Welcome to the Archdiocese of Cape Town

Cape Town is commonly known as the Mother City of South Africa, and is the first ecclesiastical territory to be established in Southern Africa (1818). You are most welcome to this website. It is hoped 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 to 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 we 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.

 

News & Events

Transition from Sede Vacante

Please note this directive from Bishop Sylvester on the formula for the Eucharistic Prayer after the installation of the Archbishop on Saturday. [pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Formula-for-Eucharistc-Prayers.pdf” title=”Formula for Eucharistc Prayers”]

Mass of the Oils

Please see the attached letter from Bishop Sylvester David regarding this year’s Mass of the Oils. [pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Mass-of-the-Oils.pdf” title=”Mass of the Oils”]

Archdiocese Regulations: Lent 2026

Attached below please see the Lenten Regulations for 2026 [pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/lenten-regulations-2026.pdf” title=”lenten regulations 2026″]

Pope Leo XIV’s Message for Lent

A Resource for Lent from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development: Pope Leo XIV’s message for Lent. https://www.humandevelopment.va/en/news/2026/cuaresma-2026-mensaje-de-papa-leon-xiv.html

A Joint Reflection by the Bishop and the Imam

This year, as Lent and Ramadan coincide, the platform for Theological Dialogue and Practical Ethics brings us a joint reflection by Bishop Sylvester David OMI, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cape Town and Maulana Syed Aftab Haider, National Co-ordinator Ahlul Bait Foundation of South Africa. This convergence invites reflection on how our two faith […]

Message of Pope Leo XIV for Lent

Below is Pope Leo XIV’s message for Lent 2026. Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion. [pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/MESSAGE-OF-POPE-LEO-XIV.pdf” title=”MESSAGE OF POPE LEO XIV”]

Franciscan Jubilee Year 2026

Please see attached a presentation of resources for reflection on the Franciscan Jubilee Year, declared by Pope Leo XIV on 7 January 2026. This resource has been provided by the Departments for Laity & Youth, Christian Formation, Ecumenism, Inter-Faith & Religious Dialogue, and the Commission for J&P of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) […]

The Bishops’ Foundation Newsletter

Please find attached the first edition of The Bishops’ Foundation newsletter from the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) [pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/February-2026-1.pdf” title=”February 2026 (1)”]

World Day of the Sick 2026

Pope Leo XIV has chosen the theme for the 34th World Day of the Sick, which will be celebrated on February 11, 2026: “The compassion of the Samaritan: loving by bearing another’s pain”. Please see this page from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development for the Pope’s message

A Faith Reflection on the arrival of the new Archbishop

3 February 2026. The “Neck” of the Church A Faith Reflection on the arrival of the New Archbishop. This is an addendum to the faith reflection I posted on Facebook earlier today. On the feast of St Blaise when traditionally we bless throats, I thought that seeing that the throat is synonymous with the neck, […]

Mass Wine for Parishes

For parishes to order Mass wine, please see Bishop Sylvester David’s letter below, and use the portal in the link provided. https://sacbcwine.org.za/endorsement/ [pdf-embedder url=”https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/Notice-re-Mass-Wines.pdf” title=”Notice re Mass Wines”]