Dec. 20, 2021
Fr. Cas. Paulsen, cmm—re-tyred
Monastery Mariannhill
10
Monastery Rd.
Mariannhill, KZN 3624
SOUTH AFRICA
Cell Ph.
(27) (0)83-635-0151
Abbot
Francis
Pfanner
Email:
frcascmm50@gmail.com
Dear Everyone,
Would you
believe that this is the 52nd dear everyone missive I have sent out.(since
I came to Africa in 1966).
Well this is a year that most people will be happy to say
goodbye to. We welcome the advent or 2022 even thought it brings with it
omicron ( it is the new normal, covid and its many offshoots are not going to
go away, as I understand it.)
Covid has had its positive side. When you watched the news
on TV, you could see Russia, China UK, US, Venezuela, Sa Paulo, all wearing
masks. Has that ever happened before?????? We were all om the same boat and all
were working on trying to find a vaccine, and they did in record time. What
usually takes 10 yrs. Now took only 2 or even less. We really need each other
and depend on each other.
Then you saw the greedy 1st world nations stock
piling while the 3rd world nations got almost zilch, and are still
far behind. We saw glaringly the gap
between the haves and have nots and know that we can never go back to the
former status quo. And the silly and thoughtless people who refuse o wear a
mask and are willing to risk their own lives
as well as all those others they come in contact with. A real no-brainer.
I am still fighting my spasms and it looks as though it is
going to be that way until I die, unless they find where these messages are coming
off and can shut them off. But I had a physioterrorist come for ten sessions to
prevent the leg for going up into a 90% position and freeze there. When he
stopped (paid for by Mariannhill), Br.
Albert filled in the gap by coming faithfully at 2 pm to doo the necessary
exercises, which, at times can be painful, but, as they say, no pain no gain. The
aim is to stretch the hamstring muscle so that it can’t pull the leg up into that
90 degree configuration. Br. Albert experienced something similar with his knee
sometime back.and knows the routine.
I Had a terrible itch on my back and we tried all kinds of
salves, etc, with no effect. Then I went to a dermatologist and he prescribed
something that had to be mixed at the pharmacy and it really worked..
For a while the care
givers put it on my back at night but they are no longer here so I have to do
it myself. It would be better if I were double jointed.
As you know, I have had a justice and peace accounte---socio
pastoral account with which I have been able to help people. For many, because
of the pandemic, they have no income, having lost their jobs and it is really a
matter of life and death survival. This year, surprisingly, many of you have been
super generous and I have even had a chance to go around a second time. I say
thank you in their name.
When the restrictions were eased and lifted, I was able to
take a wedding (in in a wheel chair) and another Mass at the Denis Hurley
Center in the middle of town. The Center is
the combined effort of all the religious groups ( all Christian denominations,
Muslims, Hindus, Buddists, and others ) to help the homeless people in the city
center, where they have a meal a day, s clinic, a place to shower and get clean
clothes, offices for migrants, etc, etc, etc. These are all manned by volunteers.
I think it is unique in the world where all the religions work together to help
the homeless and all who are struggling just to keep alive (There are many ongoing
projects as well )
There are too many other things to enumerate here o let me
wish you all a blessed Christmas, Catholics, other Christians, Hindus, Buddists,
Muslims, since Christmas means Peace and Love and Hope, all of which I wish to
all of you, including my atheist friends.
And I also wish you all a happy, fruitful, challenging, hopeful new year full
of many blessings ( mostly in disguise) with the love, wisdom, courage, to face
and deal with all the surprises that will be thrown at you in this coming 2022. But please also be a bit joyful
too.
I am sorry I am so late this year. It is combination of laziness
and being overwhelmed by things to be done at the last minute, especially disbursing
all the money that you so generously sent to help people.
Your fellow citizen of mother earth (abused as she is), your
brother in the Lord,
Fr. Cas, cmm
PS. a spcial thanks to Mariannhill, Fr. Tom Szura, for all
his help.
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