Bishop Vincent Zungu OFM has congratulated Fr Grant James CO on his appointment as headmaster of St Dominic's Priory.
Fr Grant was previouls deputy head of the school.
"On Behalf of myself, the Clergy and Religious in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth, I would like to congratulate Fr. Grant James C.O. on his appointment as Headmaster of St. Dominic’s Priory School," said Bishop Vincent.
"I also wish to express my gratitude for the service he has rendered our Catholic Education in the Diocese as its Director for several years. He formed a formidable team with Mrs. Nomvuyo Daka.
"Please continue to pray for Fr. Grant as he embarks on his new role."
Fr Grant was also recently appointed the Programme Co-Ordinator for the Training of Permanent Deacons for the Diocese.
On Behalf of myself, the Clergy and Religious in the Diocese of Port Elizabeth, I would like to congratulate Fr. Grant James C.O. on his appointment as Headmaster of St. Dominic’s Priory School.
I also wish to express my gratitude for the service he has rendered our Catholic Education in the Diocese as its Director for several years. He formed a formidable team with Mrs. Nomvuyo Daka.
Please continue to pray for Fr. Grant as he embarks on his new role.
By Dan Gonzalez - The Mass Explained
As we embark on this penitential season, here are a few “fun-facts” (can the facts be called “fun” during Lent?) that may make its observation more fruitful.
1. Who or what is a Lent?
Derived from the word "lencten", which is Anglo-Saxon for springtime, Lent is the 40-day season of preparation prior to Easter which begins on Ash Wednesday.
2. Why is it 40 days?
Next to the number seven, the number forty occurs most frequently in the Bible. It represents a period of testing or judgement. Lent’s duration of 40 days reflects other times of trial, testing and hardship found in the Scriptures:
3. Fasting vs Abstinence
Also of biblical origins are the Lenten customs of fasting and abstinence.
“They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.” — Acts 14:23
Although often used interchangeably, fasting refers to the amount of food consumed, while abstinence describes the type of food denied such as meat on Fridays. These forms of physical self-denial are practiced during Lent, as are other pious customs.
4. Why are the statues covered during Lent in my parish?
Another Lenten custom is the draping of statues and crucifixes in purple cloth as a sign of mourning. This symbolically hides the heavenly glory realized by the saints. Occurring on the fifth Sunday of Lent, the covering of the sacred images adds to the sense of introspection and contrition.
The roots of the veiling of statues during Lent can most likely be found in Germany where, beginning before 900, it was customary to cover not only statues and images, but the entire sanctuary including the altar with a cloth.
The cloth itself was called the Hungertuch (literally hunger cloth but often translated as Lenten veil). The draping concealed the altar entirely from the faithful during Lent and was not removed until the reading of the Passion at the words “the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.”
5. My parish prays the Stations of the Cross during Lent. How did this custom originate?
The Stations of the Cross originated during the crusades when it was popular to visit Jerusalem to follow the steps to Calvary. After the Holy Land was captured, pilgrimages became a very dangerous affair. A desire arose to reproduce these holy places in other lands as a substitute pilgrimage.
It soon became popular to have outdoor markers indicate not only the scenes in Christ’s path to Golgotha, but also the actual distances from location to location. Crude markers eventually gave way to elaborate artwork depicting the events of Jesus’ trial, torture and execution. By the mid 18th century, the Stations were allowed inside the church and served as a focus for Lenten devotions.
The Stations help the participant make a spiritual pilgrimage to the major scenes of Christ’s sufferings and death. Prayers are said until the entire route is complete, enabling the faithful to more literally take up their cross and follow Jesus.
6. Why is there no Gloria or Alleluia sung at Mass?
The Church teaches by absence as well as by presence, and Lent is a time of great loss. Eating is diminished and some foods forbidden—a fast of the body. Music is scaled back, bells are silenced and the Gloria and Alleluia are dropped from the liturgy—a fast of hearing. Statues are veiled and flowers and decorations disappear—a fast of sight. Depriving the senses helps the faithful maintain focus on the internal condition of the soul rather than on externals.
With thanks to The Mass Explained