“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.” —Isaiah 52:7
Many years ago, I sat in St James Church, Schauderville, listening to a sermon by Father Peter Whitehead. While the years may have dimmed the finer details of that homily, one profound thought has remained with me throughout my life: “Beautiful things happen on mountains”.
As I completed my book, Jesus in the Kallid Times, I realised that those simple words had quietly accompanied my own journey of faith. They helped me understand not only the significance of the great mountains of Scripture but also the hill upon which St James Church and St James High School proudly stand.
There is an old Christian hymn that begins, “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame.” Yet the hymn does not end there. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, the cross is transformed into a crown of glory. That in itself is the story of St James.
Perched above Schauderville, St James has always been more than a church and a school. It has been a beacon of hope. A place where ordinary people encounter extraordinary grace. A place where crosses become crowns. Standing on the stoep of St James, one can look across the vast ocean stretching into the distance. Beyond it, the factories that have sustained generations of hardworking families remind us of the dignity of labour and God’s daily providence. Looking across that landscape, one cannot help but feel that Schauderville is favoured. St James is highly favoured.
For generations, the life of the Northern Areas has flowed from this mountain. Every baptism welcomed new life into the family of Christ. Every First Holy Communion nourished young hearts. Every Confirmation strengthened faith. Every wedding united families in God’s love. Every funeral entrusted our departed loved ones to the mercy of Christ and the promise of eternal life. In many ways, these sacred moments have all come down from the mountain.
St James is rightly regarded as the Mother Parish of the Northern Areas. Through its faithful witness, it has nurtured generations of Catholics and inspired vocations to the religious life and priesthood. Its influence extends beyond its walls into homes, schools, workplaces and communities.
The life of St James the Apostle himself gives meaning to this story. He was among the privileged few who witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ upon the mountain, where heaven touched earth and God’s glory was revealed. Yet he did not remain there. He followed Christ into the valleys of human suffering and ultimately became the first of the Apostles to lay down his life for the Gospel.
His example reminds us that faith is never meant to remain on the mountain but must descend into the world carrying hope.
Throughout Scripture, mountains are places of encounter with God. Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai. Elijah encountered the gentle whisper of God on Mt Horeb. Jesus preached from mountains, prayed upon mountains and was transfigured upon a mountain. God often reveals Himself through the cloud.
A pillar of cloud guided Israel through the wilderness. A cloud covered Mount Sinai. At the Transfiguration, a bright cloud overshadowed the disciples, and from it came the Father’s voice: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.”
I believe that is why the low clouds that settle over St James on rainy winter days carry such beauty and meaning. They remind us that God is near. That He is with His people. That He continues to speak, reassure and comfort those willing to listen and embrace His presence.
As I reflected on these things while writing Jesus in the Kallid Times, I realised that Father Peter Whitehead’s sermon had been right all along.
Beautiful things do happen on mountains. Not because life is free from hardship, but because God transforms suffering into hope, crosses into crowns and ordinary communities into extraordinary witnesses of His love.
As the Church celebrates the Feast of St James the Apostle on 25 July, it is fitting to give thanks for this remarkable parish and its enduring witness to the Northern Areas. Monsignor Brendan Deenihan captured this beautifully in the souvenir booklet celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of St James Parish back in 1998:
“A parish life, a family unfolds through experiences of living, loving, suffering and growing. Places are not so much holy, but people are holy. It is people who make a place holy, a times sacred, to be revered and cherished, to be remembered forever”.
May we extend our heartfelt good wishes and prayers to every parishioner of St James, past and present; to every priest and religious sister; to every teacher and learner of St James High School; to every family who has celebrated life’s milestones there; and to all whose lives have been touched by this holy place and holy people – a people set apart.
May God continue to bless the hill of St James.
May its light continue to shine across Schauderville.
May the clouds that gather above it remind us that God walks with His people.
And may all who lift their eyes to that mountain remember that the old rugged cross has become a crown of hope for generations past, present and those yet to come.
Happy Feast Day, St James Parish.
Ad multos annos.
Main image Photographer: Gregory b. Stephenson. The main image accompanying this article is available as a signed, limited-edition framed print from the Jesus In The Kallid Times Collection.
- On a Hill Far Away: St James – A Mountain Of Hope - July 24, 2026
- “Aweh, Masekind. Jy’s Terug.” - July 17, 2026
- Bread Was Broken, Wine Was Poured — God Multiplied - July 3, 2026
