Welcome to our first interactive edition of the Archdiocesan News! Because our churches are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, this edition will not be printed. Rather, it will be sent out digitally via email and social media.
This edition is interactive insofar as all hyperlinks (i.e. digital access to other web-based resources and addresses) are available, and are highlighted in blue for your convenience. So where you see text, a website link or an email address in the colour blue (except, of course, for headings in blue) you can access further information to enhance your read of the Archdiocesan News. Some graphics are also hyperlinks (sometimes to download resources), but the text linked to them will indicate where they are.
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Please see this important announcement from Archbishop Stephen Brislin regarding the re-opening of Churches in the Archdiocese of Cape Town. It can also be viewed on our YouTube channel and Facebook page.
Auxiliary Bishop Sylvester David offers his prayer and reflection for the people of the Archdiocese of Cape Town for today, Friday 5th June 2020, during this time of the coronavirus pandemic. It is also available on the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Please also see below the text of his reflection, primarily for the deaf.
A reflection on “Change” for Friday 5th June 2020
Things have changed recently. Barely three months ago coronavirus was a distant problem, which China and Italy had to deal with. Very soon it spread. And then we went into an extreme form of lockdown. Gradually this gave way to a less restricted type of lockdown and we were at least able to do some exercise. There were announcements and then some counter announcements and many South Africans were upset. And then out of the blue as it were, the restrictions on public worship were lifted, but with severe limitations.
Many Bishops in Southern Africa deliberated this with their Consultors and depending on the severity of the infections in their part of the country, came up with what they considered to be the safest options. Some opted for a very restricted return to public worship and others opted not to open at all – at least until all the requirements were put in place. Our guiding principle is the promotion of life and well being. We have a moral obligation to protect life.
In order for us to be successful in this battle all need to play their part. A lot has been said about the ‘new normal’. We have to embrace change. But this is not just change for its own sake. This is the adaptation of a new set of values. There are two types of change – first order change and second order change. First order change is a superficial change e.g. I have to get up early because I have to get to the airport to catch an early flight. This is normally a once off event and I merely make the adjustment so as not to miss a flight. Second order change on the other hand is different. It is deep seated and rather than come from outside of myself, it comes from deep within. I start to behave differently because I see the value in the new set of behaviours. I see that a greater good will come out of the new behaviours and so I make the sacrifice.
In Christian language this second order change is called conversion. Conversion is a biblical word and it literally means going beyond ones ordinary way of thinking. In other words, to see the world through new lenses. I now see a different reality and choose my behaviour pattern in response to that. Conversion must of necessity be life giving. Note that this is not merely a sentimental change of heart. The heart will change and in the words of Ezekiel, the heart of stone will be replaced by a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26) but it all starts with going beyond our ordinary way of thinking – for that is what conversion is. This new way of thinking is not foreign to the faith.
The Church has always defined faith as an intellectual ascent to the truth. I see and think in a new way and this governs how I respond. This new way of seeing will change my heart. This featured in the life of St Augustine and closer to home, in the life of Archbishop Denis Hurley OMI. Conversion for them was not merely a change of heart – it was primarily a change in thinking, which brought about the changed heart. They were able to see the world through new lenses.
I wish you well as you embrace the changes that will be life giving to those around us as we face the new normal in our society and in our worship life.
Bishop Sylvester David OMI VG: Archdiocese of Cape Town
In case you missed it, here is the Zoom meeting between Bishop Sylvester David and the Youth of the Archdiocese of Cape Town (broadcast to Facebook), facilitated by Fr Charles Prince at 8pm last night. Bishop Sylvester answers prepared questions by the Youth on the subject of Scripture.
Attached below please find a letter to parishioners from the Archbishop’s office concerning the re-opening of churches in the Archdiocese of Cape Town.
Archbishop Stephen Brislin offers his prayer and reflection for the people of the Archdiocese of Cape Town for today, Wednesday 3 June 2020, during this time of the coronavirus pandemic. It is also available on the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Please also see below the text of his reflection, primarily for the deaf.
Thank you for being with me for this brief reflection. I’ll start, as usual, with a Scripture reading. It is taken from the First Reading of today’s Mass, from 2 Timothy chapter 1:
I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and love and self-control.
Let us Pray:
Merciful Father, you guide and instruct us by your Word. We are not called to timidity or fearfulness, but to a spirit of power, love and self-control. Through the intercession of St Charles Lwanga and his companions, strengthen us to overcome our reticence and fears, that we may worthily and with love witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and share the hope of life eternal to all those we meet. We make this prayer through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. R/Amen
Today is the memorial of the Ugandan martyrs, St Charles Lwanga and his companions. They were put to death because they refused the immoral coercion by the king to participate in sexual behaviour. As with all the martyrs, they stood their ground, remained steadfast in their faith and unshakeable in their loyalty to Jesus Christ. Their behaviour and witness were exemplary, not only for the people of their time but for all the future generations up to today. These brave young people responded in faith and trust to the circumstances of their time, without complaint, without feeling sorry for themselves and without losing hope.
We will probably never be called to martyrdom, but should our own behaviour not be a witness to Christ, and exemplary, so that others may be inspired and strengthened? Should we not, also, be brave in the circumstances we find ourselves today and live our lives without complaint, without feeling sorry for ourselves and without losing hope in God’s presence and goodness.
As with the Ugandan martyrs, we too need to witness to what is right and good, whether in terms of sexual morality, justice, promotion of life, the dignity of each person, and so on. In this time of the Covid-19 virus we are meant not to think of ourselves but to think of the health and well-being of others. In many ways this was what I was speaking of last week. I said that ultimately it comes down to a choice between selfishness and taking responsibility. As we face the present challenge, I cannot stress enough the importance of behaviour change and observance of the measures put in place for the protection of others. We could say that we have the health of others in our hands – we can protect them or we can put them at risk. To be honest, I am still amazed at how lightly many people take the safety regulations. Safe distancing is hardly observed (even though there are marking as to where people can stand), often people wear masks but they are dangling around their necks, or only covering their mouths. We, as followers of Jesus Christ, must lead in giving a good example to people. We are meant to be “light to the world” and the “salt of the earth”. Protection of life is fundamental
We are beginning the process of gradually re-opening our Churches on a restricted level. It is an “alleluia” moment and very good news, but it would be irresponsible to attempt this without profound behaviour change. The Western Cape is the epicentre of the pandemic in South Africa. There is no doubt that the infection rate will rise during the alert level 3 lockdown period. On Friday I will address the matter that the Church in the Archdiocese cannot re-open for public worship immediately, and I will explain the process for gradually working towards public worship on a restricted scale. The guiding principle we have to keep in mind is the protection of the health of others. This means that we have to change ourselves to live what is being termed the “new normal”. As Christians we have to be an example to all, so that others can model our behaviour and learn what the right thing to do is.
We have already sacrificed much. We will have to continue making sacrifice. The martyrs of Uganda – these young men – inspire us to do so with a willing heart, prepared to suffer for what is right. We are the Eucharistic people, not simply because we receive communion, but because we are willing to allow ourselves to be broken, to sacrifice and to give, for the sake of Christ and the sake of our neighbour. Let us turn to the future with confidence, courage and perseverance.
Let us now pray for God’s blessing:
The Lord be with you R/ And with your spirit
Heavenly Father, Lord of all compassion, look kindly on us, your family. Strengthen us as you strengthened the martyrs of Uganda, Charles Lwanga and his companions, that we may not lose hope and but that we may persevere in our faith and commitment to you. Comfort us in our separation from the Holy Sacrament of Eucharist, console us in our loneliness and fill our hearts with the joy which comes from you alone. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord /Amen
May Almighty bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen.
May God bless you and keep you in his love always.
Auxiliary Bishop Sylvester David offers his prayer and reflection for the people of the Archdiocese of Cape Town for today, Friday 29th May 2020, during this time of the coronavirus pandemic.
It is also available on the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Please also see below the text of his reflection, primarily for the deaf.
29th May 2020. Friday before Pentecost. Reflection on John 21:15-19.
This gospel passage shows Jesus asking Peter about his love. The original language of the NT has several words for love. There is a word for the love shared by family members, another word for the exclusive love between husband and wife, a word for brotherly/sisterly love shared in the Christian community, and another word for the total self giving love on the cross – yes indeed! We can have no greater love than to lay down our lives for others.
In the passage for today’s Mass Jesus asks Peter if he loves him with a total selfsacrificial love and Peter responds that he loves Jesus but only with a brotherly love. This is very clear in the original text. This happens a second time. Then the third time Jesus asks: “Peter do you only love me with a brotherly love?” That is why Peter was sad – his love for Christ had not yet become total. This however does not stop Jesus from giving him the commission to care for the flock. This is motivation for those of us with pastoral duties: that Jesus trusted Peter with caring for the flock even in his imperfection should move us to rise above our incompleteness and serve others to the best of our abilities.
Looking at our own lives we might well ask: who can love totally? Surely this is impossible. Well the lives of the saints tell us differently. Maximillian Kolbe was a case in point as were Benedict Daswa and Joseph Gerard OMI – the saint we celebrate today. These people show us that when the Spirit of God is in us then we will be capable of such love. The declaration of the angel Gabriel in the first chapter of Luke is clear: “Nothing is impossible to God” (Luke 1:37). This is the type of love that forgets self. It can happen in each of us even if we do not die in martyrdom.
A simple and practical way in which we can love like Christ did is when we forgive. When we forgive we actually renounce our right to hurt back because we have been hurt. When we fail to forgive it is a sign that God’s Spirit is not driving us. When we fail to forgive we harbour resentment. This is a useless emotion akin to plunging a dagger into our own hearts and expecting others to bleed. At times people hurt us and were not aware of it. At other times we could have been hurt through misunderstandings. There are times when the persons who hurt us may even be dead or have moved to other countries but we allow them to live rent free in our tortured memories.
Archbishop Hurley OMI had as his motto: “where the Spirit is there is freedom”. I wish you a Spirit filled reflection as we prepare to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Let us pray: Father, we thank you for Jesus and for the way in which he loved. He was clear in his message to us that we ought to love one another as he loved us. Send the Holy Spirit to empower us to love as he did – so that when you look upon us you will be able to say what you said about Jesus: “these are my beloved sons and daughters in whom my heart delights”. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Bishop Sylvester David OMI VG: Archdiocese of Cape Town
Archbishop Stephen Brislin offers his prayer and reflection for the people of the Archdiocese of Cape Town for today, Wednesday 27th May 2020, during this time of the coronavirus pandemic.
It is also available on the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Please also see below the text of his reflection, primarily for the deaf.
Thank you once again for joining me for this reflection and welcome to all of you. We are overjoyed and delighted that our President has agreed to the gradual re-opening of Churches. In this reflection, I will start with a verse from the Gospel of today’s Mass, from St John
Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, you consecrate us in your truth. As we continue to live in this world, help us always to have the courage and fortitude to speak the truth without fear. May we counter-act the lies and deception of this world through the power of your Holy Spirit, so that all may come to the joy and happiness that is found only in you. We make this prayer through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, amen.
What is truth, Pilate asked Jesus. Truth can be an elusive reality especially as we receive so many contradictory messages. It can be difficult to know what to believe and who to trust. The truth about life and its meaning, about who we are called to be and how we should live our lives is found in Jesus Christ. There is no lie or deceit in God, there is no intention to trick us or mislead us. Thus, our way to truth is through Jesus Christ and we grow in truth by contemplating his life and teachings, and seeking to follow him with sincere hearts, uniting ourselves to him in that deep relationship for which he prayed – that we may be in him and he in us.
Truth always involves responsibility – we are responsible to seek the truth but also to live the truth. We are responsible for being truthful in all we do. Responsibility is key during the present crisis of Covid 19, especially as the President has agreed to the re-opening of Churches. The purpose behind the lockdown was, firstly, to ensure that the health services would be able to cope with the greater number of people who will need hospitalization and, secondly, to change behaviour. The first has been achieved, at least to a large extent, but it is the second which we need to concentrate on and to ensure that it becomes embedded in our daily lives. I was watching a news broadcast on television recently. An elderly gentleman (in another country) was asked why he was out and about but not wearing a face mask. He simply replied that if he gets infected and it is his time to go, then so be it. What was wrong with this answer? He was only thinking about himself and giving no consideration that he could pass on the infection to others without even realizing it. There are others who say that if you go to Church, then Jesus will protect you. I do not doubt that Jesus protects us, but such an answer is simply bad theology, a false understanding of God. Who would walk across the N1 freeway at rush hour, blindfolded, and say “Jesus will protect me”. Jesus expects us to use our intellect and not to put the Lord our God to the test (Dt 6:16; Luke 4:12).
Churches have been places of spreading the Covid 19 infection. In countries where Churches have been allowed to re-open, some have had to close again because they have become places of infection. We want our Churches to re-open. We asked our President to allow that and he has agreed. He was sympathetic to our request and has given the answer we hoped for. It will be a phased-in re-opening and we have to be responsible. We have to take precautions to protect others through social-distancing, hygiene, wearing masks, limiting movement, and so on. It may be a nuisance at times, for example, to wear a mask. But we don’t do it for our own comfort we do it to protect others. Ultimately, it is a choice between selfishness and taking responsibility. Let us all be responsible in all circumstances and work together to limit the spread of this disease and to save lives. As we return to public worship let us be scrupulous in respecting the protocols that we will have to follow and to change our behaviour. It is the true and responsible thing to do.
Just before closing I would like to express my deep gratitude to all those who have opened their hearts to those who face economic hardship and starvation by contributing to the Archdiocesan Covid 19 food parcel campaign. This campaign must continue as many people, are in desperate need. By the end of this week we will have distributed 8,025 food parcels and 563 food vouchers (the vouchers are for people who live in areas outside of Cape Town). We have spent more than R1,371,000 – R801,000 was contributed by parishioners and even people from outside the Archdiocese. R571,000 has come from the Archdiocese itself. People continue to battle against poverty and hunger and so we must continue to give relief to them – it is the Christian and the right thing to do. If you are able, please do contribute. We appreciate every gift and we are grateful to you. If you have the means, please be as generous as you possibly can – the need is really great and we are all aware that the numbers of malnourished children are increasing. In the First Reading of today’s Mass we hear the words of St Paul: “I have never asked anyone for money or clothes…. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’ (Acts 20:33-35). I am not asking for money for myself, for the Archdiocese, or for the Church – I am asking for contributions on behalf of those who go to bed wracked with the pangs of hunger. If you are able to help please do so. The banking details are on the Archdiocesan website. Let us now pray for God’s blessing;
The Lord be with you R/ And with your spirit
Merciful and compassionate Father, we thank you for the many gifts you have bestowed on us, most especially the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. May we be filled with the Truth that your Spirit gives, so that we may be responsible in all our behaviour and protect the lives of others, even if it means discomfort for ourselves. Set our hearts ablaze Lord, that we may be conduits of the light and life that the Spirit gives, and may always be faithful in living our Christianity to the full. We ask this through Christ our Lord, amen.
May Almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit R/Amen
I wish you all a blessed feast of Pentecost – may the Holy Spirit guide us in all we do.
