22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR A

22nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. YEAR A

INTRODUCTION

We have gathered for worship this Sunday in order to give thanks to God for inviting us to the faith. But there is a question we should ask ourselves: would we have joined the church if we knew that our membership would bring us joy as well as suffering? If we were told today that we would have to suffer for the sake of our faith, what would we do?

GOSPEL READING
MATTHEW 16: 21 – 27

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”

NB: The Pilgrim statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary will continue visiting homes for as long as there are people who want to take her home, even for a second or third time.

ORDER YOUR OWN STATUE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

If you are interested in purchasing a statue the same as the one used for the Pilgrim Virgin, for your homes. Please send a WhatsApp message to the Parish Secretary on 0763802065. When we purchased them, the cost was R480 each including the delivery. We will order as a Parish. The order will be sent on the 1st of September 2026. Please make a payment before then.

Please be mindful of the designated parking for persons with disabilities.

Even if you are late for Mass, please leave the spaces FREE for persons with genuine disabilities

• Please be mindful of where you park your vehicles.
• Don’t park in front of the main entrance, making it difficult for the elderly and less-abled to get past.
• Don’t park in the driveway at the side of the hall.
• Don’t park in the designated disabled parking if you are able-bodied.
• THERE IS EXTRA PARKING UP NEAR THE PARISH OFFICE. PLEASE ASK ONE OF THE LEADERS TO OPEN THE MOTOR GATE

SSVDP SCHOOL SHOES’ PROJECT

THANK YOU everyone who made the donations.
If you still wish to support the cause, you can make donations to the account number below.

Bank acc details:
SSVDP
Standard Bank branch 051001
Acc: 220917248
Ref: Shoes

MARIA RATSCHITZ PILGRIMAGE

Sunday 13 September 2026. Transport @ R100pp will be available for those who would like to go. Contact Nokwazi the Parish Secretary @ RPP & Marjorie at St Jude to book your transport. There will be NO MASS in Ladysmith that Sunday. Mass will be as normal on Saturday at RPP.

ST ANTONINE’S HOME FOR THE AGED IN AMAKHASI – COLLECTIONS DURING SEPTEMBER

Second collection during Masses and there will be a box in the porch for donations in kind especially adult nappies.

THE GREAT AMEN

• Why is it in BIG BOLD letters?
• Why do we SING it?

The Great Amen comes in at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer & it is the congregation’s only participation in that prayer.
It is a proclamation of our faith and praise.

Meaning and Significance

• The “Yes” to God: The Hebrew word Amen translates to “truly,” “so be it,” or “I believe”.
• Seal of the Prayer: It acts as the people’s active assent and seal on the entire Eucharistic Prayer offered by the priest.
• Active Participation: It is considered the most important verbal response for the lay faithful during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
• Heavenly Union: It unites the gathered community with the worship of heaven, the angels, and the saints.

NOW YOU KNOW.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR AUGUST

For evangelisation in the city:

Let us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.

SICK & ELDERLY

Please pray for the sick & elderly of the parish, family & friends, especially:

Nokuthula Kubheka, Penny Powell, Jean Smith, Dolly Bimbrish, Alvin Govender, Mavis Makhubo, Norman Browne, Khohli Kunene, Barbara Amod, Sebenzile Molefe, Netta Liebenberg, Mthokozisi Mthembu, Avenel Aarons, Francesca Poonsamy, Dolly Govender, Ingrid Denzin, Margarida de Franca, Gugu Radebe, Niri Naidoo, Vincent van der Byl & Harald Schirge.

UPCOMING EVENTS @ RPP

• 12/09 Catechism teachers meeting @ RPP at 9am
• 18/09 (Fri) Exultation of the Holy Cross with Blessing of Crosses. Mass will be at 6pm @ RPP .NO MASS @St Jude
• 27/09 Heritage Day Celebration, ONE MASS @ RPP

ST JUDE

• 06/09 CWA -Isivuno
• 11/09 PFC meeting

CONDOLENCES

Sincere condolences to the Cockroft family on the passing of Steve Cockroft. May our Lord comfort you in this difficult time. MHSRIP.