Pause. See. Return. Be transformed
Often we want to return to God. We want to return to the heart of love. We want to return to forgiveness and redemption. We want to return to a life of hope. Yet, something holds us back. Fear…
Church / Conversion / God / Lent / Sarah-Leah Pimentel
by Sarah-Leah Pimentel · Published March 22, 2018 · Last modified March 20, 2018
Often we want to return to God. We want to return to the heart of love. We want to return to forgiveness and redemption. We want to return to a life of hope. Yet, something holds us back. Fear…
Holy Spirit / Julia Beacroft / Lent
by asiel · Published March 20, 2018 · Last modified March 23, 2018
Like many young children, I had a vivid and expressive imagination when I was young, and that came especially to the fore during play times. A princess who needed to be rescued, a wicked witch and an intrepid explorer were among the fantasy roles I enjoyed enacting.
Christian Living / Christian Unity / Church / Fr Chris Townsend / Lent / Prayer
by Chris Townsend · Published March 15, 2018 · Last modified March 12, 2018
This Lent we have asked parishioners to put on name tags and to introduce themselves to each other at the beginning of the Mass. Generally, after an initial reluctance, most were happy to comply. Of course, there are always those whose vehemence in being anti-anything like this is really scary. But then, every family has those, don’t they?
Church / Feast Days / Lent / Nereesha Patel / Saints
by Nereesha Patel · Published March 9, 2018 · Last modified March 8, 2018
Last week, we began looking at saints who can inspire you during Lent. This week, we’ll be focusing on the last five saints – from a slave-turned-priest to a humble carpenter who became the...
Christian Living / Church / Conversion / Lent
by Mphuthumi Ntabeni · Published March 6, 2018 · Last modified March 4, 2018
Most of us take seriously our duty to bolster our faith by prayer, discussion, reading, discernment and through the sacraments, especially during the Lenten season. In the past the priest would, irritatedly, sermonise about big days and supermarket Christians and all that. These days, as a symptom of growing humility, perhaps, they’re just grateful people still take their faith seriously enough to make an effort.
Visiting the sick or home-bound is an art of virtue that deepens your Lenten experience. It’s just one of the many ways we can use Lent to refocus and brush away what may have been preventing us from following Jesus.
Lent is intended to be a season of ongoing conversion for the baptised, as well as of increasing conformity to the message of the Gospel. But it’s not only a season of self-denial – its all about what we learn in the experience too…
Church / Lent / Nereesha Patel / Saints
by Nereesha Patel · Published March 1, 2018 · Last modified March 2, 2018
We are now entering the stage of Lent in which we tend to falter a little in keeping to our Lenten vows. The temptation to just forget about them for a few minutes (or hours, or days, etc), or the feeling of outright giving up because you believe you simply cannot commit to your resolutions becomes strong.
A priest told staff of the Southern African Catholics Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) that Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ.
The yearning for one’s soul to be quenched must not be confused with longing for worldly desires, a Portuguese priest told Pope Francis and senior members of the Roman Curia during their Lenten retreat.
Loudly boasting or complaining about fasting during Lent and treating others unkindly is not what God wants, Pope Francis said.
Christian Living / Forgiveness / Fr Ralph de Hahn / Lent
by Kilian SC · Published February 24, 2018 · Last modified February 23, 2018
Here is an opportunity to build bridges. This season offers us the opportunity to move away from the conventional slogans and frigid promises. It will demand a deeper faith and a lot of courage, like stepping out of a dark cell into a new light.