| THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION |
| THE CATHEDRAL: Currently by appointment only |
| NAZARETH HOUSE: Thursdays before the First Friday of each month 09h15 – 10h00 or anytime on request.
|
COMMUNION TO THE SICK IN THE PARISH – Is there someone in your family who is sick at home or in hospital, kindly contact any of the parish clergy will arrange for the Sacraments of the Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion.
THE THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A
The First Reading
Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
The Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 127 (128): 1 – 5
R/ Blessed are all who fear the Lord.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, and walk in his ways!
By the labour of your hands you shall eat.
You will be blessed and prosper. R/.
Your wife like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house;
your children like shoots of the olive
around your table. R/.
Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the LORD.
May the LORD bless you from Sion. May you see Jerusalem prosper
all the days of your life! R/.
The Second Reading
1 Thessalonians 5: 1 – 6
The Gospel Reading
Matthew 25: 14 – 30
Thought for the day
What does God desire of us? This simple question is perhaps not asked frequently enough! It can be made quite personal: what does God want of me, from me? In the end, the answer has to be—in the words of the song—“all that I am,” precisely because God loves all that I am. This will mean allowing ourselves to be loved. It will also mean responding with my whole self, including all the gifts of body, mind and soul that God has bestowed upon me. In the end, God does hope that we may be and become our true selves. Nothing less is adequate to God’s own love for us.
Prayer
We are truly grateful to you, God our creator and redeemer, for your many gifts. We ask your help that we may use all you have given us for your glory and for the good of our neighbour. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please note that if it is your intention to get married in the Catholic Church, you need to give the Church at least SIX MONTHS notice of your intention to do so. Please note that current regulations in the Archdiocese limits Church attendance at Weddings to 25 people. Please contact the Cathedral office either telephonically or via email to set up an appointment with one of the Cathedral clergy to complete the Pre-Nuptial Enquiry and to arrange the required Marriage Preparation Classes.
THE PAROCHIAL NOTICES
- LAST WEEKEND’S FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Collection R 1 072, 20 Planned Giving R 3 199, 99
- LITURGICAL CALENDARS FOR 2021 are on sale now for R20 each.
- PLEASE NOTE that Fr Rohan will be supplying in the Parish of Vredenburg on weekends. Since the parish consists of five churches in five areas, he will assist Bishop Emeritus Francisco de Gouveia, who is resident in Langebaan, with the celebration of their weekend masses.
The Chancery wish to thank the Cathedral parishioners for their sacrifice during this time of transition until a new Parish Priest is appointed to the Vredenburg Parish.
- Fr Luigi Benigni is away on his annual leave and Retreat and will return on 26th
- BAPTISMS – Those who wish to have their children baptised, please contact the Cathedral Office so that arrangements can be made for instructions and the celebration of the Sacrament. Current Covid regulations decree that no group baptisms will take place but only one child per celebration.
- MORTUARY LISTS – A SECOND COLLECTION FOR THE MORTUARY LIST OF 2021 will be held next weekend of 21st & 22nd Please forward your new Mortuary Lists to cathedral@adct.org.za. The Cathedral Clergy will celebrate weekly Holy Masses for the repose of all the faithful departed. Mass Stipends can be deposited in the Parish Bank Account with the reference MOR
CATHEDRAL BANKING DETAILS
Name St Mary’s Cathedral
Bank Standard Bank
Branch 020909
Acc Nº 071 564 780
Acknowledgement – Picture taken from www.salfordliturgy.org.uk
Monday 16November
St Margaret of Scotland
St Gertrude, Virgin
Apocalypse 1:1-4, 2:1-5 The opening words of this reading promise us happiness—if we listen! The close letter is call to repentance, never too late!
Luke 18:35-43 The blind man is strategically placed on the road out of Jericho, just when pilgrims would be feeling uplifted by the proximity of the Holy City. In expanded form, the prayer of the blind man has entered Christian tradition as the “Jesus prayer”: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Tuesday 17 November
St Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Apocalypse 3:1-6, 14-22 The gospel communities in Sardis and Laodicea give the impression being alive…but the reality is otherwise. This wake-up call is for us too.
Luke 19:1-10 This beloved story has universal appeal. It illustrates both the proclamation of the Good News and its reception by conversation of heart. Of course, we all have to climb our own sycamore trees!
Wednesday 18 November
Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts Peter and Paul
Apocalypse 4:1-11 A worship scene opens up for us: rich in symbol and mysterious. At the centre we hear words we use at every mass; at the end, we confess God, the creator of all there is.
Luke 19:11-28 Luke’s version of this parable —also found in Matthew, with an echo in Mark)—is provocative, even disturbing. It does reflect the instability of the making and unmaking of kings is late first century Palestine. At the same time, Luke wants us to read it as part of his teaching about Jesus, both proclaimer of the Kingdom and King. The frame is a severe warning not to flitter away the time of delay because the King will indeed return at an unexpected time.
Thursday 19 November
Apocalypse 5:1-10 The sealed scroll contains the plan of God for the course of history. Who can open it? The lamb – Jesus – can open it, because of his cross and resurrection.
Luke 19:41-44 Our Gospel today – unique to Luke – looks back historically to what actually happened. Jesus looks back not in anger but in compassion. At the same time, the reason for the destruction is given: all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it. This final comment brings the text into our present reality. Cf. See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! (2Corinthians 6:2)
Friday 20 November
Apocalypse 10:8-11 This puzzling scene – an echo of Ezekiel – tell us that the writer had a message both bitter and sweet. Sweet to those on the side of God; bitter to those on “the other side.”
Luke 19:45-48 Luke’s version of the Temple action is much gentler perhaps reflecting Luke’s concern to affirm the Jewish roots of the Christian movement. It is, nevertheless, a judgment and a prophetic call.
Saturday 21 November
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Apocalypse 11:4-12 The Apocalypse does not lack obscurity—at least for us today! Who are the “two witnesses”? The imagery of the olive trees and the lamp stands suggests channels through which God’s grace becomes effective, offering light. The Old Testament reference is to Zech 4:1- 14: Joshua the priest and Zerubbabel the king, here standing for the priestly and royal roles of Israel. Thus, they symbolise the church, God’s new people, both priestly and kingly. The witnesses—church members—will indeed suffer martyrdom, but they are alive in God and their witness is ever effective.
Luke 20:27-40 Our reading today is certainly mysterious. It echoes stories of Elijah and Elisha. The prophets did and will suffer- but God, in whose hands they are, will raise them up.
