South Africa Trip
Fr Richard's gift from South Africa. He carried a box of flowers back on the plane. Still on display at the end of February
These are the various messages Fr Richard sent back to the Parish whilst away.
Message received 14th January
Fr Richard arrived in
Ariana and Finlay Photo by Fr Richard
Message from
Last Saturday evening I had the privilege of concelebrating Mass with Fr Lawrence, the Parish Priest of St Patrick's Swellendam. Bishop Francisco Fortunato de Gouveia, was the principal celebrant giving thanks for the 50th anniversary of the opening of the new church and also, visiting the Parish for the first time since since his consecration as bishop of the diocese of Oudtshoorn. After Mass a presentation was given by one of the congregation on the history of the parish and there was an opportunity for me to speak with Bishop Francisco at some length. It has been my great fortune to meet many people since I have arrived from many parts of South African society. I spent a very interesting evening in the company of a Pastor belonging to the Church of England in 
What struck me when listening to the history of the parish and also hearing the bishop talk of his diocese were the parallels between our parishes and even our dioceses. Oudtshoorn is a very large rural diocese with an urban coastal strip. There are few Catholics in the country areas and so resources are scarce and have to be used well. Many parishes have three or four churches. Indeed, to help out this weekend I celebrated Mass at 7am on Sunday morning in the convent of the Poor Clares - familiar to me as one of our monks is chaplain to the Poor Clares at Much Birch.
Next Sunday Fr Lawrence has asked me to celebrate Mass at the convent and then at 9 am at Montagu, some 60km away, so he can go to the wonderfully named
Fr Lawrence, recently appointed Parish Priest, is very diligent and is going to organise the parish so that he manages to visit each church on a Saturday evening or Sunday Morning. He is keen to build up community and involve as many as he can of his congregations in ministry. The diocese and parish are not typical of the Catholic Church in
Fr Richard
Message received 24th January 2011
It has been a great joy to visit the Poor Clare nuns. Their convent is situated on the outskirts of town, just in the countryside, with Fr Lawrence living in a house in the grounds. The gardens are beautiful with many flowering trees and shrubs. 
There is perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in what is a lovely chapel. When celebrating Mass the nuns serve and have incense on a Sunday. They sing all the parts of the Mass very well and with great devotion. There are even African drums to keep time. The community is multi-national: the varied peoples of the rainbow nation of
Last week I managed to see some other churches in the Diocese of Oudtshoorn. One that particularly sticks in my mind is a church called Stella Maris on the coast. Because of the shortage of priests Mass is only celebrated there once a month on a Friday. Yet it has not been closed but is open everyday for people to visit and place their prayer petitions in a box. The local Catholics maintain the Church so well, lots of polish and not a blemish on the decorations.
I have been impressed by how communities function, often with very few people; though as I said in my article last week this is not a typical picture of the Church in
On Sunday, I went to Montagu - the other principal centre of the parish of Swellendam. The church again is kept beautifully with a congregation of about 50. After having celebrated Mass in what I thought was a purpose built Church, as it looked so well, I was told that it was an existing build that had been bought some 25 years ago inexpensively. The reason - it was a redundant abbatoir!!!"
Fr Richard
Message received 2nd February
Since arriving in
Fr Nkosinati (God is with us) and Fr Michael also serve two far less affluent parishes, one for the township of Nkobongo and the other for the sugar refining centre of Tongaat. Indeed, on Saturday I was taken there to a day of recollection for a woman's group from the Zulu community. They are dedicated to the Sacred Heart and support one another in prayer and good works. Rather like our own groups but with uniforms - can those ladies sing!!
Fr Michael then took me to visit members of the Indian community and I had the most wonderful
On Sunday I had the great privilege of concelebrating at a Zulu Mass. I preached in English and Fr Cyril translated. The singing was absolutely sublime as the Zulu people sing with their whole being and have a God given musical ability - when I think of my own poor efforts!
On Monday I spent the day with the SVP. At 7.30am members and helpers arrive in the church car park, set up tables and await the food to arrive in the SVP van. Members and helpers span communities and also denominations. Food is either donated or past its sell by date. What we throw away! There was enough when it arrived to make up 100 food parcels. We then took this to the SVP compound in the
That day I also visited the Anglican Church and saw the good work being undertaken there. What is so wonderful about the Courier fund is that it is an umbrella under which Christians of all denominations and those without affiliation work together to ensure that all monies raised help those in need. The problems are horrendous but there are no armchair philosophers just people trying to do their bit to be the hands of Christ.
Fr Richard