GRACE AND GRATITUDE - TELETHON 2019 RAISES R280 000!
We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who participated in our Telethon day on 29 May for the Comrades runners – those who pledged, those who prayed for its success, those who dedicated their time and talent to be with us on the day. We thank these dedicated men and women who will brave this gruelling race on Sunday. May the Lord bless you abundantly.
Radio Veritas raised R280000 in its Comrades Marathon telethon. The #RunForRVSA campaign will see seven priests and five lay people run the Comrades on Sunday 9 June – Pentecost Sunday - to raise funds for the station. The Comrades Marathon Sponsorship fundraiser was initiated last year by Mahadi Buthelezi with Radio Veritas Warriors’ Boyce Ntlwane and Collins Mokgohlwa. The latter two with Frs Zweli Mlotshwa and Teboho Matseke—“The Fab Four”—took part in the 2018 marathon.
This year the Radio Veritas Comrades Marathon "bus" has been expanded to include five more priests—Frs Lehlohonolo Tapole, Mbulelo Qumntu, Thembalethu Mana, Moruti Ntholeng and Derrick Thungo—and three lay people: Ella Kungwana, Leona Chetty and Nomusa Shelembe, who will be doing the 90km up run from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. The theme for the fundraiser is “I have fought the good fight, I have run the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7), speaking both for the runners and for the radio station’s journey over the past 20 years.
For the Telethon, listeners were invited to phone in throughout the day and sponsor the runners, with the funds going towards the station. Some of the runners were also interviewed in studio.
A surprise on the day was the presence of Fr Emil Blaser, who had just been discharged after two months in hospital. He was clearly energised to be back behind the microphone and listeners expressed their happiness and appreciation.
Other guest presenters included Khanya Litabe, Sheila Pires, Fr Joe Wilson, Toni Rowland, Thula Ndlovu, Duncan Hyam, Tiiso Mosoeu and the Men in Christ team, Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria and Mgr Barney McAleer. Some volunteer presenters and interns also joined in the fun.
A little girl kick-started the Telethon by calling in and making the first pledge of the day. Many listeners then called in to share what Radio Veritas has meant in their lives and to their faith. The excitement inside and outside the studio was palpable and energising, with the listeners donating from R6 to as much as R40000. Old and young called. One granny of 83 pledged R83 and a chocolate cake and challenged all 83-year-olds to do the same.
None of this would have been possible without the backroom people: the wonderful ladies of the Friends of Radio Veritas who manned the telephones and fed the hungry. We thank Moira Mpama, Ouma Nakedi, Terry Mokoena, Reggie Pooe, Refiloe Kolokoto, Lehutjo Thobejane, Hazel Rakei, Kelebogile Mosaka, Pearl Molapo and our volunteers Seitlhamo Mmutle, Zee Kubheka, Oriella van der Walt.
BIG SURPRISE FOr TWO LISTENERS!
SURPRISE PRIZE "A TOKEN OF GRATITUDE"
Two listeners of Radio Veritas have been afforded a chance to attend Holy Mass with Pope Francis in Maputo, Mozambique. They were taken by surprise and received these delightful prizes when they called the morning programme on Thursday 30 May.
Freda Campbell from Coronationville parish had called in to answer a spot question when the host, Khanya Litabe asked her, “Aunty Freda, do you have a passport? You are going to Mozambique to see Pope Francis in September.”
The second spot prize went to Veronica Naidoo from Lenasia parish, who had called Radio Veritas that morning to express her appreciation for the station.
“Radio Veritas has truly changed my life”: she said.
The prizes – worth R4000 each - were given away as an expression of gratitude to God for a successful Telethon on the previous day. They were a generous offer from Nomjey Tours which is organising the pilgrimage to Maputo for when Pope Francis visits that country in September. The pilgrimage will be led by Fr S’milo Mngadi and Jabu Mhlanga (director of Nomjey Tours). For more info call Mr Mhlanga on 072 594 7719 or Fr S’milo on 072 110 8613
Pope Francis has released Motu proprio intended as a universal and concrete response to the phenomenon of abuse within the Church. Titled Vos estis lux mundi, the motu proprio is one of the fruits of the 'abuse summit' convoked by the Holy Father earlier this year.
According to Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, this document "establishes new and efficacious procedures to combat the plague of abuse." Read this latest Motu Proprio here.
LIVE BROADCASTS – HOLY TRIDUUM
With our live broadcast equipment in place we are now able to set up anywhere in the country and broadcast from there. Thus, this year we took a new approach to bringing the Holy Triduum services to our listeners (especially those who were unable to go to these in their own parishes). This started on Holy Thursday, 18th April and came to a close in the evening of 20th April with the Easter Vigil.
Our live stream began with the Chrism Mass which took place at the Cathedral in Johannesburg and what a sight it was, seeing all the priests and deacons from various parishes located in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg. Archbishop Buti Tlhagale gave a memorable homily reminding us of the solemnity of the Holy Triduum and our listeners were able to listen to the prayers of Blessing of the Holy Oils which would be distributed to each parish priest that they would use for the next year for Baptism (Sacred Chrism), Confirmation (Holy Oil of Catechumens) and Anointing of the sick (Oil of the Sick). The mass was well attended both in physical presence and in our listenership. What a glorious celebration it was all round.
The Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday was broadcast live from the Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg with Fr Victor Ngwenya as the celebrant. A full Cathedral watched and listened as Fr Victor first gave a wondrous sermon reminding us of the sacrifice that Jesus made and a reminder that the Passion was prophesied in the Old Testament many years before Jesus was. He also made a point on the importance of the Eucharist. The washing of the feet took place after the sermon and we were once again reminded that even our saviour, the son of God, took off his outer garments and washed the feet of his disciples who were just like us, flawed in many ways. We ended the mass with the procession of the Blessed Sacrament and as is custom there was no final blessing as the mass continued the next day. Listen to Fr Victor Ngwenya’s homily here…
The Good Friday service was once again from Cathedral of Christ the King Johannesburg – celebrated by Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI. We began this day acknowledging our custom of fasting and abstinence. It was a solemn occasion and the Archbishop emphasised once again the importance of the Eucharist and its institution as the very foundation of our faith. Listen to Archbishop Buti’s homily here…
The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday was broadcast live from Sacred Heart Cathedral in Pretoria. On this day our listeners were able to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with Archbishop William Slattery OFM. In this mass which began solemnly Archbishop Slattery reminded the faithful that the risen Lord passed through the valley of death leading the faithful into the eternal world. He said the Easter night would affect us all. Humanity went against God after he created the world but God came to renew the world by sending his only son to die for us. This gesture is seen as the birth of the Church and therefore it is fitting to celebrate it with joy because it’s the church birthday. Listen to the homily here…
UPDATE ON FR EMIL
Fr Emil is now in a step-down facility. He has asked us to send his love and gratitude to all who have visited him and prayed for him. He asks that you continue with your prayers and visits! He is expecting to spend another week in the facility, before going home to Boksburg. We are very grateful to all our listeners for their well wishes and prayers and we will continue to update you all as to the status of Fr. Emil. Thank you from the Radio Veritas family and God bless you all.
TRAINING - INTERNS
Radio Veritas is committed to training the youth. We have 3 new interns from our Catholic community.
Our first intern, Seitlhamo Mmutle; a Journalism Student from Damelin College; joined the family on the 9th of January and has been learning the ropes on Radio production and Presenting. He currently presents the traffic updates on the morning show. He is from the Parish of Our Lady of Loreto in Kempton Park.
Our second intern, Qents’o Tatu, joined the family on the 11th of February, a student at Limkokwing University in Lesotho; and has brought a young and jubilant smile to the family whilst learning the ropes on Radio Editing and sound engineering. She is From Gethsemane Parish in Teyateyaneng, Lesotho.
Our 3rd intern, Ndabezinhle Kubheka, joined our family on the 15th of April and he has certainly dived right in lending a helping hand and learning where he can. He is a third degree brother with the Knights of Da Gama and is from the parish of the Resurrection in Bryanston. If you are on our database, he will be giving you a call soon to catch up and to update your details. So please do expect his call.
ELECTION BREAK
There will be no live shows on Wednesday the 8th of May due to South Africa’s 6th democratic elections. We will resume our live show schedule on Thursday the 9th of May. Join us as we continue to pray for those who will be running for the highest office in our land. God Bless.
GENNI GOES TO ITALY
Our Financial Manager Genni will be away for the Month of May. She is headed to Italy with her family. She is taking a break from the hard day to day work of Radio Veritas. We hope she has a fantastic time and enjoys her well-deserved Break. And say Hello to the Holy Father from the Radio Veritas team and an item or two from the Vatican would be really nice.
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