Lent 2021

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This page is primarily about the Lenten schedule planned in our parish this year. Easter services are given and will be confirmed nearer the time. All plans depend on the situation of Covid (and load shedding) and we will continue to keep everyone updated via mass announcements, bulletin, email, WhatsApp, and our website. We encourage people to use our parish website as it kept up to date and is therefore a good reference for the latest information.

Let us pray that everyone remains safe and that by carefully adhering to safety protocols we keep our churches open this Lent and Easter. March 27, 2020 marks the date when our lock down started. After that day, life changed for everyone in our country. So we enter Lent this year with harsh memories and many scars, yet our hope remains firm in the risen Christ with whom we now journey into the desert for 40 days towards the cross and beyond it to his glorious Resurrection - our hope, our promise.

Journey into the Desert with Jesus

Lord of Lent, Lord of Easter
As you went into the desert
So do I follow
Putting aside what distracts me
Grabs at me
Falsely claims me.
To search inside
To confront myself
My best, my worst
My good words and my sins.

And each time,
I find you there.
To call to me again
With words of challenge and words of mercy.

As I fall to me knees, in prayer, in fasting
In sacrifice and penitence
Somehow, you have it in yourself to reach out and gently lift me
To renew me
To claim me as nothing of this world can claim me.

Meet me in the desert, Lord.
Claim me anew.
Amen

(Prayer from Catholic Relief Services)

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ASH WEDNESDAY - 17 FEBRUARY

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Ash Wednesday Schedule

9:30 am - Morning Mass
Live stream & Public (booking required)

6:00 pm - Evening Mass
Public only (booking required)

There are two Public Masses on Ash Wednesday.

Ashes will be distributed differently this year because of Covid, so instead of a cross being made on the forehead, Father will sprinkle ashes on top of each person's head, in the Italian style.

Covid safety protocols will be followed strictly at all Masses so please work with our Covid ministers to help keep everyone safe. The main three protocols are easy to follow and make a huge difference: (1) wear masks (2) safe distancing (3) sanitise hands.

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STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Every Friday at 6:30 pm on Zoom

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ZOOM LINK

The link to join Stations of the Cross is:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/4358352419?pwd=MFR5MkdSWlQzTmR6ZGZxcThCYk9YUT09
Passcode (if required): 189 750
NOTE: this is the same link as the Daily Rosary

WHEN

Every Friday during Lent (6 weeks)
19 February / 26 February / 5 March /12 March / 19 March / 26 March

TIME

6:30 - 7:00 pm

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THIS YEAR STATIONS OF THE CROSS ON ZOOM

This year we will being doing weekly Stations of the Cross on ZOOM. For those who have joined the DAILY ROSARY GROUP, the format will be the same. If you are not familiar with the format, please be assured that it is very easy and while we would prefer to pray together in the church, under the circumstances, it is a very effective alternative. An advantage of ZOOM is that it can reach more people, so we hope that as many people as possible will join each week for this devotion, that is so powerful, especially during Lent.

HOW WILL IT WORK

Various groups in the Parish will prepare and read the reflections each week, along with sharing pictures that help focus our prayers and meditations. All you need to do is join on Zoom!

VIDEO AND AUDIO

For the Stations of the Cross we will not use video, so we request people to turn off their video. We also ask people to mute their audio if they are not speaking.

DAILY ROSARY IS 6:00 - 6:30 pm ON SAME LINK

The Zoom link for the Stations of the Cross is the same as the link used for the Daily Rosary. So when you join the Stations of the Cross, please be aware that people may be finishing the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the Rosary that starts at 6:00 (daily).

PLEASE BE ON TIME

We will start Stations promptly at 6:30 pm. So please join a few minutes earlier. You will be directed to a 'waiting room' and the host will let you in.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS ON GOOD FRIDAY - 2 APRIL @ 10:00 am

The Stations of the Cross on Good Friday will be followed in the gardens of the Church or at Schoenstatt at 10:00 am.

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions or need any help please contact the Parish Office. We would love as many people as possible to join, so please do not be put off by the technology - we will help you and it is easy!

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FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION

Thursday, 25 March

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SPECIAL SERVICE AT 6:00 PM: BENEDICTION AND ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

8:00 am - Normal Daily Mass
(live stream only)

6:00 pm - Benediction and Adoration in the Church Garden
Public only (booking required)ct the Parish Office. We would love as many people as possible to join, so please do not be put off by the technology - we will help you and it is easy!

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CONFESSION

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During LENT the schedule for Confession is as below.

Confession will take place in the garden, or parish hall, with safe distances and observing appropriate Covid protocols.

Wednesdays - 5:00 - 5:45 pm

Saturdays - 4:30 - 5:15 pm

By Appointment - Please contact Parish Office

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CHARITY & GIVING

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The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and giving. On the third pillar, there are many ways to give and support charities, especially this year. In our parish we have the below two main programmes:

HUNGER IS REAL

In our parish we have our HUNGER IS REAL campaign and we will have a special Lenten campaign this year. To support HUNGER IS REAL Lenten sacrifice please simply make an EFT to our parish bank account with reference: HUNGER IS REAL LENT.

Banking details:
Constantia Catholic Church
Standard Bank
Branch 025 309
Current Account No 07 169 8965

SECOND COLLECTION IN LENT BISHOP'S LENTEN APPEAL

In addition, there is the annual Bishops' Lenten Appeal. For people who attend Mass envelopes are available at the back of the church (and from the Office) for this Second Collection during Lent.

To find out more about the BISHOPS LENTEN APPEAL, you can download the Report for 2020 from the Archdiocese website at the below link.
https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Lenten-Appeal-2020.pdf

If you do not have an envelope, and wish to make an EFT to the BISHOPS LENTEN APPEAL - please EFT to our parish bank account with reference: BISHOPS LENTEN APPEAL. Banking details given above.

CHILDREN

Parents are also encouraged to talk about and practice making sacrifices and giving to the needy with children in Lent. There are many ways to do this, the traditional mite box is but one way. Children can then bring their offerings to Mass at the end of Lent for the poor and less privileged. See the section on Children below for more details about general children's' activities in Lent.

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CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES FOR LENT

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Just as we had Children's activities during Christmas, so during Lent we have a whole lot of fun activities to share with the children to help them participate in and learn about Lent.

CHILDREN'S LENTEN ACTIVITIES PACKAGE

The Children's Lenten Activities Packages will be available at the back of the church all through Lent. Please collect yours and take it home. They will be available at the back of the church starting from ASH WEDNESDAY and thereafter at EVERY SUNDAY MASS through Lent. All the instructions are included in the package. Please chat to Josette Koen who has prepared the activities and packages and can explain more about them and help you or the children with questions. A big thanks to Josette, who has very recently became a grandma to little Noah Jacobs. Having seen the activities, I wish I was a child again!

The Activities Package includes:

• The LENTEN CALENDAR - 40 days of Lent
• PRAY / GIVE / FAST daily cards
• EASTER STORY COOKIES - cookies that are different, with a recipe that follows Christ through Lent
• PAID ON THE CROSS - a cross where children stick their money and are reminded when doing so that Christ died on the cross for us and paid for our sins.
• CANDLES FOR LENT- much like an Advent wreath but this is a cross with a candle for each week of Lent.
• CROWN OF THORNS - The children make a crown of thorns with dough with 40 thorns (tooth picks). Then through the 40 days of Lent they remove a thorn each day until Jesus rises victorious over pain and suffering conquering all, on Easter Sunday.

HOLY WEEK ACTIVITIES

Easter Story Stone set
Children will be given a package with instructions on how to create their own story of Holy Week.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Pencil Collection
As with last year we will be collecting pencils that can then be given to less privileged children for school. Please bring your donation to Mass or drop into the Parish Office during office hours.

Easter Egg Collection
We will also be collecting Easter Eggs that can be taken to poorer communities for the children for Easter Sunday. Please bring your donation to Mass or drop into the Parish Office during office hours.

Sandwiches - Children's Mass - 7 March
We ask the children (and adults, everyone) to make sandwiches at home and bring them to the Church. We will then make sure these get to less privileged children for their school lunch.

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