SA gets new patron at Durban congress
The Church in South Africa celebrated its dedication to a new patron, Our Lady of the Assumption, with a special Marian congress in Durban. About 20 000 attended the first Mass of the congress, celebrated by Bishop Bruno Hippel of Oudtshoorn, and 30 000 attended a Mass celebrated by Bishop Elmar Schmidt of Mariannhill. The congress closed with a procession through the streets of Durban to Albert Park Oval, where Archbishop Denis Hurley read out in four languages Pope Pius XII’s message declaring Mary Assumed into Heaven patroness of South Africa.
The first Durban Passion Play is held
A four-page supplement introduces the cast of the first Durban Passion Play, based on the famed Oberammergau Passion Play and produced by Fr Noel Coughlin OMI, with David Horner as Christ and Monica O’Regan as Mary, mother of Christ.,
Two events strengthen SA Church
In his editorial, Fr Louis Stubbs writes that two recent events have strengthened the Catholic Church in South Africa. One is the introduction of the Afrikaans review Die Brug, which will bring the message of the Church to Afrikaans-speakers. The other is the consecration of Our Lady of the Assumption as South Africa’s patron. “Let us hope that the day will come when we shall have a national shrine of the Assumption.”
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