FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT CYCLE A
INTRODUCTION:
Today we celebrate the feast day of All Saints. It is a great feast for our whole Christian community. We In this time of advent, we are watching and waiting or the saviour who can bring unity between the nations and among ourselves. Such unity seems impossible. And yet today we receive the message which proclaims to us: ‘Peace is possible – it is close at hand.’
GOSPEL – Mathew 3: 1 – 12
John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at and! “It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
BIBLE DIARIES FOR 2023 @ R130 each
Available at the parish office at the repository.
LITURGICAL CALENDARS FOR 2023 @ R25
Available at the repository & parish office
COLLECTIONS AND PLEDGES
Collection 01/11/2022 RPP R5400 & St Jude R319.20
Pledges for October RPP R9500 & St Jude R2600.
ADORATION
There will be no adoration for the month of December due to renovations being done inside the Church. Weekday Masses will continue as usual.
BUILDING MAINTENANCE & DONATIONS
As work continues:
- Painting the church Building inside
Future repairs:
- Fix the wall in the repository
- Stained-glass windows
Thank you to all who have donated towards this project. Should you wish to contribute, please contact Fr Marek, OR put your donation in a clearly marked envelope & drop it at the office,
OR make a direct deposit into the parish bank account (details are in the grey column alongside) clearly referenced Building Fund.
Please be patient with us, there is a lot of dust inside.
BUILDING MAINTENANCE & DONATIONS
You will have noticed a fair amount of maintenance at church, inside and outside.
So far:
- fixed the cracks in the walls & leaks in the roof;
- razor wire has been installed atop the fence at the back of the Parish office.
Future repairs:
- stained-glass windows
- paint the church building
- Leaks in the church hall and office.
Contributions towards this ongoing project would be greatly appreciated. Should you wish to contribute, please contact Fr Marek, OR put your donation in a clearly marked enveloped & drop it at the office,
OR make a direct deposit into the parish bank account (details are in the grey column alongside) clearly referenced BUILDING FUND.
SVDP FUNDRAISING
10/12/2022 High Tea 14:00 to 16:00 at RPP.
Raffle for a microwave @ R20 each.
Lucky draws during the function for attendees, prizes include an electric iron, a lipo reduction voucher etc.
There will be talks, music and dancers
Please support and buy tickets.
Also, the box for Christmas food donation is available at the Porch, please open your hearts and give to the less fortunate.
UPCOMING EVENTS
10/12/2022 Sat- Children of Mary trip to Dundee
16/12/2022 Fri– Fundraising @ St Jude for children.
17/12/2022 Sat– Penitential Service and confession for all Parishioners with a Priest from another Parish.
SOUTHERN CROSS MAGAZINE
December issue is now available at the Parish Office.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR DECEMBER
Volunteer Not-for-Profit Organizations
We pray that volunteer non-profit organizations committed to human development find people dedicated to the common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths to international cooperation.
SICK & ELDERLY
Please pray for the sick & elderly of the parish, family and friends especially:
Fr John–Allen Green OFM, Mrs Cocciante, Nokuthula Kubheka, Penny Powell, Jean Smith, Dolly Bimbrish, Rowena Norris, Simon Zulu, Alvin Govender, Mary Harris, Siva Naidoo & Mavis Makhubo.
CATECHISM CLASSES
This weekend will be the last class before the holidays. Classes resume in January. Enjoy your holiday children & teachers and be safe. Please remember to attend Sunday’s Masses. There are no holidays from God.
