Second Sunday of Lent – Year A
March 4/5, 2023.
Psalter week II
Parish of the Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament Church,
2 Newport Avenue, Virginia.
Star of the Sea Church,
13 Park Drive, uMhlanga Rocks.
Phone:031 564 7587
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Office hours: Monday - Friday: 08h00 - 16h00
Website: www.blessedsacrament.co.za
Parish Clergy:
Parish priest: Fr. James Ralston O.M.I. fr.james@blessedsacrament.co.za
Assistant: Fr. Derrick Butt O.M.I. fr.derrick@blessedsacrament.co.za
Deacons: Dc. Mike O’Neill formation@blessedsacrament.co.za
Dc. Noel Pistorius (retired)
Mass times:
Blessed Sacrament:
Monday, Tuesday & Friday - 17h30
Wednesday & Thursday - 08h30
Saturday - 17h30
Sunday - 09h00 & 17h15
Public holidays - 08h30
Star of the Sea:
Wednesday - 17h30
Friday - 09h00
Sunday - 07h00
Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Blessed Sacrament: Saturday - 16h00 - 17h00 or by appointment
Star of the Sea: First Friday of the month after Mass or by appointment
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Mass times and intentions March 04 to 10, 2023.
Blessed Sacrament
Saturday
17h30 For the repose of the soul of Rosemary Dupont and of John Reynolds.
Sunday
09h00 Special intention of Maria and Cruz.
For the repose of the souls of Johnny and Logie Maistry, Andrew and Mary Naidoo, Ranjeni Marimuthu and Michael Haramis.
17h15 For repose of the soul of Teresa de Sousa.
Monday
(Daniel 9:4-10; Psalm 79:8-9.11.13; Luke 6:36-38.)
17h30 In thanksgiving for prayers answered.
For the repose of the soul of Dorothy Burnill.
Tuesday Saints Perpetua and Felicity.
(Isaiah 1:10.16-20; Psalm 50:8-9.16-17.21.23; Matthew 23:1-12.)
17h30 For the special intention of Odile Couacaud.
Wednesday Saint John of God.
(Jeremiah 18:18-20; Psalm 31:5-6.14-16; Matthew 20:17-28.)
08h30 For the repose of the soul of Henri de Fleuriot.
Thursday Saint Frances of Rome.
(Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1:1-4.6; Luke 16:19-31.)
08h30 For the repose of the souls of deceased Oblates.
Friday
(Genesis 37: 3-4.12-13.17-28; Psalm 105:16-21; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46.)
06h00 For the repose of the soul of Tony Akeroyd.
17h30 For the Oblate Provincial’s intentions.
Star of the Sea
Sunday
07h00 For the repose of the soul of Tony Schultz.
Wednesday Saint John of God.
(Jeremiah 18:18-20; Psalm 31:5-6.14-16; Matthew 20:17-28.)
17h30 Special intention for Brother Dave du Preez.
For the repose of the souls of Michael Power, Henry Howlett, Rachelle Samuels and Tony Schultz.
Friday
(Genesis 37: 3-4.12-13.17-28; Psalm 105:16-21; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46.)
09h00 Special intention of Kim.
For the repose of the soul of Tony Schultz.
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Information & Notices
Condolences to the family and friends of Luis Manuel Gonçalves who died recently. May his soul rest in peace.
The Dominican Convent of Our Lady of Fatima, will be having an open evening on March 06, 2023. For further information, please view the notice board.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be hosting tea after the 07h00 Mass at Star of the Sea and 09h00 Mass at Blessed Sacrament today. Why not take the opportunity to ask those questions about the Society you have always wanted to?
Registration for The 99 Experience takes place outside all Masses this weekend. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to enrich your Lenten journey. The course begins on Monday 13 March.
The Guild of Our Lady of Mercy is in desperate need of men’s, ladies and children’s clothing and shoes. Any items may be delivered to the parish office.
For those who may well be interested, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is being arranged by Koinonia John the Baptist Community from the diocese of uMzimkulu. For further details, please consult the notice boards.
If there are any ladies who wish to make themselves available to visit the elderly or any ladies who would appreciate a visit, contact Rene Kennedy of the Catholic Women’s League. 083 777 7802
St. Dominic’s House of Prayer is offering a retreat on the weekend of March 17 – 20, ‘Seeking deeper friendship with God’ at a cost of R1,400.00 p/p. Contact: 031 467 3721 or 0795380846 stdominic@eastcoast.co.za
St Henry’s Marist College will be hosting a Prep School Open Morning (Grades 000 to 7) on Saturday, 11 March at 09h00. Please see the notice board for further details.
Please note the additional notice below from The Society of St Vincent de Paul.
Parish collection: In addition to the weekly collection, contributions may also be made by EFT to The Parish of the Blessed Sacrament, First National Bank, account no: 50844547792, branch code 221426. These details, as well as the Zapper code, are available via the link at the bottom of this post.
Marriages: An appointment with parish clergy should be made 6 months prior to the marriage. Couples must be registered & active members of the Parish for at least 6 months prior. All couples planning to marry should contact the Engaged Encounter team on dbnbookings@engagedencounter.co.za prior to meeting with Father James.
Funerals: Please contact the parish clergy first before any arrangements are made with the undertaker.
Baptisms: 10h30 Sunday – by appointment only.
Retrouvaille is for marriages that are hurting. Please contact DurbanRegistration@helpourmarriage.org or visit the web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.com
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BIBLE READING and CONTACT LINKS
• Todays Bible reading and reflection from the Vatican.
• Parish Banking Details
• Online Daily Mass (Daily TV Mass). N.B. This does not fulfil Sunday obligation.
• Catechism in a Year by Fr Mike Schmitz: (Watch Now)
OUR MISSION
The society of St Vincent de Paul is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society. The Conference serves the poor on behalf of the entire parish community.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
We are a small group of volunteers who serve the poor. Our ongoing commitments generally consist of loading parcels destined for Ottawa for half an hour on Saturday mornings, as well as collecting groceries from Woolworths and making parcels for local beneficiaries for roughly two hours on a Sunday afternoon. We work on a roster basis so members can indicate their availability periodically. We also meet for 1 hour to pray and discuss logistics once a month. We are passionate about finding solutions for those less fortunate in our area. We would love to have you join us!
Contact us for more information and about joining the Society as a volunteer.
John Spiller - 082 402 4004, Norman Adami - 083 414 3115, Aimee Koch – 076 545 2755
If you are unable to give of your time, we would be grateful for financial
assistance which can be made into our bank account.
FNB Branch Code: 250655
Cheque Account Number: 60079256406
Reference: DTN-*YOUR NAME*
Or by scanning the ZAPPER code
THE WORK WE DO INCLUDES:
‘FOOD PARCELS FOR GOGO HEADED FAMILIES’ - Ottawa
· Every Saturday morning members go to Ottawa and provide grocery parcels to 97 “Gogo” headed families, many of them caring for orphaned grandchildren.
PARISHIONERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED’
· Parishioners in desperate financial circumstances are assisted financially to supplement their meagre income. Every Sunday afternoon we collect nearly expired goods from Woolworths La Lucia. Food parcels are made up and given to parish families.
‘SISTERS OF CHARITY SHALLCROSS HOME FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS’
· 40 food parcels per month.
‘FOOD & CARE FOR CHILDREN INANDA’
· Every school day in Inanda over 60 children go after school to the home of Barbara Dube for cooked food provided by the Conference.
‘DOMINICAN SISTERS’ EKUKHANYENI HOSPICE’
· Every Thursday afternoon their staff collect nearly expired goods donated by Woolworths for the Ekukhanyeni Step Down Facility from the Osindisweni Hospital.
‘ASSISTANCE TO MOUNT EDGECOMBE SSVP CONFERENCE’
· We provide 15 food parcels and 80 packets of Future Life once a month to the SSVP Conference in Mount Edgecombe to assist them with their 87 families.
‘VERULAM FOOD PARCELS’
· 25 families are provided with a food parcel every 2 weeks.
‘EDUCATION FUND FOR CHILDREN IN NEED’
· School fees are paid for carefully assessed scholars.
· 6 full sets of school uniforms plus 70 pairs of school shoes provided.
‘HAND UP PROJECT’
· Some donated clothing is sold for a nominal amount to ladies who in turn sell the items at transport hubs as their only income, getting a hand-up instead of a hand-out.
‘AD HOC PROJECTS’
· Approximately 350 blankets are handed out every year just before winter.
· Clothing and household goods donated by parishioners are provided to the various organisations that we already assist as the need arises for specific items.
· 89 boxes of donated Future Life are provided to most of the abovementioned beneficiaries.
· We also run fundraising campaigns where we raise money for needs that arise within our parish (eg. a family who has lost everything, flooding, etc.)
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Society of St Vincent de Paul is a registered Public Benefit Organisation NPO 003-193.
Funds donated to the Society are tax deductible. An appropriate receipt is provided.