1. News from Provincial:

On the 3rd of February there was a time of celebrating the first vows of Justin Matsoso and Kabelo Metusi.

Financial commission held their meeting on the 19 of March.

10-13 of April there was a time for bossberat.

16-21 of April Father Provincial attended meeting for major Superiors (LLCL)

24-26 South African Province had their Provincial Assembly.

15 of June most of the members of AM came together to Aliwal North their annual Feast of the Sacred Heart. There was another celebration and feast, Fr. Hansel's 50 years of religious life

On the 16th of June took place a funeral of Fr. Mpambani's mother. Many priests and SCJs came to share the sorrow and give support by prayer and friendship.

During the period of time 13-23 July, South African Province had a privilege of welcoming one of our general councilors, Fr. Claudio Dalla Zuanna.

16 July hold diamond Jubilee of Bp. Baaij's priesthood.

On the 21st of July took place funeral of Fr. Andries Lemahieu. He has died on the 12the of July after a long time of serious illness.

Another celebration took place - ordination to deaconate. On the 29 of July two of our students received the ordination by the H.E.Wilfrid Cardinal Napier OFM, at St. Martin de Poor parish in Pietermaritzburg.

From the 15 to 24 of August Father Provincial attended treasures meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. During that time he had an experience of what it means an earthquake.

Holy Cross 100-year of presence in Aliwal North, celebration.

Bp. Baaij had another jubilee to celebrate. this time it was his 65 years of religious life. Celebration was held on the 16 of September in Port Elizabeth.

On the 29th of September AM Provincial met Mozambique's SCJ Provincial Council in Pietermaritzburg/Hilton.

From 23 to 27 September, Carlito and Boniface, had retreat by Father Provincial, and on the 30th of September they professed the final vows.

 

2. HILTON:

Fr. Brown left South Africa for his native country, to give lectures in the Scripture at the Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, the United States.

Fr. Maslowski since the 16th of June has been living and working in Kwa-Zulu-Natal.

Fr. Chris who was overseas on his vacation is back in South Africa.

Fr. Musialek is back in South Africa after his sabbatical year and joins the Hilton Farm Community. He takes care of the Sacred Heart Auto League (SHAL).

 

3. DE AAR: 

The De Aar Diocese is not a good place for finding extraordinary pastoral events. The following pieces of info (below) about what took place there in the last few months is probably a good prove of the above…

 

Bishop Potocnak SCJ, Fr. Strittmatter SCJ and Sr. Cathy Thomas MSSH are still directly involved in the work and undertakings of the hospices in the De Aar area. They also attend meetings of the Catholic Health Care (CATHCA) which is an umbrella body for hospitals, clinics, hospices, home base care projects, etc. run by the Catholic Church on the territory of the Catholic Bishops Conference in Southern Africa (SACBC); the bishop represents the SACBC at the CTHCA meetings.

 

Noupoort. On his smallholding outside the town Fr. Bowes continuous construction of a few buildings which are to serve as retreat centre. Last year Bp. Potocnak SCJ blessed quite a spacious chapel of the future centre. The centre is to accommodate approximately 20 persons. Fr. Bowes, who now resides permanently on the smallholding, is himself a skilful – and a hard working – artisan trained in his youth at the SCJ St Joseph’s Trade School in Aliwal North.

 

De Aar. The community of the Martyrs of Uganda dreams about building a little hall or a large classroom. So far all meetings, catechism classes or practice sessions of the community are curried out in its church building or even in private houses. The community has collected already some funds but much more would be needed. Bishop Potocnak SCJ agreed “in principle” to this project provided that the community would cover a substantial portion of the expenditure. The new priest in charge Fr. M. Przybys SCJ regards this project not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity for building the community itself. Don’t you know any “working” parish fundraising method? If yes share it with them: PO BOX 73, De Aar 7000, RSA.

 

Pretrusville. Sometime in July about 30 school children of the local catholic community enjoyed a little outing at the Le Roux Dam (on the river Orange called today Van der Kloof). The event was blessed with good weather as well as good cooperation of the parents, catechism teachers and Fr. Z. Bojar SCJ – the parish priest. The outing, which was greatly helped with funds organised by Bishop Potocnak, culminated with a memorable “braai”, i.e. the South African style grill.

 

Phillipstown. Probably all the school children of the local catholic community took part in this year “winter school”. Winter school break here is an opportunity to combine playing and eating with some catechism teaching. The “school” was coordinated by Sr. Christina OP who is one of the 3 full time female pastoral workers in the diocese. 

 

Hopetown. On 25 August representatives of the parishes and communities of the De Aar Diocese gathered for the Diocesan Pastoral Council. The theme of this edition of the Council was evangelisation. The main input was presented by the diocesan participants of the national Pastoral Council held a little earlier in Mariannhill. The reflections of Hopetown circulating around lay ministry and evangelisation of the culture will continue in Colesberg at the 10-11 November 2007 Diocesan Days of the De Aar Diocese.