Archdiocesan News A PUBLICATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF CAPE TOWN • ISSUE NO 67 • OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012 • FREE OF CHARGE Archbishop's Stewardship Challenge Making stewardship a way of life in the Year of Faith A Christian Steward is a Christ follower who: • Receives God’s gifts gratefully • Cherishes and tends them in a responsible way • Shares them in justice and love for all • Returns them with interest to the Lord (USCCB Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response) This means that we acknowledge that all we have has been given to us as a gift from God and we are grateful for all our gifts, our posses- sions, our health, our children, etc. We cherish these gifts and realise that we are accountable for all that we have been given, and we prom- ise to take care of them in a responsible way. For the benefit of others, God has given us all these gifts that we might be generous and give back a portion for the common good and in recognition of the bless- ings received from God (Malachi 3:10). We are also to use the gifts we have been given, and not to ‘bury’ them. Remember the Parable of the Talents. (Matthew 25:13-30) In a very practical way we are asked to give back to God from all Archbishop Brislin leads the way in the stewardship challenge, taking time out of his busy schedule to serve the poor that He has given to us in three ways: Time Talents Treasure THE STEWARDSHIP CHALLENGE TIME: spend one extra hour in prayer each week, go to an extra How do we do this? We spend more time in prayer with our Creator. Mass or spend the time in front of the Blessed Sacrament We share our skills and abilities with those who could benefit from TALENT: give one extra hour of your time and talents to your them and we take a portion our income (after tax) for those in need. parish, or to a charity that looks after the poor and vulnerable For further information The Bible talks about giving a ‘tithe’ – which means a tenth of all we people in Cape Town on how to donate to the receive in all three areas, before we do anything else. TREASURE: as an extra act of giving, give the equivalent of Year of Faith Building Archbishop Brislin has asked that we all take up the Stewardship one hour’s salary to the Year of Faith Church Building Project, to Challenge as we enter the Year of Faith – to live in practice what we pro- a charity that supports the poor and vulnerable people in Cape Project see page 3 fess as our faith. Town, or to your parish. Archbishop receives generous gift towards building of churches Father Christian Frantz moti- a cheque to the value of R10 000 to vated his parishioners at St Philip's, Archbishop Brislin. Strandfontein – as part of their conse- The Archbishop was most grateful cration sacrifice – to generously con- for this fitting gift – an excellent tribute to a second collection, taken gesture given to him on the eve of up over the two Sunday Masses prior his birthday (24 September). He said, to the Solemn Dedication Mass on “I’m indeed very glad and grateful for Sunday 23 September – as a gift to your kind generosity in helping me Archbishop Stephen Brislin towards with the building of two churches, the building of the new churches for and I know how you have struggled the Year of Faith. to complete your own church building Fr Christian thanked the parishion- and in having it consecrated – yet you ers for their generous support and thought of others as well and once The Confirmation class of 2012 from Corpus Christi, Wynberg who donated so generously to the building at the Mass of Dedication the PPC again a big thank you to you all.” of new churches in our Archdiocese chairperson Mr Paul Daniels, during Well done St Philips! his thank you speech, handed over Joseph Pillay Generosity of our church youth as they grow in Christ On 16 September 2012, a group of that the candidates would donate building more churches for poor com- 28 young boys and girls received the money instead and would give the munities, with specific needy areas Sacrament of Confirmation at Corpus proceeds as a donation for the build- being sited. Christi Catholic Church, Wynberg. ing and renovation of churches in Young people have an important This was a very special day in the financially poorer communities in the role to play in uplifting and growing lives of these young people, their Archdiocese of Cape Town. It was the Catholic community at large. The parents, their sponsors and ecclesial also felt that this would give the young priests, deacons and many organisa- community. At the Mass, Archbishop Confirmation candidates an oppor- tions (with many older and very com- Emeritus Lawrence Henry called tunity to contribute more directly mitted members) in the parish have on the candidates to continue their into the larger Cape Town Catholic assisted in demonstrating their gen- involvement in the activities of the community through an outreach of erosity of spirit by their longstanding Church and to commit to continued their own. This would bring about a service and involvement in the church. service in their ecclesial community. greater and more personal awareness All young people are encouraged to It has been the tradition of the Corpus of the importance of enhancing the see themselves as an integral part of Fr Christian Frantz, parish priest of St Philip's, Strandfontein thanks Christi parish for the Confirmation dignity of our fellow Christians by our the growth of our church and to share his parishioners for generously contributing to Archbishop Brislin's (and First Holy Communion) can- generosity of spirit. willingly of their gifts and talents. plan to build and renovate three churches in our Archdiocese, espe- didates to contribute non-perishable The outreach is intended to coincide These seemingly small acts help to cially after having struggled to raise funds for the renovation of their foods as gifts for the needy. with the Year of Faith and Archbishop make our world a better place. own church. A cheque of R10 000 was handed over to the Archbishop. This year, the decision was taken Stephen Brislin’s appeal for support in Dorian Arendse ARCHDIOCESAN NEWS Visit the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s website on www.adct.org.za October-December 2012 1 From the HEART Archbishop Brislin blesses the new building project at St Catherine's and turns the first sod We are blessed Evangelization? St Catherine of Siena, Kleinvlei to have the 1. The message is not new. It is forthcoming year the proclamation of Jesus Christ as Situated in Kleinvlei, Eerste River declared “The Saviour of the world and inviting (about 21km outside Stellenbosch) Year of Faith” by people to an encounter with Jesus is St Catherine of Siena Catholic Pope Benedict Christ and to enter into a personal parish. Here one finds a vibrant XVI and this is relationship with Christ; community of people of all ages an opportunity 2. It is the responsibility of ALL and backgrounds who are proud to for spiritual renewal and re-com- baptized people; serve the Lord in the community of mitment for all Catholics of the 3. It is about discerning new ways Kleinvlei and its surrounding areas. Archdiocese. of being Church and how to live faith It is a parish where you can feel The Year of Faith coincides with in situations where the Church is a at home and where people have the Synod on the New Evangelisation minority; donated their time, services, hard presently taking place in Rome. We 4. It is not only about evangelising work and finances to accommodate recall our baptismal mandate to individuals but also about evangelis- the church community’s expanding Above: Before building began. Below: nearing completion witness and to evangelise. By our ing the whole of culture; needs. This is a true reflection of very baptism we are called to fulfil 5. The first evangelisation was the development and growth of a the commandment of Jesus to “go, “geographical”, i.e. going to different church that started off with humble therefore, and make disciples of all countries. The new evangelisation beginnings. nations… teaching them to observe is “situational” and should perme- Since the early 1950s up to 1976, all that I have commanded you” ate every level of society. Some of Mass was celebrated periodically in (Matthew 28:19-20). those levels mentioned are: “culture, a centre in the old Eerste River vil- The Catholic Church has a long social (especially due to migration), lage by the Stellenbosch Dominican tradition of sending missionaries to economic, civic and political life, priests. When the area of Kleinvlei countries to proclaim Jesus Christ to scientific research and technology, was developed, the Catholic com- those who do not know him. More social media. munity of Stellenbosch, Eerste River recently, Pope John Paul II called 6. It is “kerygma” – the basic and Kleinvlei and their parish priest, for a “new evangelisation” – not Gospel message – but also a compre- Fr Arnold Diephuys OP did not lose as a criticism of the work done hensive process of Christianization time establishing a proper place to by missionaries, but as a response involving catechesis, moral and social worship. to a rapidly changing world. Not teaching as well as incorporation As the township grew, their ‘self- only are there rapid changes in into communion with the Body of help building project’ also grew.