Dear Reader, in March, I was glad to be among the 5000 who witnessed the installation of Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka as the new ordinary of the archdiocese of Cape Town — and delighted to see how warmly the new archbishop, who came from the diocese of Mthatha, was received.
Bishop Sipuka is a remarkable bishop who gets appointed and elected to all kinds of positions bar the bingo committee, and simply gets on with juggling whatever tasks he has been given. There is no doubt that he will serve his archdiocese with distinction. Pray for him, and for all our bishops.
As our cover promises, this issue carries an interview with Archbishop Sipuka. Our reporter Jason Scott found him open and warm, and the resulting article — which shines a light on the man rather than the big issues — reflects that atmosphere well.
Time of anniversaries
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the June 1976 student uprising, which began with a massacre in Soweto on June 16 of that year. We reflect on this event in two articles: Daluxolo Moloantoa surveys the role of the Catholic Church in the events of June 16, while Raymond Perrier spoke to two people from the Jesuit Institute who experienced that day from different sides of Johannesburg.
As the Church approaches the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi in October — Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a special jubilee year to mark the occasion — we begin a series on the beloved saint with an itinerary of the places of his life. St Francis was famous in his own lifetime, and so his followers preserved the places associated with him, as well as some of his meagre possessions. Several of these relics can be seen in Assisi to this day.
Next month, we will run the first of several reflections on aspects of St Francis’ life and spirituality.
Another anniversary is being celebrated in Barcelona this month, with a papal visit to mark the occasion. The centenary of the death of Antoni Gaudí, architect of the famous Sagrada Família basilica, is on June 7. Read about this holy candidate for sainthood on page 21.
Keeping the Mass real
For many people, livestreamed Masses were a spiritual lifeline during the Covid lockdown. Now, many bishops have forbidden the livestreaming of Sunday Masses in their dioceses — a decision that may seem petty to some, but which has good reasons behind it.
On page 22, Dr Dimakatso Michelle Polokelo explains the concerns around livestreamed Masses, while also acknowledging that for some people it remains the only way of accessing the Mass. For those who do have the option to attend in person, she and the bishops argue, the streamed Mass is no valid substitute for the real thing.
Fathers and football
The late singer Luther Vandross once recorded a beautiful song titled “Dance With My Father” — a lament for his late dad, and an anthem for anyone who has lost a father, whether they actually danced with him or not. In this issue, coinciding with Father’s Day on June 21, Fr Ron Rolheiser reflects on the legacy of his own father. It is a touching piece that invites us to consider what we have received from our fathers, and how much of them lives on in us today.
Most years, I look forward to the football World Cup with excitement, but the gloss has worn off lately. I shall still tune in — and hope that Bafana Bafana will surprise everybody, not least their own fans, by progressing further than expected. I will also be revisiting World Cups of the past, as we do in this issue, showcasing nine more footballers who were Catholic. For the final in July, we will have 18 more for you.
Thank you for reading The Southern Cross, and please tell your friends about your monthly Catholic magazine.
God bless,
Günther Simmermacher
(Editor)
- Sithembele Sipuka: A Multi-Tasking Bishop - June 1, 2026
- World’s oldest Catholic priest dies at 110 - May 31, 2026
- Leo XIV, after one year - May 7, 2026
