Letter to all Southern Cross Readers

Dear  brothers and sisters in Christ,

We hope this letter finds you in good health and hope-filled spirits. These are indeed extraordinary times which are testing us all, individually and also as parishes.

Who would have guessed one year ago that our churches would be empty, and the faithful be deprived of access to the Eucharist? And who would have guessed that before the year was out, The Southern Cross would transition from a weekly newspaper to a monthly magazine?

The good news is that the Southern Cross magazine, first published in October, has been received with much enthusiasm. We are convinced that the magazine fills a very real need in our Catholic community.

But the closure of the churches is putting in jeopardy all our efforts and the huge sacrifices made by a skeleton staff over the past few months. We are writing to you with an appeal for your help to ensure that the coronavirus doesn’t kill off The Southern Cross!

Please use your various channels of communication to get the magazine to people who would like to read it. Maybe parishioners can pick it up from the parish office, or perhaps a kind soul might drop the magazine in the letters boxes of readers, especially those who are at risk from infection and shouldn’t venture out from their self-isolation.

And when our churches finally open again, please make past issues you may have left over available for sale. The advantage with the magazine over the weekly newspaper is that almost all content remains fresh and relevant.

In the January issue, the profile on Fr Ndlovu, the inspiring story of Victoria Giuricich, the history of the SACBC, the advice on how to have a dialogue, the reflection on the Lord’s Prayer and so on are timeless. So is the Saint of the Month (in January it was St John Bosco, in February it’s St Josephine Bakhita). And even Christmas and Lent come again every year!

At a time when people cannot come to church, it is important that the Church should come to the people. The Southern Cross is one excellent way of getting the Church — the Good News of Christ — into Catholic homes, and give the faithful a physical connection to their church.

As you are aware, the parish gets to keep R5 commission per magazine sold, and only pay for copies actually sold!

Of course, we would be grateful if, apart from sales in the parish, you might also use your channels of communication to make parishioners aware of the option to subscribe to The Southern Cross (digital and/or printed). They can do so on our website at www.digital.scross.co.za/subscribe or subscriptions@scross.co.za. They can also order individual editions and/or back issues at R30 plus R14 p&p. But, of course, it would be easiest for them to obtain their Catholic magazine straight from the parish.

We thank you for all you have done for The Southern Cross, and for your generous efforts in keeping the Catholic magazine alive!

Please keep us in your prayers as we keep all parishes in ours.

Yours in Christ,

 

 

 

Rosanne Shields                                                                                                          Günther Simmermacher
(Chair: Southern Cross Board)                                                                               (Editor)