THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT – CYCLE A

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT – CYCLE A

INTRODUCTION

We cannot live without water. In times of drought, our cattle and our crops die, our gardens wilt. We need rain, we need wells and foundations. We can think of God as a life-giving fountain. In our coming Easter celebration,s we come to this fountain of life. Some of us will be baptised during this Easter Vigil. Those of us who are already baptised will renew our baptismal promises.

GOSPEL READING
GOSPEL – John 4 : 5 – 42

Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.— Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water. “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.” Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him. When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

LENTEN APPEAL

There will be a second collection for the duration of Lent. Lenten Appeal Envelopes are on the porch.

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

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Every Friday during lent
Times: St Jude 17:00 & RPP 18:00

List and dates for groups leading the prayers:

• 13/03 Sacred Heart
• 20/03 Proclaimers
• 27/03 Children of Mary

After the Stations of the Cross, there will be a Faith Formation Session at the RPP hall for 30 minutes

NEXT WEEKEND

YEAR OF ST FRANCIS PARISH RETREAT

Led by a Franciscan priest
13 -15 March 2026

• 13/03 Fri
  • 18h00 Way of the Cross & introduction session
• 14/03 Sat
  • 14h30 to 16h00 Penitential Service, Divine Mercy Chaplet, & confession
  • 17:30 Retreat Mass & Homily
• 15/03 Sun
  • 08h00 Retreat Mass & Homily @ RPP
  • 10h00 Retreat Mass & homily @ St Jude

SOUTHERN CROSS MONTHLY CATHOLIC MAGAZINE

For subscriptions contact the parish secretary.
R540 for 12 months (Mar 26 to Feb 27) payable upfront.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH

For disarmament and peace.

Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence

UPCOMING MEETINGS

• 10/03 Executive meeting @ 18:30
• 19/03 Men of the Parish @18;30
• 21/03 Young Adults @ 18:30
• 22/03 Children’s Mass
• 22/03 Teenagers meeting after Mass

MEETINGS AT ST JUDE

• 08/03 St Jude exec meeting & AGM after Mass
• 15/03 St Jude Liturgy meeting 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, Netta Liebenberg, Mthokozisi Mthembu, Avenel Aarons, Siva Naidoo, Francesca Poonsamy, Dolly Govender and Lorraine Schirge.