St George ‘the Dragon-Slayer’ was a Real Person
St George slayed no dragons, but he certainly was a real person who was martyred 1700 years ago. Günther Simmermacher looks St George’s life. St George at...
Category: Simmermacher
Irish Missionaries in South Africa – Poverty, Chastity and (d)is-Obedience
A new documentary charts the experience of Irish missionaries under apartheid and afterwards. Günther Simmermacher watched the film — and recommends it. Missionaries from many countries...
Was St Joseph Chaste?
Question: I would like to know whether St Joseph was celibate during his marriage to Mary. Was the marriage never consummated? Answer: The Catholic Church holds that...
Father Cyril Axelrod: New Ways of Communicating God’s Love
Redemptorist Father Cyril Axelrod cannot hear nor see, but he always finds new ways of communicating God’s love. Günther Simmermacher looks at Fr Cyril’s 50 years as...
Long Haul: 20 Years as Southern Cross Editor
In February 2001, Günther Simmermacher became the editor of The Southern Cross. Here he reflects on the past 20 years, the present and the future. Sometimes you...
1951: When the Southern African Church Grew Up
70 years ago Pope Pius XII established the Southern African hierarchy. It was the moment the local Church grew up. Günther Simmermacher looks back. This year marks...
Where Did the Holy Family Hide in Egyptian Exile?
Question: Joseph took Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt when King Herod ordered the massacre of the Innocents. But how long did they stay in Egypt, and...
How my friend lost his bitterness
A moving story he heard at a friend’s funeral got Günther Simmermacher thinking about the corrosive effects of anger and bitterness. My friend Darryl, a teacher who...
Archbishop Abel Gabuza 1955-2021
In August Archbishop Abel Gabuza wrote a reflection on the coronavirus pandemic. “Let your half-full cup be the source of your strength, because it is not empty,...
How will you stop the corruption, Mr President?
Beyond the noise and bluster of those who make it their business to issue noise and bluster, we cannot blame the government for the qualified Alert Level...
Joseph, Mary & Jesus
Günther Simmermacher looks at the life & times of the Holy Family The Bible is not generous with biographical detail about the Holy Family. We encounter Joseph,...
The History of ‘Silent Night’
Translated into 140 languages, it may be the most famous Christmas hymn in the world. Günther Simmermacher looks at the history of ‘Silent Night’.
