Archbishop Thabo's message on returning to worship

Dear Parishioners, Clergy and Bishops

It is with awe and trepidation that I welcome President Cyril Ramaphosa’s acceptance of the representations made by religious leaders that faith communities will be responsible and careful enough to return to worship under conditions which will not allow the spread of the coronavirus.

In the next few days, once the government has published its new regulations, we will, with the help of our COVID-19 advisory team, consolidate the regulations and the guidelines that religious leaders have drawn up and update our own ACSA guidelines accordingly.

Archbishop's Eastertide News & Reflections – May 18, 2020

(Credit: Nelson Mandela University)

Dear Parishioners, Clergy and Bishops

With no end in sight to coronavirus lockdowns, we are having to plan ahead for Provincial meetings to take place online. Already, retired bishops are communicating on WhatsApp, as are members of the Synod of Bishops. Other groups are being encouraged to connect and pray together online, and Liaison Bishops are meeting with bodies such as the youth, Provincial organisations and the like.

Online Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Easter

A homily preached during an online service of worship produced by the Anglican Communion Office for worshippers around the world. The full service can be viewed at the end of the text below.

Psalm 23; Acts 2:42 to end; John 10: 1-10

May I speak in the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Welcome to you from the chapel at Bishopscourt in Cape Town, the home of Anglican Archbishops of Cape Town for 150 years, and a place that reflects the suffering, the struggle and the hope of South Africa over its history. This was an estate where colonisers once kept slaves, it was the the place from which my predecessors opposed apartheid, and it was the home which hosted Nelson Mandela on his first night out of prison 30 years ago. The crucifix behind me, commissioned by Desmond Tutu, was the one on which Mr Mandela gazed when he first received Communion here.

Archbishop's Eastertide News & Reflections – St Joseph's Day

With KK after presenting him with the Archbishop's Peace & Justice Award.

Dear Parishioners, Clergy and Bishops

Today being St Joseph’s Day, we remember and pray for all the workers of the world, particularly because of the anxiety so many are experiencing as a result of the coronavirus, their loss of income and even their jobs. Pray especially for essential service workers who are caring for COVID-19 patients, emergency workers, the police and army and those who continue to grow, harvest, deliver and sell food to us. We also give thanks for the great epidemiologists and other medical exports which we have, and for the acquisition of supplies of personal protective equipment for our health workers.