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.