❗An important message from the inter- faith leaders of ECCOC (Electoral Code of Conduct Observer Commission) regarding our elections.

A thank you from Cardinal Stephen Brislin, as a member of ECCOC, regarding the recent elections.

Please find attached three documents for the celebration of the 4^th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

1. Letter from Pope Francis
2. Kit from the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life
3. Synthesis of the Pope’s letter and suggestions for Families and Parishes for the celebration of the Grandparents day from the Department of Formation, Life and Apostolate of the Laity. This document contains practical and localized ideas about the July 28 celebrations.

On 21 March, human rights day, a pilgrimage for a ceasefire in Gaza was organised by Christian Churches of Cape Town. Other faiths were invited to join the pilgrimage which started in Simon’s Town and ended at the Groote Kerk in Cape Town CBD. He was not able to attend, but sent the following message.

21^st March, 2024.

Sisters and brothers,

We recall the words of the Prophet Isaiah (2:4):

He shall judge between the nations,
    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
    and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
    neither shall they learn war any more.

I regret that I am not able to participate in the Ceasefire Pilgrimage. I am fulfilling a long standing engagement in the Eastern Cape on the 20/21 March. My prayers, thoughts and solidarity accompany you on this pilgrimage march.

Doing so on Human Rights Day highlights the horror of what is happening in the Holy Land as the entire population of Gaza is being starved and deprived of water and medical supplies in an act of collective punishment, while they continue to suffer a relentless bombardment which began 6 months ago. We should also not forget the attacks that are occurring in the occupied West Bank. The situation of Gaza, the attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank as well as the recent announcement of a new Israeli settlement being planned on Palestinian territory, lends credence to the claim that what is happening is genocidal and ethnic cleansing.

As Church, we believe in peace, we pray for peace and we work for peace – a peace that is founded on justice and equality for all. We condemn all violence meted out against civilians, especially the most vulnerable such as women and children. All those who are responsible for targeting civilians, and for other war crimes, must be held accountable for their actions. We appeal for the release of all hostages held by whichever side and in whatever situation they are being held hostage, and we call for an immediate ceasefire. We plead with those countries and governments that have influence to take the necessary concrete actions to ensure that a lasting ceasefire is accomplished.

The aim of our march is to promote peace and to promote respect for human rights of all people without discrimination. We cannot be silent, and we join our voices with the millions of people throughout the the world who are calling for an end to this terror.

Cardinal Stephen Brislin
Catholic Archbishop of Cape Town

In the build-up to the celebration of the presence of the Salesians in Lansdowne, Fr Eddie O’Neill SDB has been preparing a series of articles on the history of the Salesians in Cape Town. So far, six parts have been prepared, and more will be added to this page when they are produced.

1. The first Salesian Home

2. The Founding Salesians

3. The Bondioni Brothers

4. The Opening of the School and Church

5. The Parish History

6. The War Years and Lansdowne

2025 has been proclaimed a Jubilee Year by Pope Francis. The Jubilee Year begins on Dec. 24, 2024 (Christmas Eve), and concludes on Jan. 6, 2026. In preparation for this Holy Year, he has also announced that 2024 become a Year of Prayer. Attached below is the Holy Year Prayer and the booklet Teach us to Pray.

The Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen

The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued a Statement on the Recent Attack on Crowds gathering to receive Humanitarian Aid in Gaza.

In this pastoral letter, our Bishops provide guidelines for voting in the 2024 National and Provincial elections.

[pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/SACBC-Pastoral-Letter-on-2024-Elections.1.pdf”]

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Commissioners Navi Pillay, Chris Sidoti, Giuseppe Calanduccii (co-ordinator of the Commission), Cardinal Brislin and Fr Peter-John Pearson attended a meeting on Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem and Israel.

King Letsie III of Lesotho and his wife, Queen Masenate paid a courtesy visit to Cardinal Stephen Brislin at the Chancery in Cape Town, and had a fruitful discussion. They were later joined by Bishop Sylvester David OMI (far left) and Fr Peter-John Pearson (far right).