South Africa

 
19 July 2008 – Conference in the book center on the theme: Paul and His Mission Today. Speaker: Fr. Nicholas King, sj, professor of New Testament studies at Oxford University, UK.
 
24 January 2009 – Conference in the book center on the theme: The Challenge of Living St. Paul’s Message Today. Speaker: Sr. Bernardita Dianzon, fsp, from the Philippines.
 
During the Pauline Year, the www.paulinesa.co.za will include a periodically-updated page dedicated to Paul that will present the life and Letters of the Apostle; books and 
 
19 July 2008 – Conference in the book center on the theme: Paul and His Mission Today. Speaker: Fr. Nicholas King, sj, professor of New Testament studies at Oxford University, UK.
 
24 January 2009 – Conference in the book center on the theme: The Challenge of Living St. Paul’s Message Today. Speaker: Sr. Bernardita Dianzon, fsp, from the Philippines.
 
During the Pauline Year, the www.paulinesa.co.za will include a periodically-updated page dedicated to Paul that will present the life and Letters of the Apostle; books and audio/DVD material on him; important events, and links to other FSP pages in English on St. Paul.

Johannesburg – Celebrating the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul
On 24 January, the FSPs of Johannesburg, South Africa held a meeting in their Pauline Book & Media Center to celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.
 
Guest speaker Fr. Gerhard Hattingh, a Pauline scholar, spoke on the theme, St. Paul in the Letter to the Colossians, with special reference to Co. 1:24 and the role of suffering in our life. Impressed by Fr. Hattingh’s professional competence and pastoral sensitivity, the participants afterward thanked him for helping them come to a greater understanding of one of the more difficult aspects of St. Paul’s theology.
 
Prior to the conference, our sisters offered the group a power point presentation of Paul’s conversion and call.
 
They were very encouraged by the fact that more than 90 people (both religious and laity) attended the encounter and that many afterward asked to be kept informed about future book center initiatives.
 
The first event programmed by our sisters of Johannesburg to celebrate the Pauline Year took place on 19 July 2008. On this occasion, Fr. Nicholas King, sj, a noted biblical scholar who teaches Sacred Scripture at Oxford University, England, delivered a conference on the theme Paul and His Mission Today. This conference too was very well attended–in fact, our sisters tell us that over 100 participants filled every corner of the book center.
 
Other events are scheduled for the coming months to help the laity get to better know Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles.
 
Closing of the Pauline Year
The Challenge of St. Paul’s Message Today: under this banner, which unveils broad horizons to the Pauline mission, the Daughters of St. Paul of South Africa brought to a close their celebration of the year dedicated to the Apostle of the Gentiles.
 
Our sisters of Durban and Johannesburg organized conferences, debates, and parish encounters to solemnize the closing of a year that was rich in apostolic activities for both communities. They thank in a special way guest speaker Sr. Bernardita Dianzon, fsp, from our Manila community, who with profound love for St. Paul competently guided the different reflections on the Apostle.
 
Another important moment was the Eucharistic Liturgy in the Durban Cathedral, presided over by Cardinal Napier. During his homily, the Cardinal underscored how, at that very moment, the ecclesial community gathered in the church was celebrating a true Pentecost. In fact, the hymns and readings were sung and proclaimed in the languages of the various ethnic groups participating in the Eucharistic Celebration. In this way too, the Apostle of the Gentiles was honored by all people.
 

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