‘Once upon a time, a rabbi, an imam and a priest were arrested for taking part in an anti-apartheid protest. They were locked together in the back of a police van where they started discussing the theological implications of compassion and justice. They enjoyed the dialogue so much that, after they were bailed out, they approached the Jewish Board of Deputies to ask if a venue could be arranged for them to continue such debates. This is how the interfaith movement started three decades ago in Cape Town.’ Jewish Board of Deputies
Father John Oliver was the public face of this movement.
The Zeekoevlei community has been hard hit in the past month with the loss of two valuable members of our community – Dan Archer and Father John Oliver. In the introspection that has followed their deaths, I have heard it said – and observed myself – that you never really know someone until you have been to their funeral. I had the memorable experience of attending the memorial service held for John Oliver at St George’s Cathedral this past Saturday, 20 July 2013.
Most of us at the vlei knew that Father John was the Rector of St Mark’s Church in District 6. We also knew that he had a passion for the environment, expressed in his loving rehabilitation of Van Blommestein Park and his support for the Save Princess Vlei campaign. Some of us were aware of his involvement in the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative. However, the extent of Father John’s influence on the Greater Cape Town community was brought home to me at his memorial service.
Paying tribute to Father John in prayer and meditation, song, dance and poetry were representatives from a wide range of religious, civil and environmental organisations:
Faith communities: *Muslim *Hindu *Catholic *Anglican *Ba’hai *Bhuddist *African *Hare Krishna *Western Cape Christian Ministers Association/ Forum *Cape Town Interfaith Initiative *Youth Interfaith Initiative *Anglican Student Society *St Mark’s District Six Liturgical Dancers
Civil society: *St. Luke’s Hospice *Gun Free South Africa *Freedom Park *Right to Know Campaign + Social Justice Coalition *Gender Reconciliation International *St Anne’s Homes for Abused Women & Children *South African Peace Alliance *City of Cape Town
Environmental organisations: *Princess Vlei Forum *SA Interfaith Environment Initiative
Patricia de Lille spoke on behalf of the City. The Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town,Thabo Makgoba, gave the sermon and Archbishop Desmond Tutu delivered the final blessing in Xhosa.
Father John’s funeral brought together all of Cape Town’s diversity under the vaulted arches of St George’s Cathedral and renewed my faith in the power of compassion and tolerance to bring about peace and understanding. In the words of the Sufi poets Rumi and Hafiz, ‘There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground.’ Father John embodied this sentiment in the way he lived his life.
In the words of one of representative of the Youth Interfaith Initiative, ‘I hope that his passion for peace spreads like wildfire through us all.”
A beautiful account. Many thanks for sharing. Condolences to Emma & the kids.
Thank you Lee..
Great report lee. Who would have guessed the such a humble man belied such great accomplishments.
This was so heartening Lee! I was not able to attend because of work commitments and was fortunate to attend the funeral. So this gave me lots of insight into the service by your indepth article. warm regards petrina roberts
This is a beautifully written account of events Lee. Thank you very much for this. Sadly I could not attend the funeral so it is very special for me to be able to get such a concise summary of people present and the overall ceremony. I met Father John long before I moved to the vlei. He held a “Conversation with God” study group which I attended then. So you can say that he was instrumental to open my (then atheistic) heart to the wonders and beauty of a spiritual life… This man definitely had an influence on so many people and we can feel very privileged that he chose of all places to live amongst the Vleibourhood.
Many thanks for this article, I found the memorial service to be a great tribute to Father John. I think he would have loved the interfaith nature of the program. It was very beautiful.
Thank you for sharing my article on Fr.John’s retirement of April. I have also written a personal account, after the funeral for Father John on 11 July:
http://findinghervoice.wordpress.com/
May Father John’s light continue to shine in all of us whose lives he illuminated.
Thank you for these reports of the service. We in the UK from St Mary’s Shortlands send our love and deepest sympathy to Emma, Sarah and Joseph. Father John was a special friend.
Father John conducted our Mum’s memorial services at St Mark’s in December 2012. WHat an amazing service he held for her and I can see he received the same. At the time he quoted a short poem from the Order of Service, it read “Those we love don’t go away,They walk beside us every day,Unseen, unheard, but always near,Still loved, still missed and very dear..” He will always walk besdie us.