Author Archive: Archdiocese of Cape Town

You will be my witnesses

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First reading: Acts 1:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 47

Second reading: Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23

Gospel: Luke 24:46-53

After forty days since Easter Sunday the Church celebrates the ascension of the Lord. The ascension is a way of Jesus becoming fully present to his disciples, ourselves, as he continually blesses us.

The first reading highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus as we are told that he chose the apostles by the Holy Spirit. Remember too that at the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary, Luke tells us that she was filled with the Holy Spirit. So, where there is the Holy Spirit there also is Jesus. It is the same Spirit that the apostles will receive and be enabled to be witnesses of Christ right up to the ends of the earth.

As Jesus ascends, a cloud takes him from their sight. The symbolism of the cloud recalls the exodus experience. In that dramatic moment of the exodus, God appeared to the people in a pillar of cloud, at least by day. We are told there that the cloud provided some protection from the Egyptian army which was in pursuit of God’s people. Even as Jesus seems to take leave of the apostles, nevertheless God’s abiding presence among them is assured in the symbolism of the cloud herein recalled. As they are looking up two men appear in their midst who give them some instructions on Jesus. There will be a second coming of Jesus. We continue to wait for this as Christians under the firm guidance and protection of the Holy Spirit.

The psalm contains a praise to God who ascends with jubilation and trumpet blast. The theme of praising God is quite present in the readings today as the apostles (in today’s gospel) praise God unceasingly in the Temple.

The second reading speaks of the sacrifice of Christ which is forever effective. This is unlike the daily sacrifices offered in the Temple or even the one done once a year at the feast of the Atonement by the High Priest. We know with the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the practice of sacrificing animals at the Temple was permanently interrupted and the Jewish priesthood disappeared forever. Jesus’ sacrifice, which is his own death, is forever valid for the forgiveness of sins. He is the new High Priest and has no need to be repeatedly offering sacrifice. For, “Christ has offered for all times a single sacrifice for sins and has taken his seat at the right hand of God”. (Heb 10:12) The mass is Jesus’ sacrifice which forgives sins. Our task is simply to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need (Heb 4:16).

The gospel sees Jesus instructing his apostles for the last time. He speaks on his passion, death, resurrection and preaching on the forgiveness of sins. In a sense this is a total package of what the Christian life is all about as the missionary activity of the Church is about these things.

Subsequently, Jesus leads the apostles out of Jerusalem, to Bethany, where he is lifted up. His posture as he is lifted up is the lifting up of hands and the action of blessing. This blessing is what keeps the apostles joyful as they continue praising God in the Temple. The gospel thus concludes with the apostles praising God in the Temple. In fact, that is exactly where the gospel began with Zechariah perfoming his duties in the Temple and as such praising God. At that moment he (Zechariah) received the promise of a son who would be the forerunner of the Christ. Even here, at the end of the gospel, we are on the throes of a promise, the Holy Spirit, who will be our forerunner in all that we do as witnesses to the risen Christ. Do not be afraid.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Traditionally, the period from Ascension to Pentecost (this year from 29 May to 8 June) is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Please see the following prayers forwarded on by Bishop Sylvester David OMI.

[pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025-WoP-Prayer-Pamphlet.pdf” title=”2025 – WoP Prayer Pamphlet”] [pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025-Prayer-for-Unity-Sunday.pdf” title=”2025 Prayer for Unity Sunday”]

[pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025-Prayer-for-Unity-Sunday.pdf” title=”2025 Prayer for Unity Sunday”]

Youth Day Battle of the Bands

🎶 Youth Day Jubilee – Battle of the Bands 🎶
All youth are invited to a vibrant Youth Day celebration filled with faith, music, and hope at the Italian Club of Cape Town!

🕙 Date & Time: Starting at 10:00 AM with a special spiritual liturgy
🍽️ Followed by a lunch break
🎤 Then it’s showtime! Youth and young adults will hit the stage to showcase their God-given talents through music and performance — all themed around HOPE.

REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/DT7aLk7muDExqBN36

Thanksgiving Mass for Pope Leo XIV

Kindly find the attached letter dated 20th May 2025 from Bishop Sylvester David OMI and the Cathedral Administrator Fr Robert Bissell.

[pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Mass-for-Pope-Leo-XIV.pdf” title=”Mass for Pope Leo XIV”]

Letter from the Apostolic Nunciature

[pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Letter-from-the-Apostolic-Nunciature-Election-of-Pope-Leo-XIV.pdf” title=”Letter from the Apostolic Nunciature – Election of Pope Leo XIV”]

Habemus Papam!

The Translation of Pope Leo XIV first address.

“Peace be with you all!

Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for God’s flock. I too wish that this greeting of peace may enter your hearts, reach your families, all people, wherever they may be, all peoples, the whole earth. Peace be with you!

This is the peace of the Risen Christ—an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, who loves us all unconditionally. We still hear in our ears the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome!

The Pope who blessed Rome was giving his blessing to the world, to the whole world, that Easter morning. Allow me to continue that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God’s hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and with one another, let us go forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to be reached by God and His love. Help us—and each other—to build bridges, through dialogue, through encounter, uniting everyone to be one people always in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis!

I also want to thank all my fellow cardinals who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice, always striving to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.

I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: “With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop.” In this spirit, we can all walk together toward that homeland God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with open arms. Everyone—everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love.

And if you’ll allow me, a word, a greeting to all and in a special way to my dear diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, have shared their faith, and have given so much, so much to remain a faithful Church of Jesus Christ.

To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world—we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer.

Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close, help us with her intercession and her love.

So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask this special grace from Mary, our Mother.

Hail Mary…”

An In-depth look at the man who has become Pope Leo XIV

https://aleteia.org/2025/05/08/in-depth-a-look-at-the-man-who-has-become-leo-xiv?utm_medium=email&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_campaign=EM-EN-Newsletter-Daily-&utm_content=Newsletter&utm_term=20250508

[pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/SACBC-Welcomes-Pope-Leo-XIV-with-Gratitude-and-Prayer.pdf” title=”SACBC Welcomes Pope Leo XIV with Gratitude and Prayer”]

Jubilee 2025 Reflections

Below are Jubilee Reflections for June and July.

[pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/June-Jubilee-Reflection.pdf” title=”June Jubilee Reflection”]

[pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/July-Jubilee-Reflection-2025.pdf” title=”July Jubilee Reflection 2025″]