Gospel for Thursday 21 August 2025
Matthew 22: 1- 14
It saddens me to to read the poster sent out inviting’ people to attend the Jubilee mass on Sunday 14 September at Lansdowne with the note: All parishes are encouraged to attend (+- 10 per parish plus clergy) , to represent all of the archdiocese,”
This seems to be a very common thread in the Archdiocese of Cape Town, which we saw similarly to the opening of the Jubilee, the centenary celebrations, Episcopal ordination of Bishop Sylvester and other archdiocesan celebrations.
This is indeed sad, when I read and see other dioceses arranging big celebrations for all the people to attend, such as the jubilee year, ordinations etc. etc. I ask myself, how are our people supposed to experience these wonderful occasions? Our young people will not have this experience to witness these Archdiocesan event s etc.
Yes I am aware of the cost implications, Venue, logistics and all the other potentially valid reasons. but to limit the number will not encourage people to attend – as a general impression it is the same few people who will attend these events and hence the majority of the faithful will never ever experience this in their lives if the archdiocese continues to place limits – how are we supposed to encourage people to attend? the faithful do not experience the joy of the various celebration by a small percentage of the parish representing the Archdiocese. (have a look at the Archdiocese of Pretoria and the archdiocesan celebration that are preparing for, encouraging people form the deaneries etc. to all attend). in the Archdiocese we have many potential venues such as our catholic schools and even the field at Lansdowne, to mention a few.
Holding Deanery events is wonderful, however the faithful will not experience the joy of one big Archdiocesan celebration, together with all the clergy and religious.
If I may, the CPD produced Jubilee passports – of what purpose were these, if the faithful are not able to attend “all the celebrations” and further to this the passport stickers were not available at two of the celebrations I attended.
The Archdiocese should ensure all our celebrations are made open to All to attend and experience in it fullest. Let us not in 10 or 20 years time have our children/ young adults say they have never ever attended/participated in an Archdiocesan event. The liturgy for the Assumption, at Lansdowne, this past weekend, is one such event which the archdiocese is not pushing as an archdiocesan event and continues to rapidly decline in number etc.
I hope and trust this will receive your urgent and necessary attention.
Still remember my first celebration in Cape Town 2013 closing of Year of Faith. We had a big celebration at Bellville. Saw a beautiful atmosphere in the Archdiocese. The attendance by all people of the Archdiocese. It was indeed beautiful ❤️
Gospel for Thursday 21 August 2025
Matthew 22: 1- 14
It saddens me to to read the poster sent out inviting’ people to attend the Jubilee mass on Sunday 14 September at Lansdowne with the note: All parishes are encouraged to attend (+- 10 per parish plus clergy) , to represent all of the archdiocese,”
This seems to be a very common thread in the Archdiocese of Cape Town, which we saw similarly to the opening of the Jubilee, the centenary celebrations, Episcopal ordination of Bishop Sylvester and other archdiocesan celebrations.
This is indeed sad, when I read and see other dioceses arranging big celebrations for all the people to attend, such as the jubilee year, ordinations etc. etc. I ask myself, how are our people supposed to experience these wonderful occasions? Our young people will not have this experience to witness these Archdiocesan event s etc.
Yes I am aware of the cost implications, Venue, logistics and all the other potentially valid reasons. but to limit the number will not encourage people to attend – as a general impression it is the same few people who will attend these events and hence the majority of the faithful will never ever experience this in their lives if the archdiocese continues to place limits – how are we supposed to encourage people to attend? the faithful do not experience the joy of the various celebration by a small percentage of the parish representing the Archdiocese. (have a look at the Archdiocese of Pretoria and the archdiocesan celebration that are preparing for, encouraging people form the deaneries etc. to all attend). in the Archdiocese we have many potential venues such as our catholic schools and even the field at Lansdowne, to mention a few.
Holding Deanery events is wonderful, however the faithful will not experience the joy of one big Archdiocesan celebration, together with all the clergy and religious.
If I may, the CPD produced Jubilee passports – of what purpose were these, if the faithful are not able to attend “all the celebrations” and further to this the passport stickers were not available at two of the celebrations I attended.
The Archdiocese should ensure all our celebrations are made open to All to attend and experience in it fullest. Let us not in 10 or 20 years time have our children/ young adults say they have never ever attended/participated in an Archdiocesan event. The liturgy for the Assumption, at Lansdowne, this past weekend, is one such event which the archdiocese is not pushing as an archdiocesan event and continues to rapidly decline in number etc.
I hope and trust this will receive your urgent and necessary attention.
Still remember my first celebration in Cape Town 2013 closing of Year of Faith. We had a big celebration at Bellville. Saw a beautiful atmosphere in the Archdiocese. The attendance by all people of the Archdiocese. It was indeed beautiful ❤️
Will attend