Posts from 2020
2020 (11)
Wednesday, 25 November, 2020
At noon today it was announced by the Holy See’s Press Office that the Holy Father Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Kevin Dowling, C.S.s.R. as Bishop of the Diocese of Rustenburg, and has appointed the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Pretoria, …
3 min (520 words)
Read more...Sunday, 25 October, 2020
During the Angelus on Sunday, 25 October 2020 Pope Francis announced that he was going to create 13 new cardinals. Vatican News reports that on 28 November, there will be 13 new additions to the College of Cardinals: 9 are under 80 years of age, among them is the Guardian of …
3 min (479 words)
Read more...Thursday, 22 October, 2020
Pope Francis is in the headlines again after a documentary film by the Russian Jew, Evgeny Afineevsky, was premiered at the Rome Film Festival on Wednesday. This time the Pope is strongly advocating for ‘civil unions’. Matthew Charlesworth writes about why this …
8 min (1,346 words)
Read more...Sunday, 4 October, 2020
On the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, 4 October 2020, the Vatican released the long-awaited encyclical by Pope Francis. Entitled “Fratelli tutti”, Brothers (and Sisters) all, which he signed at Assisi yesterday. Matthew Charlesworth SJ explains it is the …
12 min (2,059 words)
Read more...Wednesday, 16 September, 2020
Introduction “T.O.L.E.R.A.N.C.E.”, by sculptor and artist Guy Ferrer, is composed of nine bronze sculptures, each representing a letter of the word “tolerance” and depicting aspects of a religion, belief or spirituality. It is currently on display at St Stithians College and …
28 min (4,943 words)
Read more...Tuesday, 14 July, 2020
Reacting to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the nation on 12 July, Matthew Charlesworth comments that the President could have done more to foster popular good will in pursuing the common good. Nevertheless, he urges citizens to continue to support the …
6 min (901 words)
Read more...The Holy Father has appointed Rev Fr. Noel Andrew Rucastle, of the Cape Town clergy and previously parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Bellville and judicial vicar, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Oudtshoorn.
The Bishop-elect will succeed Rt. Rev. Bishop …
3 min (403 words)
Read more...Friday, 24 April, 2020
Earlier this week the Facebook account of the Justice and Peace Department of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) published messages of hope from a number of bishops in the SACBC. Their messages are of mercy, hope and confidence in the resurrection, …
4 min (666 words)
Read more...Thursday, 9 April, 2020
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on the continuing efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The President’s address followed a meeting of the National Coronavirus Command Council held yesterday, 8 April 2020 and consultations that the President held …
18 min (3,066 words)
Read more...Wednesday, 1 April, 2020
Pope Francis has appointed Zolile Peter Mpamabani SCJ as the Archbishop of Bloemfontein. The Archbishop-elect has been working as the Bishop of Kokstad since 2013.
In a press release from the Vatican at noon today, the Holy See announced that the Holy Father has accepted the …
2 min (336 words)
Read more...Thursday, 23 January, 2020
The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) began their bi-annual plenary session on 22 January 2020 in Pretoria, Gauteng. In his opening address as president of the conference, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka spoke about the SACBC’s new Pastoral Plan, the …
12 min (2,100 words)
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