Fr Emil Blaser Hangs Up His Morning Mic

By Erin Carelse - Southern Cross

After 17 years, Fr Emil Blaser OP hung up the microphone on his Radio Veritas morning show “Matins” on May 11, with many past interviewees paying tribute to South Africa’s radio pioneer.

Over the years, Fr Blaser has interviewed hundreds of eminent people including bishops, nuncios and ambassadors, and got to know many people who have become his friends.

He said one of his greatest joys has also been the collaboration with The Southern Cross, which has championed the radio station through its long struggle to receive a broadcast licence.

Radio Veritas broadcasts in Gauteng on 576AM, as well as nationally on DStv audio channel 870, and streams its content on www.radioveritas.co.za.

The Dominican priest also looks back with great joy to the ordinary people he has interacted with on Radio Veritas.

“Much time on my morning was devoted to events in parishes. We have given much time to St Francis Centre in Boksburg and Little Eden. We have promoted the donation of water to drought-stricken areas and sanitary towels for young girls who would otherwise not be able to go to school. We successfully appealed for somebody to donate a kidney.”

While Fr Blaser is leaving the morning show—where he is succeeded by Khanya Litabe—he remains as the station’s director. He will also present the daily devotional programme “As The Sun Sets”, which is pre-recorded, and is available to stand in for absent presenters.

Leaving the morning show means that he has more time to focus on funding Radio Veritas.

Catholic Business Forum Inaugural Lecture

The Catholic Business Forum invites you to its inaugural lecture for Catholics in Business and Industry.

The lecture, to be delivered by Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kanyago, will take place on may 31 at 17h00 at St Augustine's College. 53 ley Road, Victory Park, Johannesburg.

What is the Catholic Business Forum?

In 2015 an anonymous source leaked 11.5 million documents that detail financial and attorney–client information for more than 214,488 offshore entities.

These Panama documents, some dating back to the 1970s, were created by, and taken from, Panamanian law firm and corporate service provider Mossack Fonseca. The documents contain personal financial information about wealthy individuals and public officials that had previously been kept private.

While offshore business entities are legal, reporters found that some of the Mossack Fonseca shell corporations were used for illegal purposes, including fraud, tax evasion, and evading international sanctions.

The breaking of this world story (and later the many other stories involving businesses especially in South Africa) brought to the fore the importance of adequate pastoral responses when it comes to issues of national and global importance.

The most important tool of pastoral reflection and response is engagement. The Church, its people and ministers, are compelled to formulate for those Catholics in these industries, forums where and through which they can be accompanied in their daily work.

Following several conversations with Catholics in business and industry it was felt that there needs to be a forum where Catholics can formulate a comprehensive pastoral response which goes beyond just pastoral statements. A forum where matters of industry can be measured based on their ability to serve the common good. Through facilitating issues of business ethics, ethics in public life, philanthropy and a deeper spiritual understanding and meaning of being a Catholic Christian in industry the Church will be making a more direct intervention in response to the social ills and virtues found in South Africa and in the African continent. The forum is also a tool through which the Church can offer pastoral care to its members in business, industry, government and other professions.

Our Vision

The Catholic Business Forum is a forum which is comprised of women and men who strive to apply the principles of the Catholic faith to their daily lives in the marketplace. We seek to strengthen our Catholic faith by sharing professional experiences, fostering business ethics and social responsibility, and promoting community service.

Our mission

The mission of the Catholic Business Forum is focused on establishing a dynamic association of businesses and persons to support each other in integrating our faith and work based on Catholic values especially the Catholic Social Teachings.CBF aims to achieve its objectives through:

Promoting Education informed by Catholic ethos:
a. Education for those who are disadvantaged.
b. Creating opportunities for empowerment and skills development for youth and those who are on the margins of opportunities
c. Facilitating and promoting the teaching of ethics in institutions of learning
Facilitating joint philanthropic efforts as Catholics in business and industry.
To create a platform for networking and Catholic to Catholic support,
a. Events: Breakfast Meetings, Lectures, think tanks etc.
b. Formulating a directory for Catholics in different industries
c. Erecting other Chapters across the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference territory.
d. Developing relations with other Catholic business formations across the world.
To provide Pastoral Care (to deepen spirituality) for professional persons, those in business, government and Industry
a. Annual Retreat and Days of Recollection
b. Spiritual Reading
c. Spiritual Direction
To be active in the life of the Church
a. By belonging to a parish community

ST JOSEPH STALWART HONOURED

By ITUMELENG MAFISA OMI

Father Paul Decock, the longest serving staff member of the St Joseph’s Theological Institute (SJTI), in Pietermaritzburg was honoured on the feast of St Joseph, on March 19 2018 with the naming of an auditorium after him.

Father Decock, who is a Professor of Biblical Studies, has been lecturing at the institute for 50 years. The 75 year old Belgian priest has taught many religious, priests and bishops since his arrival in South Africa in the 1969.

Father Decock was instrumental in the foundation of the SJTI, which has become renowned for the illustrious training of Catholic priests and religious.

“The Oblates have always been responsive to the needs of the time. We have always been involved in university education,” said Father Decock.

Father Decock said the Oblates have been instrumental in setting up universities in different parts of the world including Canada, Lesotho and the Philippines.

Father Decock also said while in the past St Joseph’s had purely been for Oblates, the inclusion of other religious congregations has brought communities together with one goal.

He said the institute had reached an agreement with the University of KwaZulu-Natal. This agreement would enable postgraduate studies in Catholic courses through the University.