News and Events

1st Annual Multi-Faith World Day of Prayer for Creation
As a response to Pope Francis’ call to make 1st September a “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the first annual Multi-Faith World Day of Prayer for Creation was held at St Mary’s Cathedral at 12.00 on 1st September 2015. Prayers were prayed by Father Bernard Makore, Imam Dr. A. Rashied Omar, Rev Dr […]

The Parish that Pope Francis Envisions
Fr Russell Polllitt’s address to Archdiocese of Cape Town Ecclesia Faith Festival Day on 29 August 2015.

It’s time to care about creation
The Pope’s call to make the 1st of September ‘World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation’ comes at an opportune time. As we draw closer to COP21 in Paris there is a new urgency in drawing awareness to the environmental degradation that is happening through climate change. It is high time that we […]

SACBC Solidarity Message to the People of Lesotho
We, the Bishops of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) gathered here in Mariannhill this August 2015 wish to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters from the Kingdom of Lesotho. We would like to express that Lesotho is not alone, the Bishops and the Catholic community are with you in this time […]

Statement by the SACBC on the Extension of the Separation Barrier in the Cremisan Valley
This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another’ (Zech 7:9). The Catholic Bishops of Southern Africa, gathered in Mariannhill for their plenary session, are saddened and dismayed to learn of the recent decision by the Israeli Supreme Court to allow the Separation Barrier to be built […]

Fundamentalism: Religion’s Snake in the Grass
Self-styled South African prophet Penuel Mnguni, 24, feeds a snake to one of his congregants. Photo: Facebook/End Times Disciples Ministries. The recent ‘snake pastor’ incident is simply the latest in a long line of outrages committed in the name of fundamentalist religion. If anything it is comparatively mild compared to others: the Jim Jones death […]

Newsletter from Archbishop Brislin

Hot off the Press – Archdiocesan News 3 of 2015
Our third edition of 2015 features: Ordination to the Priesthood; pics of new Church at Old Crossroads; Youth Chaplaincy news; new season of Ecclesia; Winter Living Theology pics; Safcei responds to Pope’s encyclical Laudato Si; Let me tell you a story; Kolping membership indaba; Meditation: a Way to Peace; Pray for our Consecrated Persons; Robben […]

Youth Leadership Training
Click the image below to apply for Leadership Training 2016

‘Step on the Gas’ – Rushing into Fracking
Extracting shale gas from under the sands of the Karoo using the method called high volume hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ is highly contentious. South Africa needs alternative energy sources, taking into account our current energy crisis. However, in his encyclical Laudato Si, Pope Francis urges us to use the environment in a sustainable way, protecting […]

Winter Living Theology with Fr Nicholas King SJ
Winter Living Theology began at Schoenstatt Retreat and Training Centre on 14th and finishes on 16th July 2015. Renowned biblical scholar Fr Nicholas King SJ addressed the topic of The Scandal of Christian Disunity – A Biblical Approach. Here are some pictures from the first day.

LAUDATO SI: A FIRST READING
Read the full text of the Encyclical below the article. Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, has just been published. Although there is much in it to digest, and too little time since publication to do it justice, I will try to outline its key themes. It will be controversial because it challenges […]

Archbishop interviewed on Good Hope FM
On 17 June 2015, Archbishop Stephen Brislin was interviewed by Nigel Pierce on Good Hope FM concerning the State of the Nation and the Church’s impact on society. We were fortunate to capture the bulk of the interview in the following two audio clips. For those who missed it, here it is:

Testify Youth Camp
CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO REGISTER FOR CAMP TESTIFY 2016

Catechetical Metropolitan Meeting
The annual Catechetical Metropolitan Meeting was held at Holy Cross Convent in Parow from 1 – 4 June 2015. It was facilitated by The National Catechetical Co-0rdinator, Sr Patricia Finn FMA, and was attended by the Diocesan Catechetical co-ordinators and their teams. Represented were participants from: Archdiocese of Cape Town Diocese of Aliwal North Diocese […]

Contemplative Outreach
Contemplative Outreach (SA) is affiliated to Contemplative Outreach (USA) and teaches Centering Prayer, a prayer which involves silently resting and waiting upon God in the stillness of our being.
Welcome to the Archdiocese of Cape Town.
As the Archbishop of the Mother City of South Africa, of the first ecclesiastical territory to be established in Southern Africa (1818), I welcome you to this website.
It is my hope that it will inform you and provide you with any information you may require regarding this segment of the Catholic Church.
We also provide links with other websites which might interest you. If you require any information not included here, email us and we will do what we can to help.
If you have discovered this page by accident, you are especially welcome and I hope you will find it of some value and maybe help you to understand how the Catholic Church in Cape Town is trying to serve the community and so bring it closer to the Lord.
With my very sincere and best wishes
+Stephen Brislin
ARCHBISHOP OF CAPE TOWN