Clocking in with 38 websites and a further 12 in development there is seems to be no stopping them.

One of them is the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference which is logging Thousands and Thousands of hits.

We are also super proud of Holy Trinity’s website – this site is a must see and even has downloadable homilies, each and every week!!

Check out our website to see if we can help you or call Sheree on 031 7008978

www.mariannhillmedia.org

They are also endorsed by the Archbishop William Slattery, the Bishop of Evangelisation for The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference.

You will find them at all good Catholic Bookshops, countrywide.

There I was in a Cricket Stadium, plastered with corporate sponsored signs,  under a bright blue winter sky.  I sat almost directly in front of the proceedings on the grass dressed smarter than I usually am. I was trying hard!

On my own, but surrounded by the Catholic Christian family, I was filled with delight.  My soul sang out, not my voice because I am a white boy who does not know the Zulu words and I did not manage to get a program. “This white boy has gotta learn Zulu” I thought.

I looked up into the heavens at one point and saw the Hilton Hotel standing tall, as if it was trying to loom over us.  “You and your mirrors can try and loom…but we have message bigger, better and longer lasting than the mirrored me luxurious  lifestyle you are a monument to.” I thought to myself.

So far the experience and my own mind had taught me some profound things.

The corporate world with its messages, the Vanity of mirrored buildings and luxurious  lifestyles and being a white boy born and raised in South Africa who can’t speak Zulu.  I am so deep!

Then the Cardinal spoke and I realized how much more I need to learn.

Wisdom so deep and solid….

“Pax et Bonum” The Cardinal motto under his coat of arms….”Peace and good will”  sounds passive but it is not….it is something we must actively strive for on a daily basis.

Then why do we have racial categorization, like Black, White, Indian and Coloured when we are actually …..South Africans.

This big man can say such deep and challenging things so simply and yet without diluting them in any way. This is why I am thrilled the Cardinal is on Twitter….in 140 characters I am convinced he will produce gems for me to ponder, puzzle and strive towards in my daily life….He is now on my favourites list….I think he should be on yours. Follow him @Cardinalnapier.

“Here we are now…entertain us” were the words that came to mind as I sat with my wife and friends at the Barnyard Theatre on Friday night!

Some of you might not know these song words, but they were sung by the greatest Grunge band ever…Nirvana!

So….

The Children are safe with great baby sitters

I have a Gin and Tonic in front of me

There are three great, thin crusted pizza’s…with chilli…in front of me.

My lovely wife and Friends are next to me…this was the making of a good night!….and yet I was not, at first, madly excited about going out…

The nights show was “Six of the best!” A Musical, not my favorite sort of live entertainment, featuring the hits of Meat Loaf, Cher, Billy Joel, Pink, Bon Jovi and Freddie Mercury. Again, the artists are not on my top 10 list, or even my top 100 list.

I love the crashing sound of punk rock, and the deep thoughtful lyrics of Alternative hip hop rap / heavy metal.

So, I am loving the pizza and the company of my wife and friends, but hoping the Gin and Tonic will be very good and that time will bend to my will and move faster…

and you know what ?….I had a blast! I loved every minute of the show! And, I only had 1 Gin and Tonic …only one drink the whole night and still loved it.

Between the songs a Computer voice, one exactly like the voice used by the strange tv show, Solitary, gave strange details about each artist.

“Billy Joel worth 160 million…”

“Meat Loaf worth 50 million”

“Cher worth 200 million”

Having a ton of fun, smiling and dancing in my seat, I found myself wondering how much Mother Teresa was worth and how much Abbott Francis, the founder the Catholic Printing Press for which I work, was worth?

I know good people like that are not valued in the same way as entertainers, but between the drum beats and slips of Gin and Tonic I thought of the similarity between the Mother Teresa’s and the Abbot Francis’s and the Pink’s and the Cher’s of this world.  They engage people!  Not in the same way …but they do engage people. They draw them in and show them a vision of the world as they see it.

I see so many people who do such good work and yet they fail to achieve the support they need and honestly deserve.

Why, why not?

Are they “singing” out the story of their good work, are they “singing” out the needs of the people they help and serve and save? I puzzled to myself.

I don’t think I have all the answers, but I do think good people must become slightly less self effacing and humble and “sing” out and engage others in the work they are doing and then raise some money or gain some support.

Did I say why I was at the Barnyard Theatre?…  I don’t think so.

I was there to support a fundraiser for two Brilliant young people from our parish who are going to world youth day.

Sheree Conway is one of the two young people who will be attending World Youth day from Pinetown Parish, a parish from the Archdiocese of Durban.

Sheree works with me at Mariannhill Mission Press and heads up the Web Media Division.

Sheree knew how to engage us and make a buck or two for a great cause.

When she builds websites for good organizations she tries to get them to tell their story in such a way that one feels engaged, in a way that one would feel like they want to be part of this story.

I am not saying we need to act like rock super stars, but I am saying we must offer others the chance to be engaged to your story……and you know where engagement leads…that’s right …to marriage….the ultimate human state of commitment.

Engage people and they will commit to your cause,….very possibly for life.

Marriannhill Media is a new sub division of Marriannhill Mission Press.

Mariannhill Media is based around the idea of the inspiration of the media world, that keeps evolving … so let us evolve your business media to new heights.

Visit the brand new Mariannhill Media website: www.mariannhillmedia.org

Just in case you did not know…but We’re really very excited to Help you !!

News Snippets :

We have had a great week, Kate and Sheree have started full time with us, so our team is even better!

Kate is heading up our Office admin and Sheree is heading up our web division.

Raymond is working on convert books to formats that fit the new tablet revolution.

We are working on some super exciting jobs…but will always have room to do your job.