Past & Present Spiritual Directors

We’ve been honoured to travel with many priests and bishops over the years. Their presence adds depth, joy and spiritual meaning to every pilgrimage.

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Cardinal Stephen Brislin

Cardinal Stephen Brislin, formerly of Cape Town and now of Johannesburg, has led four pilgrimages organised by Fowler Tours, taking groups to the Holy Land, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Egypt, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Turkey. He is seen here in Jerusalem with Southern Cross editor Günther Simmermacher, Fowler Tours owner Gail Fowler, and the late guide Rimon Makhlouf. When His Eminence received the “red hat” from Pope Francis in the Vatican in September 2023, Gail was there to witness the event and was among the very first people to be greeted by him as a cardinal.

Archbishop William Slattery OFM

Archbishop emeritus William Slattery of Pretoria, a Franciscan, led The Southern Cross pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Rome, Assisi and Rome in May 2013; to the Holy Land, Rome, Turin and Florence in 2015; the Holy Land and Italy in 2017; and the Holy Land and the Passion Play in Oberammergau in August 2023. He is seen here at St Anne’s Church in Jerusalem.

Father Emil Blaser OP (RIP)

Father Emil Blaser, a Dominican, led several pilgrimages organised by Fowler Tours for Radio Veritas and The Southern Cross, including the Pilgrimages to the Canonisation of Sts John Paul II and John XXIII in 2013 and Mother Teresa in 2016. He led the special Saints of Italy pilgrimage in 2015 as well as pilgrimages to the Holy Land & Jordan and Holy Land & Rome. He is seen here in the Duomo in Milan during the Saints of Italy pilgrimage. Fr Blaser passed away in November 2021. His name is now on the Fowler Tours Mortuary List, with the names of other deceased Fowler Tours pilgrims. One Mass per pilgrimage is said for the repose of our late pilgrims and those whom the members of the group place on our list.

Bishop Victor Phalana

Bishop Victor Phalana of Klerksdorp (centre) led the 2018 pilgrimage to Catholic Ireland, which also included the now late Fr Jonathan Shand of Pretoria (right) and Fr Peter Whitehead of East London (left). In September 2023, Bishop Phalana led a Southern Cross pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Egypt, and in 2024 he went with Fowler Tours to Italy, Croatia and Medjugorje. The three clerics are seen here at a statue of St Patrick at Croagh Patrick in western Ireland.

Bishop Vincent Zungu OFM

Bishop Vincent Mduduzi Zungu OFM of Port Elizabeth led a diocesan Jubilee Year pilgrimage to Rome in June 2025. A highlight for his group of pilgrims was having their group called out among the Jubilee pilgrimage groups during the weekly general audience of Pope Leo XIV. They also had the grace of entering the Holy Doors of Rome’s major basilicas. Also in the group was Fr Florence Mkenda (next to the bishop).

Father Lawrence Mduduzi Ndlovu

Fr Lawrence Mduduzi Ndlovu of Johannesburg led the Southern Cross pilgrimage to Catholic France in October 2019. Fr Ndlovu, the spiritual director of the Sacred Heart Sodality in Johannesburg, is seen here preaching in the Sacre Coeur basilica in Paris. He is going to lead the Saints of Italy pilgrimage in May 2023.

Bishop Joao Rodrigues

Bishop Joao Rodrigues of Tzaneen led a special pilgrimage of prayer for the sainthood cause of Benedict Daswa to Portugal, Spain and France. He is seen here preaching in the famous cathedral of Tours, France.

Father Russell Pollitt SJ

Fr Russell Pollitt SJ, director of the Jesuit Institute SA, retreat director, author and media personality, led his first pilgrimage with Fowler Tours to the Holy Land and Italy in May 2019. He also led the tour to the papal Mass in Mauritius in September 2019. He is seen here preaching in the basilica of St Sebastian in Rome.

Father Paul Beukes OMI

Fr Paul Beukes OMI, then of Eldorado Park and now vicar-general of Johannesburg, led the St Eugene de Mazenod Pilgrimage in September 2019. The specially-designed Fowler Tours pilgrimage to the group to Paris, Lourdes, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseilles, Paray-le-Monial, Nevers and other places.In 2024, Fr Beukes led a pilgrimage of Rivionia parishes to Portugal, Spain and France. Fr Beukes is seen here preaching during Mass at the tomb of St Eugene in the cathedral of Marseilles. At the left is Fr Bonga Majola OMI, who guided the group in Marseilles and Aix-en-Provence.

Fr Chris Townsend

Fr Chris Townsend of Pretoria led his parish of Zwavelpoort to the Holy Land on a Fowler Tours pilgrimage in September 2023. He is now working with us on plans for an exciting pilgrimage in 2026. He is seen here in a religious items shop in Bethlehem, holding a mosaic he received as a gift from the owners.

Bishop Giuseppe Sandri (R.I.P)

Bishop Giuseppe (or Joe) Sandri led the Southern Cross pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Rome and Egypt in September 2013. He was scheduled to lead the pilgrimage to Catholic France in October 2019. Sadly, he died on 30 May 2019, the feast the Ascension.

Father S’milo Mngadi

Father S’milo Mngadi of Johannesburg archdiocese, is a media personality and author whose first pilgrimage with Fowler Tours went to the Holy Land and Egypt in September 2017. He is seen here blessing couples renewing their wedding vows in Cana.

Father Sean Wales CSsR

Father Sean Wales, a Redemptorist, has led two Fowler Tours pilgrimages to the Holy Land, Cairo & Jordan and Holy Land, Cairo, Rome & Assisi. He is seen here celebrating Mass on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Father Kapena Shimbomeh OMI

Father Kapena (front, third from left) led groups from Good Shepherd parish in Walvis Bay, Namibia, to the Holy Land in August 2017, 2018, and 2019, and a special Advent Pilgrimage to Rome in December 2019. The group is seen in Capernaum with a statue of St Peter. Fowler Tours’ Gail is standing front-left, Michael sitting front right.

Father Larry Kaufmann CSsR

Father Larry Kaufmann CSsR, the celebrated author and mission priest, went with Fowler Tours to the Holy Land and Egypt in November 2016. He is at right here with guide Gaby Makhlouf and Gail Fowler on the Sea of Galilee.

Fr Clyde Muropa

Fr Clyde Muropa SJ, based in at Our Lady of the Wayside parish in Harare, Zimbabwe, led memorable pilgrimages to Italy, Croatia and
Medjugorje in May 2024, and to Portugal, Spain and France in May 2025 — SIX countries in two years! He is seen here celebrating Mass in Our Lady of Fatima Church in Lisbon, Portugal.

Fathers Christopher Slater & Peter Whitehead

Popular East London priests Fr Christopher Slater (left) and Fr Peter Whitehead (second left) led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in June 2024. It was not their first pilgrimage with Fowler Tours. Fr Whitehead was in the Catholic Ireland group in 2018 with Bishop Phalana (see above), and Frs Whitehead and Slater were both on the 2022 pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Croatia and the Seven Churches of Revelation in Turkey, led by Cardinal Brislin. They are seen here on that pilgrimage in Ephesus with Fr Vukani Masingo CMM.

Fr Daniel Kivuw'a IMC

Consolata Missionaries Father Daniel Kivuw’a of Pretoria led a very special Jubilee Year pilgrimage to Italy in June 2025. It took the group to Rome, Assisi, Florence, Pisa, Milan and Turin. In Turin they attended the annual procession of Our Lady of Consolation, one of Italy’s great feasts. The group also had the grace of entering the Holy Doors of Rome’s major basilicas.

Father David Evans

Father David Evans of St Patrick’s in Benoni went with Fowler Tours to the Holy Land in March 2022, our first pilgrimage after the pandemic. He is seen here at right with Fr Michael Murphy while celebrating Mass on a boat on the Sea of Galilee.

Father Thomas Tshabalala OFM

For many years Father Thomas Tshabalala OFM worked as a tour guide in the Holy Land and returned on pilgrimage with Fowler Tours in September 2013. He is seen here with Fr Christopher Siyabonga at Mass in Rome.

Father Keith Gordon-Davis

Father Keith Gordon-Davis of Bryanston, Johannesburg, went with Fowler Tours to the Holy Land in May 2018. He is seen here with Fr Theo Macupe while celebrating Mass on Mount Carmel, Israel.

Father Tony Nunes

Father Tony Nunes of Rosebank, Johannesburg, went with Fowler Tours to the Holy Land and Egypt in February 2015.