From the Pastor’s Desk.
Dear Parishioners of Holy Trinity
I hope that winter has been kind to you and, if you are like me, counting the days for the spring and summer to arrive! Hopefully the worst of the cold is now behind us.
I would like to say a very warm welcome to Mr Ricardo da Silva SJ. Ricardo is a Jesuit scholastic who begins working at Trinity today for the next two years in a stage of formation called “Regency”. This is a time of work in a Jesuit apostolate between philosophical and theological studies. He will be focussing on the university chaplaincies. I am very happy to have Ricardo on the Trinity team!
The Jesuits get a new digital boost! Ricardo has just launched the new Jesuit website here in South Africa. Visit jesuits.org.za and tell us what you think!
There are a number of things happening here at Trinity in the next few days and weeks which I would like to remind you of and invite you to attend:
Tomorrow, 2 August, the Parish AGM takes place at 19h00. It’s unfortunate that the AGM is not normally well attended. This is sad because it is your opportunity to give us feedback, find out what’s happening “behind the scenes” and also share in moulding Trinity into the community you want it to be and the community you want to be part of. Please make every effort to come along tomorrow evening!
Alpha begins this Saturday at Holy Trinity. This is the third year running that we, at Trinity, are hosting the Alpha Course. Everyone is welcome! If you are still not sure about this why not simply come along on Saturday at 17h00 to find out what it is all about? For more information you can also contact that Alpha Team: alpha@trinityjhb.co.za
This Sunday sees an addition to our Parish Liturgical Schedule. Every Sunday, unless advised otherwise, we will have the official Prayer of the Church sung at 09h00. Throughout the world, three times a day, Catholic Christians gather to pray the Prayer of the Church. This is a unique opportunity in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg and something we at Trinity should value. I invite you to join us after tea at the 07h30 mass or come a bit earlier for the 09h30 mass. Let’s gather together and pray as a community – not just with each other but with the Church throughout the world!
This weekend we will also, for the last time, sell tickets for the iPod raffle which will take place at the 09h30 mass on Sunday 12th August. Not only do you stand a chance of winning the iPod but your name will be entered into the bigger Archdiocesan draw which takes place on 1 September 2012. Tickets cost R50.
Next week the Parish team will be away for two days doing some reflection, talking and planning our work here at Trinity. Please keep us in your prayers.
On Saturday 11th August we will host a historic meeting here at Trinity exploring the Jesuit Social Apostolate. We invite anyone engaged in social ministries to come along to the meeting – most especially members of the St. Vincent de Paul, Justice & Peace, Gay/Lesbian Group, Parish Catechists and members of the PPC and PFC. People from other Jesuit works will also be present – St. Martins in Orlando West and Jesuit Refugee Service. We are trying to make a more coordinated response to the issues of our times and work collaboratively with each other. It promises to be a great day! The guest speakers are Fr Anthony Egan SJ from the Jesuit Institute and Director of the Catholic Bishop’s Parliamentary Liaison Office in Cape Town, Fr Peter-John Pearson.
On Sunday the 12th August we will have a “Trinity Promotion Sunday” after the 07h30 & 09h30 masses. The Alpha team will sell their normal breakfast goodies and a number of other information tables will be available. We are asking for cake donations so that we can also have a cake sale to raise funds. If you would like to bake or donate a cake please let Kelsey know in the parish office either by giving her a call (011 3392826) or dropping her an email – parish@trinityjhb.co.za
I am happy to tell you that the guest presider and preacher at the 09h30 mass on Sunday 12th August will be Fr Peter-John Pearson from Cape Town – director of the Bishop’s Parliamentary Liaison Office.
We are appealing to anyone who can help us with bags of potting soil and black stoop paint. If a few people donated a tin of black stoop paint we would have enough to begin some much needed paint work in the soup kitchen area. The walls have recently been painted and now we would like to paint the floor. If you can or are willing to help please contact the parish office.
The many and varied events show just how busy and dynamic our Trinity Community is! Thank you to the many people that are active participants in our community and willing to take on responsibility and, in so doing, enable all these things to happen! For those who are not yet active participants this might be your opportunity to get involved.
Wishing you everything of the best and God’s blessing
Fr Russell Pollitt SJ
Parish Priest
