Copy
Issue 57      Bryanston Catholic Church of the Resurrection            27 May 2021

CHURCH NEWS

News from Father Keith 

Dear Friends in Christ

On Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is a basic doctrine of faith in Christianity, understandable not with our heads but with our hearts. It teaches us that there are three distinct Persons in one God, sharing the same Divine Nature, co-equal and co-eternal.  Our mind cannot grasp this doctrine which teaches that 1+1+1 = 1 and not 3. But we believe in this Mystery because Jesus, who is God, taught it clearly, the Evangelists recorded it, the Fathers of the Church tried to explain it, and the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople defined it as a dogma of Christian Faith.

The Trinity pervades our life in the church. All prayers in the Church begin in the Name of the Holy Trinity and end glorifying the Trinity.  All Sacraments are administered (we are baptized, confirmed, anointed, our sins are forgiven, our marriage is blessed, and our Bishops, priests and deacons are ordained) in the name of the Holy Trinity. We bless ourselves, and the priest blesses us, in the Name of the Holy Trinity.

We see in the Trinity the ideal community of love. I pray that we can practise the Trinitarian relationship of love and unity in the family relationships of mother, father, and children because by Baptism we become children of God and members of God’s Trinitarian family.

Congratulations to the teens who received the Sacrament of Confirmatioin last Sunday on the feast of Pentecost. It was tough for this class to work through the challenges of lockdown, but work through it they did. Part of their preparation was to explore the many forms of prayer in the church. 

They were able to share with me their understanding of prayer. Here are some phrases from their sharing which stuck out for me:
“Prayer has changed my life in so many ways. It has helped ground and calm me down in moments of stress and fear.”
“It has helped me become more understanding and sympathetic towards other people.”
“Conversing in prayer with God, I have found that I am never alone.”
“I started praying, changing my ways and now I am healed.”
“Prayer gave me strength.”
“I never knew how hard it was to lose a loved one … I started questioning God and my faith in Christianity …. I started praying about how I felt … spending time with God was what I needed.”
“I would pray to God every night to forgive his soul and help him rest easy and pray he is out of suffering.”
“It is essential to have a balance of the different types of prayer.”
“I know I have become more connected to God.”
“The power of prayer has taught me to be patient and communicate with God.”

My blessings are with all our newly confirmed teens.

God bless, Fr Keith
 

Congratulations to our Confirmed

During the 11h30 Mass on Sunday, 23 May 2021, twenty five of our Confirmation Candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation! We extend our heartfelt congratulations and offer our prayers for each of you. You have taken an important step in your journey of faith by readying yourselves to become fully initiated into the Body of Christ.

May the Holy Spirit continue to guide each of you according to the path that God has set out for your life. May you always be courageous and uncompromising witnesses to the Catholic faith, to Christ, and His Love. We express our gratitude to the parents, sponsors, and everyone who has taken time to help prepare our youth to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Vocations 

A vocation is "a call from God" – a call to love and to become holy.  The heart of a religious vocation is to fall in love with the person of Jesus Christ, have spousal union with Him, and the support of community life.  

When you are in love with Jesus Christ, you can't help but share your love with others. It's through a life of prayer that you reach out to all people to lead them to eternal salvation.

The call of vocations is purely a mystery, known only to God. It is through prayer, that a young person comes to realize how great is God’s love for her/him. This allows the you to want to respond with a generous heart to God’s love. Once you have heard the call, you can freely choose to answer his invitation to follow Jesus in a vowed life of chastity, poverty, obedience, and a life free of material possessions.

St. Joseph is considered as an outstanding example of accepting God’s plan and as a model for all vocations which helps us discern the specific vocation God is calling us to.

As it is the year of St Joseph there is lots of lovely material that you can read about St Joseph and Vocations:
Prayer to St. Joseph to Know One’s Vocation 
Pope’s message for World Vocations Day 
St. Joseph will help young adults find their vocations
To Know One’s Vocation 
Saint Joseph Vocation Society 

Connect groups

Do you want to experience Jesus in our parish community?
Why don't you join one of our new Connect Groups. This is a place to connect with others in our community, grow friendships, care for each other, pray together, grow spiritually, develop your gifts, experience love and acceptance.

Our invitation to you
We are inviting you to register your interest in joining and/or knowing more about Connect Groups and to receive updates on the progress of the Pilot by clicking on the button below.

Once you have expressed an interest, further communication will come from the BCC Connect Groups mailbox.

Click here to register your interest in Connect Groups

Pensioners & Children Support group

We are getting close to June and with it the chilly winter days and very cold nights. PACS has been very busy helping people prepare for winter. Volunteers have been visiting a Children's home in Sebokeng and would like to pass on the thanks from the children to everyone who has donated items. Your generosity has helped make this home feel so warm, inviting and safe.

Annual Blanket Appeal

Thankfully our cold winter is just beginning to set in. One amazing way to give and receive love when it's cold out, is to give the gift of a lovely blanket. There are so many needy people that the church can help through our network of charities and religious organisations.

You can help by donating a blanket or two towards this noble cause. You never know what impact they will have on the lives and well being of others less fortunate than yourself.

Blankets can be dropped off at the parish office.
 

Prayer

Dear Father God 

Thank you that you sent your only son to live among us and thank you that you sent your Holy Spirit to live in us. 

When we face the giants in life give us the courage to deal with daily challenges.  Whether it be illness, financial  stress, family issues, school and learning difficulties  or broken hearts.  Help us to put our giants at Your feet.  Teach us to honour You as David did.  Wash fear, anxiety and doubt from our minds. Help us to aim accurately at our giants with the power of Your word.  Shower us with Your Holy Spirit and Your power of protection as we walk our daily life. Come Holy Spirit empower us this day.

Today we pray a special blessing on the people of the Parish of the Resurrection who have asked for Your help: Ann Damon, Brian Richardson, Chipo, Clive Williams, Didi Tomsett, Elizabeth Pillay, Estelle Jacquet, Erica Woxholt, Felix Finch, Gail Solomon, Gillian Green, Goodwill Ntamehlo, Jean Broens, Jenny G, Julie, Luzia Bento, Lurdes Da Silva, Marilyn, Mary-Anne Alho, Penny Dercksen, Pierre Kedziersk, Quinton, Roland James, Rose Kin, Simon van Wyk, Sister Notburga, Stan Bayers & his son in law, Thabiso Msimanga, Tania Noach, Trevor Fenton, Wayne and baby Zara.

We ask all this in Your might name

Amen

Request Prayer

In Memoriam



Leszuk Kuc (2 June 1959 - 11 May 2021)
Stanislaus Sangweni (1933 - 2021)

May their souls rest in peace


 

Digital Snapshot
Click on Picture to Link

Giving

This faith community is making a difference in the world. Our online and in-person ministries touch the lives of many thousand people.

It is through your generous donations that the Church of the Resurrection is able to offer a wide array of programmes and facilities. Thank you for your regular weekly donations; they make all the difference.

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. 
Facebook
Email
Website
YouTube
Copyright © 2021 Bryanston Catholic Church, All rights reserved.


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp