Kristo iNkosi Catholic Church Hosts Special Mass for the Elderly

Kristo iNkosi Catholic Church hosts special Mass for the elderly

By Kati Dijane – It was that special time of the year at Kristo iNkosi Catholic Church in Kwa-Thema, in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, when the elderly were honoured and celebrated ahead of the festive season.

The annual Christmas Mass for the elderly took place on November 27, celebrating over 50 grandparents who attended. They were dressed for the occasion in their best attire.

It wasn’t only the Catholic community who attended Mass, but also members of St Matthews Methodist Church. The liturgy of music was led by the elderly choir, which injected a lot of energy into the Mass. The guest priest, Fr Michael Miriti IMC from Daveyton parishes in the Far East Rand Deanery, was the celebrant.

In his homily, he echoed the words of Jesus in the Gospel of the day, Luke 21:12-19, who told his disciples about the persecutions that would be faced for his name’s sake. He brought it closer to home, saying that often, these persecutions are from loved ones. “These could be your children or grandchildren, the people you brought into the world and sacrificed for,” he said, adding that the pillar of strength and source of support during these trying times is Jesus. He also encouraged the elderly parishioners to be thankful to God for blessing them with a long life, as he still has a purpose for them. Fr Miriti added that, according to the African tradition, elderly people are a blessing because of the wisdom and experience they possess. However, he lamented, society finds itself in a troubled state that forces the elderly to continue taking care of their children and grandchildren with their grant money. Despite this reality, he told the elderly never to lose hope in their purpose, referring to Abraham and Sarah, as well as Elizabeth and Zechariah, who became parents in their old age. “Age is not the reason not to do the right thing. Thank the Lord and be the source of light for others,” he said.

The church was graced by the presence of 107-year-old Mrs Violet Molefe, the eldest member in attendance. Mr Lephaga, who is 100 years old, could not make it to Mass, but he was also celebrated in absentia. Fr Chaka Motanyane OP, the parish priest of Kristo iNkosi, explained: “This is our annual celebration. The purpose is to acknowledge and express our gratitude to our senior citizens for who they are and what they continue to do for the church and their families. Some of our senior citizens continue to be a beacon of hope for their families. They care for their families, especially family members who are unemployed and orphaned children. So once a year, the parish thanks and pampers them.”

And that they did, as the elderly were treated to back and foot massages, entertainment from the Marimba youth band, as well as great food.