The award refers to forty years of regular and safe swimming. “Aliwal Weekly” reported the event on the front page with the Father’s photo.

ÄÄFr Michael Ciemiega sold some of his painting; one of them was purchased by bishop Bucher. The price remains a secret.

ÄÄPlease note: Fr Andries had an ultimate puff on 16 October, 2000 in Aliwal. His last “fug” was called Mercator bought in Belgium...What about others?

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEETING

(19march)

ØØFinances; No new developments due to recuperation of the provincial treasure.

ØØFr Adam Maslowski applied for the membership of the AM Province. His application was approved by the council; Fr Provincial will proceed with formalities.

ØØThe council was informed about the past and the present of the “Last Comfort” funeral project in Middelburg. The council raised a few concerns and requested some clarifications; request of the “Last Comfort” for temporal financial assistance was therefore found premature. Fr Provincial will look for answers to the council’s questions.

ØØFr Provincial shared his provisional plans for visitation of the Province: He was advised on what concerns the form of such an exercise.

ØØThe council defined topics for its April extended meeting (16-20 April); the topics include: Bethulie’s facilities, vocations, future of the Province aw well as the provincial policies on ordinations, vows, sabbaticals, community life, etc.

ØØFuture Assemblies were also discussed by the administration: final decisions (about e.g. their topics) will be taken during the April meeting.

Father Provincial

visited: Fr Adam Maslowski in Petrusville (7-8 March); Fr Paul Koscielny in De Aar (8-9 March); Bp Joseph Potocnak (9 March); Middelburg community, “Last Comfort” and family of novice Shawn (9 March); Fr Jan Piet Notermans in Mount Carmel (11 March) with Fr Nordlohne; Fr Ziggy Chwaja in Graaff-Reinet (24-25 March); Bp Baay who celebrated his 80^th birthday, in Port Elizabeth (26-28 March); went two times to Johannesburg in connection with Fr Ntaka; had a second meeting with “Last Comfort” crew in Middelburg; Fr Adam Musialek was also present.

From 15 March the diocese has a new vicar general; Fr Franz Aertker was replaced by Fr Michael Wuestenberg. The new VG is the parish priest of Umlamli-Sterkspruit. His mandate lasts for three years.

Mother of Fr Jabu Khumalo, the parish priest of St. Francis, Aliwal North, past away on 10 March. Funeral was held in the Kwa-Zulu-Natal on 17 March.

Bishop Potocnak administered the sacrament of confirmation to 19 young people in Graaff-Reinet in the evening on 19 March.

Br Douglas, a student candidate of the diocese was rushed to the Graaff-Reinet hospital on the 17 March by Fr Ziggy. Br Douglas who stays presently with Fr Ziggy was diagnosed with malaria.

øøFr J.A.C. de Nobrega, scj from Portugal, was ordained bishop on 18 March. The ordination took place in Mananjary, Madagascar, the capital of the local diocese where the new bishop will serve. Bishop de Nobrega was born in 1942, took first vows in 1962, and has been priest since 1970.

øøSr Pauline, OP, who worked for a long time in De Aar diocese with the youth underwent a serious surgery operation in East London some weeks ago. Fr Surdel saw her by chance in the hospital a month ago.

øøBishop Potocnak and Lobinger took part in the reception of new South African cardinal - Wilfrid Napier in Durban on 21 March. They joined the faithful of the South African Church in a specially prepared liturgy.

øøConfreres taking overseas leave are kindly asked to equip Fr Provincial with their contact telephone number or addresses; their flight schedules are also welcomed. We may do it by mail, fax or e-mail.

øøSt John Vianney’s seminary is to adopt a cell phone policy for its students as decided upon by the South African bishops. Bishops regard this modern device as unnecessary for their students who are in general financially dependent on diocesan resources.