Author: Jonathan

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT CYCLE C

INTRODUCTION:

Christ told us that the will be a feast in Heaven if one sinner returns home to the Father. Easter is such a feast of the reunion between God and those who were far from him. We are preparing for this feast. It is the fourth Sunday of Lent, and there are only three weeks before Easter. Every day we are called to prepare ourselves by self-denial, by good works and by reflecting. 

GOSPEL: LUKE 15: 1-3, 11-32

Some Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable: “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

Disability Parking

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

EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT

17:00 Stations of the Cross at St Jude
17:30 Mass at St Jude
18:00 Stations of the Cross at Regina Pacis
18:30 Growing in Faith session in the Hall.

LENTEN APPEAL COLLECTION

Envelopes available in the porch.
Second collection, every weekend during Lent.
This collection directly and indirectly supports works of charity in dioceses involving feeding schemes, elderly in need and vulnerable children; educational outreaches including catechesis; the training of priests; Justice and Peace; youth ministry; specialised ministries such as those serving the deaf; as well as the offices helping to coordinate this work in the Southern African Church

CATECHISM CLASSES

Are now closed and will resume again on Friday 11 April and Sunday 13 April.

FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS

The Five First Saturdays devotion, first revealed by Our Lady at Fatima on Fatima on 13 July 1917, was requested on 10 December 1925, when the Biessed Virgin, appeared again to Sr. Lucia, together with the Child Jesus, who said: “Have compassion on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother, covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of reparation to remove

The Great Promise of Our Lady

“I promise to assist at the hour of death all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me”

What does Our Lady ask all of us to do?

• Go to confession – this can be up to 8 days before or after the First Saturday itself.
• Receive Holy Communion – on the day itself, in a state of grace, with the intention of making reparation as above.
• Recite five decades of the Rosary.
• Meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary for 15 minutes: this is not difficult, e.g, slowly read the Gospel account of the mysteries, or use a booklet on the Rosary.
  
  Each part of the devotion should be made with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH:

For families in crisis:

Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, and rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 06/04: Meeting for all existing Altar Servers and Candidates who want to be altar servers, after Mass
• 13/04 Palm Sunday Mass at RPP. There will be NO MASS AT ST JUDE.

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, Margarida De Franca, Joyce Chetty, Netta Liebenberg, Mthokozisi Mthembu, and Avenel Aarons.

LAETARE SUNDAT

WHY IS FATHER WEARING ROSE VESTMENTS THIS SUNDAY?

The fourth Sunday of Lent is sometimes called Laetare Sunday. Laetare is a Latin word that means “rejoice.”. Traditionally, this Sunday has been a day of celebration within the austere period of Lent. The brightness of rose is meant to “encourage” us to persevere unto the happiness of Easter.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT CYCLE C

INTRODUCTION:

Unless you repent, you will all perish. These hard words come from the mouth of Jesus. We read them today because we are approaching Easter, and it is already Lent’s third Sunday. We will try to repent. We will try to approach Easter in the same way Moses approached God in the burning bush. Moses showed us what it meant to repent. He fell to the ground. He respected God. He asked him what to do. He surrendered to him

GOSPEL: LUKE 13: 1-9

Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them—do you think they were guiltier than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.'”

Disability Parking

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

THE THREE PILLARS OF LENT

PRAYER | FAST | ALMSGIVING

1 PRAYER

EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT

• 17:00 Stations of the Cross at St Jude
• 17:30 Mass at St Jude
• 18:00 Stations of the Cross at Regina Pacis
• 18:30 Growing in Faith session in the Hall.

LENTEN RETREAT AT RPP

17:00 Stations of the Cross at St Jude
17:30 Mass at St Jude
18:00 Stations of the Cross at Regina Pacis
18:30 Growing in Faith session in the Hall

2 FASTING

DO YOU WANT TO FAST THIS LENT?

In the words of Pope Francis

• Fast from hurting words and say kind words
• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
• Fast from worries and have trust in God.
• Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity.
• Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
• Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy.
• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.
• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
• Fast from words; be silent and listen.

3 ALMSGIVING

LENTEN APPEAL COLLECTION

Envelopes are available on the porch.
The second collection, is every weekend during Lent.
This collection directly and indirectly supports works of charity in dioceses involving feeding schemes, elderly in need and vulnerable children; educational outreaches including catechesis; the training of priests; Justice and Peace; youth ministry; specialised ministries such as those serving the deaf; as well as the offices helping to coordinate this work in the Southern African Church

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH:

For families in crisis:

Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, and rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 30/03 Baptism of children
• 6/04: Meeting for all existing Altar Servers and Candidates who want to be altar servers, after Mass.

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, Margarida De Franca, Joyce Chetty, Netta Liebenberg, Mthokozisi Mthembu, and Avenel Aarons.

WHY DO WE PRACTICE
FASTING & ABSTINENCE
DURING LENT?

1. Imitating Jesus’ temptation in the desert.
2. Opportunity to suffer for Christ & His Church!
3. Numerous scriptural roots of fasting.
4. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
   (1434,1438, 2043)

LENT

PRAY | FAST | GIVE

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT CYCLE C

INTRODUCTION:

How would you feel if you knew that soon you would have to suffer very severely and that your life would be in danger? If you knew that this suffering could not be avoided, what would you do? Would you not look for somebody to be with? Would you not look for any sign of hope? When Christ approached the time of his suffering, he received such a sign. On the mountain, while he was praying, God’s glory became visible in him, Christ was transfigured and the father’s voice was heard above him. Truly, a powerful sign of hope before the beginning of his suffering.

GOSPEL: LUKE 9: 28B – 36

Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.

HOLY DOOR IN THE LADYSMITH DEANERY

Was officially opened on Saturday 1 March @ 10am. See banner for plenary indulgence information at the entrance to the church.

LENTEN APPEAL COLLECTION

Envelopes available in the porch.
Second collection, every weekend during Lent.

Disability Parking

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

EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT

17:00 Stations of the Cross at St Jude
17:30 Mass at St Jude
18:00 Stations of the Cross at Regina Pacis
18:30 Growing in Faith session in the Hall

DO YOU WANT TO FAST THIS LENT?

In the words of Pope Francis

• Fast from hurting words and say kind words
• Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
• Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
• Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
• Fast from worries and have trust in God.
• Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity.
• Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
• Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy.
• Fast from selfishness and be compassionate.
• Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
• Fast from words; be silent and listen.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH:

For families in crisis:

Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.

UPCOMING EVENTS

25/03 Bereavement group after Mass @10:30am at RPP
25/03 PFC meeting
27/03 Fundraising comm meeting
28/03 & 29/03: Lenten Retreat @ RPP
29/03 Confessions
30/03 Baptism of children
06/04: Meeting for all existing Altar Servers and Candidates who want to be altar servers, after Mass.

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, Margarida De Franca, Joyce Chetty, Netta Liebenberg, Mthokozisi Mthembu, and Avenel Aarons.

LENT

PRAY | FAST | GIVE

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT CYCLE C

INTRODUCTION:

The Passover was always a great feast for the Jews, because then they remembered that they were freed from slavery. We, too, celebrate our liberation at Easter. We begin today on this first Sunday of Lent, to prepare ourselves for Easter, the feast of our Liberation. On this first Sunday of Lent we read about the one person who was completely free and who never became a slave. Satan wanted to make Jesus a slave by tempting him but Jesus was stronger than Satan and remained free.

GOSPEL: LUKE 4: 1 – 13

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days,
and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone.” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you, and: With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

HOLY DOOR IN THE LADYSMITH DEANERY

Was officially opened on Saturday 1 March @ 10am. See banner for plenary indulgence information at the entrance to the church.

LENTEN APPEAL COLLECTION

Envelopes available in the porch.
Second collection, every weekend during Lent.

Disability Parking

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

EVERY FRIDAY DURING LENT

17:00 Stations of the Cross at St Jude
17:30 Mass at St Jude
18:00 Stations of the Cross at Regina Pacis
18:30 Growing in Faith session in the Hall

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH:

For families in crisis:

Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.

UPCOMING EVENTS

15/03: Workshop for ALL new and existing Proclaimers @ 3pm
25/03 Bereavement group after Mass @10:30am at RPP
28/03 & 29/03: Lenten Retreat @ RPP
29/03 Confessions
06/04: Meeting for all existing Altar Servers and Candidates who want to be altar servers, after Mass.

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, Margarida De Franca, Joyce Chetty, Netta Liebenberg, Mthokozisi Mthembu, and Avenel Aarons.

LENT

PRAY | FAST | GIVE

EIGHTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR CYCLE C

INTRODUCTION:

To what can we compare our assembly as we come together today for our Sunday celebration? Today’s reading compares us to a field from which good fruit is expected. God has planted this field. We are glad to be God’s field, and we have come together to give thanks to God for having made us his people, his field.

GOSPEL: LUKE 6: 39 – 45

Jesus told his disciples a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

SHROVE TUESDAY – 04 MARCH 2025

The Youth of our Parish will serve pancakes from 5 pm to 8 pm.
There will be some competitions and music.
Please bring some fillings for pancakes, to share.

ASH WEDNESDAY – 05 MARCH 2025

Masses at:
06:00 @ RPP
17:30 @ St Jude and
18:30 @ RPP

CATECHISM REGISTRATION AND CLASSES

Registration is still open. Both Friday and Sunday classes have started.
Registration fees: R180 per child
Please contact Sandra at 079 922 5566 if you have any questions.

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK OF THE 2ND COLLECTION FOR THE DEANERY SEMINARIANS.

This collection will be handed to the Bishop at the Deanery Mass.
These funds are used for the Diocesan seminary students. It costs R105 000 per student per year.

Our Parish’s target is R15000. Collected to date R3512. The collection will resume after Lent.
Our Diocese is blessed with 5 students in Pretoria at St John Vianney and 3 in Cape Town.

Disability Parking

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

TRIANING

All Eucharist Ministers are requested to attend training this coming Saturday, the 8th of March @ 3 pm for a hour.

THE HOLY DOOR: A POWERFUL JUBILEE TRADITION

One of the most significant moments of any jubilee year is the opening of the Holy Door.  The most famous and significant Holy Door is the one at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

The Holy Door is opened only during jubilee years to symbolize Christ as the sole gateway to salvation. Pilgrims who pass through the door with the proper disposition can receive a plenary indulgence.

HOLY DOOR IN THE LADYSMITH DEANERY

Was officially opened on Saturday, 1 March @ 10 am. See banner for plenary indulgence information at the entrance to the church.

RETREAT DAY FOR PARENTS WITH
THEIR CHILDREN
(WHO ATTEND CATECHISM)

Join us for a special retreat:
“Growing Together in Faith. Families Rooted in Christ “.

When:8 March 2025
Where: RPP Hall
Time: 10:00 am
Who: All Parents and children from Catechism classes (Fridays & Sundays) and St Jude’s.
What to bring: Jars, faith messages to swap and refreshments to share and your Bible.
Enjoy interactive activities, crafts, prayer and family bonding. Let’s grow in faith together

THANK YOU

Men of the Parish would like to thank all sponsors and everyone who supported their fundraising. Profit from it was R13,970. From this amount R5000 will be donated to RPP and R2000 to St Jude. Also, a portable speaker will be bought for the Parish.

LENTEN APPEAL COLLECTION

Will start from next Sunday. Envelopes available in the porch.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR FEBRUARY:

For families in crisis:

Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.

UPCOMING EVENTS

15/03: Training for ALL Proclaimers @ 3pm
28/03 & 29/03: Lenten Retreat @ RPP

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, Margarida De Franca, Joyce Chetty, Netta Liebenberg, Mthokozisi Mthembu, and Avenel Aarons.

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.”

St Teresa of Calcutta