IINDABA – EXPRESS SCJ – South African Province   Information Bulletin, 20 July 2001/no5

 

HOME UPDATE

L On 15 June 2001 Fr. A. Maslowski has been officially transferred to the AM - SCJ Province.

 

L Bp. Lobinger unexpectedly visited our Merrivale Community on 8/9 June during his business trip to Natal. The Bishop stayed overnight.

 

L Fr. P. Koscielny left for one month in England (Ongoing Formation Program, MALPAS) and for 2 months in POLAND (holiday) on 13 June.

 

L Br. Sompane took a few days off in IXOPO and PMB on 11-19 June. He spent a night in Merrivale and came back to Teresa Mission with Fr. Provincial just for the opening of the Teresa Clinic.

 

L Came back home from Europe:

·        Fr. A. Maslowski - on 19 June with no suitcase…

·        Fr. A. Austin - on 01 July with much suitcase…

·        Fr. Ch. Grzelak - on 17 July with no suitcase…

 

WELCOME BACK

 

L Br. Bona and Fr. A. Musialek left for Europe on 26 June. They are to come back on 30 OCTOBER.

 

L Sacred Heart Feast – went well. On 21 June Fr. Provincial delivered a little talk on same theology of the Sacred Heart and this took place in the Sacred Heart Sisters’ Chapel in the presence of the sisters. After the Holy Hour in the Cathedral there was enough time for recreation where the SCJs with Bp. Potocnak & Fr. Ph. Almer were joined by Fr. J. Alcaster and Fr. C. Bows. The 22^nd June feast-day Eucharist in the Aliwal Cathedral was presided by Bp. Potocnak. Bp. Lobinger preached. The celebration was concluded by a meal for approximately 50 people (SCJs, Sacred Heart Sisters, Holy Cross Sisters and some other guests). “Happy Feast-day” was sang and good wishes spoken in honor of Fr. Benno Hansel.

 

L Fr. P. Surdel calmly celebrated his feast-day in Bethulie. On 30 June he was joined at table and in the recreation room by Fr. Provincial, Fr. A. Lemahieu, and Fr. A. Nordlohne as well as by Fr. M. Ntaka, Nov. Ntsikelelo and two MOLTENO Sisters. Another day he was visited by Frs. Ph. Almer and De Jong from the US Province.

 

L On 5 July Br. Mutanyu was to celebrate his birthday. Unfortunately that afternoon he had a little car accident. “Thank God” – nothing happened… Nevertheless; it took some time to pull the car out of the side-road trench.

 

L Fr. M. Ciemiega took some time off as his annual holiday, from 03 till 20 July. During this time he conducted in Natal an eight-day retreats for 25 Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart.

 

OUR STUDENTS

 

OAbram Tsikanyane – after exams he visited his mother in Springfontain. During July he will be in a few places – Graaff-Reinet, Aliwal North and Teresa Mission.

 

OBr. Paul Ntwe – took his retreats in Marannhill on 24-29 June. The time prior to the final profession of vows he will spend in Bethulie.

 

ODeacon Mabeka – spends most of the time in Natal participating in the CPE course (Clinical Pastoral Education). He will come to Aliwal and Teresa with Fr. M. Ciemiega on 20 July.

 

OBr. Mutanyu – finishes his work in Middelburg and goes back to the books by the end of July.

 

OFinal vows of Br. Ntwe will take place, as planned, on Saturday 28 July in the Monastery Chapel at 10:00 a.m. Do not forget, please.

 

OFr. A. Lemahieu will take some time of rest in Taung with his Focolari friends from 20 July till 03 August.

 

OFr. B. Hansel will go to Germany for four weeks (from 28 July till 25 August). The administration agreed to his overseas trips: a short one this year as well as to the longer one next year because this year too many are on overseas holidays and because of his earlier arrangements.

 

OAt the beginning of June postulant Lebohang MOKONE decided to leave. Fr. P. Surdel took him back to Lesotho.

 

OFr. B. Hansel has spent three weeks in Merrivale taking care of the community and the property, from 25 June till 14 July.

 

OFr. P. Notermans is 89 on 19 July. Supper and recreation with his presence will take place in the MONASTERY on 23 July (Monday). Congratulations!

 

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

 

During a half day session the Council:   T Had a discussion with Fr. M. Ciemiega.   TDiscussed present situation of Fr. A. Lemahieu after his car accident; here the Council agreed to purchase for the Monastery a car that could be also for the use of Fr. A. Lemahie. T Made arrangements for the final vows celebration of Br. P. Ntwe.   T Discussed financial matters of the province e.g. the assets under the management of Bp. Baaj.   T Discussed an application to our province of Mr. Golden Muyambi.

 

FR. PROVINCIAL

 

°14 May till 17 June – in Merrivale, with one business trip to his office 2-5 June

°18 June – in Teresa; 19 June – opening of the Teresa Clinic

°25 June to 14 July – covering for Fr. B. Hansel in Fatima and Hilton parish

°26 June, 1 as well as 2 July – in Bloem airport or buss station

°30 June – in Bethulie

°3-4 July – Springfontein, Middelburg, Graaff-Reinet with Br. Abram

°10 July – business trip to Middelburg

°16 July – afternoon in M. Carmel (Feast there!)

È

DE AAR As announced previously, Fr. J. de Jong, SCJ (US) came for six weeks to be of help for the diocese. Fr. C. Bowes had a car accident on 16 July. After an operation in the Kimberly hospital he is in a stabile condition.

 

ALIWAL NORTH The Teresa Clinic, a joint venture of the SCJs, Aliwal Diocese and the SS. of Charity from Leribe (Lesotho) has been officially opened on 19 June. Participated: Bp. Lobinger, Fr. Provincial, a contingent of 25 Charity Sisters, Fr. M. Ciemiega, Br. B. Sompane, Miss McKenzie as well as Mr. Meje from Aliwal North Health Department, some other officials of a lower rank, plus the local community representatives. After three hours of speeches and singing a good meal was served. The Clinic initially will deliver a very basic health-care service.

 

ABROAD

ºBr. G. RAHAVANDOLONA was ordained deacon on 19 July 2001. He is the first MALGASH SCJ ordained in Madagascar. ºAfter a short four-day stay in Rome upon concluding his pastoral visit to the US Province, Fr. General left Rome on 2 July to begin a two-month (sic!) visit to the South Brazilian Province and its two Regions. ºBp. Tome MAKHWELIHA (MOZ) received the palio as a new Archbishop of NAMPULA in Mozambique. ºThe US-SCJs chose new administration: Provincial – Fr. R. MacDonald; counselors are: Fr. V. Sheehy, Fr. J. Klingler, Fr. Q. Nguyen, Fr. P. McGuire, Fr. B. Rosinski. The provincial and his council will choose the vice-provincial; this will take place after they assume office in August. ºOur Congregation is learning English; this year Summer School of the ESL Program (English as a Second Language) run by the US Province, has 18 SCJs as participants. º25 SCJs from Indonesia, Philippines and India as well as the JCP General Councilor participated in the first SCJ Asia Conference, held in Indonesia on 23-31 May. Topics were: formation, justice, peace and integrity of creation ºBy 15 July the Ongoing Formation Program taking place in Malpas (BH) has ended. Frs. P. Koscielny and Z. Mpambani participated.