Rhodes Park Spring Fair, St Anne's Makes R 8430!

Our Rhodes Park Spring Festival Stalls was the first major Fundraising Event of this year, and in particular, with, in mind, our Contribution to the New Diocesan Chancery Building.  A Great Thank You and Congratulations to all the Members and Sodalities of St Anne’s and to our (often anonymous) Donors, for the united and joyful spirit with which everyone entered into the venture. We raised R 8,430.00 – a good improvement on last year. But most of all we had fun in working together and helping make the Spring Fair a lovely day for all. We thank God for His Blessings showered upon us. - Fr Ron

From Herbert... by email on Monday 6th September 2010

Good Day All

 

Yesterday, 05 September 2010, was the annual Rhodes Park Spring Fair.  Our Parish, St. Anne’s (Belgravia), has been occupying a stall at this fair for the past three (maybe four) years, and we’ve grown from strength to strength, in terms of presence, paraphernalia and participation.  Yesterday was a beautiful day.  We were blessed with absolutely lovely spring weather, we felt the crowd has grown over the years and the position of our stall was ideal.

 

What was truly inspiring this year was the level of participation and co-operation of all St. Anne’s parishioners.  People went out of their way to contribute and for that the parish is extremely grateful.  The only thing better than seeing this collaboration, is to actually be a part of it.

 

I want to say some special thank-you’s to the people involved:

 

Firstly to Fr. Ron, our spiritual head, PCC and PFC President, general benefactor and all round Good Guy.

 

Then to Nailand Smith as Chairman of the PFC, under whom all fundraising initiatives lie, for the actual planning and co-ordination of the event; unfortunately Nailand was unable to be with us on the day to see the fruit of his hard work, as he and his family we away on pre-planned family business (we all get caught up in this some time or the other).

 

I then want to thank the Fund Raising Committee Ladies, and these words pertain to all participating groups, for all the hard work that they tirelessly put in, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, without expecting any reward, and at much personal expense.  I want to thank their families for all the support that they give to their mothers and spouses, taking time out of their personal schedules to show their “home executives”, that their efforts are appreciated, valued and most of all, are making a significant contribution to a worthy cause.

 

I want to thank the Zulu/Sotho Choir ladies for their participation, generous donation and absolute magic in their contribution.  To their families too who participated, donated and contributed.  Who transported and provided logistics to their “queens”, who (wo)manned the stalls and did so well, that even after topping up what they originally came with, still ran out and were unable to supply the demand.

 

To the Portuguese community, represented by Alice, Fernanda (Alice’s husband), Fernanda (also known as Tina J) and Joe Pereira, for their participation and contribution, especially of the of the ever popular Prego Rolls, also sold out on the day.  A special thank you again to Joe, for making an absolute avalanche of cold drinks available to us.  

 

Our Vision reads:

 

“We, the people of St. Anne’s, from diverse backgrounds, cultures and even countries, ask GOD for the Spirit’s Gifts of Faith, Love and Unity, that, as one Family, we may reach out to our neighbours, with the Love and Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

 

Yesterday, our vision ramped up a notch.  What was evidenced at last years Fete at The Dominican School continues to grow.  Step by step, day by day, year by year, we see our Vision being lived.  For a parish that was on the verge of being closed down, I think that we can be extremely proud of what we have achieved to date and what we are continuing to achieve going forward.  I certainly am proud to be part of St. Anne’s and I am proud to be associated with each and every one of you.

 

GOD Bless you all.

 

Kind regards,

 

Herbert J. Africa

PPC Chair.  

Interview with the Editor of the "Dictionary of Mysticism"

All Are Called to Mysticism

Interview with Carmelite Father Luigi Borriello

By Miriam Diez i Bosch

ROME, SEPT. 1, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Mysticism is not just a secondary aspect of theology, but is something that all people are called to, says Father Luigi Borriello.

Fr Borriello 

The Carmelite priest knows about mystics: Not only does his Carmelite family claim many in its history, such as St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), but he is also co-director of the "Dictionary of Mysticism" of the Vatican Publishing House.

Father Borriello is a consultor of various Vatican dicasteries and a theology professor at numerous universities in Rome.

He spoke with ZENIT about the mystical experience, and stressed the importance of clarifying what Christian mysticism is, at a time when many religions are interested in this field.

ZENIT: Mystics are famous for being from another world, but you say this is not so.

Father Borriello: Mystics are men and women of this world.

Today there is a tendency to trivialize mysticism, as if it were something of another world, and that it has nothing to do with us. But it isn't so. Moreover, the mystics' experience fits in the Church and is related to faith, not foreign to it.

Mystical experience cannot be separated from faith; it can only take place in it. Mystical experience calls for a mystical theology, a reflection whose basis is mysticism itself.

Today there is a persistence of the mystical event. It is part of the post-modern society. This universal mystical richness is rediscovered in Western and Eastern religiosity. And Eastern mysticism has exercised great fascination in the West.

Also in the present climate of crisis, of confusion and syncretism, there is a temptation to confuse the authentic nature of mysticism with New Age or Next Age realities.

Religion and mysticism are different realities, and it is necessary to make distinctions.

ZENIT: In fact, many seek in the East what Christian mysticism already contains.

Father Borriello: Indeed. It's a paradox.

Many Christians don't know the wealth of their own mystical tradition and they turn to the East, seeking what is in the interior of that tradition.

Moreover, it is important to recall that there is a mystagogy in all mystical experience: You can also experience this as the other does.

Although the mystic is reserved, what he says is for others.

In this sense we must say to ourselves that we are all called to sanctity and to mysticism. And the mystical experience is a call to witness.

ZENIT: Christian mysticism always recognizes the "You" of God.

Father Borriello: Yes, it isn't dissolution; it is encounter.

Christian mysticism is characterized by the Incarnation, which is always a gift; it isn't something that the human being gains.

In it, the "You," the duality of a God who gives himself and the man who receives, though there is fusion, always recognizes the other.

We are speaking of duality in unity, as a spiritual marriage. The two always recognize one another; they are not confused; they keep their own identity.

ZENIT: Would it be appropriate to desire a mystical experience?

Father Borriello: It is not a question of asking for it but of receiving it when it comes, if it comes.

Experience is a category that is used in all the disciplines. I prefer to speak of mystical experience; it is something that God gives to man who receives it passively, and, in fact, makes an effort on receiving it.

It is what John of the Cross calls "the night."There is a collaboration in the acceptance, but the initiative is always God's, who makes himself known. And the greatest revelation takes place in Jesus Christ.

Hence, mystical experience is always Christ-centered and Trinitarian. And it is revealed only gratuitously, without our merits.

Submitted by Fr Ron

Caritas - Catholic Relief Agency reports on floods in Pakistan

Pakistani Homes Reduced to Mud, Says Caritas

Stresses Need to Affirm Flood Victims' Human Dignity

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, SEPT. 1, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Thousands of homes have been reduced to mud after weeks of heavy flooding in Pakistan, but the families are still sticking by the mounds they once lived in, reported Caritas.

Chaudhry Kamran, an aid worker with Caritas Pakistan, spoke about his experience and eyewitness account of the plight of flood victims after a heavy monsoon season.

"When the intense rains began to hit the south of Punjab, I went to the flooded areas," he recalled. "In the bus, we were all very worried for the people we passed by, living in improvised shelters. In no way could the tents resist the strong winds."

"No one knew what would happen," the aid worker said.

He noted that the latest U.N. estimates state that at least 17.2 million people have been affected by the floods, and more than 1,600 people have already died. Thousands more have been affected by diseases of the skin and stomach due to unsanitary conditions and waterborne illnesses.

Kamran noted that "the United States and other countries worldwide have promised more than $700 million to help those affected in Pakistan," and "the International Monetary Fund is studying all the possible ways to help the country."

However, he added that "these efforts were too slow for Bela Khan."

"Survivors waited for foreign aid for about two weeks after this village was submerged in water," Kamran explained, but Caritas was the first to arrive there.

Homeless

They brought tents to shelter the families whose homes are submerged.

The aid worker observed that the villagers "are not willing to abandon their homes, now turned into a mound of mud."

He continued: "Many families continue to live on the slope of an embankment with the hope that the waters will soon recede.

"Before Caritas' tents arrived, the shelters on this embankment only had charpoys (fabric to make beds), supported by large drums or plastic sheets covered by branches."

"Despair is reflected on all faces on television screens," Kamran said.

He noted that "a relief package in general lasts two days in a family of six, a typical village family unit."

"However," he continued, "to bring knowledge and tools such as sewing machines can help to restore confidence and hope among the survivors."

The aid worker concluded with an appeal: "Although food and clothing continue to be a great need, the world must think of ways to help them live with dignity."

Submitted by Fr Ron

The”New Mass”

Know your faith - The”New Mass”. In 1963, Pope Paul VI decreed that “the liturgical books are to be revised as soon as possible … and translated to the mother tongue.” In 2001, the Vatican issued, Liturgiam authenticam (2001), stating; “in translations of the liturgical texts from the official Latin originals, "the original text, insofar as possible, must be translated integrally and in the most exact manner, without omissions or additions in terms of their content, and without paraphrases or glosses.’ In the light of the new Latin version of the ‘Missal (2002), from which the translation must be made, the most obvious example was: “Dominus vobiscum” (The Lord be with you), and its reply; "Et cum spiritu tuo" (And with your spirit). This was at odds with the ‘73 translation where "And also with you" is used instead: this demonstrates the fundamental deviation from the Latin text. The International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL) oversees the translation and presents these in sections to the bishops for comment (called The Green Book - in several versions) and for vote (The Gray Book). Eventually, this is passed to the pope for ratification. We are The Catholic (Universal) Church, and as English speakers, we are not in synergy with the rest of Catholicism in the Liturgical sense. So far, we are confronted with changes to the order of Holy Mass: in time, The Lectionary, The Breviary, The Ritual & Pontifical, The Martyrology and The Ceremonial of Bishops will follow.
Marius Vögel © 2009

Pope Paul VI Sacrosanctum Concilium, 4th December - Articles 25 & 36.4 (1963) International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc., The English translation of The Roman Missal © (1973)

Jorge A. Card. Medina Estévez, Prefect of The Congregation for Divine Worship and The Discipline of The Sacraments, Liturgiam authenticam (On The Use of Vernacular Languages in the publication of the books of The Roman Liturgy) Fifth Instruction “For the Right Implementation of the Constitution on The Sacred Liturgy of The Second Vatican Council” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, art. 36) 28 March 2001
International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL), Official Website - News Page a Joint Commission of Catholic Bishops Conferences http://www.icelweb.org/news.htm

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The Relics of St Augustine

Augustine died on 28 August 430.


Sometime before the early 8th century, St Augustine’s remains were translated from North Africa to Sardinia for fear of desecration. It is possible that St. Fulgentius of Ruspe took Augustine’s body to Sardinia. Fulgentius had run foul of the Arian Vandals then in North Africa and was driven out.

During the 8th century Augustine’s remains were once more in danger , but this time by the Arabs who swarmed all over the Mediterranean as pirates and brigands in general.

Sometime between 710 and 730 King Liutprand of the Lombards translated St Augustine's relics a second time. On 11 October, Luitprand had the holy relics interred in Pavia in the church of San Pietro in Ciel d’Oro.

It is thought that Liutprand had to pay a huge sum to ransom the bones from some Muslim thug. (Hard to believe, I know.)

With the passage of time people simply forgot where the saints bones were actually located were in the church.

Eventually, the Church herself came to be controlled by two different Augustinian groups, the Canons Regular and the Hermits. Let’s just say their relations were strained and leave it at that. Then something happened that set off the war between them.

In 1695 a group of workman excavating under the altar in the crypt of the church found a marble box containing human bones. The box had some charcoal markings spelling the part of the word "Augustine", though those markings later disappeared. Great chaos ensued following the discovery.

The memory of just where St Augustine's relics were placed in the church, had been lost by the passing of time.  Finding them again, set off a rather unpleasant battle concerning who had control ver the relics: the Augustinian Hermits and the Canons Regular.

Ultimately, Rome had to step in to resolve things. That’s what Popes do.


Pope Benedict XIII, a Dominican who changed his numbering from XIV to XIII so as to avoid being counting an anti-pope, got personally involved. He was very interested in saints and canonised the huge number of 18! At least that was a huge number before the pontificate of John Paul II.

This was also at the time when the future Pope Benedict XIV, Propsero Lambertini, published his fourth and final volume on the beatification of the servants of God and of the canonization of the blessed. Pope Lambertini would give us the legislation for the canonical processes of canonisations that has lasted with only a few changes to today.

In any event, Benedict XIII sent a letter to the Bishop of Pavia telling him to get their act together and figure out the questions of authenticity and control.

Additional studies were made under someone appointed by Benedict and by 19 September of 1729 things were wrapped up.

Processions were held, solemn proclamations made about the authenticity of the relics, a great Te Deum was sung and there was a fireworks display.  Anyone who wanted to disagree and start the bickering again would be excommunicated. The good ol’ days.

The next year under Pope Clement XII the Cardinal Secretary of State (and a patron of the Canons Regular) commissioned the carving of the large main altar with its reliefs, completed in 1738, and which you can see today in the church where Augustine’s tomb is even now.

So, when you travel to northern Italy, be sure to stop in the interesting city of Pavia, south of Milan. There you will find the bones of the mighty north African Doctor of the Church, St. Augustine of Hippo.

John Ihekaire got married - see the Wedding pics