✨ …as ADVENT begins
Jesus’ message in today’s Gospel — “stay awake” — comes to us with loving urgency, “because you do not know the day when your master is coming.”
With this First Sunday of Advent we enter a new liturgical year. The Church invites us to focus on the end-times: the ultimate fulfilment of creation at Christ’s Second Coming, and, by extension, the moment of our own death — our personal meeting with the Lord.
Advent encourages us to prepare our hearts well. Some helpful practices include:
- setting aside quiet time each day for Scripture reflection,
- remembering that we are preparing to welcome Jesus at Christmas,
- resisting the stress and commercialism that distract us from prayer.
St Paul urges us to “wake up”, reminding us that our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
In Isaiah’s vision, all nations stream toward God, seeking His ways and walking in His paths.
When nations respect one another, peace becomes possible.
May this Advent fill us with hope for peace in a world wounded by conflict.
May Isaiah’s dream be fulfilled in our own time.
🎉 Parish Family Day
Sunday, 14 December
After the 10am Mass
Please join us — we look forward to seeing you!
Bring your own meat and refreshments.
Charcoal, wood and braais will be supplied.
If enough people would like to attend,
shared transport will be considered.
Please contact the parish office.
✨ Solemn Conclusion of the Jubilee Year
EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION
UMNGECELELE WE VUKARISTI – EUCHARISTIESE PROSESSIE
Sunday / Nge Cawe / Sondag – 28 December 2025
- Gather from: 2:00 PM
- Starting at / Iqala Ngo / Begin: 3:00 PM
(Estimated duration: 2 hours)
If there is enough people who would like to attend, shared transport will be considered.
Please contact the parish office.
📢 Parish Notices
- SECOND COLLECTION:
This weekend and throughout Advent (until 20 & 21 December) is for the Advent Appeal.
Envelopes are available in the benches. - NEXT WEEKEND – PLANNED GIVING:
Please place your contribution in an envelope clearly marked with your Parish Number / Name & Surname, and put it in the first collection. - ADORATION CHAPEL:
Will close from Monday, 8 December for the holidays.
Re-opens mid-January. - PARISH ADVENT CONFESSIONS:
Thursday, 18 December (details next week). - St Francis Society for the Poor:
Requests Pasta, 2-Minute Noodles, or Soya Mince. - Archdiocesan News – Final Edition (2025):
https://adct.org.za/wp-content/uploads/ad-news-3-of-2025.pdf - Forthcoming Parish Celebrations:
- Parish Feast Day: Weekend of 6 & 7 December
📝 Errata – Catholic Link (30 November)
An error appears on the Live the Word for the First Sunday of Advent:
The month should read December, not November.
(Everything else is correct.)
☕ Seniors’ Summer High Tea
Saturday, 17 January 2026
2pm – 4:30pm
Seniors who are parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish are invited to reserve their seats.
Places are limited, so please call early.
Lucy: 083 231 6737
Margie: 083 652 8235
Debbie: 082 940 3232
It’s fun — and free!
🕯️ Mass Intentions
Please notify the office before 10am on Thursday.
Mass stipends: R50
