Posts by Neliswa Mdluli

Launching the Year of St Joseph

Posted on by Neliswa Mdluli

By Bishop José Luis IMC

On May 1, the Diocese launched the “Year of St Joseph”
and the “Year of the Family” at St Joseph Parish (Mzimpofu)
Below is what I shared during the homily

It was last December when Pope Francis asked the Church all over the world to celebrate a Year of St Joseph (08 December 2020 – 08 December 2021). He later asked also to celebrate a Year of the Family (19 March 2021 – June 2022).

We had planned to do our diocesan launching on 19 March 2021 but due to the COVID19 restrictions we decided to wait until today.

How should we celebrate the year of St Joseph? How can we – reading on Joseph in the Gospels – celebrate his life, his faith, his intercession for each one of us and for the Church? Continue reading “Launching the Year of St Joseph” →

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Posted on by Neliswa Mdluli

by Fr D. Mazibuko osm

8 December 2020

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin is one of the oldest Dogmas of the Church dating back to the 2nd century, which teaches us that Mary was conceived without the stain of sin, that is, she was conceived without the mark of original sin. God bestowed on her an immaculate beginning. In the Office of Readings for this day, St Anselm eloquently observes “Blessed Lady, sky and stars, earth and rivers, day and night – everything that is subject to the power of man rejoices that through you they are in some sense restored to their lost beauty and are endowed with inexpressible new grace”. The Church Fathers speak of Mary as the new Eve since by her obedience and trust Mary began the process of undoing the harm inflicted by Eve’s disobedience and distrust. It is indeed a day of grace for all of us.
Continue reading “Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception” →

December 2020: For a life of Prayer

Posted on by Neliswa Mdluli

by Fr. Christopher Krall, SJ

Pope’s Prayer Intention: We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer.

Why do people pray? What is the point of these ritualistic actions? Does prayer affect us and the world? Is prayer just another method used to numb our pains, to feel good about ourselves, or to practice wishful thinking? Rather, prayer, as done through acts of penance, through contemplation of scripture and meditation, through self-regulation of one’s words, thoughts, and actions, through fasting, and through praise of God, are the methods Christianity has been teaching for the last two millennia. Continue reading “December 2020: For a life of Prayer” →

2nd Sunday of Advent – Year B

Posted on by Neliswa Mdluli

by Khonzumenzi Dlamini

Click here for Sunday’s readings

The year 2020 has been difficult for many if not all of us. From a spiritual, social-economic and political perspective we are on the brink of collapsing. The message we are longing for is comfort, we need to be comforted from all the afflictions we faced this year. As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the mystery of the incarnation i.e. Christmas, we cannot shun away from the fact that pandemic fatigue is upon us. Almost all the people I am closely connected to have lost some of their relatives and friends this year. Some contracted the COVID 19 virus and survived it some could not make it and indeed it has been a very terrible year. It is possible to complain and blame God either for the time we lost and other things so dear to us.
Continue reading “2nd Sunday of Advent – Year B” →