(This is a letter sent by Fr Loftus to the Servants of Mary around the world)
Greetings to all the Friars from the Southern tip of Africa. Since we are not a regular correspondent there is some catching up to be done.
Let’s start off with some recent events. The Zulu Regional Pastoral Council (ZRPC), comprising the seven bishops of the Durban Province, meets twice a year with the religious superiors of the region – it’s called Joint Witness. At the September meeting our own Bishop Jose Luis led with an opening reflection. In the review of 2010 the question of human trafficking came up. We were able to report that due to the church’s campaign the anticipated level of trafficking during the Soccer World Cup was not as bad as expected. In our own area the Mtubatuba Police used our church material (video and posters) to increase their own awareness. Then just two weeks ago there was an article in the Durban morning paper, The Mercury, about three girls from Mtuba who had been offered jobs in hotels in Durban and ended up as prostitutes. Just at that time, we had organized a vocation workshop for girls at Star of the Sea. Twenty one girls from Mtuba attended and Walter Xulu (SOSM) and I ended up as driver. I set off with my cargo of 11 young high school girls and was about 5 kms. out the road when I ran into a major roadblock: police, traffic police and army! I started to sweat: what if I was asked for my public transport permit? What if they wanted to know what a white bearded white man was doing transporting a bevy of pretty young Zulu girls? Do you think they would be convinced if I said they were going to a vocation workshop?! Fortunately, for me, I was waved on. They must have had bigger fish to fry. The workshop was attended by 69 girls and talks were given by the Daughters of Charity and the Dominican Sisters.
Back at the end of May, our students returned from Uganda and Kenya. After a period at home they took up residence in our communities. We had three of them at our new house, helping to sort out the place and trying to whip the garden into shape. There was great planting of shrubs and flowers and watering. The vegetable garden has to wait for our spring. That’s happening now. During the students’ stay five of them renewed their vows before or during our annual retreat at Mtunzini. They also helped to conduct a vocation workshop for boys attended by 30 high school students. Then two, Nabo and Sakhile left for novitiate and later the others returned to their studies in Jinja and Nairobi. News from East Africa is sparse these days – the only item was about Thabani Msane breaking his leg playing football. Latest reports have it that he is on the mend and it did not interrupt his studies.
Our General Visitation, conducted by Frs. Franco Azalli and Eugene Smith went off smoothly. We concluded it with a meeting at our new house and Mass during which Eugene conducted the house blessing. We have now set up a separate Delegation Office and Fr Thulani Ntsele delivered a car load of files from the former archives set up at Star of the Sea by Fr. A. Mooney. So we now have all the documentation from 1948 up to the present in one place! Anyone volunteering to catalogue them?!
You may be aware that our police force does not have a good reputation. The former commissioner was dismissed for corruption. The present one is in trouble also. When police crime statistics are issued they come in for severe scrutiny and a good dose of cynicism. The latest ones report that murders are down but housebreaking and car high jacking are up. We agree with that. Both the Bishop’s car and Bro. Gilbert’s cars were stolen recently. The Bishop’s car was found burnt out in the bush. No report on brother’s car. (See www.ingwavuma.org for Bishop Jose’s story). Fortunately, nobody was injured. Some congregations have taken up collections to buy shoes and clothes for the bishop! So far nobody has offered to buy cigarettes for brother!
On the third Sunday in September (Our Lady of Sorrows) we had our annual pilgrimage to Ingwavuma. We had the largest crowd in years. The theme was: “Let the Word of God dwell in you richly.” (Col. 3,16) The preacher was our neighbouring bishop, Thaddeus Khumalo (Eshowe Diocese). He delivered a powerful message. Another feature of the pilgrimage was the larger number for confession. The collection was worthwhile too: Hlabisa parish gave R 40,000-00 to the bishop, a further R 24,000-00 was collected during Mass. A fund is being set up for the establishment of a permanent site which will be a shrine for pilgrimage right throughout the year.
I think that brings you more-or-less up to date. Wherever you are, enjoy your spring or fall.
