From Our Vaults 40 Years Ago: December 18, 1983

Bishop’s Mass for detainees

Bishop John Murphy of Port Elizabeth celebrated a Mass in St Augustine cathedral for detained priest Fr Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, secretary-general of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and other detainees. “We cannot do otherwise than condemn all detentions without trial, and ask that the victims be charged or discharged,” the bishop said.

Priest killed, nuns missing

A Portuguese priest, 53-year-old Fr Alirio Baptista, was murdered by rebel Renamo forces in Mozambique, and four missionary nuns are missing in Angola after anti-government militia Unita attacked a hospital run by the nuns.

Shroud stays in Turin

Pope John Paul II has officially assigned custody of the shroud believed by many to be the burial cloth of Christ to the diocese of Turin, where it has been kept since 1578.

Ex-teacher turns 100

Port Alfred parishioner Emmie Counihan received a greeting and apostolic blessing from Pope John Paul II on occasion of her 100th birthday. Mrs Counihan came to South Africa at the turn of the century and taught at the Ursuline Convent School in Krugersdorp.

Editorial on family rights

In his editorial, Mgr Donald de Beer notes that “Christmas is a good time to think about the rights of families”, which the Vatican has lately published in a charter.

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