Posts by Neliswa Mdluli

Mission Sunday: “Here I am, send me!”

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR WORLD MISSION DAY 2020

Here am I, send me (Is 6:8)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I wish to express my gratitude to God for the commitment with which the Church throughout the world carried out the Extraordinary Missionary Month last October. I am convinced that it stimulated missionary conversion in many communities on the path indicated by the theme: “Baptized and Sent: the Church of Christ on Mission in the World”. Continue reading “Mission Sunday: “Here I am, send me!”” →

27th Sunday in Ordinary time – Year A

by Fr. Francis Huwn msfs

Click here for Sunday’s readings

“You must remember to love people and use things, rather than to love things and use people”. Ven. Bishop Fulton Sheen

Our God is a God who trusts his workers. Just as the landowner gave the tenants a fully equipped vineyard in which to work and produce, God creates the possibilities for work, fruitfulness and success for us too. We are the tenants: to the government servants, God has entrusted with public properties; to the church authorities, to shepherd the people of God; the married, to be good stewards of the family. He provides us with opportunities and resources and trusts that we will make the most of these. Do we recognize the opportunities and resources that God has given us?
Continue reading “27th Sunday in Ordinary time – Year A” →

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

by Fr D. Ntshangase

Click here for Sunday’s readings

The Gospel of today, as John the Baptist and Jesus did, stresses on the change of heart and mind. It is more on repentance. This repentance is required in order for us to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus in the Gospel is actually answering to a question by the chief priests and elders who asked him, “By whose authority are you doing all these things, who gave you this authority?” They refused to repent and believe in Jesus. Their refusal to repent and believe in Jesus is contrasted to that of the tax collectors and prostitutes. It is important to note that the chief priests and elders were expected to be close to God while the tax collectors and prostitutes were thought to be far from God. Jesus stresses this in the parable of the two sons.
Continue reading “26th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A” →

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

by Fr D. Ntshangase 

Click here for Sunday’s readings

The Pharisees were questioning Jesus’ behaviour of befriending sinners and outcasts. By the parable which Jesus narrates in the Gospel, he is revealing to them that by so doing he is imitating God who is generous and compassionate to the poor, sinners and outcasts. In the parable God is the owner of the vineyard. Probably the Pharisees were seeing themselves as the workers who came earlier and the late-comers being the sinners and outcasts. This means that God is generous to everyone with His forgiveness and mercy. His grace is sufficient for everyone (2 Cor 12:9).
Continue reading “25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A” →

A Nation overflowing with blood and tears

by Vusizwe Motsa

(Pic: sourced from the internet-UN Women)

Think of that female neighbour, a victim of her alcoholic boyfriend/husband who has turned her into a punching bag. Think of the thousands of women trafficked, lured into believing in a better life then forced to do things against their will. The lady you read about in the newspaper, killed by a jealous boyfriend or husband. The girl-child sexually abused by her own father or relative and has nowhere to go. The only person who should be protecting her is the very same perpetrator. The young woman forced by her greedy family to marry someone she does not love because of wealth and the benefits the family will gain.

How about the one who was raped, got pregnant or infected and became a laughing stock because ‘’she wanted it’’ because of her dress code. Remember the lady you heard about, made to abort her baby because she was bringing shame to the family and ended up committing suicide. Those many women, married to one man…sexually starved, financially unsupported and deprived of many things. Society standards falsely tell you it is right to abuse women to show superiority. Disgusting! Atrocious!
Continue reading “A Nation overflowing with blood and tears” →

EMY – September: Human Rights

Topic for September: Human Rights
Saint of the month: St. Peter Claver

St. Peter Claver, SJ (1581-1654) is the patron of African missions and of interracial justice, due to his work with slaves in Colombia. Between the years 1616 and 1650, Peter Claver worked daily to minister to the needs of the 10,000 slaves who arrived each year.

When a ship arrived, Peter first begged for fruits, biscuits, or sweets to bring to the slaves. He then went on board with translators to bring his gifts as well as his skills as a doctor and teacher. Claver entered the holds of the ships and would not leave until every person received a measure of care. Peter gave short instruction in the Catholic faith and baptised as many as he could. In this way he could prevail on the slave owners to give humane treatment to fellow Christians. Peter Claver baptised more than 300,000 slaves by 1651. Continue reading “EMY – September: Human Rights” →

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

by Fr D. Ntshangase

Click here for Sunday’s readings

Last Sunday we were reminded about our Christian duty and responsibility to correct our brothers and sisters when they do something wrong. Today’s readings, and especially the Gospel, speak of forgiveness. In the Gospel Peter appears to be asking a practical question. He is imagining a situation where a member of the Christian community repeatedly offended someone. As a follower of Christ, he first forgives the offender but his forgiveness is not at all met by effective repentance. The offender continues to offend him. Peter’s concern is practical in human terms but the whole Gospel passage is rather spiritual or theological. It puts forward the facts that forgiveness has no limits and that it takes faith.
Continue reading “24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A” →

St Anne’s Sodality donates to Parish Caritas

by Swabsile Twala

On the second Sunday of August 2020: St Anne’s sodality made a presentation of a donation to Caritas in conjunction with the Daughter’s of St Anne’s.

The short service opened with a word of prayer by Fr F. Onyango who thanked God for the wonderful donation of food parcels and blessing of the participants who contributed.

Nomsa Khumalo who was the MC of the short service also expressed gratitude towards the heartfelt donation for the elderly and needy and appreciated the compassion displayed by the sodalities. Continue reading “St Anne’s Sodality donates to Parish Caritas” →