July 2020: Our families

by Peter Schineller, SJ

Pope’s Prayer Intention: Let us pray that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance, and especially, that they may be protected by the State.

The family ought to be protected.
It faces many dangers: the fast pace of life, stress…
Sometimes, parents forget to play with their children.
The Church needs to encourage families and stay at their side, helping them to discover ways that allow them to overcome all of these difficulties.
Let us pray that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance, and especially, that they may be protected by the State.

Much writing about the family, for example in letters of the Pope and bishops, emphasises the mission or tasks of the family – what the family should do, and what we expect of families. Continue reading “July 2020: Our families”

Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary time – Year A

by Fr N. Vilakati

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For the umpteenth time, may we please “Look to the Heavens”

One of the greatest tragedies of our times, knowingly and unknowingly has been playing a God. Do we actually confess this? Yes or no? Well the answer is always in the palm of our hands. We have become so pre-occupied with our earthly gains, and sometimes of our intellectual abilities. We tend to focus at the me, as the end product of all, and putting the real God aside. We become masters of our destinies and cast aside the idea of God. Probably it is time we stepped into the black night. We do self-emptiness, the kenosis so we could find out who we are, and that we cannot be God. For the God that we have is only One, and He is in Heaven. Probably this would be a great time we give Him all the praise He deserves. The One who mesmerises us by the hum of whirling galaxies, and the orderliness of the universe, surely He deserves His place of honour.
Continue reading “Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary time – Year A”

Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary time – Year A

by Fr Onyango IMC
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2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16
Psalm 89:2-3,16-17,18-19
Romans 6:3-4,8-11
Matthew 10:37-42

Theme: The Cost of Discipleship!

In the gospel today Jesus teaches us about the cost of discipleship; the Lord did not lie to his disciples that following him would be easy; he did not sweet talk them so as to lure them to himself; he told them the truth from the onset and left it to them to make a choice either to follow him or to walk away. It was a choice they had to personally make after they had known what to expect. In the gospel, he mentions some of his expectations of those who would like to follow him. He says: ‘He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me – he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me – he who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it!’
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ECCW in solidarity with Refugees

by Doris Makhubu

The Eswatini Council of Catholic Women (ECCW) went to handover a donation to the Refugee Reception Camp (Malindza) on June 17, 2020. Their main focus was hygiene so their donation included mostly sanitary pads and soap, among other things. Below is the speech of the Chairperson Make Doris Makhubu.

AVE MARIA!

Your Lordship, the Most Reverend Jose Ponce de Leon, Bishop of Manzini; Rev. Fr Mabuza under whose jurisdiction this Refugee Reception Camp falls, we thank you for shepherding us at this difficult time in the history of not only the church but the whole world. We thank Caritas for coordinating this meeting today under the prevailing Covid-19 conditions. We also thank the commissioner for allowing us to lend a hand in providing for the basic hygiene needs of our brothers and sisters. We are not going to distribute to families as has been the norm but trust the Commissioner’s office to do that. Continue reading “ECCW in solidarity with Refugees”

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary time – Year A

by Fr Onyango IMC

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Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35
Romans 5:12-15
Matthew 10:26-33

Theme: Do not be Afraid!

The world we live in is very cruel especially to those who stand for truth and justice. As Christians this is our call and Jesus already warned us when he said that: ‘In the world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world!’ Today, a day hardly passes without hearing news of terror; there are threats everywhere, threats that make life difficult for us like the daily persecutions, sin and death. This is what causes great fear for many. But Jesus still calls us to take up our crosses and follow him. In the first reading we hear of the deadly plot against prophet Jeremiah: ‘I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! Denounce him! Let us denounce him! Jeremiah’s friends are busy plotting for his fall. Jeremiah’s confidence comes from his trust in God’s presence; he knows that God is on his side and will not disappoint him.
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Covid-19 has forced ‘Normal’ to go on a compulsory leave!

by Fr F. Onyango IMC

Many people the world over seem to speak the same language especially when it comes to lockdown. Suddenly people have all the time in their hands that they no longer know what to do with time. Staying at home has now brought boredom, frustrations, fear, anger and uncertainty to many people. Some families are already experiencing tension and violence even as some marriages collapse as people struggle with the challenges brought about by the Corona virus. Nobody knows with certainty what will happen next. There is a myriad of questions brought about by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; questions whose answers are as uncertain as the future itself. Questions like, when will the church be open? Will life get back to normal? How safe are we outside there? How long will the lockdown last? What will happen to our studies? What about the exams and what of our graduations? Will we still get our jobs back?
Continue reading “Covid-19 has forced ‘Normal’ to go on a compulsory leave!”

June 2020: Compassion for the world

by  guest author

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Pope’s prayer Intention: We pray that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus.

Many people suffer due to the great difficulties they endure. We can help them by accompanying them along an itinerary full of compassion which transforms people’s lives. It brings them closer to the Heart of Christ, which welcomes all of us into the revolution of tenderness.

I picked up a scrap of paper that was placed under the statue of the Sacred Heart in the church. Someone had written a one line prayer that was invested with a gem-like faith. It read: O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fill the hearts of the new First Communion children with your presence of love always. This is a prayer of wonder and mystery. It is in keeping with the prayer intention of this month that people, including children may “find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus.” Continue reading “June 2020: Compassion for the world”

Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ – Year A

by Fr F. Onyango IMC

Click here for Sunday’s readings

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16
Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-58

Theme: The Lord who feeds us!

Today we are called to a deeper appreciation of the Holy Eucharist which is the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. In the first reading we see how God fed his people in the wilderness with manna from heaven. St Paul poses a question to us in the second reading: ‘the cup of blessing which we bless is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?’ Jesus tells us today that he is the living bread which came down from heaven and that whoever eats this bread will live forever.
Continue reading “Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ – Year A”