Why Durban has Faith in the City

Raymond Perrier, the first director of the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban, takes some rare time-out in his new home city. In an interview he speaks about his vision for the centre, a new book he has co-written, life in South Africa, his spirituality and more.

GS: In 2009 you came from England to take over the directorship of the Jesuit Institute, where you’ve been succeeded by Fr Russell Pollitt. Now you’ve been appointed director of the Denis Hurley Centre. Do you feel properly South African now?

RP: I wish I could now claim to be properly South Africa! I have certainly started adding ice cubes to my wine and driving through red lights! I have been here five years which means that I can apply for permanent residence which I am delighted to do.

What do you like about South Africa?

When I first planned to move here, South Africans living in Britain were amazed that I was going in the other direction. They asked me why and I replied: Endless sunshine, friendly people and good cheap wine. After five years I would certainly confirm all of those, but also add the fascinating opportunity of living in such a complex society.

In so many ways South Africa is still working out how to live with itself and with the world, and it is a privilege to be part of that journey. And also the joy of working in a Church which is so vibrant and full of hope and new life, perhaps in contrast to Church life in the UK.

You started your appointment as director of the Denis Hurley Centre at Durban’s Emmanuel cathedral on February 1. What are your challenges and goals?

After I started at the beginning of February I was thrown immediately into a big public event with the anniversary of Archbishop Hurley’s death, which is being marked this weekend [February 13-15]. So one of my challenges is to hit the ground running.

In some ways the building itself sets the goals. Its landmark location between the cathedral and the mosque means we need to live up to its promise of close collaboration between people of different faiths not just Catholics and Muslims, but Hindus, Jews, Protestants and all people of goodwill.

The centre’s landmark design in such a tough part of the city signals that we take seriously the needs and hopes of the homeless, the refugees and the marginalised who are in its vicinity. I love the phrase faith in the city because in our case we need to be a place that brings faith into the city but also one that shows that we still have faith in our cities.

The scale of the five-storey building is an opportunity but also a challenge. It raises a lot of expectations which is great but we cannot meet all of those in Year 1, so I hope that the various communities will work with us as we work out as a team what the priorities are.

The other challenge will come from living in an Indian city for the first time in my life despite having Indian parents. My fear is that with so much good food on tap I will end up enormously fat!

The programme you outlined is very much in the spirit of the late Archbishop Denis Hurley.

Of course we have to live up to the name above the door. Denis Hurley set us a vision of the Vatican II Church and we now have to make that real, day in and day out.

As I know, the archdiocese of Durban already tries to do this in so many ways.

Southern Cross readers will know you as a monthly columnist. Lately you co-wrote with Frances Correia of the Jesuit Institute a book of daily Lenten reflections, titled Pilgrims in the Modern World. What are you aiming at with the book?

With the book we want to give readers a chance to explore the themes of Lent with two helpful perspectives: the Second Vatican Council’s ongoing challenge to us 50 years after it closed; and Pope Francis who, like any good Jesuit, both challenges us and consoles us at the same time.

Reflecting on Denis Hurley, in the 100th year of his birth [on November 9 this year], adds an extra dimension since he is a bridge back to Vatican II in which he played such a great role and also, before his time, a very Pope Francis kind of bishop.

We are unashamed about the fact that we are writing a book of theological reflections as two lay people, and so throughout the book we have tried to link the Lenten themes to our own life experiences.

Is it easier to collaborate on such a project than to work alone on it?

It all depends on who you collaborate with! Frances and I were a perfect complement – we have very different skills, backgrounds, experiences and attitudes. And yet the spirituality of St Ignatius has greatly influenced both of us and of course the Jesuit Pope Francis, on whom we are drawing.

But one thing I have learnt the hard way is that it is impossible in life to do anything of consequence on your own. You have to realise that and so stop asking whether you should work with other people and instead ask how you should work with them. And once you find common ground, you are able to make a start.

That is something I know that both Fr Stephen Tully [administrator at Emmanuel cathedral] and Paddy Kearney [chair of trustees of the DHC] have shown throughout their work in Durban and especially in building the Denis Hurley Centre. I have been looking forward to joining the collaborative ministry that they have established.

You received training as a Jesuit, and clearly you still have a close relationship with the Society of Jesus. How would you characterise your spirituality in general terms?

After a powerful experience in a Jesuit parish in New York, six years of formation as a Jesuit, and now five years working for and with Jesuits in South Africa, it is not surprising to say that my spirituality is totally Ignatian. For me, that shows itself in three principal phrases:

-God in all things – God can be found in the every-day, often in the most unlikely places, so long as we are willing to open our eyes;

-The magis, or greater good-never being satisfied because we can always to do more for Christ and for his Church;

-Action plus reflection- whoever we meet, whatever we do, whatever mistakes we make, are all ways in which God is teaching us and helping us to grow, if only we would stop and reflect and listen to him.

Do you also have affection for the simple, more popular devotions?

One of the dangers of proximity to Jesuits is becoming too taken up by an intellectual view of the Church. But something I have always loved about being Catholic is the richness of popular Catholic culture and the resources that gives us for me the tradition of rosaries, artworks, saints, special liturgies, Church music and pilgrimages is really important to my identity.

For example, I was honoured to be invited by Bishop Thaddaeus Kumalo of Eshowe to speak at the Empangeni pilgrimage a few years ago, and it brought back wonderful memories of my times in Lourdes.

When I was asked to do some work at the wonderful St Anthony’s School in Durban, I felt very strongly that it was because my patron saint, Anthony of Padua, who was leading me there.

One thing I admire about the cardinal [Wilfrid Napier] is the way he can help young people to connect with the older traditions of the Church and see how valuable they are.

You are known to be a very busy man. What do you do to relax?

Some of my former colleagues would claim that I never relax. It is true that often my relaxation takes the form simply of other kinds of activity going to the theatre or a concert or to the gym.

But I am hoping that even with all the work we need to do Durban will help me relax. Even I can be persuaded to sit on the beach and do nothing from time to time… well, almost nothing. You might catch me lying on the beach but with a book on contextual theology or fundraising, just to keep me sane.

For more on the DHC visit www.denishurleycentre.org