SOUTH AFRICA, Francis Boulle. South Africa has the honour of having as Patroness, Mary Assumed into Heaven. The nation was placed under her Patronage in 1952 during the National Marian Congress which was being held in Durban that year.
Fifty years later a group of lay people who had been trying to get the feast day celebrated more publicly, organized a Golden Jubilee event in the Archdiocese of Cape Town. It was a great success with the Salesian’s church in Lansdowne, Our Lady Help of Christians, being packed to overflowing.
Each year since then this group who belong to the Schoenstatt Movement together with Schoenstatt Fathers and Sisters have organized a similar honouring of our Patroness. It is and has always been a liturgical celebration and not a Holy Mass as the wish is to focus on Mary who always leads us to Her Son.
Queen and Patroness we call upon you
This year, 2011, there was a change in that the youth of the Archdiocese presented relevant petitions to our Patroness and placed lit candles around Her statue which was surrounded by flowers and crowns. It was the desire to offer Mary, who is a Queen, a Crown recognizing Her as each one`s personal Queen. Each of the Archdiocese’s eight deaneries was represented and each read a petition to which the congregation sang the response “Queen and Patroness we call upon you”. With gratitude the organizers noted that the church was full despite it being a wet winter day.
Liturgical Dance
As has been the way for a number of years, the Salesian band provided vibrant music for the congregation’s singing. The Archdiocesan Liturgical Dancers gracefully honoured the Patroness with a new “Ave Maria” with the congregation watching and singing.
The celebrant was Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence Henry who gave the final benediction. Fr Peter-John Pearson, Vicar-general, preached on Mary’s assumption.
Towards the 60th anniversary of Mary’s patronage
To the joy of the organizers, many commented most favourably on the event. As one said “The bar has been raised”. This presents a challenge, especially as 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of Mary’s patronage of our nation and the 50th anniversary of the start of the second Vatican council. The challenge is accepted ”with Hope & Joy”.
