The Catholic Ethos

by Gunther Simmermacher · March 3, 2026

Southern Cross magazine, March 2026

Dear Reader,

Every March edition of The Southern Cross is dedicated to Catholic education, as we celebrate the achievements of Catholic schools in the latest matric results. The ads placed by schools celebrate not only the accomplishments of their own learners and teachers but also serve as a collective testament to a Catholic school system that consistently matches or outperforms its peers.

Yet Catholic education is about far more than academic excellence. It is about the Catholic ethos, about forming the whole person and imparting values rooted in the Gospel, to Catholic and non-Catholic learners alike. For Catholic pupils in particular, it is also about nurturing and deepening their faith.

The young man on our cover, Adrian Emwanu, a matriculant of St Benedict’s College in Johannesburg, is a fine example of the fruits of a strong Catholic education. We read about him, and another impressive matriculant, Gina da Silva of Holy Rosary School, on page 14, mindful that there are many more young people of their calibre in our Catholic schools.

It is therefore regrettable that some Catholic parents of means choose expensive commercial schools over Catholic ones for their children, even though Catholic schools often outperform profit-driven institutions. As we noted last month — and again in our profile of the impressive Rosa Calaca of the Gauteng Catholic Schools Office on page 10 — a new website now helps parents in Johannesburg find suitable Catholic schools in their area.

Celebrate the teachers

As we celebrate the learners, we must also honour the teachers and staff who make Catholic education possible. We do so in this issue by featuring Sr Maureen Rooney HC, who devoted her life to education and to the faithful work of forming young minds and hearts.

At the same time, we must confront a troubling trend in South African schools, one that also affects some Catholic educators: parents who bully teachers, as keyboard warriors or even as intruders in the classroom. Our article on page 12 examines how widespread this behaviour has become, and the toll it takes on educators. There is never an excuse for bypassing a school’s established protocols for resolving disputes. The only unsolicited communication teachers should receive from parents ought to be expressions of gratitude and cooperation.

Are we welcoming?

We have come a long way since people on the autistic spectrum were swiftly dismissed with ignorance or prejudice. Neurodivergence, and the idea of an autistic spectrum, is now better and more compassionately understood — though much remains to be learned, also about how best to consider and support those who are neurodivergent.

Around 1-2% of the global population is believed to be on the spectrum, which means that in a Mass congregation of 400 there could be eight or more people with autism. In our article on page 8, a priest with autism suggests ways in which parishes may be more accommodating — even down to recognising that incense can be overwhelming for some. We are called to be a caring and welcoming Church, and our practical efforts reveal how seriously we take that call.

Food for Lent

Lent is now well underway, and this issue offers rich “food for the season”. Fr Anthony Nonso Dim CMM writes a powerful, and surprisingly humorous, reflection on how the vulnerable Christ on the Cross invites us to meet him in our own vulnerability. Serialong Lebasa’s reflection on walking with Mary to Calvary may also prompt a smile — Sr Elizabeth was tough! — but it is, of course, marked by real spiritual discernment.

Fr Enrico Parry, meanwhile, offers insight into the priest’s experience of sitting in the pews during Palm Sunday Mass.

May your Lenten journey be fruitful and filled with grace.

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

God bless,

Günther Simmermacher
(Editor)