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Bryanston Catholic Church of the Resurrection                      11 February 2021

CHURCH NEWS

A message from Father Keith

Ash Wednesday in the time of the pandemic is here! The season of Lent starts with Ash Wednesday (17 February 2021).

Ashes are placed on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday for two reasons: a personal act of remembrance and as a sign or a witness for others.
The ashes come from the burnt Palms from last year's Passion Sunday celebration, which begins Holy Week. So, these ashes bring us back to our last celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus for us. On the first day of Lent, we will begin a journey of renewal – dying to the old ways and rising to newness.
 
On Ash Wednesday we are reminded that we constantly need the mercy and forgiveness of God. The ashes declare to the rest of the world our willingness to change and turn again towards the Gospel values that Jesus taught.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the ashes were placed on our foreheads in the form of a cross. This year in every Catholic Church around the world, the ashes will be administered to the faithful by sprinkling the blessed ashes on the top of the head of the recipient. This method, rooted in our scriptural tradition, will allow for ashes to be given easily without making physical contact. This is necessary so that we can stay safe.

The minister says one of two formulas to help us remember who we are and the mission to which we are sent:
"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Or "Repent, and believe in the Gospel." We are reminded that our lasting home is in eternity, with God. Our call is to turn away from sin and to believe the Good News of our salvation in Jesus.

Sadly, we are only allowed to have 50 people in the church. This is such a small number for a parish as large as ours. Mass will be live streamed at 8.00am on Ash Wednesday. As we are not permitted to have large numbers in the church, this year I am calling on all our parishioners to collect Blessed Ashes from the church and take them home. The ashes will have a prayer service attached and I ask you to administer the ashes by sprinkling during your prayer service at home. Full directions will be given in the prayer service. This is the best way for receiving the ashes in these extraordinary times.

What to do on Ash Wednesday 2021:

  • Watch Mass on our YouTube channel
  • Collect the Blessed Ashes with a prayer service from the church and during prayer at home, administer the ashes to your family.
  • Take part in our special family Ash Wednesday service on Zoom at 6.00pm on the 17 February.
  • Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence. We fast from food as much as possible. We abstain from eating meat. All who are healthy from 14 - 60 years should fast. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water.

May this season of Lent be a time of renewal in the midst of the pandemic. Please stay safe.

God bless, Fr Keith

Ash Wednesday in Lockdown
17 February at 18h00 on Zoom


Four families from our parish will guide us through a family prayer service at home. You and your families can follow along using the prayer sheet collected with ashes. Prayers can also be found on our website. This will help us prepare to receive the Ashes at home. 

Ashes will be available for collection from Sunday 14 February until Wednesday evening at the parish office. 

Register for the Zoom webinar by clicking the link below.

Register Here
Prayer

Dear almighty and loving Father 

In Your hands You place the whole world.
You know all our thoughts and fears before we can utter them. 
You are the mightly creator and Father of nations.  You know all things.  Nothing is impossible in Your care.  

We ask that You bring Your comfort to Your people as they face yet another uncertain day.

Help us to look to You and to see Your hands as You envelop Your people through the kindness of friends, strangers, caregivers and family.  Help us to be the hands and feet to those who have no hope.  Teach us to look to You and to listen to Your voice.  

Build our faith.

We ask this day that You place a special hand of healing, encouragement and peace on the parishioners of The Parish of the Resurrection who have asked for Your help especially:
Barbara & Johnny Miranda, Brian Richardson, Christina Sequira, David van Heerden, Didi Tomsett, Gail Solomon, Gillian Green, Jacqueline, Jean Broens, Josphat Pasipanodya, Laurina Stanfield, Lesley-Anne & Caitlin Culhane, Kerry, Marie Wichs, Michael Dean, Pierre Kedziersk, Shaun, Simon van Wyk, Tania Noach & her mother-in-law, Tony Powers, Tracy Damon, Virginia Piggot, Yvonne Mupenda and Yvette, Ian & Ryan. 

We offer all these prayers in Your precious name.

Amen 

 

Request Prayer

Live Lent

Live Lent is a 6-week programme designed for groups and individuals and is about to start on 17 February 2021.

Lent is a time to refocus on God and do some self-reflection on how we can live in deeper communion with God as individuals and community. 

It is not just about giving up our favorite treats, but rather about taking the opportunity to be all that God calls us to be; holy, healthy, loving people with a commitment to Jesus Christ. 
The Live Lent programme is aimed at helping you walk through Lent as you prepare for Easter. 

Live Lent books for year B will be available at the parish office from Thursday 11 February for R50 per book.  

The Sunday reflections will be broadcast on Radio Veritas on Mondays at 8pm and Saturdays at 5pm if you wish to join in.

If you are interested in joining a zoom session, please send an email to renew@bryanstoncatholic.co.za

Cross in your hand

A holding cross is designed not so much to look right as to feel right. It is deliberately uneven so that it fits between your fingers.
Through your sense of touch and reflection, you express your love of Christ and your need for Him.

Sometimes you may find that saying a familiar prayer, such as the Our Father or Psalm 23 or using a mantra like Maranatha/Come Lord Jesus, is meaningful while holding the cross. Offering a hymn or song of praise, praying the Stations of the Cross is also a meaningful prayer. No words are needed. Simply holding your cross silently during quiet meditation is prayer.

Carrying the cross in your pocket is a reminder that Christ is always with you and presents an invitation of prayer at any time of the day.
 
Contact the office or Luane if you wish to purchase a cross for R70.

Catechism

Catechism begins this week. Parents of all registered children have been contacted with the details. If you have not heard anything from us, please contact us at bryanstoncatechsim@gmail.com or register your children by clicking below.
Register for Catechism

Church Library

The church library is open again on the 1st and 3rd Sunday from 8h30 to 9h45 AND every WEDNESDAY for an hour after the morning mass. Read a book this lent.  There is a great selection of books on spirituality, bible study, saints, personal development, many inspiring biographies and much more.

Baptism

Kayla, daughter of Paul and Leigh Taliadoros was baptised 9 February 2021.
 

Marriage

Jay Hagerty and Stephani Da Silva were married
on 11 February 2021.

In Memoriam

Justin Lwinga (4 September 1969 - 5 Fenruary 2021)

Antonio Joaquin De Almeida (11 December 1937 - 29 January 2021)

Digital Snapshot
Click on Picture to Link

Giving

It is through your generous donations that the Church of the Resurrection is able to offer the wide array of programmes and facilities, both online and in-person, to our faith community. Thank you for your regular weekly donations; they make all the difference in the world.

Since we are not collecting weekly donations in church, we are 100% reliant on the money that you give us via channels such as EFT or SnapScan. Every donation counts and is greatly appreciated.

If you're not signed up for dedicated giving but would like to continue to support the parish, you can make donations via snap scan or follow the link online. 

The impact that this parish has had on our fellow humans has been extraordinary in 2020. With your help and support, we can grow that even more in 2021.
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