LATEST UPDATES
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- Frs. Wim & Alfredo will be live streaming Holy Mass at 10:00am on Sunday 29 March 2020 from the "Stellenbosch Catholic Church" Facebook Page, please like the page to join us in prayer. https://www.facebook.com/stellenboschcatholicchurch/
- The Catholic- Link is available to download online: https://rpp.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/29-March-2020-digital_opt.pdf
- Soup Kitchen: contributions to purchase food for the soup kitchen can be made into our bank account with reference "soup kitchen"
- Lockdown: with the President of the Country declaring a national lockdown to prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus going into effect at 12:00 (Midnight) on Thursday 26th March 2020 until 12:00 (Midnight) 16 April 2020. ALL Churches will remain closed and will not be opened for any individual/private prayers.
- Radio Veritas will provide daily spiritual communion through the broadcasts of weekday Mass at 12h30, for our Catholic community. The Holy Hour begins with the Angelus at 12h00, then listeners are afforded an opportunity to call in with their prayer requests before the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 12h30. On Saturdays, Mass times are: 12h00 Portuguese 18h00 English. On Sundays: 09h00 Sesotho / isiZulu / 11h00 English / 18h00 Sesotho / isiZulu.
- The Southern Cross depends on your support and help while the Covid-19 virus restrictions are in place. Parishioners can subscribe to our digital version or to our printed edition which will be posted directly to them. They can do so by going to our website: www.scross.co.za/subscribe
- Parish Financial Contributions and Lenten Appeal can be deposited directly via EFT into the parish account- please reference "lenten" for Lenten appeal contributions.
- There will not be conitual adoration at St. Nicholas' Church until further notice.
- There are still a number of seats available on the Garden Route Tour from 21-26 September 2020. If you are interested you can contact Olga Randelhoff on 021 - 888 5237.
- The Rosary will be prayed in private within families.
Ingredients for Soup kitchen: tinned fish/ bread/ spread for bread/ potatoes /carrots/ spaghetti / macaroni/
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
5TH SUNDAY OF LENT A
Celebrant: Through our faith we have been called from death to new life, to live fully with Christ in the Holy Spirit. Sharing this new life with all God's people, let us pray for the Church and all humanity according to their need.
We pray for Pope Francis and all who lead the Church, that they may echo the voice of Christ that calls us from death to life. Lord hear us
We pray that God's scattered and confused children may hear his voice and follow his Light. Lord hear us
We pray for all those affected by the corona virus pandemic, especially the medical staff and carers who are assisting the sick, Lord hear us
We pray for all who suffer, for the dying and for those who grieve, may they be consoled and strengthened. Lord hear us
We pray for those who are sick (especially those on our parish sick list and all who are ill with the covid 19 virus), those who are isolated and afraid at this time and all who need God's healing and love. Lord hear us.
We pray for the leaders of our country and the world, that they may value and protect life. Lord hear us
We pray for our family members and loved-ones who have died. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Lord hear us
Celebrant: O God, you rescue us from hopelessness and death and call us to renewed vitality in faith and action. Into your hands we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Corona virus crisis and our parish activities
Dear Parishioners,
We are experiencing an unprecedented health crisis in our country and the world, so it is our duty as Catholic Christians to do all in our power to limit the disruption, suffering and death that this illness has brought with it. Our Archbishop has issued very detailed and clear directives in response to this crisis. These directives are available on the Archdiocesan website (https://adct.org.za/), our Facebook page (Stellenbosch Catholic Church) or as printed documents from our parish office.
The directives require our priests to celebrate Holy Mass in private with no members of the faithful present. This is a hardship for all of us, but we need to make this sacrifice to protect the vulnerable among us and to contribute to controlling the spread of the virus. Parishioners are invited to pray with us at the time when we will be celebrating the Mass (the times will be made known in our newsletter. The daily readings for Mass are freely available from many sources online if you do not have access to a liturgical calendar, missal or newsletter. Fr Wim and Fr Alfredo will make homilies available via FB, the parish website and in print form the parish office.
We ask that parishioners continue their financial support for the parish and the Lenten appeal by either making payments directly into our bank account (details available from the secretary).
Children in difficult circumstances will be hard hit by the school closures as many of them depend on feeding schemes at school. Our soup kitchens will have many more hungry children coming for a meal, so we ask you please to assist us by continuing your generous contributions. Financial contributions for the soup kitchen can be deposited directly into our parish bank account reference: "soup kitchen".
The parish clergy and staff are at your service and will do all in their power to provide spiritual support and assistance in these difficult times. We assure you of our prayers and both priests will be offering the Sunday Mass for your intentions and well-being.
St Paul's words to the Christians of Corinth give us strength: We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (II Corinthians 4:8-9)
With prayers and blessings in the Name of Christ, Our Lord.
Fr Wim Lindeque, Parish priest
Fr Alfredo van der Schyff, Assistant parish priest
Deacon Trevor Petersen, Parish Deacon
Ms Liesl van Kerwel, Parish Pastoral Council Chairperson
Pope Francis's Prayer to Mary during Coronavirus Pandemic
O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm. You, Salvation of Your People, know what we need, and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross, to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.
