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.

youth rally - 2nd to 4th December

Please click on the thumbnail to view the full sized poster for this years Youth Rally

When the Youth comes marching in

16 June 1972… Let that thought simmer in your mind. Done? We celebrate it as Youth Day but also commemorate this day because of the courage that the youth of South Africa showed against the Apartheid regime. Many lost their lives on this day and became martyrs for our country, especially Hector Peterson.
The day started off with a brisk march against crime, alcohol and drug abuse amongst teenagers through Gelvandale. Various schools from the community participated in the march as well. This displayed a sense of unity as we united as young individuals to show that we do care about our youth. The youth proceeded back to church for Mass, where we received stickers with numbers on them upon entering the church. Apart from some technical difficulties, Fr. Selwyn’s eye opening yet touching sermon gave us new vision as the Catholic youth and a message that remained inside of us rather than just entering one ear and leaving the other.

As we left the church and entered the hall it turned out that these stickers with numbers were used to sort us into teams. The facilitators explained the various challenges that awaited us on the outside. Each team marched out the door prepared to go to war and emerge victorious. I was a member of team 10, our rivals were team 9. The first challenge we were presented with was a spoon-egg race where you had to walk down to a brick, walk around it and walk back to your team passing the torch or rather egg to the next member which had to follow in the same fashion. Many eggs were broken but no guys were hurt in the process. Team 10 had risen to the challenge and crushed the opposition. The next challenge was the most exhausting… the sack race, the only thing we needed was the bunny ears because everyone had the hopping pretty much covered. Challenge number three in which communication was crucial but stressful. You have to guide your blindfolded partner to the other end of the maze using only your voice. Team 9, were making up for past mistakes and were slowly catching up, where they dominated in tug of war. I felt like kicking them into a pit after yelling “This is Sparta”. All was going downhill for team 10 after that. The orange nose rolling challenge wasn’t advantageous to people with flat noses such as myself. The feeding contest was by far the funniest. One member from each had the job of being fed a banana and the other, the feeder, has a peeled banana in their mouth and is responsible for feeding the monkey/eater. Some wanted more bananas, proving to us that the process of evolution is a bit slow. Next up was the human wheel barrow, where some people were not as light as they thought they were. The last and final activity was mentally challenging in which we had to arrange tyre’s in numerical order.

We returned to the hall, battered and defeated. The facilitators informed us of the final activity, a Saint hunt, where each team had names of Saint’s listed on a page and various people were standing across the church premises and teams had to ask them which Saint they were. If they guessed correctly, the Saint signed the paper next to the one they were. Each signature was worth a point. The day was an enjoyable experience, new friendships were made and many strengthened as we joined together and unified as the Catholic youth of Port Elizabeth.

meet the Port Elizabeth Diocesan Youth Council (PEDYC) Executive for 2011 - 2013

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Chairperson Gail Smith - King Williams Town Deanery
Cell: 071 821 6319 Tel: 043 700 6122
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Vice Chairperson Joseph Kleinhans - King Williams Town Deanery
Cell: 076 4635759
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Secretary Chantel Rennick - PE Deanery
Cell : 073 2258571 Tel:041 4094000
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Vice Secretary Kernal Scharneck - East London Deanery
Cell: 083 4109723

Treasurer Deon Wright - Midlands Deanery
Cell: 082 9296542 Tel:0432 2436615
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Vice Treasurer Patrick Christian - Midlands Deanery
Cell: 078 8257234
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PRO Robin Manuel - East London Deanery
Cell: 073 0933367
Email 1 Email 2

Assistant PRO Kirshin George - PE Deanery
Cell: 084 2094680
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Additional Member 1 Luzizo Mene - King Williams Town Deanery
Cell: 083 4908693
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Additional Member 2 Rudy Norman - Midlands Deanery
Cell: 079 4973169

article written by kirshin george

Submitted by Chantel Rennick

It was a long journey to our destination as it seemed as if the infinite stretch of road continued forever. A anxious group of youth filled with an excited atmosphere could not wait to get to a place called The Lapa so that they could rest. Eventually we arrived at The Lapa, everyone was relieved as they stepped out of their vehicles and introduced to Oom Jannie A.K.A Uncle Yannie.

The youth, along with the facilitators(Chantel, Sebastian, Gail and Deon) gathered together sitting in a circle. The night was filled with games such as Mexican wave that everybody in stitches. The fun and games were over and it was down to business, later that night we had a meeting which kept us up until early the next morning and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that most of the youth were either half-asleep or half-awake whichever way you want to look at it these people were yearning for some shut eye.

Saturday morning we awoke, some taking longer than others. We started the morning with some praise and worship songs as we walked down to a dry river which left us spiritually revitalized. When we reached the river a reading was read and the facilitators paired us up with a random person and we had to explain to each and later the group on what this reading meant to us. Oom Jannie told us to change into some old clothes as we would be conquering the mud obstacle course. There were two teams competing against each other, The Bosbokkies and The Bulls. The bulls were in the lead for most of this vicious and dirty mud course but the Bosbokkies were right behind them and narrowly caught up, defeating he Bulls and the obstacle course which gave some peoples clothing a whole new look.

Everybody entered the hall, Fr. Vumile joined us this time. The facilitators made us draw a bicycle, the bike was a representation of our youth groups and in our groups we had to explain the different functions of the bike/youth group and and the plan of action from youth groups should be like to function and run efficiently. Immediately after this Sebastian gave a presentation on listening skills which really helped a lot. The day was not at an end as a second obstacle course awaited us. The youth were extremely proud of Chantel and Gail for overcoming the obstacle course and facing their fears in their times of peril. The bulls took the title for this one. We headed towards our dorm rooms and prepared for mass. After mass a big swing awaited us where I would be the first to accept its challenge, as I went higher and higher the faster my heart began to race but when the rope attached to me let go, there was never a time in my life I said the Our Father prayer that fast like a microwave meal. Some of the youth accepted the giant swings challenge and participated while others were not willing to put their lives in danger. Supper time came and it was delicious if I may say so.

Aldo, a man who works for and helps Oom Jannie took us on a walk late at night when all of a sudden the sound of a flare shot up and head people screaming and me ducking for my life, we realized it was Oom Jannie. We continued the long walk not to freedom but to a dried up river where the bonfire took place where we thanked Oom Jannie and his workers for an amazing weekend that will never be forgotten. The atmosphere felt calm and so peaceful as we sung hymns under the beautiful night sky

Sunday morning arrived, we prayed Thee Rosary. Oom Jannie took us Quad Biking and the others who were waitin g for the ride on the quad bike went horse riding. The moment Oom Jannie pulls away your heart immediately stars racing and it doesn’t stop until he stops. One more surprise was in stor dor us and that was paintball, I obtained a penalty shot right on my buttocks for taking my mask off while I was walking off the playing field. The pain was worth it because it was so much fun. The time came when we had to leave I think that was the only downside of the weekend because it was so amazing meeting new people, interacting with one another and building bonds with these people that are also going to play a part in your spiritual life. This weekend was something different, something that we never expected and will never forget that remains with us to the end of time…. Thank you.

Annual diocesan youth rally

Submitted by Runaine Radine

The Diocese of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape held its Fifth Annual Diocesan Youth Rally on the weekend of 3-5 December 2010 at Hickman’s River Campsite in East London.

Ever since its inception in 2006, this event has provided an opportunity for parish youth groups from the vast areas of the diocese to come together once every year. This significant occasion is organised by the Diocesan Youth Council members themselves. Each year a different deanery hosts the rally.

The theme for the 2010 Rally was L.I.F.E. (Living it for Eternity). All the activities for the weekend were geared at this theme.

280 people attended the rally including two priests, a religious sister and a seminarian. Guest speakers addressed the participants on various topics, such as, human trafficking, abuse, the social ills and vocations. The sodality of the Ladies of Charity prepared sumptuous meals throughout the weekend.

Prayer is a very important part of the event. The weekend began with a powerful opening liturgy and ended with the celebration of the Eucharist with a live band. On Saturday evening the participants gathered around the Diocesan Youth Cross during a Taize Service. This cross, modelled on the World Youth Day Cross, travels to all the parishes in the host deanery from rally to rally. The cross was first blessed and sent to the youth of the diocese by our Bishop Michael Coleman at a special youth Mass in our Cathedral at the start of the Lenten Season, 2007.

Most of the participants enjoyed the bus ride to and from the venue as well as interacting with fellow catholic youth, especially during the ice-breakers and the obstacle courses along the river and the beach.

Coming together as a vibrant diocesan youth structure proved to be beneficial over the years: well-established groups and deaneries energise deteriorating ones; leaders are earmarked; old friendships are strengthened and new ones are formed; and young people experience a new sense of belonging to a wider family as members of the universal church. This is also an effective forum where participants can voice their joys, concerns and hopes for the youth ministry in the diocese.

Preparations are well underway for this year’s rally to be held in King William’s Town Deanery.

YOUTH CHAPLAINS

Port Elizabeth
Fr Dominic Griego OFM Cap, P.O. Box 15685, Emaerald Hill 6011
Tel: 041 367 1930 Fax: 041 368 7187

Border
Fr Thembalethu Mana, P. O. Box 254, King William's Town
Tel/Fax: 043 683 2445 Cell: 083 365 4129 Email: tmana@mighty.co.za

Midlands

East London
Anthony Daniels
St Francis Xavier and St Mardtin de Porres, East London
Tel: 043 745 1112 Cell: 073 408 6840 or 073 598 8707

photographs of recent activities

Please click on
pictures to enlarge

POTIJIEKOS COMPETITION - PE DEANERY END OF 2010

Participants carry the Diocesan Youth Cross during the Rosary Procession at the Annual Diocesan Youth Rally in Grahamstown. The theme of the 2009 Youth Rally was: "This is my faith, This is my life!"