Sept.25, 2016

I am doing this with the hunt and peck method since one of my fingers on the left had had some kind of abcess and has  Bandage on it which makes it awkward to type.

     On Monday the 19^th I went to the Consulate and received the absentee ballot I had requested and gave it back. It was my vote for Nov. 4^th. You can guess who I voted for!! I was told that it went into the diplomatic pouch and would arrive the next day and would be posted in the States. Hooray. I was having visions of it arriving by our SA post in mid Decmber. 

    Then I went to Newberry  to get the material that Sinovuyo needed to sew the skirts for the girls at Mpheko High. He is a local guy from my old parish at Landsend (Kwa Dlomo Village) who taught himself tailoring and I want to support him. I also picked up some hosts to bring to Mthatha as I was told that they are running low on them. I had an evening Mass in Pinetown and that is always nice because it is in English and I can tell jokes that will be understood.

On Tues, 20^th, I headed for Mthatha and stopped to visit a few places along the way.

On Wed. the 21^st, I met Sinovuyo in town and took him with me to Landsend where I gave him his material and where I gave Nothemba (who looks after the priest’s house---there has been no priest for a long time now, only occasionally) some clothing to distribute to those who could use something.

More visits here and there and back home to AFH. S

On Thursday I concelebrated with the present chaplain to the sisters at the convent and met all the sisters at breakfast who are old friends from way back. I then drove out to see Sr. Nokwanda who teaches nursing in Libode, about 30km. from Mthatha. She is working on hers PhD, the topic having something to do with the discovery that some of the anti-retroviral drugs that are used for AIDS patients, are, it seems, causing Diabetes. A good thing with a  bad side effect. When I got back to AFH I felt weak and had a fevers and could feel that the flu was coming on, so I hopped in bed under the blankets and it was there that I had a long conversation with Fr. Winfried, a confrere who is getting to retirement age. I then went off to visit another family and enjoy a lovely curry meal. I think it helped to keep the flu at bay.

Friday was a lazy day. I went with  Frater  Faustin (who will be ordained a deacon in December to DSTV to have the contract removed from my name and to put it in the name of the house rather than an individual since we are continually changing and are given new assignments. I also noticed that my little vehicle is leaking power steering fluid so I bought some and topped up the fluid. I then put the remainder in the boot next to the spare tire. (There is as bit of room on the side of the tire.)

Saturday, Nov. 24^th, I had Mass at AFH celebrating the beatification of one of our priests who died giving his life for another in Dachau. He is considered to be a martyr. I also washed the car after a visit from my friend Nomonde who is busy correcting papers. In the afternoon we had our Board of Management meeting at Sabelani Home, Fr. Guys guys. We share a meal after that and then I took Theresa Chisanga (HOD of English at WUSU) home. She is  a member of the Board.

I noticed when I came back to Abbot Francis Home (AFH) that I had trouble using the lock on the car door and had to use the other door to lock the car. I thought that maybe someone had been tampering with the lock. But, Off I went to bed.

Sunday, 25^th (today) After mass, I visited an old friend, Tim O’Sullivan, who put in the electricity in Landsend in 1992, and who made the cabinets we have in our dining room. I had asked him if he had some thin oil to put in the key hole, thinking that maybe that was the problem why it was not able to lock or be unlocked.

Then I remembered that there was a small container that I use to top up the oil from time to time and I had just done that the day before but there was a little bit of oil left in the bottom of the bottle. When I went to the boot (trunk) to fetch the container, (I kept it next to the spare tire as there was just room for it there), I saw that the spare tire had been stolen along with the jack. I was discouraged, and still am. I guess that I will have to buy a new rim and tire tomorrow, first thing, as I don’t want to take a chance on the long drive to Durban without a spare. I am not happy. I wanted to leave early as I have lots of catching up to do, but….

Enough for now. Cas.

     

     

Sept. 18, 2016

Today, Sept. 18, I went to Durban soon after the Mass at the hospital, about 7:10am. Traffic not too bad. Got there quite early, shortly after 7:30 and parked at the Cathedral. I had an 8:30 appointment at the consulate and after that I wanted to pick up some material for Sinovuyo which was half way to the Consulate. I wanted to stop in to visit a friend at the Hurley center but I discovered that it wasn’t open yet. So, I continued on to the Consulate at got there just about 8am, when it is supposed to open. Lots of security, and even though I am an American citizen, and they have a special office for citizen concerns, I got in the queue with everyone else. We got to the office (31^st floor) at about 8:20am so there was still time before my appointment.

I know several people who are working there and one of them came over to say hi and give and receive a hug, to the amusement of the others who came to get a visa and wondered who this guy was who was speaking Zulu and seemed to know people. Then, my friend, Charmaine Redman came over also to greet and give and receive a hug after a log absence.  I have known here since her high school days back in the 60’s. She had organized for me my absentee ballot, which I dutifully filled out, voting for Trump, of course (impossible!!!), put it in the proper envelope and gave it back to her to put in the diplomatic bag. It will be posted in the States tomorrow. How’s that for service. I was afraid to wait for the ballot coming from the US in the post as it just might arrive in the middle of December.  I , then, happily walked out and went back to the Cathedral to visit my friend at the Hurley Center (there were hundreds of people waiting to get in the free clinic, which operates all days and is staffed by volunteer nurses and doctors for the homeless people mainly. I think it is unique in the world because they also have a soup kitchen, refugee offices, a place where people who have to sleep rough and take a shower and get cleaned up, and other kinds of help, like social workers, etc.  It is a multi-religious project, Muslims, Bhuddists, Jews, all varieties of Christians, and other concerned people.

After that I got back into the car and drove to the parking garage which was near where I wanted to get the material ( I have gotten material there before, and it seems to be the only place where this particular material is available). I have to wait around for about 10 minutes till he opened, at 10:30am, but I managed to get what I wanted (at least very close to the piece of fabric that I used to get a match. This is for Sinovuyo, the young man who does tailoring in Landsend, and is now making uniform skirts for the local school girls. I try to support him as much as possible because he really is very good but suffers from not being near a decent market to sell his goods.

I then drove back to Mariannhill (about a 20 to 25 min. ride) and stopped at the religious goods store to fetch some large hosts that I was asked to bring to Mthatha with me.

So, it was mission accomplished.

This afternoon, I was told that they also want small hosts, so I got some of those as well and then delivered a candle to one of the German volunteer workers, Paul, as I was asked to do by Katrina. They did lots of things together and enjoyed each other’s company. That was at the Hospital, where there is an AIDS outreach program that also sponsors health check ups in some of the village schools nearby so that they can pick up problems early rather than have to treat things once they have gotten out of hand.

I then went to the Orphanage where I was greeted mightily with a huge hug in and questions as to where Sisi Katrina is now. They were delighted to know that I came to deliver photos that she had taken while she was here for the various dorms, and staff and people, etc. I looked over the shoulder of the social worker while she looked at the photos for the boys. Wow, Katrina had taken them on different trips, to the sea or to a movie, or whatever and you could see all the smiling, happy faces. They will be delighted.

Tomorrow I head for Mthatha so today I went through some of my abundance of clothing and slimmed down my pile (way too much) and will give some T shirts, polo shirts, shorts, underwear, handkerchiefs, a jersey that I never use any more, and a pair of Levi’s ( I already have three pairs). She will be happy and will make others happy, I am sure.

Tonight I have a 6pm Mass at a nearby parish at 6pm. Then I am finished for the day.

Fr. Macarius, who is mostly blind, just came in to ask if we can send an email to his sister. He can’t do it himself and I am glad to do that for him.

Aug. 25, 2016

      Katrina has more or less inherited the car I was using and is very happy to have some wheels again. I know the feeling very well. She drove me to Greensboro, NC. From Aiken, SC. And we stayed together at John and Donna’s house.

     I forgot to mention that my niece, Ann, the doctor, organized for me to have a massage. Ha. I had one back in Los Angeles. Almost killed me. I came out black and blue and bruised. Like after getting in the ring with Muhamed Ali.  But this time, there wasn’t that hammering and pounding and digging, but something to make the muscles relax. A good experience. The Masseuse was from the UK and suggested a place to grab a lunch when I got to London (I had a lay over from 10 in the morning till 7 at night). But back to John and Donna and Katrina. We did some stuff at the bank, transferring most of the money I received into John’s account which he then transferred into the Mariannhill Mission Institute a/c for Fr. Szura to put in the socio-pastoral a/c to be used when things crop up. We ate out a bit and went to church where I forgot to take my sweater (jersey) and froze, although the atmosphere was warm.It was the old folks’ mass so communion was brought to the back for those that had trouble moving with ease. Nicely thoughtful.

On Sunday, the 14^th, I think, I left for London on a night flight. My friend Lou Smith Jr. came from his job as baggage handler there at Charlotte to have a chat and a goodbye hug. His schedule had changed and we couldn’t meet at his home as we had planned. Arrived in London Monday morning, the 15^th and was met by my friends, Boykie and Pat. We took the advice of the masseuse, Louise, and found the place, Cote Brasserie in Windsor on the Thames river and had a marvelous lunch in the shadow, more or less, or Windsor Castle, and looking down at the swans and geese swimming in the Thames at our feet.  Very nice. Old London. They took me back to Heathrow and, after a long wait, I climbed on the plane for Joburg that night, a huge monster, A380-800. I was seated in seat 77e. Two floors. Lots of people. Not an aisle seat, but good company, sitting next to an obstetrician whose mother still stays in Durban, though he has lived in UK for many years now.

     Arrived in Joburg on Tuesday, Aug, 16^th, met by a family I knew from both Zambia and Zimbabwe, spent the night with them, left my big suitcase with them, and caught the plane for Lusaka on Wed. Morning, Aug. 17^th. The Kalidas clan is a very special clan and I always enjoy being with them, and each time I get there, usually after a long break, I meet members of the new generation, which delights me but I have trouble remembering all the names. Thursday we visited my young confreres at Engelmar House (now beatified. He gave his life to save others in Dachau ) in Makeni. We couldn’t find the CPS sisters. Lots of things have changed there, including tar roads in the townships. They say, partly election ploys. Had a talk with the young students and then had lunch with Fr. Gaspar, a French Canadian, who has been there long now and is feeling that it is time to go back home. Friday went to the big church, St. Ignatius, in Lusaka, to get vestments and hosts for the baptisms to be done on Saturday. Saturday, the big day. Two beautiful baptisms (Savella Antoinette and Amber Katherine), children of the children whom I had baptized years before. There were lots of preparations, as you can imagine, including a tent to hold about 80 people or so. After the Mass and baptism and blessing of crosses for the baptized and wedding rings for one of the couples, there was a celebration that went long into the night. A great time was had by all. That was Saturday. Sunday, a friend, Eddie, and I went to the 7:30 Mass at ST. Bonaventure, the seminary for the Franciscans, nearby. With probably close to 100 seminarians, the music was great, in many languages, and the spirit was uplifting. We spent the day together recuperating from the celebration the day before. Stuffed with toooo much food. In the afternoon, I got a lift from another of the Kalidas clan, James and his wife, and went with them to Kabwe, where I was parish priest form ’72 to ’77. Monday we had a look around Kabwe, did a bit of shopping and picked up some Kapenta (tiny dried fish, a staple for Zambians) to bring back for sentimental reasons to another Zambian friend in Mthatha. She will be delighted.  Tuesday I hitched a lift back to Lusaka and Wednesday, Aug. 24^th, climbed on a plane for Joburg again. Staying, once more with the Bismarcks , old friends from Zimbabwe and Zambia---Margaret Bismarck is a Kalidas by birth and has been surviving on borrowed kidneys and dialysis since the late 70’s). Thursday I had a visit from Kabelo, my colleague at J&P the Bishops’ conference and Danisa, a former priest of Mariannhill who is heading for laicization and who is the very capable head of the Denis Hurley Peace Institute, a kind of spin off of the bishops’ conference. Today, Friday, is chill out day. That’s why I an writing this blog now. Tomorrow I will be fetched by a couple whom I married in Port Elizabeth some years back, but whom I knew in exile in Zambia and Zambia in the last century.

   Well, that updates you till now. Enough. Soon I will be on the final plane journey from Joburg to Durban to get back to some sort of normality in my rather abnormal life. I am sure that the grass is patiently waiting for my return .  Love and Peace, as always. Cas.

Aug. 1, 2016

     I’m going to bed now but will be back tomorrow to clue you in on what has been going on….

Aug. 11, 2016,

     Where did the time go. I am in the last week here in the States and only have two more stops to go. I have left the vehicle that my niece organized for me with her daughter, the famous Katrina of St. Vincent’s Children’s home fame---volunteer for the whole year of 2015. She will take me, tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 12, to my brother in Greensboro, NC. (I am now in Aiken SC) (You should check the maps to see where I have been, and now, and where I am going.)

     I checked the mileage that I covered and it is just about 6000miles of driving (about 9600 Km.). Not bad. The highlights, of course, were mostly people, family, friends whom I haven’t seen for four years or more, just soaking them up, having, sometimes, deep and serious conversations and also fun time, like my uncle Cas and his wife Rose and I laughing at ourselves, us old people. What do old people talk about when they get together, Ha, “ Yeah, I had my other knee done last week” or “ I’ve been having trouble with my bowels lately”, or “ Can you come over to my other side ‘cause I can’t hear in the ear on that side”, etc. etc. etc.

      Sometimes I avoided politics because we were on different pages (or even planets), but for the most part, people seemed to be worried that Trump would actually make it to be president, as he doesn’t seem to have the qualities needed for a president. But, at the same time, the mistrust of Hilary was strong, although she has many of the skills and lots of knowledge that would normally qualify her for the job.

     I  got onto Google and got her biography and also got the biography of Trump. To me it was clear who was the most qualified, but I leave it up to you to judge for yourself. It’s quite a bit of reading but, for Americans, the vote, this time, is so important, I think it is worth the time to read and then decide.

     Aside from my beloved family and friends (I can’t begin to start naming names because they are all too precious and I would bore you for the next 15 chapters) so let me say that some of the other things that got my attention were: 1) trees---Holy Moses, after living in Transkei for the last 35 yrs., where trees are as scarce as hen’s teeth, I was deluged with trees all along the way. Super beautiful. But, there was a blight on some Blue Ash trees as bugs seemed to have gotten inside and were killing them (In Michigan alone, 7 million trees, they say, died, because of this blight. Wow.)  The Appalachian Mountains and the Smoky Mountains and the mountains in Vermont were exceptional. 2) the maize. In July and August I was in Maize country and I was green with envy to see the beautiful dark green maize more than 2 metres high, getting ready for harvesting. I remember our drought year when, if there was any maize at all, it wasn’t more (in most parts) higher than a metre, if that much. Also fields and fields and fields of soya beans, I think enough to feed half the world. Wow. The Americans are really blessed with a fantastic country. 3) Drought…. Also here, especially in California, the many fires tell the story… the earth is so dry that it doesn’t take much to start a fire, which will grow and grow and grow because there is so much tinder. I took some pictures just outside of Los Angeles. It could have been Transkei. You would hardly know the difference---dry and brown, as in winter.  4) As I drove down Hwy US23 in Southern Ohio and Southeastern Kentucky and the Hwy 80 there I saw stunningly awesome mountains and cliffs and what all to knock your eyes out. I was driving and had a deadline so I wasn’t able to take pictures but I guess I will try to see if Google has something, pictures, and send them off. Wow. Bringing a connection with nature and the creator, super beautiful.  5) Just about everyone is involved in some way if trying to respond to the needs of the most disadvantaged in one way or another or trying to make a better, more aware and responsive society to the many needs that often go unrecognized or neglected. I am proud of them all. This is my family. These are my friends. I am also blessed to be connected with such beautiful people. 6) I have been touched by the deep love and concern for the ailing partners of my cousins and aunts and uncles. Lots of serious health problems that demand 24/7 tough and gently love and concern. I was deeply moved and impressed by their love and care for one another.

     What I say here about the States is also true of my friends  in the U.K. who were first on my list for visiting. Yes, I am richly blessed.

     And now, the last few days here, I am with my beloved Katrina again, and her mom and Dave and Ann, her parents. Soon I will be with my brother John, and his wife, Donna, who have been more than super supportive during this whole time.

      I think that this is enough for now. I will try once more before I leave next Sunday to collect a few more thoughts together. I was telling our people here that they have Trump and we have Zuma, so there are challenges all around.  Love and Peace, Cas.

PS. Fr. Guy’s checkup was delayed because the machine wasn’t working but we will hear from him next week. So far, he is holding his own. He should have been dead last May, 2015, but here he still is. Call it the power of prayer, as he explains to the doctors who are baffled by his condition. He should be dead, but….. Thanks to you all for you prayers for him.

July 23, 2016

     Well, so far things have gone like clockwork. A few minor adjustments. My overall experience was 1) being rejuvenate and energized by meeting with family and friends and catching up on our lives together. Some I haven’t seen for many years. 2) Everyone of them is somehow doing something to make our lives, planet, society better. (Soup kitchens, home gardens, helping autistic children, doing operations for free for crippled children, helping those who are down and out, unemployed, homeless, tutoring kids after school, designing programs for high school students that give them skills in manufacturing so that they can get jobs in those companies who have been helping with their tuition while they worked part time as apprentices, growing organic crops, taking youth to third world countries to give them an experience regarding the lives of the majority of people who are impoverished and struggling, teaching kids and others how to use computers and other modern things, running summer programs for youth, etc. etc. etc. Everyone is doing something to make a better society. I am impressed and encouraged to see this great spirit.

     I have been saddened by the tone of the Republican convention. It was, I felt, too negative, and personal in the sense of being sometimes vicious in remarks about some of the people involved in the political process. It could have been better to try to emphasize some positive things. Also, I really don’t think that Trump is presidential material, for many reasons. But, we have similar problems in South Africa. There is far too much corruption, lack of transparency, and willingness to be violent. (Again, much like the States)

     The local elections will be, I believe, at the end of August. That will tell the story of what really counts and what is peripheral. The results will help us to understand what the future will be like.

    Among many other things, I saw my niece, Jenna, today and was impressed with her maturity. She will be here with us on Sunday. I will see her again on Sunday when we have a family gathering at my cousin’s house (John and Ruth Severyn). Everyone has been super kind, generous, and hospitable, with an open house policy if I wanted to bring someone along. I had better stop now. I will get something out again after a few days. Love and peace, as usual. Cas.

   The last week, from May 16 to May 20, every evening was taken up with something, either visiting families or hearing confessions or attending meetings. Hey, no time for mischief.

    In between I managed to collect some letters from the kids at St. Vincent’s Home, for Katrina, where she spent a year as a volunteer. I think they will make her cry.

    On Sat. the 21^st of May, I concelebrated at a memorial Mass for Gerard Gabriel, who passed away suddenly a year ago. The whole family was there, and I knew most of the people since I made contact with the Gabriel family way back in 1967, when those who were there were just kids. Now they are grown up and have their own children and even grandchildren. One of them, Neil Gabriel is a mechanic and he took me home and took the car back to his house (my beautiful little Hyundai Atos 2005) for a service and probably a bit of repainting. I hope that it will be ready when I get back.

    On Sunday morning, departure day, after Mass, Estie Gabriel’s husband, Rami, picked me up and we brought communion to her at St. Augustine’s hospital. I took communion to her at least three times and thought that she was out of the hospital but one things got fixed and then another pitched up, including shingles and then blood clots. So that she was in the hospital for almost three weeks. I pray that she has finally gotten all those things straightened out now.

May 24, 2016

I left Durban Sunday afternoon at about 4pm (taken to the airport by Bishop Khumalo) and got the Joburg just after 5pm.

    Then I caught an overnight flight to London that left about 9pm and got into London just after 7am. Boykie and Pat were there to fetch me after I had gone through border control. That took over an hour and it seemed as though there were about 2 million visitors to go through the border.

    We came to their home about an hour’s drive from Heathrow Airport and off loaded my luggage and then headed for Brighton to meet Pat’s sister, Norita. We sat near the beach (all stones, not like South Africa) and had fish and chips for lunch. Delicious. Then we took Norita home and went back to Boykie and Pat’s place.

     I had not slept well on the plane to London, 11 ½ hr. flight, so I was tired. I asked to hit the sack since my eyes were closing on their own, and went to bed at 4:30. I got up at 6:30 to empty my bladder and went back to bed and slept till 11:30pm when I had a wee again. Then back to bed till 5:30 this morning. 11 hrs. Holy Moses. When did that ever happen before. But now I am ready for action. I am in their hands for the next two days and will then visit another family and friends with whom I worked or had a parishioners in Africa many yrs. ago. So far so good.  Cas.

May 26^th, 2016 (Thursday)

      I managed to visit several people whom I love and have connections with and today was brought to the last family I will be visiting before heading for the States on Saturday. Pat and Boykie have been lovely hosts and made me feel totally at home.  I miss them all, but I feel rejuvenated after seeing them and sharing life with them even for those few days. I will end here. We are having trouble with the internet getting the right WiFi. It may be out till I arrive in the States. We shall see. Keep well you all. I love you muchly. Cas.

June 21, 2016 (Tuesday)

    I have been on the road now for almost a month. I have connected with friends in the UK on the way to the States. I left  SA, on May 22^th and arrived in London on the 27^th, a Monday. I was hosted by friends from our Africa days till the 28^th, a Saturday, when I left for the States ---London to Philadelphia to Charlotte, NC.

I was welcomed at the airport by my beloved Katrina and her mom, Ann.  Lots of hugs and kisses. They took my to my brother and sister in law’s in Greensboro. We had a family Mass that Sunday and spent the day together before some left to get back to work at Aiken, SC. Where Ann is a doctor. They left the car they had brought up for my use with my brother. I have a marvelous family and can’t thank God enough for them. I don’t think I can ever appreciate how much they go out of their way to do everything for me, making sacrifices I don’t even know of. They are great.

    We visited a few friends and then I set out on my great trek around the States and Canada. First stop, my cousin Ken and his wife Stacy in Ocean Pines, MD.

June 27, 2016.

     Hey, I think that you are just going to have to give me a break. I am enjoying this tooooo much. If you check the itinerary, you will see where I am day by day. I am up to 27t h June. I will be with my brother Bill and his wife Marci tonight. It has been pretty much like clockwork. I think that the highlight has been (there are many but this is the biggest one) my visit to my sister who is in a care home. She was caught off guard by surprise and we were able to spend most of the morning together. She has (it is a part of her sickness) a negative view of life and feels that she is in this place because her family doesn’t want her. I explained that this was the best place for her because she is looked after 24/7. Wherever she stayed, often there would be no one at home and the family, because they love her soooo much, was worried that something could happen while they are away (working) and she was alone and that is why they were willing to organize a beautiful place for her knowing that she was well looked after. She is in a wheel chair and can’t walk without help. But she looked much better than when I saw her last time (2012). That made me very happy and I could give her some really good hugs and even a kiss to let her know that I really do love her very very much.

    I will let you know how things are going from time to time but now I want to take a break and phone some people who may be expecting me this week just to let them know, that, yes, I will be there.

Love and Peace, Cas.

April 26, 2016

Holy Moses, again, more than a month has gone by. Winter is now beginning to show its fangs. For you, not much, but once you get used to the semi-tropical climate of Durban, 50C is like freezing.

Let’s look back. Holy Week. Pope Francis took a page out of my book. I have been washing women’s feet on Holy Thursday as long as I can remember. But this year there was a slight twist. Because I have been babying my bad left knee, I asked the altar servers to put a chair in the middle and the basin, water and towel, also in the middle, so as one came in from the left and got his/her feet washed, the next would come from the right, and I would remain in the middle so I wouldn’t bugger up my knee. I didn’t move from one to one, they moved. Inovation. But we got the job done and it was my pleasure to be able to get down off my high horse and show a bit of humility.

One of our inhabitants of the old folk’s home, Fr. Simon, Dutch, 85 yrs. old died peacefully after a long illness (he was on oxygen 34/7 for many months). May he finally rest in peace.

     I contacted several builders and architects regarding what we can build if we have no money. They are very helpful, but, I don’t think they understand. Ha! We want to build a temporary church as strong and as cheap as possible, and we have very little to work with. We keep praying. We would probably need about US$20,000 and it is a joke to think that we are actually able to raise that with our poor poor people. The Bishop and the parish priest keep looking the other way. I think that most bishops are willing to give permission but say just don’t ask me for money as I have my own problems. That’s life.

     I continue to have Mass every morning at the hospital since the chaplain still hasn’t arrived. It’s about two months now. I am leaving for my home leave on the 22^nd of May, and they will have to find someone else of go on a Communion diet, the sisters, that is and the few patients who receive communion.

     I did a lot of grass cutting and bush clearing (the bush is intruding on our property, not respecting the fact that it is climbing well over our fence. Lots of thorns so I have to wear gloves. Keeps me out of mischief.

      I have had several School children’s masses and I enjoy being with the youngsters. I hope to be talking to the seniors in a week or so , outside of Mass, and I want to challenge them to use their talents to build and not destroy. We have been having student demonstrations where violence breaks out and buildings get set on fire. They don’t want to pay for their university education. They think is should be free. It is true that many really are gifted but can’t come anywhere near affording to pay the fees. But burning buildings (even a library and a clinic) is not helping the cause. It is much like the Wild West syndrome in the States. Have gun and will travel. Shoot and ask questions later.

     Several people have been coming regularly for help. I was beginning to get the feeling that they thought I was a mobile ATM machine and eventually had to say, no, maybe next month. Hard to do but once the dependency germ has taken root, the next thing is a symbiotic relationship. Some of the needs are genuine and you have to kind of smell things out a bit. When they do get help (when I think it is genuine and have some help to  give ) the tell me thanks. I tell them that I will tell those who made the help available thanks in their name since I don’t have the money myself. “The poor you will always have with you.” Why?

    One of the priest that was in the hospital that I was bringing communion to passed away and I was at his funeral. But I had an appointment with my travel agent to pick up my tickets. I asked her to delay the pickup for at least an hour. I sat near the door. The funeral service was supposed to start at 9am. It was about 90F already. I had my shorts on under the alb and was still sweating. We finally started at about 20 past 9. At 10:15 the bishop started his homily (sermon…he usually talks for between 30 and 45 minutes) and I did some calculating and figured that this would go on till at least 12 noon. So at 10:30, I slipped out the side door and had to fight to get out of the parking but managed to keep my appointment at a bit past 11am. When I came back shortly after 12 noon, they were still in church, but were just beginning to come out. I can’t take these long services any more. I get locked into a sitting position and it takes a while to get unlocked.

     We then had another funeral the next week for Fr. Henry, 83 yrs. old. A good friend of the late Fr. Simon.  A huge funeral as he was a very beloved man and really was a brother to all people. He loved music, has a good sense of humor, was always ready to help anyone any time. We will miss him terribly.

     In between I managed to get my grand niece, Katrina, on the phone and that picked up my spirits again. She is battling to find work. She has a couple of vague offers and is waiting for the results of her interviews. I miss her. It was the first time that I had a member of the family with whom to share life with for a whole year. It was great while it lasted. The kids at the orphanage really loved her too.

     I have been trying to get permission from the Prison dept. to come to say Mass, hear confessions, and do some spiritual counseling for the Catholic inmates. I filled out sheaves of paper, got my fingerprints put in the system (I discovered that I really am not a criminal. The fingerprints are not connected to any of my escapades). But when all the papers were filled in and all the “I’s dotted and “t’s” crossed, the prison chaplain said the cut off point was 70yrs.  ha. Why didn’t he tell me that 4 months ago when, after a face to face, we started this process.  I will still cajole him till he gives in. I can still walk and talk and don’t need a wheel chair, although that shouldn’t be a problem in this day and age when considering the “ physically challenged.” We shall see.

     Lots of other things but let’s move on to now. I am back in Mthatha ( I brought Fr. Macarius along. He is about 97% blind and gets bored sitting the whole day in the old folk’s home. Some people can’t pronounce his name so that call him Fr. Macaroni. So? ) We left MD (Mater Dolorosa, the name of the old folk’s home…. Bad name) on Sunday the 24^th after a Mass at my outstation Savannah Park. We got the news that another one of our brother there at MD who has been trying to die for months now (cancer, progressive, constant pain, reached the highest limits of pain killers and then nothing else could be done) and finally succeeded in persuading the lord to give him the final call.  We left the house that morning about 7:30 and he died about noon or so. God was merciful to him. Here we have been visiting our old mission at Landsend where Macarius built a school to get the kids off the street and is still loved and remember by the people there. We also visited Fr. Guy’s boys and had supper with them on Monday evening. They are very good cooks. After the meal, to pay or respects to the ancestors, we called on Jack (as in Daniels) for a bit of help. It was a nice evening and good to catch up on who was now doing what. We are going back tomorrow for a formal board meeting (BOM… board of management) to plan the way forward.  

     We intended to also attend a CMM meeting on Thursday and return home on Friday but because we got the news that Br. Adrian will be buried on Friday, we decided to leave on Thurs. to be at home when they bury our dear brother with whom we shared the last months of his painful life. We will accompany him on his final journey.

    As I said, there is lots more but let this suffice as a quick update.

I leave for my home leave on the 22^nd of May, as I said, and I have already packed my suitcase and carry on so that in case there is any need, I can leave at the drop of a hat.

     I have tried to fine tune my leave so that all on what day and at what time we can meet and share life a bit.  I will include it here. Don’t laugh. If I don’t let people know a year ahead of time, when I get there I find that they are in Beijing or Rio or something and then I won’t see them for 8 yrs. Too much long for me. Love and Peace, Cas.  Here is the schedule, more or less .

November 14, 2015—Finalized itinerary for Home leave 2016

(As you can see from this itinerary, I am very relational. Relationships are precious to me. I am sorry if I have damaged or strained our relationship in anyway and ask your forgiveness and a chance to make up for whatever it was. You may think that I am mad to undertake such an itinerary, but the truth is that it is you and your love and support that have kept me and continue to keep me alive in my spirit and able to continue to be of service to God’s people. May God bless you for your enduring friendship over many, many years. )

(You are in here somewhere!)

   

*May 22—leave Durban for London

May 23—arrive London, stay till 28^th  stay with Boykie and Pat and Family til

*May 28—Lv. London for Charlotte  via Chicago

May 28—Arrive Charlotte and Greensboro

June 1—lv. For Ocean City

June 3,4,5—D.C.

June 5-6—Warrenton

June 7 Vern & Mary Sue

June 8, Shepherdstown, W.Va  Larry Goodwin

June 9-10, Shillington PA CPS sisters

June 11,12,13—NYC Nino, Catrina

June 14, Pat & Jim Francek , Hungtinton, CT, on to  Sherbrooke, Que. (cmm)15,—Sherbrooke,

June 16-—Ottawa—Ken & Cheryl, OMI, Alec Campbell (overnight)

June 17---Whitby (Sylvia Skrepichuk)

June 18---Supper Nicholas’

June 19---evening at Terry McCann (back with him in the morning)

, 20, 21—, Toronto

June 22—Youngstown NY, (late afternoon) to Retreat Center—supper with them and Ivan and Nimo

June 23 Woodstock, Ont. On to Detroit till July 1

June 25—Bullock family reunion—Chris and Chuck

26 June—Thanksgiving Mass, St. Bernard Sem. Friends and family, coffee and donuts—9am

July 2—Hirmers—Lake Michigan  on to Milwaukee

July 2,3,4,5,—Milwaukee

July -6-12 —Chicago

July 12—fly Chicago (Midway) to Denver overnight (visit two families)

July 13—fly---Denver --- Burbank—(Los Angeles)

July 14-19— Los Angeles and Santa Barbara

July 20-. Fly---Burbank to Oakland--

July 20-25 San Francisco, Berkeley, Livermore

July 25—fly Oakland CA to Chicago (Midway)

July 26—Northern Indiana

July 27—Indpls.

July 28—North Vernon

July 30 Evansville (Bishop Gettelfinger—classmate retired)

July 31—St. Meinrad—class reunion

Aug. 4—New Albany (Gettelfinger family)

Aug. 5—Louisville—Lou Harpenau (classmate)

 Aug. 6—Sue and Scott

Aug.7—Luisa KY. (Sr. Pat Cataldi, CPS)

Aug. 8—Atlanta

Aug. 10—Aiken, SC

Aug 12—back to Greensboro

*Aug. 14—Charlotte to Joburg.

 Ar. Joburg-Aug. 16 (contact Basil to leave baggage with them for that week in Zambia)

(Dep. For Lusaka-Aug. 17 Lv. Lusaka-Aug. 24 to Joburg—stay in Joburg till the 31st of Aug. )

*Aug. 31-Joburg to Dbn.