The Celibacy Debate
When he announced that the bishops of Germany are opening a discussion about the option of changing the discipline of mandatory celibacy for Latin-rite priests, Cardinal Reinhard Marx kicked off 2019 with a topic...
Southern Africa's Catholic Weekly
Second Sunday of the Year Reflection
At Cana it is Mary the mother of Jesus who is the one known and trusted in the wedding venue. She is the one who instructs the servant, “Do whatever he tells you.” We...
Pope: It’s a ‘Grave Sin’ to Deny God has Blessed Other Christians
Just as divisions in society grow when wealth is not shared, divisions within Christianity grow when the richness of gifts God has given to one Christian church or community are not recognised and shared, Pope Francis said.
With Zimbabwe in Turmoil over Fuel Hikes, Archbishop calls for Restraint
After reports of multiple deaths in violent protests over steep fuel price hikes in Zimbabwe, Archbishop Robert Ndlovu of Harare called for restraint by the security forces and protesters. “Mature political leadership and a...
Vatican Releases Guidelines to Help Church Fight Human Trafficking
The Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development released its “Pastoral Orientations on Human Trafficking” at a Vatican news conference. “Pope Francis’ insistent teaching on human trafficking provides the...
Cartoon of the Week: 90 Minute Mass?
The Southern Cross has been publishing cartoons on its back page drawn by Conrad Burke since the early 90s. We have decided to make them available online! Mr Burke is a parishioner at Most...
Mass Readings: 20 January – 27 January, 2019
Liturgical Calendar Year C Weekday Cycle 1 Sunday, January 20, 2nd Sunday of the Year Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 96:1-3, 7-10, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, John 2:1-11 Monday, January 21, St Agnes Hebrews 5:1-10, Psalm 110:1-4,...
This Week’s Issue: 16 January – 22 January, 2018
BUMPER MATRIC CELEBRATION ISSUE » Catholic schools again outperform national averages » Plans for this year’s Daswa feast day » Why Church opposes ‘healing crystals’ » Mother on raising son with autism » What’s...
Pope: Don’t Pray Like a Parrot
Christians are not better than other people, but they do know that God is their Father and they are called “to reflect a ray of his goodness in this world thirsting for goodness, waiting...
How a Parish Got its Men to Return to Mass
When Fr Michael Mapulanga arrived at St Charles Lwanga parish in Botshabelo, Bloemfontein archdiocese, in April 2016, he found that few men could be found in church. This kickstarted his efforts to increase their...
World Youth Days in Italy, Canada and Germany
World Youth Day will be held in Panama City this month. In the third part of his series on past World Youth Days, GÜNTHER SIMMERMACHER recalls the last two WYDs of St John Paul...
Fr Natalis Majoli: 65 Years of Priesthood and 91 Years Old!
Father Natalis Majoli (centre) celebrated the 65th anniversary of his ordination as well as his 91st birthday. Bishop Thadeus Kumalo of Eshowe (right) conducted the jubilee Mass in St Benedict’s cathedral, with many priests...
Paying a Debt Forward?
Our children became our debtors when my wife and I with God’s help gave them life. Aren’t they obliged to pay us back as much as they can? Our gift to them was of...
