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...
Category: Simmermacher
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’.
The Big Southern Cross Christmas Quiz
The Big Southern Cross Christmas Quiz – 50 questions to test your Christmas knowledge! Compiled by GüntherSimmermacher
Ten Ways To Be a Happy Catholic!
The key to being a happy Catholic is quite simple: Place everything into God’s hands. With God everything is possible, and all suffering is eased by knowing...
Saints in a New Focus
Photographer Kristyn Brown has created portraits of saints using ordinary people as models. Günther Simmermacher interviewed the artist. One day her mother talked about a third-century martyr...
Farewell to my friend, Fr Emil Blaser
On November 16, Dominican Father Emil Blaser died at the age of 78 after a long illness. Southern Cross editor GÜNTHER SIMMERMACHER remembers his old friend. Today...
What’s Next for The Southern Cross?
Next week the final edition of The Southern Cross as a weekly newspaper will appear, in digital format only, as it has been since lockdown began...
