Archbishop Hurley honoured

Every year in February, there is a special memorial ‘Hurley Weekend’ at Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban, in honour of former Archbishop Denis Hurley who died in February 2004.

This year, the preachers at the special Hurley Masses were Fr Neil Frank (the new head of the combined OMI Province for Southern Africa) and Archbishop Abel Gabuza (the Coadjutor for Durban) preaching for the first time in what will in due course be his cathedral). Each Memorial Mass began with a procession of symbolically important relics which were placed at the altar: his mitre and crozier, and a chalice given to Archbishop Hurley by the Marist Brothers 72 years ago when he became a bishop.

The Hurley Weekend is a wonderful opportunity to give feedback to Denis Hurley Centre stakeholders. DHC acting Chair, Emeritus Bishop Rubin Phillip, challenged the 200-strong audience to take concrete action to transform the world as Archbishop Hurley and Paddy Kearney had done.

Director Raymond Perrier then made a presentation of what was achieved in 2018. Among the impressive statistics: over 100 000 meals served to the homeless; 26 000 patients seen by the clinic team; 2 200 volunteering sessions in the kitchen; 14 people with disabilities benefiting from paid employment at the DHC; and R40 000 raised through the sale of second hand books.

For more information, please visit www.denishurleycentre.org.