Our Lady Flight Into Egypt ~ Mary is honoured as the Chief Patron of our Diocese of Port Elizabeth. In accordance with the official liturgical Pastoral Guide it is therefore elevated to a solemnity (big feast) for the local church and celebrated on the Sunday that occurs on 4th February or between the 4th and 10th February each year.
renew africa
RESOURCES FOR RENEW AFRICA
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Renew Africa Logo
Renew Africa Logo 2
RA Trifold English
RA Trifold Afrikaans
RS Trifold Xhosa
SCC Sign up Card
English
SCC Sign up Card
Afrikaans
SCC Sign up Card Xhosa
Registration Form - Liturgy Workshop
Registration Form - SCC Workshop
Sharing the Good News
Catholic Evangelisation!
Fr Jerry Browne
It is hard to believe that we have just completed the Season Four of RENEW Africa – Sharing the Good News: Catholic Evangelisation. The response that we have received from a number of parishes has been very positive and we give thanks for the blessings and graces received at this time. The following are a few of the comments received:
“The Renew Africa [process] is changing lives for Christ. Good comments were received from participants. Many who were unable to communicate their personal experiences in the past are now doing so boldly. They are willing to tell others about how good is our Saviour Jesus Christ and how important it is to relate closely to Him.” (Immaculate Conception, East London)
At St Peter’s, Swartkops, the coordinator remarked “parishioners really looked forward meeting up with their ‘New Found Friends’ at St Peters, which is wonderful for parishioner’s spiritual growth as well as for building the community of St. Peters.”
One of the community members at St Joseph’s in Uitenhage made the following statement “RENEW has helped us to be more aware of of the needs of others and more ready to reach out to them. Some feel that even though very few belong to a RENEW group there is a growing sense of community in the parish and more people are offering themselves to work for the parish and to take part in parish ministries e.g. Hospitality, readers, communion givers, CWL. There is a growing willingness to share and pray. A new member remarked that he had no idea of what a faith sharing group was about but what he experienced in the RENEW group was new and life giving.”
As we have mentioned before, the work of Small Christian Communities, does not come to an end with the end of a particular Season of RENEW Africa. In fact, the goal of the RENEW Africa process is to help form and develop Small Christian Communities that will be ongoing. As the testimonies above relate, Small Christian Communities provide a safe welcoming space where adults have an opportunity to share together, in the context of their faith, about the things that are most important in their lives. In the context of prayer, pondering the scripture and sharing faith, people come to know God more intimately and are helped to grow in faith. As they begin to make connections between the word of God and their daily lives people come to a personal evangelization that invites them to be agents of transformation in their home, their society, and the world around them.
With this in mind it is important that Small Christian Communities continue meeting on a regular basis. The members of each SCC need to meet together and decide on a routine that will suit their particular SCC. Many SCC’s report that meeting twice a month, on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday for example, works well for them. It is good to have a routine that is easy to follow – so that if a person misses a meeting, they know when the gathering will take place.
Please keep in mind that resource materials are available for SCC’s in-between seasons of RENEW Africa in the form of Prayer Time C: Faith Sharing Reflections on the Sunday Gospels. This book has already been translated into Xhosa. This book is available from the Pastoral Development Office at a cost of R100.00.
Remember, the work of inviting people to join Small Christian Communities, or to serve on the Parish Core Community, or as a Small Community leader, is an ongoing activity. If you need assistance with training new leaders, please do not hesitate to contact us at the Pastoral Development Office on 041 365 2117 or Email us. We will be only too happy to assist.
If you are not already involved in a Small Christian Community and would
like to join, please contact the RENEW Africa Coordinator in your parish.
Alternatively please contact the Pastoral Development Office using the
contact information given below.
Remember the Diocese in your will. Read more ...