SUNDAY MASSENTRANCE ANTIPHON:All the earth shall bow down before you, O God, and shall sing to you, shall sing to your name, O Most High!FIRST READING: Isaiah 9:1-4RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 27.RESPONSE:The Lord is my light and my salvation.1. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom should I dread? ℟2. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, only this do I seek: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord, to inquire at his temple. ℟3. I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong; be stout-hearted, and wait for the Lord! ℟SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17.GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every infi rmity among the people. Alleluia.GOSPEL: Matthew 4:12-23.COMMUNION ANTIPHON:Look towards the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.

CCCCatholic ink inkinkinkL Liturgical Gestures – The Prayer of Body Language3rd Sunday of the Year Year A Divine Office: Week III 22 January 2017

Copyright. Do not reproduce without permission. © Redemptorist Pastoral Publications, P O Box 341, Merrivale, 3291. Phone 087 808 2369. Fax 086 545 4381. Email: janet@rpp.org.za. Internet: www.rpp.org.za. Printed by Paarl Media.

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HISTORY RECORDS the prac t ice of genuf lection – bending a knee to the ground – as going back to the time of

Alexander the Great in 328 BC. Later, in medieval Europe, a person demonstrated respect for a king or noble by going down on one knee, o f t e n r e m a i n i n g there until told to rise. But that’s not the only instance of the custom. It used to be the practice – and some s t i l l keep it – of a man making a proposal of marriage. Either way, genuf lection is a bodily gesture of respect; it indicates recognition of the impor tance of the person to whom one is genuflecting.

How much more applicable as an act of faith in the presence of the Lord Jesus! When arriving at church or leaving it, genuflecting to the tabernacle where the consecrated hosts of the Eucharist are reserved, is a practice that has continued for centuries. True enough, as we saw, the custom arises from medieval practices in western culture. Today in other cultures of the world where the church has taken root, other practices are allowed, like joining the hands and bowing the head (as in India), or simply a profound bow (as in Japan). The point is that we are using some form of reverential body language as an outward expression of faith, of devotion, of respect and of adoration.

As was written in last week’s Catholic Link on blessing oneself, after years of habit we could just be going through the motions unconsciously. It

is sometimes quite amusing watching ‘variations on a theme’. Some give a little bob, more like a curtsy (males too!), others genuf lect while looking at someone across the aisle, others add a little sort of sign of the cross which is no more

than a waving of the hand you sometimes see sports people doing before a game, or after a victory.

Today let ’s stop and think about what we are doing when we genuf lect and why we do it. Never mind the medieval customs mentioned above. We have only to look at the Bible to see what’s behind the practice. When t h e t h r e e w i s e men from the East arrived at the stable

in Bethlehem, Matthew tells us that “falling on their knees they adored him” (Matthew 2:1-12). The same action is found at the end of John 9:1-38 when the blind man who had been healed “fell down and adored Jesus” whom he acknowledged as the “Son of Man.”

Perhaps one of the most relevant texts is Philippians 2:5-11: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

A f inal point: The act of genuflection cannot be separated from the Eucharist which we have come to church to celebrate. The Lord is made present to us in the Bread and Wine consecrated at Mass. Genuflecting consciously and mindfully today will be a meaningful gesture of desire to deepen that faith.

Live the Word T H E W E E K A H E A D

(KEY: SOLEMNITY; FEAST; Memorial; (Optional Memorial)Colour = Liturgical colour of the day or feast)

Mon 23 Jan Liturgy of the DayHebrews 9:15.24-28; Psalm 98; Mark 3:22-30“As truly as we shall be in the bliss of God without end, praising and thanking him, so truly have we been in the foresight of God, loved and known by him as part of his eternal plan from without beginning.” – Julian of Norwich.

Sun 29 Jan 4TH SUNDAY OF THE YEARZephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13; Psalm 146; Matthew 5:1-12When utterly worn out from your care of others, do you often find that little more to give. This is hope, grounded in a deep faith and trust in God – who provides strength and patience when we are most in need of it.

Sat 28 Jan St Thomas Aquinas, Priest & DoctorHebrews 11:1-2.8-19; Luke 1:69-75; Mark 4:35-41In a way, the journey of Abraham is very much like the journey each of us must travel through the course of our lives. Anything can happen to us at any time and change our course. Each day is a journey in faith and trust.

Fri 27 Jan (St Angela Merici, Virgin)Hebrews 10:32-39; Psalm 37; Mark 4:26-34God asks us to participate in his creative work. While we plant and till and water, God sustains, cares and provides life and growth. In a sense, we are co-creators and collaborators in God’s ‘garden’.

Thu 26 Jan Ss Timothy & Titus, Bishops2 Timothy 1:1-8; Psalm 96; Luke 10:1-9In painful and distressing situations we do best by just being present and offering our understanding and support. If we listen carefully, we realize the real need is not an explanation but consolation.

Wed 25 Jan CONVERSION OF ST PAULActs 22:3-16; Psalm 117; Mark 16:15-18After his conversion, Paul disappears into Arabia for three years, where he takes time to think and ‘unpack’ what had happened to him. From this time of reflection emerges the f irst Christian theology.

Tue 24 Jan St Francis de Sales, Bishop & DoctorHebrews 10:1-10; Psalm 40; Mark 3:31-35Does God really hear our prayer and intervene in our lives? Perhaps we need to rethink that prayer is not a way of ‘changing God’s mind’, but should become a way of changing the mind and heart – and life – of the pray-er.

Read the stories of some of the most famous Bible people and keep busy with 101 activities as you match and colour, count, f ind and stick!Ideal for ages 5 to 7.R140 plus postage

WEEKLY DIARY MASS INTENTIONS

Jan 23 Mon 6.15am Philippe Souchon - Rip 8.30am Pat Benjamin - Birthday

Jan 24 Tues Care & craft after 8.30am Mass Edna Cottle room RCIA 7.30pm Edna Cottle room

6.15am Mortuary List 8.30am Mathias - Rip

Jan 25 Wed Rosary after 8.30am Mass Alpha course 7pm in Parish Centre

6.15am Private Intention 8.30am Deceased Family Members - Rip

Jan 26 Thurs Novena 7.30pm in the Church 6.15am Private Intention 8.30am Margit & Family - Special Intention

Jan 27 Fri 6.15am Private Intention 8.30am Mrs Muriel Allam - Birthday

Jan 28 Sat. 8.30am Private Intention 6.00pm A Special Int. & Ntwali William - Rip

Jan 29 Sun Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Theme: God Chooses the Poor PAGE: 320 in New Sunday Missal. Year A

7.00am Elizabeth & Gerald Fouten - Rip 9.00am Isabel Rix - Rip 11.00am Deceased Sacristans - Rip 6.00pm Parishioners

CONTACTS

Bergvliet Road, Bergvliet, 7945

021 712-2210 or 712-1181

021 712-4271

9.00am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday

parish@holyredeemer.co.za

www.holyredeemer.co.za

ricardo1duncan@gmail.com

Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Bergvliet

HOLY REDEEMER PARISH

Parish Priest: Fr Gerard McCabe C.Ss.R � parishpriest@holyredeemer.co.za

Assistant: Fr Scott Davidson C.Ss.R

21/22 JANUARY 2017~ THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME PAGE: 316 in New Sunday Missal. Year A. Theme: The Light of Christ Begins to Shine

WEEKEND SUNDAY MASS TIMES :

SATURDAY: 6.00pm

SUNDAY: 7.00am, 9.00am, 11.00am and 6.00pm

FRENCH MASS: SUNDAYS: 1.30pm

DAILY MASS TIMES:

MON to FRI: 6.15am (or Communion Service)

MON to SAT: 8.30am

MORNING PRAYER: MON to FRI at 8.00am

ROSARY: WEDNESDAY after 8.30am Mass

CONFESSION TIMES:

THURSDAY: 7.00 to 7.30pm

SATURDAY: 9.00 to 10.00am & 5.00 to 5.55pm

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT:

MONDAY to FRIDAY: 9.00am to 9.00pm

except THURSDAY: 9.00am to 7.30pm

NOVENA & BENEDICTION:

TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP

THURSDAY: 7.30pm

NORMAL WORSHIP TIMES

Catholic Counselling

Network

Need somewhere to talk that is safe, where there is total confidentiality and where you will not be judged?

Contact one of our trained counsellors

Annette Milner: 021 715-8177

Cynthia Wiese: ON LEAVE

St. Vincent de Paul Society assists the areas poor.

If you need help / assistance / a visit contact the SVDP pres-ident on 083 450-5479. The matter will be dealt with in confidence.

A WORD FROM YOUR PARISH PRIEST

It has always been my view that each Catholic parish develops, over time, its own particular spirit and character. This is a living sign of the gift of diversity within the unity of our Catholic faith. In particular, I believe that parishes that are served by a religious community take on something of the spirituality and focus of the religious community that serves that parish. So, here at Holy Redeemer, it should be expected that the parish should in some sense be shaped and guided by the spirit of the Redemptorist Community.

Towards the end of last year, Redemptorists from throughout the world gathered together for 6 weeks to hold our General Chapter. Our Provincial, Fr Sean Wales, attended the meeting to represent our communities in South Africa. One of the major purposes of the General Chapter is to find contemporary ways of expressing the fundamental character of the Redemptorists, which is to find ways of preaching the Gospel to the most abandoned in our world.

At our recent General Chapter, held in Thailand, the concluding document made a very important statement: “We have no right to proclaim Jesus as our Lord and God if we do not touch his wounds”.

The document goes on to add: “An accurate observer of today’s world can easily notice that, besides experiencing tremendous progress and advanced technology, this world is also experiencing suffering and pain. The wounds of the world are to be noticed in many areas: politics, families, life of sin-gle persons, ecology - and the Church is not free from these wounds either.

Today, the Lord is present in all those places and people that are wounded. Only if we recognize Him there we will be able to understand the depth of that mystery: we touch the wounds of Jesus in those who suffer today. It is also true that in such a way we will encounter the healing of our own wounds.

Let us listen to the most abandoned, especially the poor to whom we are sent. Let us be challenged and healed by them. Let us bring them help and comfort by listening attentively to their stories. Most of the time we will not be able to change their life materially, but perhaps by listening to them we will bring them back something that will heal them, namely their dignity.

The wounded people are living in this world as it is today, with its lights and shadows. We can choose to spend our entire lives despising and criti-cizing today’s secularized world. Or we can take up the challenge and begin to spread the seeds of good news in this apparently “bad” world. If we think that we can bring salvation to the world by ourselves we will always fail, but once we let Jesus work through us, things will start to change.”

These words were primarily addressed to all Redemptorists throughout the world, but I think that they also can be addressed to each and every member of our parish community. We have so many aspects of our parish life that we can be truly thankful for; the large number of people who at-tend Mass each week, our devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and the large number of people who serve the parish in different ways. I be-lieve however that we can never sit back and be satisfied with how things are going. Perhaps we can accept as our spiritual challenge for this year the call to touch the wounds of Christ in all those who are suffering in our midst. Fr Gerard, CSsR

2nd COLLECTION

This week: None

LIFT CLUB

Drivers rosters available.

WEB SITE ADMINISTRATOR

The parish requires a suitable person for this important communications post. The role requires maintaining and updating our site, implementing improvements and gen-eral site administration. Any parishioners interested in this post should e-mail the Parish secretary: parish@holyredeemer.co.za.

BAPTISM

No Baptism will take place in January 2017. Parishioners who wish to have their children baptized should contact Fr Gerard beforehand.

PARISH YEAR PLANNER

Ministries/societies/fundraising groups: please advise the Parish Secretary of dates for future meetings/events for 2017, irrespective of whether you have had meetings in 2016. Only notices received from LEADERS will be accepted. E-mail: parish@holyredeemer.co.za

FINANCE MEETING Monday 30 January 7.00pm

Venue - Boardroom

CATECHISTS / PARENTS MEETING

LEVELS 1 to 7 Monday 30 January 2017 at 7.30pm

Venue - Parish centre

4th YEAR CONFIRMATION 2017

There will be a meeting for all fourth year candidates that will be confirmed this year, their sponsors and parents on Thursday 2 February at 6.15pm Venue - parish center.

YOUNG ADULTS MEETING Tuesday 7 February 7.15pm

Venue - Monastery

REPOSITORY

Available from the Repository

• Faith themed gift items

• Living Faith Jan - Mar 2017

• Liturgical & Novelty Calendars for 2017

1. Bishop tackle rise in Satanism

2. Getting our parishes to survive

3. Nun, 104, on secret to long life

4. A mission: Port chaplain profiled

5. Why we may not judge sin

THIS WEEK’S EDITORIAL: No divine mandate, Pres Zuma

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALPHA 2017

Alpha is for anyone…anyone who wants to

explore the meaning of life.

Everyone is welcome.

Why don’t you join us, or invite a friend or family member to join us,

on Wed, 25 Jan @ 7pm in the parish centre?

For further details find an information brochure and registration form in the

porch of the church or check us out on the Holy Redeemer website.

Or contact Paul Miles on 0829315546 or pmiles@sweetvalleyprimary.co.za

LIFE TEEN CONFIRMATION 2017

Life Nights will be on Sunday evenings during the school terms starting with a

Youth mass at 18h00. Life Nights will start after the mass and will finish by

20h45, 21h00 at the latest. Finishing time is dependent on the behaviour of the

teens. All candidates i.e 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th years will attend life nights. The

fourth years who are to be confirmed in July will also attend one hour sessions

with Aldina on Thursday evenings in the Edna Cottle room in the Parish centre

from 18h15 – 19h15.

Life Teen 2017 will commence on Sunday 5th February with youth mass at

18h00 followed by the First Life Night for the year in the parish centre. Fourth

year sessions commence on Thursday 2 February 2017 at 18h15.

Please note that the Life Teen programme works in cycles of 4 years.

A candidate will only be considered for the Sacrament of Confirmation in their

4th year if they’ve fully participated in the program for three years. Candidates

need to attend at least 80% of the life nights before they are promoted to the

next year. In order to be confirmed they will have to prove themselves. We

will look at their commitment (80% attendance), their growth in faith and

spirituality and their participation. The following is required of ALL candidates

from Year 1:

• Attend at least 80 % of the sessions (per year).

• Attend Mass every weekend.

• Receive the sacraments on a regular basis (this includes The sacrament of

Reconciliation aka confession)

• Commit themselves to taking on an active role in the Parish (eg music

ministry, Proclaimer of the Word, assisting the junior catechists with

classes, sacristan, etc.).

• Attend all retreats and other activities such as Stations of the Cross and

Novena.

Transfers from other parishes who have completed a portion of the Confirma-

tion program must present a letter from the parish priest / confirmation program

co-ordinator of the previous parish stating that the candidate was a regular

attendee at the sessions (i.e attended at least 80% of the sessions) and Mass.

For further information, please contact Aldina in 083 303 5149.

PRAY FOR OUR SICK

Elsa Assante

Lily Ball

Dylan Berry

Jason Bezuidenhoudt

Mark Brand

Jill Buser

Catharina Clavaux

Gloriana Cloete

Michael John Cole

Magdalena Cozett

Trevor De Beer

Jose Dos Santos

Gomes

Mary-Anne Esau

Dawn Forsdicke

Joseph Goemans

Keith Gomez

Dale Heynes

Dawn Heynes

Russell Heynes

Rita Hendricks

Sam Hendricks

Jean Kennedy

Caroline Kirkham

Mafalda Linnegar

Michael Maggott

Geraldine Malander

Milly McClement

Joanna Morkel

Des O’Regan

Rozetta Orgill

Monty Pasqualie

Patrick Perreira

Ernest Peskin

Sylvia Peters

Albert Petersen

Blanche Quickfall

Andre Raizenberg

Gail Raizenberg

Joan Sampson

Sheila Walsh

Jack Whitwam

Eileen(Fr Gerard sister)

Fr Anderson

NOVENA TO OUR MOTHER OF

PERPETUAL HELP

Thursday evening at 7.30pm

Place your special Prayer Intentions & Thanksgivings in the box at the back of the Church.

Also at www.holyredeemer.co.za

ADORATION CHAPEL

• The Adoration Chapel is open from 9.00am to 9.00pm daily except Thursday when the Chapel closes at 7.30pm for Novena.

• You are welcome to visit the Chapel any time for prayer and reflection. Visitors are always welcome to come to the Chapel to pause and pray before the Blessed Sacrament.

For further information please contact Carol Cornell on 073 194 7295

TO MOVE A NAME FROM 2016 T0 2017 LIST ADVISE OFFICE OR SMS NAME TO 063 698-5321

2016 SICK LIST (WILL BE REMOVED AT THE END OF JANUARY)

Christian Engelbrecht

Ursula Flatwell

Kerry Heideman

Fr Lunney

Gerald Louw

Noel Malander

Willi Malherbe

Brian McEvoy

Greg Pregnolato

Lionel September

Vera Steyn

Renelda Visser

2017 SICK LIST

SMS “CATHOLIC” to 31222

Receive a daily reflection from the Redemptorist Community to your mobile phone. Support the Redemptorist Mission in South Afrca.

A prayer of compassion from Mother Teresa

Lord, open our eyes

that we may see you in our brothers and sisters.

Lord, open our ears

that we may hear the cries of the hungry,

the cold, the frightened, the oppressed.

Lord, open our hearts

that we may love each other as you love us.

Renew in us your spirit.

Lord, free us and make us one.

Amen