Did you know THIS about Pope Francis?
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as Pope Francis on March 13, 2013 — but he might have been pope already in 2005, when the conclave chose...
Author: Gunther Simmermacher
Why We’re Staying Catholic
Dear Reader, Our Saint of the Month in this issue will be popular with many people. Even 42 years after he was assassinated while celebrating Mass, Archbishop...
How Many Languages Does Pope Francis Speak?
Question: How many languages does Pope Francis speak? Answer by Gunther Simmermacher – As an Argentinian, Pope Francis’ first language is Spanish. As the son of immigrants...
Deaf-blind Fr Cyril Axelrod launches new book
The last thing Fr Cyril Axelrod saw before he finally went blind was the light of a candle which he had lit. The light faded as his...
25 Years of Legal Abortion in SA
On February 1 it is 25 years since abortion become legal in South Africa. In that time, more than 2 million unborn lives have been ended by...
Spotlight on Black Saints
For a Caribbean artist, black saints don’t receive much attention — and he hopes his project will change that, as he told Günther Simmermacher Saints are our...
Are Most Wars about Religion?
Question: On several occasions, I’ve heard people claiming that almost every war is about religion. I can’t believe that is true, but is religion really the most...
Tutu: The Catholic Connection
South Africa’s most famous cleric was an Anglican, but Archbishop Desmond Tutu had many ties to the Catholic faith, as Günther Simmermacher points out. Archbishop Desmond Tutu,...
The Story of ‘We Three Kings’
Günther Simmermacher’s annual Biography of a Christmas carol Many of our beloved Christmas carols have come from the United States, and “We Three Kings” was the first...
The Big Southern Cross Christmas Quiz
Without peeking at the answers, see how much you know about Christmas! Compiled by Günther Simmermacher – What colour vestments do Catholic priests wear at Christmas Mass?...
How St Nicholas Became Santa Claus
Santa Claus dominates the public image of Christmas, but he was based on a great Christian. GÜNTHER SIMMERMACHER looks at the history of St Nicholas of Myra,...
Who are the Different Marys in the Gospels?
Question: It seems that Mary was a popular name in the times of the Gospel. Could you guide me through the individual women by that name in...
