From the Pastor’s desk…
Email: frrussell@trinityjhb.co.za
28 March 2012
From the Pastor’s desk…
I would like to say a big thank you to all of you who supported the AfricanX Trail Run fundraiser. I appreciate your generosity and support and it also shows your commitment to Holy Trinity and the local Church. Monies are still being paid for the run and a few new people have come forward and so we might reach a total of R90,000.00! If you have not paid we ask that, when you get a chance, you pay your pledge/donation into the Parish account and reference it “AfricaX” (Standard Bank Braamfontein: 004805 Acc Name: Holy Trinity Catholic Church Acc Number: 002294192) I would also like to thank all those who sent messages on sms, twitter and FaceBook during AfricanX, your support was greatly appreciated!
The run itself was a great experience. It was strenuous and certainly an endurance test on the last day but it was all well worth it given the spectacular beauty which I was privileged to see. It will be an event that I will not forget in a hurry. Living in the inner city (perhaps living in Johannesburg?!) means that we easily forget just how beautiful creation is. Running over mountains and through rivers and having some wonderful sea views certainly reminded me of the beauty of creation!
AfricanX is now behind us but Holy Week is upon us. This is the most sacred week of the Church’s year and so I encourage you to participate as fully as possible. I notice more and more how leisure events and entertainment are being planned over the weekend of the Triduum. To my surprise I was asked if some people could have a wedding on Good Friday! This is, I guess, not surprising in a country which is becoming more and more secular but I wonder if we should not, therefore, make double the effort during this time. It is up to us to keep this week sacred by journeying with Jesus through his passion, death and resurrection. We do this by the activities we choose to get involved in during the week, by participating in the various liturgies and by keeping Good Friday as a day of fast and abstinence. Good Friday should be spent in a spirit of quiet reflection. Like so many things our observation of Holy Week says something about the depth of our faith and our commitment to Jesus Christ. Holy Week starts this coming Sunday with Passion Sunday. The Triduum begins on Holy Thursday. I urge all who attend Trinity to enter into the spirit of Holy Week and the Triduum and in so doing journey with Jesus. If we do not make the journey we diminish the impact of the resurrection!
Please take note of all the Service times:
30 March/1 April Passion Sunday: Masses as usual.
5 April Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper 19h00 with adoration and quiet prayer until midnight
6 April Good Friday: Solemn Morning Prayer and Reflection 10h30. Good Friday Service 15h00
7 April Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil 19h00
8 April Easter Sunday: Masses at 07h30 & 09h30 (inc baptisms). NO 18h00 Mass!
Thank you, once again, for your support and I would like to wish you and your families and very blessed Holy Week.
In the Lord
Fr Russell Pollitt SJ
Priest-in-Charge