A Month of Heritage

Dear Reader,

By circumstance, this issue is rich in anniversaries that invite us to revisit aspects of our local Church’s history — fittingly so in Heritage Month.

On the cover we feature Archbishop George Daniel, who became head of the Pretoria archdiocese 50 years ago. Our features writer Daluxolo Moloantoa gathered such a wealth of stories from the now 92-year-old archbishop that he could easily have written an article five times the length of what appears on page 10. We hope that one day there will be a full biography of this remarkable prelate, one who left the Anglican ministry to become a Catholic priest.

On September 15, we commemorate the 10th anniversary of a truly historic moment for the Church in South Africa: the beatification of Blessed Benedict Daswa. On page 8, we look at the current status of his sainthood cause, what the faithful can do to support it, and how pilgrimages to his shrine are unfolding.

And on September 21, we mark the bicentenary of the birth of Abbot Franz Pfanner, one of the most significant missionaries in our region. He arrived in South Africa as a Trappist and went on to found the Congregation of the Missionaries of Mariannhill, now an international order. At one point, the Mariannhill monastery near Durban was the largest in the world. On page 14, Dr Mauricio Langa CMM tells the story of this great innovator.

Coffee and a prayer

Speaking of heritage: many of us enjoy a good cup of coffee, but few know that it took a pope’s intervention to make the brew acceptable in the West — complete with a priceless one-liner. Jason Scott tells that story on page 16.

These days, many parishes recite the Prayer to St Michael the Archangel before Mass, as requested by the late Pope Francis. It may sound ancient, but the prayer is only 140 years old. As we learn on page 21, it was written by Pope Leo XIII after a troubling vision.

Jubilees of September

The Southern Cross continues to mark the special monthly jubilees being celebrated in Rome during the current Holy Year with relevant reflections. Patrick Kadima, a law lecturer at Wits University, explores how the Jubilee of Justice links legal professionals to our faith, while Fr Ralph de Hahn and Raymond Perrier both reflect on the Jubilee of Consolation.

From September 26–28, the Church will mark the Jubilee of Catechists. I hope that parishes will use the opportunity to express their gratitude to catechists — those who give generously of themselves to hand on the faith to children, teenagers, and adult converts. We must also remember the religious education teachers in our Catholic schools.

In his article, Prof Michael Ogunu shines a light on the primary catechists: parents. He reminds mothers and fathers of their duty to teach the faith, while acknowledging that sometimes life gets in the way. He advises: “Faith should be lived joyfully in the family through prayer, worship, conversation and example.”

In June, we featured the actor who plays St Peter in the hugely popular series The Chosen, and last month our cover star was Vanessa Benavente, who portrays the Virgin Mary. This month, Fr Ron Rolheiser OMI explains why he believes Jonathan Roumie delivers the best portrayal of Jesus he has seen, on television or in film. This Jesus, he writes, is relatable, yet never downplays the mystery of the Incarnation. I fully share Fr Ron’s sentiment

 What is truth?

Our collection of quotes on the back-page focuses on the subject of truth. We live in an age where truth has become optional. Politicians not only lie but openly justify their mendacity as a valid political tool. Artificial intelligence is being used to create sophisticated fake videos and images. Good people share fabricated content on social media simply because it confirms their opinions (or prejudices). It is as if society has declared the Eighth Commandment invalid. May the six quotes on the back page remind us that truth still matters — as much today as ever.

Thank you for reading The Southern Cross, and please tell your friends about your monthly Catholic magazine.

God bless,
Günther Simmermacher (Editor)