Ad Clerum 2/14 May 2014 1 Ad Clerum Easter Number 2/14 The celebration of Easter has been a joyous and fulfilling experience for us all. It is a good thing to be utterly exhausted, but with a real sense of spiritual accomplishment! I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the intense and focussed effort put into a successful Lent and a glorious Easter in your respective parishes. Well done indeed! Your people have been blessed in the fine services that they have received from you. You truly are faithful servants of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I was most encouraged by the news out of our parishes and asked if any of you had taken any photos of your Easter experiences. Here are a few for your interest. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter The wonderful procession through Seshego by the people of All Saints Pro-Cathedral; Note the traffic control by Palm Branch!
A parishioner admires the Palm Sunday décor at St John the Evangelist, Soweto
Maundy ThursdayChrist Church, Brackenfell is a lively and growing parish. On Palm Sunday, the people ofthe parish walked together from the local shopping centre to the church, letting the wholecommunity know of their presence as a Christian community.
The beautiful altar for Maundy Thursday at Christ Church, Brackenfell, Cape Town. The jug and bowl for the Foot Washing Ceremony can be seen in the foreground.
The Blessing of the Oils and Renewal of Priestly Vows took place at Holy Cross,Pretoria. Many clergy attended and I thank you all for the messages sent from the far-flung parts of the Diocese. We were able to pray for all our brethren not able to be withus for the service that day. Holy Oils for Unction are available to all the clergy. Pleaseensure that your stock is renewed. There is plenty for all.
Good FridayMeaningful services, vigils and presentations took place throughout Southern Africa. FrLionel Kuiper sent me the script of his well-prepared and moving addresses, whilst Ireceived reports of excellent services, with many of the faithful attending.
The lovely tableau for Good Friday at St Andrews, Mondeor, Johannesburg, showingPilate’s judgement seat in the foreground, the Last Supper in the background. It is
exciting to see God’s people being so creative in their churches.
Diocesan News:Fr Mike Maseko has not been well and needs the prayers of the Diocese.The recent operation on Fr Martin Magoleng’s eye has been successful, and hehas expressed gratitude for the prayers and support from people in the Diocese.
Fr Lionel Kuiper would be grateful for your continued prayers for his health.
R.I.P The Rev Fr Phuti Joconiah Thopola (05/05/1932 to 10/05/2014)
Fr Joconiah Thopola in his beloved church, St Matthews, Hammanskraal, 2008
Fr Thopola has been a wonderful and innovative Priest. His work in the area ofHammanskraal, North of Pretoria was energetic and innovative. His parish of StMatthew’s was founded in two old busses welded together by Fr Thopola himself,and his crèche and feeding scheme brought great relief to many in MandelaVillage, Hammanskraal. He had a great love of music and was a deeply spiritualman of God.In 2010, a fire devastated the St Matthews complex, and destroyed almost all ofFr Thopola’s hard work. The fire damaged his already frail health, and he neverfully recovered from the shock of this event.
Confirmation at St Martin de Porres, Ekangala took place on the Sunday afterEaster. The parish is showing real growth and Fr Sekoba is to be commended on
his work there. This vibrant and dedicated community will soon have to move intolarger premises.
Holy Baptism at Ekangala The group confirmed at St Martin de Porres
Project Soweto: St John the Evangelist.This very exciting project is now ‘up and running’ in Protea Glen, Soweto.Fr Edom has had a month of services and the people were able enjoy a full HolyWeek schedule. 30 people attended the first service and the numbers aresteadily increasing; there were 50 on Good Friday! Please pray for this new
parish and its success.
The inaugural service at St John the Evangelist, Soweto
St Andrew’s is a truly ‘new South African’ parish, and the harmony and lovebetween members is an inspiring witness in the community.
Fr Allen can be truly satisfied with what has been achieved in Jesus Christ’sName. He has been a good and faithful servant of the Lord.Please keep Fr Allen and Sue in your prayers as they relocate to England.
Easter at St Andrews – Fr Allen Smith’s last service with the parish
Church Warden Ross Shepstone thanks Fr Allen and Sue Smith for their fine work at StAndrews, Mondeor.
The call to a holy life is basic to Christian living, and the development of a godlyand holy lifestyle is the responsibility of every individual Christian person, youngor old.
For the Christian Priest, a life of personal holiness and piety is absolutelyessential, as he is called to be the focal point of the worshipping community anda living example to the Flock of Christ. Words spoken from the pulpit can have nointegrity without an accompanying lifestyle that compliments his Priestly ministry.The Priest has the unenviable task of proving to the People of God that a godlyand holy life is within their reach. Perhaps that is why it is so difficult for clergy toattain, for every Christian Priest that determinedly follows a holy life will certainlyfind his efforts and his witness under attack from the evil one. The ‘world, theflesh and the devil’ do not like to be put to shame by a godly and holy Priest!
Personal holiness is hard for any person to attain, given the stresses and strainsof daily life, but for the Christian Priest, it becomes an integral part of the dailyproclamation of the truth of his calling and so he may not fail. To be the image ofChrist at the Altar of the Lord requires a clarity of vision, a certainty of faith and avisible holiness that can come only from the power of the Holy Ghost.
The path to holiness is a lonely one, for the ‘man of the world’ has no real interestin either spiritual life or its accompanying values. Every person in the workingworld is called to compromise at some level, and compromise is the enemy ofholiness. God’s holiness is something absolutely ‘other’ from our daily life, andthe Christian Priest is called to show his people that focus on God’s highstandards can and will make a difference for the good in ordinary daily living.
The ‘ordinary’ man or woman faces enormous difficulties in walking the path ofholiness. The pressures of family life and work mean that limited time is availablefor deep contemplation on the things of God. The possibility of failure is alwayspresent and its accompanying sense of guilt can demotivate and hinder their lifeof faith. The example of a godly and holy Priest is a life-line to the person seekingfaith and meaning; an attainable level that he or she can see, and then hopefullyreach within their own faith experience day by day.
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