Reception at South Africa House for Denis Hurley Centre

Dr Marie-Henry Keane OP with Her Excellency Nomatemba Tambo. Photo by Sarah Finucane

A reception, hosted by Her Excellency Nomatemba Tambo South African High Commissioner to the Court of St James at South African House, Trafalgar Square, took place on Tuesday, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Denis Hurley Association UK.

Guests included Christine Allen, director of CAFOD, Robina Rafferty, former Chair of the DHA, Cllr Kennedy Rodrigues, Patron Lord Gill, Fr Simon Buckley, Janice Byrne, Trustee, Dr Karen Patten, Clare Dixon from CAFOD and Tony Dykes, former Head of Action for South Africa.

"Archbishop Denis Hurley was a courageous opponent of South Africa' apartheid regime for 50 years, dubbed by opponents as 'the scourge of apartheid" and 'an ecclesiastical Che Guevara'" the DHA state on their website.

In her address at the reception, Dr Marie-Henry Keane OP said: "Denis Hurley OMI was a magnificent human being. Generous, bighearted, compassionate, brave, intelligent a fearless defender of all who suffered injustice the bad old days of Apartheid South Africa. And he paid dearly for his efforts. His long life was largely spent at the service of the poor, the marginalised, the abandoned, the homeless and refugees."

She continued: "Hurley was passionate about liturgy. Public worship. In his preparation for these celebrations he was at his most annoying at times. He expected perfection of anyone involved. It has been said that the difference between a committed liturgist and and a terrorist is that you can negotiated with as terrorist - but not with a liturgist.

Denis Hurley was free from confessional narrowness. He reached out to people of all creeds and no creed. He was an inspiring speaker. `when he spoke in public crowds flocked to hear him."

"The parents of Archbishop Hurley, Denis and Theresa, came from Skibbereen, east Cork, Ireland. In 1913 they travelled more than 6,000 miles from their beloved homeland to South Africa , in search of a better life for themselves and their children. Denis senior was obliged, as as assistant lighthouse keeper, to move periodically from one lighthouse to another Denis Junior was three years old when they came to live on Robben Island. He and his sister Eileen been began school there. His teacher asked: "What religion are you?" He replied: 'Irish.'

During a good humoured sparring with Madiba, Nelson Mandela, Hurley boasted: "I lived on Robben Island long before you did."

On Friday, 13 February 2004, the Archbishop was in Durban North celebrating the jubilee of of Our Lady of Fatima Convent and School, which, 50 years earlier ha had opened. I accompanied to his car afterwards, kissed him goodbye and away he went, driven by Father Derek Butt. The flamboyant trees along the way were at their best.

'Isn't it wonderful that we have all these trees and flowers' he said. These were his last words. At 11.30 am, within a few minutes of arriving home at Sabon House, and still sitting in the passenger seat, Denis Eugeine Hurley was declared dead.

He has gone to God but his legacy of compassionate service is alive and well in the Denis Hurley Centre Durban. The current director Raymond Perrier has been faithful to the ethos, but in place by Hurley.

The new Denis Hurley Centre was officially opened on 9 November 2015. We began the celebration in Emmanuel Cathedral by listening attentively to the Call to Prayer, coming from the minaret of the Mosque next door. Many of our Muslim neighbours where there with is.

For years there has been no need to buy candles for church services because the local Hindu women came regularly with supplies and then devoutly prostrated themselves before the altar, worshipping our Creator.

Today the needy from Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu and other communities are offered medical care, food, showers, clean clothing, counselling and skills which enable them to seek employment. Raymond and his companions can do all this, and more, because the generosity of ordinary folk who know that every penny makes a difference. Thank God and bless each one.

LINKS

Denis Hurley Centre: www.denishurleycentre.org/

To see pictures from the evening, visit: www.facebook.com/DenisHurleyCentre