God's Valentine Gift by Joanna Fuchs Vol. 7 No 1 So He ...

God's Valentine Gift by Joanna Fuchs

God's Valentine gift of love to us Was not a bunch of flowers; It wasn't candy, or a book To while away the hours.

His gift was to become a man, So He could freely give His sacrificial love for us, So you and I could live.

He gave us sweet salvation, and Instruction, good and true-To love our friends and enemies And love our Savior, too.

So as we give our Valentines, Let's thank our Lord and King; The reason we have love to give Is that He gave everything.

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Baptisms

Jor-el Morris

Peter Bird

Paul Kemp

Abigail Freitas

Jordan Hardy

Chadley Powell

Qhayiya Ddyoko

Benjamin De Klerk

Ignacia Ogugua

Macaulay Onovo

Jordan Tyron

Callan Petersen

Tumisang Komane

Hlompho Komane

Christian Bowes

Thoriso Seima

Troy Chotoo

Cameron Sham

James Kajta

Kyle Brady

Ewa Socha

Minentle Ndebele

Kosisochukisu Maryann Ozoekwem

Onyinyechi Patience Nwankwo

Cayden Joel Daly Chukwu Nwafor Kutlwano Dichabe Ariela Moyo Sabina Sadiq Arata Mpungose Alessia de Villiers

Marriages

Kyle Saffy and Claire Pullen Ivan Gordon and Magashini Moodley Arthur Holm and Jacqueline Texeira

Tsepho Liphuko and Babalwa Motile Rungisai Nyasvimbo and Tsitsi Marufu Mark Vasconcellos and Anya Domagala

Funerals Ted Devine

Sandy Daly

Professor Sandor Alex Budavari

Vol. 7 No 1 A community that encounters Christ through the worship and spiritual guidance of God by loving and supporting our fellow brothers and sisters

ST JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH Corner of Northumberland Avenue and Olievenhout Road, North Riding

P O Box 3247 North Riding 2162 Tel: 010 222 0631 / 010 500 0631 ppc@st-.za / northriding.stjohn@.za

The Family--A Witness to God's Love

Fr Jonathan Petersen, OMI

Background: In their 1st plenary session of 2014 the SACBC had as part of their agenda ? `the Family'. Out of their discussions a resolution was taken that for the next 3years the conference area will place emphasis on the Family. It's in this context that I decided at the beginning advent 2014 that we will focus on the family. We were going to do this in a practical way rather than just talk about family. The idea of the family icon being taken into the home was born and by doing this I hoped that for one week a family will focus on themselves and rediscover their beauty and uniqueness as that particular family. Although this gesture has not been embraced by all I still believe there is a spiritual value for each family that take the icon. Secondly, we gave out the family calendar and it is my prayer and wish that in a way by dating important dates and events, it will help us as a family to become more conscious of important dates of each member of the family, and that we will celebrate in a simple way our successes and achievements. We will try and do more practical things for the family to celebrate who we are during this year. I hope and pray that whatever is offered will be an aid to families to see the beauty of them but also to experience God moments during these events.

A reflection:

I would like to reflect on the gifts we received at baptism, the gift of being PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING, and show how as a family these gifts can be life giving to us not only as individuals but also as a family.

The Prophetic Role of the Family: Called to Witness

"The family is the centre and the heart of the civilization of love... Only if the truth about freedom and the communion of persons in marriage and in the family can regain its splendour, will the building of the civilization of love truly begin..." (Blessed John Paul II Letter to Families, 13).

It is first and foremost by its manner of life, by authentically living the Word of God, that the family fulfils its prophetic mission to proclaim the Word. As Pope Paul VI observed in 1975, "Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses" (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41). We cannot hope to evangelize society by simply proclaiming moral values. In order to witness effectively, the family needs to be brought to an awareness of itself as a basic evangelizing community, as a "Domestic Church" ? of what it means to belong to the church, to belong to Christ. This awareness comes about only through formation. Christian families give witness in many ways, according to the natural situation they occupy, first within their own homes and among their own family members, but also in their neighbourhoods, on the job and in their various spheres of influence. The Christian family is never more prophetic than when both in its individual members and as family it is configured to Christ Himself, when its members love one another as Christ loves each one of us.

The Priestly Role of the Family: Called to Celebrate

"...The Christian family too is part of this priestly people which is the Church. By means of the sacrament of marriage, in which it is rooted and from which it draws its nourishment, the Christian family is continuously vivified by the Lord Jesus and called and engaged by Him in a dialogue with God through the sacraments, through the offering of one's life, and through prayer.

Somehow people just do not want to hear about cancer or be aware that someday they could in fact get cancer. Sadly cancer has no guide on religion, race, colour, gender, age etc. My mission has been to educate and make everyone aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer. If cancer is caught at it's early stages there is a much greater chance of survival than if it is just ignored. That is when it becomes dangerous and death often occurs. Due to the declining number of attendees, I am unable to get professional doctors to come on a Sunday morning (the only day they have free) to give talks to just a handful of people. However, our support group will continue with its endeavours to assist anyone in need of help. I am always on call for any queries or fears ? I am a cancer counsellor and care giver. Matron Pam Hurst is also always on call for the same. Pam was Night Matron of the Olivedale Clinic for many years and is highly qualified to deal with all cases.

Now we also have another wonderful lady by the name of Sister Helen Geddes, who not only counsels but also cares for those who are terminally ill. She is fully trained in terminal care. Should anyone need assistance at any time of the day or night ? if you are worried about something or you need advice on what to do please phone us and we will always be there for you. As our group is an "outreach" programme we would like to continue requesting toiletries for those cancer patients at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, the Helen Joseph Hospital and Baragwanath Hospital. The donations we have had at each of our talks have been simply amazing and we thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Our Care Group under Lynne Sandham has helped us so much by making toiletry bags and teddy bears.

There will be a white basket in the repository at the entrance to the church and if you are able to drop something small off at any time (e.g. a cake of soap, tooth paste, tooth brush, comb, hair brush, deodorant, talc, face cloth, lip ice), please do not hesitate to come in and just place it in the basket. Once a month we will take the "goodies" to one of the hospitals or to the Cancer Association for them to distribute. Thank you for taking the time to read this article.

May God Bless you all with good health, happiness and peace !

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World Youth Day 2016: Krakov Poland

Shaylyn Ernest

"World Youth Day is just a year away" these thoughts bring mixed emotions of both unreal excitement, and an anxious nervousness that sits in my stomach while I frantically worry about weather, or if I'll be ready for my spiritual journey. World Youth Day is going to be held in Krakov, Poland.It is an enlightening spiritual journey with just a touch of adventure due to the Polish land foreign to us. Our pilgrimage is a way for youth from all across the world to meet at one specific destination, and experience a praise and worship like no other! As you could imagine, it is a trip of hard work, dedication, and funds! So an enormous thank you to all parishioners that helped support the world youth day cause. We go on this journey in hope of bringing back all that we learn from the pilgrimage and help spread our newly profound wisdom into the world. We truly couldn't have made it thus far without your love and support!

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

Jerome Davis

On the 16th December we once again took our annual trip to The Sisters of Charity in Kilpgat with our Care and Share Project.

Our Care and Share initiative kicks off, mid- October and by the start of December we are quite frantic as we are not sure if we are going to be able to raise the money required. Shopping for the project starts mid-November nearly every week and as the money comes in we use what we have. We start loading into the classrooms as our storeroom becomes too small.

On the 15th December we start to pack the parcels at 2pm and due to the announcement in church the previous day, quite few families are already there frantically packing 1400 parcels. It is quite something to behold when old and young pitch in. The nuns, host us with tea and snacks. During this time we have the opportunity to interact with the children, who once you pick the little ones up, it is hard to let go.

What does this all mean to me though?

I feel as if I make a difference in people's lives. Being a member of SSVP gives me an opportunity to practise my faith in action. It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done, it is what keeps me motivated on those cold winter Saturday mornings when we have to go to Zandspruit. As a Society we thank you for your generosity and invite you to join us or just join our initiatives on certain days.

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Cancer Awareness and Support Group

Pam Goemans

Some of you may remember that 18 months ago we started a new group in our parish under the "umbrella" of the Health Ministry called the Cancer Awareness and Support Group. This is a group to help you become aware of the first signs of cancer and also as a support group for those of you who needed help. We started off with having a talk by a different Professor/doctor every 6 weeks. Our first talk was by Dr Carol Benn on Breast cancer. Carol is an amazing lady and by doing a bilateral mastectomy on me she saved my life. The crowd for this talk was amazing ? over 200 people came and enjoyed her talk. The next talk was on Prostate cancer by Dr Paul Porteous. We had approximately over 100 people attend the talk and Paul was wonderful and we had lots of good laughs. And so we carried on ? with talks on Skin Cancer, Cervical Cancer and Cancer in Children. Sadly as we continued our groups of visitors got smaller and smaller to become a group of just 20 people for the CHOC (Children's Haemotology and Oncology Clinic). Professor Janet Poole was very understanding. Her talk was outstanding and she taught those of us who were lucky enough to be there what to look for in children.

This is the priestly role which the Christian family can and ought to exercise in intimate communion with the whole Church, through the daily realities of married and family life. In this way the Christian family is called to be sanctified and to sanctify the ecclesial community and the world" (Familiaris Consortio, 55).

Christian parents have the specific responsibility of educating their children in prayer and of encouraging in them the development and growth of a sincere love for Christ and of a spirit of service in union with Him. At the same time, Christian parents should strive to make their homes places of repentance and pardon. It is their role to bring their children to the awareness that they are called to become saints. "Nothing complicated is required to sanctify one's work and, at the same time, to sanctify oneself. Just a few ingredients are needed: to accomplish one's work as perfectly as possible (...), with a love for the will of God, and to serve others.

The Kingly Role of the Family: Called to Serve

"While building up the Church in love, the Christian family places itself at the service of the human person and the world... Another task for the family is to form persons in love and also to practice love in all its relationships, so that it does not live closed in on itself, but remains open to the community, moved by a sense of justice and concern for others, as well as by a consciousness of its responsibility towards the whole of society (Familiaris Consortio, 64).

As families, we serve society best when we work to "become what we are": communities of life and love, when we are open to life and when we allow our love to radiate out into society, enhancing the personal dignity of all. By training our children to embrace roles of kingly and queenly service, Christian families contribute immeasurably to the future good of society. When the Christian family seeks its own well-being, then, it does so only because it knows and knows too well, that it is only in a climate of love that the spirit of generosity and self-donation, on which the future of humanity depends, can be cultivated.

Having reflected on the baptismal character of the family I would like to conclude with this: "It is in the family that we first encounter love -- the love of mother and of father, love which is a reflection of God's tender love. For the Christian, the love that we give ? to our family, to our friends, and to the world ? is in large measure, a reflection of the human/divine love that we have received in the context of the family, that is, within the Domestic Church. Yet, no human family is perfect; for many, family life has entailed great suffering. For these individuals and families, God the loving Father, promises compassion and healing through the agency of the Church."

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Source used : Papal encyclicals, A theological reflection on baptismal character of the family published on sacramental journal.

Lent Theme: A Journey with Mary, Experiencing the Passion of Her Son

Fr Jonathan Petersen, OMI

"Mary's Way of the Cross" follows the mother of Jesus as she walks the road to Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, emphasizing her sense of surrender: "I knew it had to be, so I walked on silently."

The season of Lent offers us the opportunity to know God in a deeper, more meaningful way. We are invited to enter an intimate journey of faith through a deep reflection that will unite one's pain and suffering with Jesus on the cross through the sorrowful heart of His Mother

Thus Mary calls us this Lenten season to walk silently with her, experiencing the mystery of her son's passion. Therefore this lent we will be giving out rosaries. We will pray the rosary daily reflecting on the mysteries. We will pray the Mary's way of the cross. In doing so it is hoped that our Lenten journey will deepen our faith just as Mary's faith was deepened through walking with her son through his passion death and resurrection

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Mary, my Mother, you were the first to live the Way of the Cross. You felt every pain and every humiliation. You were unafraid of the ridicule heaped upon you by the crowds. Your eyes were ever on Jesus and His Pain. Is that the secret of your miraculous strength? How did your loving

heart bear such a burden and such a weight?

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Celebrating 10 Years as a Deacon

Rev David Potterton

On the 15 January 2015 I celebrated the10th Anniversary of my ordination to the deaconate. I had hoped that this celebration would be low key and that my family could offer up a quiet mass and have some tea and cake.

This was not to be, as Fr. Jonathan had a different idea. With his team he decided that there would be a thanksgiving Mass and a bring and share meal after the Mass. As I have learnt over the years Fr Jonathan was correct in his decision as the achievement of ten years as a deacon was indeed a community thanksgiving celebration. It was a thanksgiving for the generosity, love, compassion, joy and encouragement that the community of St Johns have demonstrated towards me and my family during the ten years they have allowed me to serve them.

What a celebration it was. Fr. Jonathan celebrated Holy Mass and was assisted by Fr. Donald. A beautiful liturgy was celebrated with music and a very moving homily preached by Fr. Jonathan. The party after the Mass was a demonstration of a true community spirit. There was plenty to eat and the chocolate pudding table made Charlie and the Chocolate factory look like they were going out of business.

It was really humbling to receive all the congratulations and good wishes from the parishioners. Over the ten years I have grown spiritually through the guidance of Fr. Jonathan and the community. There are three things that stand out that Fr. Jonathan has taught me. Firstly to accept people as they are and where they are on their faith journey. Secondly to forgive, without judgement no matter what the circumstances are. Finally "It's OK".

My growth in the community has come from you allowing me to baptise your children. To administer the Body and Blood of Christ to you. Allowing me to marry your loved ones and to bury your dead. Your faith demonstrated ,when the sacraments are administered, inspires me greatly.

Thank you all for the gifts you have given me, for the generosity shown to me and my family and for the prayers of thanksgiving. May God continue to bless our community.

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Book Review from the St John's Parish Resource Centre by Julia Paris

WarrenVeenman & Sally Eichorst

Title: Unleash Your Potential & Live your Ultimate Life: Awaken the Infinite Power Within & Create The Life Of Your Dreams

Act decisively; make a choice to live your life to the fullest. You will be amazed and surprised at the result. This book is a wonderfully simplistic, no nonsense, and plain English recipe for unleashing your potential. According to the authors, a diverse group have applied their suggestions with great success. The authors promise that the book will open doors which have been locked and will expose the tremendous potential we as human beings carry around inside of us.

I invite you to become a member of the library and source this book now...to unlock and unleash YOUR potential.

Notice: Those with books outstanding, please bring the library's book back. You are withholding another person from enjoying that book too. Thank you. For more information about the resource

Centre, visit us in the hall after every Mass.

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St. John's Youth: Nativity 2014

Michela and Francesca Leotta

The Nativity play was one of the best times of our church lives. There were a lot of kids and we played games and practiced over and over again.

So the story goes: a couple of angels were chilling in heaven when God spoke to them and gave them instructions to tell Mary and Joseph that they were going to have a baby. They said his name was to be Jesus. Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem and was visited by three wise men, Joke telling shepherds and radiant angels.

This version of the story was written by a very talented Caleigh, directed by the senior youth, music by the youth band and performed by our loving St John's kids. Thanks for all the hard work and helping us make new friends.

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NATIVITY PLAY 2015.

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