Bishop Baaij shares with us:

(In order to understand this article, go back to the month of September, the time it was supposed to be published).

Bishop Baaij is one of the readers of Amagqabantshintshi. In his latest correspondence dated 1 August 2005 to the editor, which came just after I had already dispatched the last issue, he writes:

“I thank you sincerely for the latest edition of Amagqabantshintshi and your personal note to me. My health is still fine, but a notice of a certain stiffness in my legs which must be a sign of old age. My work at Nazareth house goes on as before, but my visiting hospitals is definitely coming to an end. I have done this for 18 years in this Metro while it is this month (August) 17 years ago that I became chaplain at Nazareth House. Our Superior will still be on leave when I will remember this anniversary.

Father Bastian, who died in Cape Town last week had been 18 years chaplain at the Nazareth House. The Nazareth sisters appear to be good employers, and our terminal patients also take their time.

About each year I celebrate some or other jubilee, and so I keep going from the one to the other. This year on the 63^rd anniversary of profession it will also be 50 years ago that I became a naturalized Canadian citizen, thereby losing my Dutch citizenship. At the time I was teaching at the Kilroe Seminary of the Sacred Heart at Honesdale, Pensylvania.

On the 17^th December 1981 the late Bishop J. A. De Palma SCJ took over the administration of Aliwal Diocese when I went officially into retirement.  This date will be then introducing my jubilee year of retirement for completion in 2006. Time goes tremendously fast, but even with stiff legs one must keep up with it.”

The editor extends his gratitude to Bishop Baaij for sharing with us. This makes us feel more in touch with him. Here’s an Irish blessing for you Bishop: “May the Lord keep you in his hand, and never close his fist tight on you.”

My sincerest apologies to you Bishop for not publishing this article in due time.

Physically indisposed confreres:

- Fr. Benno continues his period of recuperation in Hilton (Natal) He is, otherwise, in good health.

- Fr. K. H. Ofenloch’s health is on and off, but it looks like it’s something he has to live with.

- Bro. Bona Schmedes was taken to Bloemfontein on the 1^st November to have thorough examination on what was suspected to be a mild stroke. He was given treatment to take at home.

Annual Retreat:

Many confreres participated in the annual retreat at Pallotti farm (Queenstown) conducted by Fr. Christopher Neville OFM

New Account:

“The AM Province has opened a new bank account that is to serve exclusively the matters of charity and financial aid provided by The SCJs in South Africa. This step should help the Province to achieve clarity and simplicity in those matters. The details of the account:

Account’s name: “The Dehon SCJ Aid Fund”

Account No ….:  **************147

Type of account:  Call account

Bank …………:  First National Bank

Branch and No..: Aliwal North, 210 120

Last Comfort, update:

Fr. J. Strittmatter informed the council that the couple Andrew and Rufie Cass, who were involved in running the “Last Comfort”, resigned in July 2005. He said this is both good and bad news. It is good news in the sense that they got a better job and salary which we could not offer and it is bad news in the sense that we are losing some experienced people.

We, however, have two full time members remaining. Some improvements can be done with new people in charge, for example looking into the prospect of buying a new hearse.

The council asked Fr. Strittmatter to collect some information and forward it to the council, e.g. how many employees there are, their salaries, the financial report and the running of the whole project, to which he agreed.

Br. Mpiti and his immediate future:

It is almost a year that Bro. Mpiti is in Cameroon and things have to be clear whether he would like to study theology there or in South Africa in view of making necessary arrangements in either case. Bro. Mpiti has already categorically stated that he would like to do Theology in South Africa.

A request from CM provincial council:

An agreement has been reached between the AM and the CM provinces to send students to study philosophy in South Africa instead of theology. The reason sited is that they presently send the philosophy students to Congo and then some to South Africa for Theology, rendering it impossible for them to know them enough. Therefore, if they send them to South Africa for philosophy, they would then do theology in Cameroon, giving the confreres in the province enough chance to know them and that they get familiar with the situation in Cameroon.

Hilton Farm:

A quick report will be prepared on the future of Hilton Farm with legal and financial consequences of whatever decision will be taken.  What would be the principle of having the confreres staying there? Fr. Provincial volunteered to compile such a report.

Policies for the province:

The province would have to write clear policies about a few things in the province. e.g. cars, computers, office equipment, province aid fund, upkeep of the SCJ priests (subsidies of the bishops), our employees, offices in the province, personal expenditure, last will / living will, insurance, sabbaticals, holidays, medical, traffic fines, fund raising of the province, financial aspect of initial formation, inventory/asset register, financial statements, etc.

Certain individuals have been asked to draft these so that they will be ready for the assembly in November 2005

Cars in Pietermaritzburg:

As things stand all the four cars used there are the properties of the AM province. However, the AM province is prepared to donate two of them to the International formation house and that the province will have decided by the year 2006 what to do with the other two.

Request from Fr. C. Dalla Zuanna for one Pietermaritzburg student to participate in the 2006 General Conference:

Fr. Dalla Zuanna sent a letter to the AM provincial asking for one of the students to participate in the General conference in 2006

On the other hand the provincial council would have loved to know more details of the participation of the students in such a meeting. The council decided that Fr. Provincial talks to the two students and that they decide who goes.

Decisions on Hilton Farm:

Sell the pottery and farming equipment. Wait for the report from the municipality whether the development would or not go the direction of our property as it is rumoured.

We need to make a long term plan of our presence in Natal, e.g. involvement in the pastoral work or other special projects like Sacred Heart Auto League or any other.

A PROPOSAL ON BETHULIE:

As he was asked by the council, Fr. Mpambani wrote a proposal why the Pre-Noviciate should be moved from Bethulie.

It was noted that this is only a beginning of a serious look at this matter. No decisions would be taken as yet.