SOUTH AFRICAN WIRE CROSS

Handcrafted by Vusi Phiri and friends From Bosco Village near Johannesburg

Background of these very special crosses…

Five years ago, at the age of 15, Vusi approached the Director of Bosco Youth Centre, Fr Francois Dufour, a Salesian Priest, and begged for financial assistance towards his high school studies. Even though Vusi comes from a very needy background, it is not a good policy to keeping offering handouts, and so Fr Francois challenged him instead to produce things which he would pay him for, and try to market the items for Vusi.
Vusi had no idea of what he could possibly produce with his hands, but Fr Francois had noticed that he was very talented at making wire models of cars, bicycles, airplanes,… However, these would be difficult to find an outlet for, because many artists are already producing these sorts of items for the tourist market. So Fr Francois suggested instead that he should try make wire crosses. The first few were of very rudimentary design, but as time went by Vusi succeeded in producing a variety of elegant crosses of all shapes and sizes, which are very typical of African wire craft, and attractive in their originality. Vusi is now pursuing further studies, the cost of which he pays by means of the sale of crosses which he produces in his spare time. He has taught a few of his friends the tricks of the trade, and who knows, one day he may even be able to create some employment opportunities through this small industry.

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THE WAY OF LIGHT

From Passiontide to Eastertide From Via Crucis to Via Lucis

We are all familiar with the “Way of the Cross”, Via Crucis; but not all of us have heard of the “Way of Light” beyond the cross, Via Lucis!

The Via Crucis is especially appropriate during the forty days of Lent. However, during Eastertide, the Stations of the Cross no longer relate to the liturgical season. The “Way of Light” provides us with a complementary devotion in which we can continue our walk with Jesus, the Risen Lord, during the fifty days of Easter and Pentecost, substituting Christ’s passion and death, with the events recorded in scripture, which took place from the day of his Resurrection right up until Pentecost. The Way of Light is intended to heighten the reality of the life and joy of the Risen Saviour in the consciousness of the faithful. It is an Easter proclamation in figurative art. Like the “Way of the Cross”, the “Way of Light” is the journey heavenward, nourishing the pilgrim’s faith, hope and love. A Christian life cannot avoid the cross. However, the “Way of Light” reminds us that its destiny is the joy of Easter!

The first “Way of Light” was blessed on Easter Sunday 1994 at the hill of Becchi, the birthplace of St John Bosco, a place Pope John Paul II referred to as “the Hill of the Young People’s Beatitudes”. The inspiration was that of a Salesian priest, Fr Sabino Palumbieri and the artist, Giovanni Dragoni, captured the vision with fourteen stations carved in wood. Growing in popularity in Italy, firstly but becoming known elsewhere in less than ten years, the Via Lucis is likely to become as common as the Via Crucis. The first South African “Way of Light” was inaugurated at Bosco Youth Centre, Gauteng, on Pentecost Sunday 1998, and has already helped many to discover this Way as an inspirational and attractive devotion. The artist who illustrated this South African Via Lucis is Fr Pierre de la Croix, a French Missionary of Africa, who has a tremendous gift for inculturating the gospel through his art. A feature of this “Way of Light” is his illustration of each scene with personages reflecting the multi-racial composition of South African society. The apostles are neither all black nor all white, but a mixed bunch! Apart from St Peter, they are purposely depicted with youthful looks.

Based on Scripture, the fourteen “Stations of Light” remind us, in a world so full of despair and hopelessness, that we ought to be an Easter people. The Youth Ministry team at Bosco Youth Centre, in the Diocese of Johannesburg, has been able to realize how much this devotion appeals to young people as an antidote to the prevailing culture of death and pessimism. Several parishes in South Africa have weekly Via Lucis devotions during Eastertide, in the same way as they have the Via Crucis in Lent.

To make this devotion available in every home and parish during the Easter season,an A5 booklet has been printed in full colour, each page depicting one of the unique illustrations found at the Bosco Way of Light. Each facing page has a scripture text and a prayer for that station. Also available are A3 (R50) and A5 (R30) size prints of each of the fourteen stations, printed in full colour and packed together with a leaflet containing the scripture reading and prayers for each station. The texts are available in English, French, Zulu or Sotho.

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BOSCO AIDS PRODUCTS

AIDS PENDANTS AIDS PINS "True Love Waits"

The above pins is a symbol of our commitment against Aids! By wearing it, we are pride to say that as Christian we have the solution against the AIDS struggle.

The orange paper states:

Buy this symbol and support our effort to educate young people to change their behaviour. Have a look to our sexual educational program for Youth called “Love Matters” and give us some feedback

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CONGOLESE TABLES

Artistic Coffee Tables FOR SALE!

These tables are produced by Salesian past-pupils from Congo presently working hard in the centre of Jo'berg
to earn their living. Discover their project and support them!

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