by Bp José Luis IMC
From the first Sunday of Advent, we are launching a new service with the help of Fr Dumisani Vilakati. It is called: “One minute Sunday”.
Though particularly directed at “Instagram” users, it will also be available on our webpage.
Instagram only allows videos that are under 60 seconds. With that in mind, Fr Vilakati accepted the challenge of presenting the message of the Sunday readings in under a minute. Continue reading ““One Minute Sunday” by Fr Dumisani Vilakati”
21 September 2018
St Matthew, apostle
To:
Priests, religious and lay people
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
“peace is a gift of God entrusted to us”
This was the theme chosen by St John Paul II for the World Day of prayer in 1982. Peace is indeed God’s gift but also a task. In fact, he adds: “God’s gift of peace is therefore also at all times a human conquest and achievement”.
There is, in each one of us, a deep desire for peace: inner peace, peace in our families, in our country and in the whole world.
Fifty years’ ago, launching the day of prayer for peace, Blessed Paul VI wrote: “Peace cannot be based on a false rhetoric of words… Nor can one rightly speak of peace where no recognition or respect is given to its solid foundations: namely, sincerity, justice and love…” Continue reading “Call for a week of prayer for Peace in the country”
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors concludes Plenary Assembly
The 9th ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors took place in Rome from September 7 to 9, 2018.
The Holy Father has emphasized the primary importance of listening to victims /survivors and having their life stories guide the response of the Church in protecting minors from sexual abuse. Members began by listening to two testimonies of people who were affected by clerical child sexual abuse, a victim/survivor and the mother of two adult survivors who were abused as children. The Commission thanks them for sharing their stories with us, for the courage of their witness and for contributing to the learning process. Continue reading “Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors”
Pope Francis has responded to new reports of clerical sexual abuse and the ecclesial cover-up of abuse. In an impassioned letter addressed to the whole People of God, he calls on the Church to be close to victims in solidarity, and to join in acts of prayer and fasting in penance for such “atrocities”.
Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis
To the People of God
“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). These words of Saint Paul forcefully echo in my heart as I acknowledge once more the suffering endured by many minors due to sexual abuse, the abuse of power and the abuse of conscience perpetrated by a significant number of clerics and consecrated persons. Crimes that inflict deep wounds of pain and powerlessness, primarily among the victims, but also in their family members and in the larger community of believers and nonbelievers alike. Looking back to the past, no effort to beg pardon and to seek to repair the harm done will ever be sufficient. Looking ahead to the future, no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated. The pain of the victims and their families is also our pain, and so it is urgent that we once more reaffirm our commitment to ensure the protection of minors and of vulnerable adults. Continue reading “Pope Francis: Letter to the People of God (full text)”
Speech by the Principal of Good Shepherd College Sotah Mahanya after commissioning by Bishop Jose Ponce de Leon I.M.C
Rt. Rev Bishop Jose Ponce de Leon I.M.C, Parish Priest Fr. Mabuza, Fr. Makama, CEO, GSH Management, Guest Speaker Mrs. Lwazi Dlamini-Mhlabane, College Academic and Nonacademic staff and Students.
I want to greet you all and I am very appreciative of the large congregation gathered here to honor our College.
This occasion gives me a sense of belonging and importance to the institution; I am delighted to take up the role of Principal at Good Shepherd College. I thank God Almighty for granting me this. Continue reading “New Principal at Good Shepherd College”
As we prepare to celebrate the patronal feast of our Diocese let us daily pray together guided by the words of Pope Francis during his pastoral visit to South America in 2015N.
“May Jesus bless you and the Virgin Mary care for you”
You can download this novena:
By Fr M. Makama
The promise of a new covenant in Jer. 31:31-34 is the only place in the Old Testament where a new covenant is directly mentioned. In other places only reminiscences are found. At this point in the History of the people of God they were at their lowest, the Temple had been destroyed. They are in exile. They have also lost their land. This translates to a nation which has lost its identity because the Temple and the land were the two sources of their identity. In the midst of all these mishaps God promises them something beautiful, a new covenant which will be engraved in their hearts. This is a source of hope and strength for them. Continue reading “5th Sunday of Lent “B””
by Fr Chris Chatteris SJ
Pope’s Prayer Intention:
Say ‘no’ to corruption. That those who have material, political or spiritual power may resist any lure of corruption.
‘Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’. It has to be the most over-quoted saying in the English language, but Lord Acton’s famous words are as true today as they were when he uttered them in the 19th Century.
As the governing party struggles to clean up its act under a new leader, South Africans are getting a ringside view of the moral struggle involved in the corruption of political and material power. The politicians have the political power and business people have the material power. When they get together in a mutually corrupting relationship, there is a perfect storm of sleaze, scandal and shame. Continue reading “February 2018: Say ‘no’ to corruption”