The Care Group was formed in 1991 when it was felt that we needed to become more involved with the sick, elderly and new mothers of the parish. The ladies soon took up this challenge and began expanding on the idea. The original list of members was 23 and today we have over a hundred members. From visiting the sick, aged and new mothers and providing them with meals, the ministries have grown and changed. The Care Group has many areas where each person can become involved.

1. The Prayer Chain

   There are three different chains: a morning, afternoon and evening group of parishioners who receive confidential prayer requests and immediately pray for that intention and pass the request on to someone else on the list. (Des MacDonald or Connie Knezovich)

2. Sewing group

   A group of ladies who sew, knit and crochet for the underprivileged. We also make items, cook preserves and bake cakes to be sold on various crafts tables in order to raise funds to finance other projects like the cook-ins, pensioners, sandwiches for a farm school and flowers for the bereaved. We also sew robes for the altar servers, Extra-ordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and the First Communion children.(Lynne Sandham)

3. Cook-in

   The ladies used to prepare meals in their own homes and deliver them to families in need. In 1993 it was decided to get together at the different homes and have some fellowship and laughter while cooking these meals. The cook-ins now take place in the parish kitchen. A few ladies spend their morning preparing them, ready to be delivered as the need arises. (Kathy Carew)

4. Hospital visiting

   Since 1993 the sick at Olivedale Clinic are visited every week. Management has now decided not to make patients religious affiliations available so we can only visit those patients who have made contact with the church and let us know that are in the hospital. The patients at the Wilgeheuwel hospital are still visited regularly, offering them comfort and prayer. (Felicity O\'Donnell)

5. Home visiting

   The Care Group tries to visit at private homes whenever we hear of a need, be it bereavement, new baby, illness, new parishioner or just for tea and fellowship. (Marion Castle)

6. Funeral teas

   these are catered for on a voluntary basis for our deceased parishioners. (Bridie Kelly)

7. Kingsway School sandwiches

   Every Thursday the children are given a sandwich, which the Care Group makes and delivers. (Lynne Sandham)

8. Safari dinner

   An annual dinner where one has the opportunity of meeting fellow parishioners. (Trudy Thompson)

9. Senior Citizens Lunch

   Each year the seniors of the parish are invited to a lunch where a delicious three course meal is served and they are entertained. Lifts are organised for those that cannot get to the church. What a lovely way to meet and socialise with friends.

1. Flower arranging (Jo Longstaff)

   Arrangements are done every Friday or Saturday for the weekend Masses.

2. Children\'s liturgy (Kerry Towns)

   A group of parishioners take the young children into the hall for their own Liturgy of the Word during the 7.30 and 9.30 Masses on Sundays. Teachers are always needed to help.

3. Readers for the Sunday Masses (Alan Wandry)

4. Commentators (Jacqui Symm)

5. Sacristans (Lesley Potterton)

6. Altar Servers (Patrick Sullivan)

   We are always looking for young people to assist Father on the altar.

7. Music Ministry (Jean Marc & Jacqueline Desfontein)

   St John\'s is blessed to have many choirs and bands. If you are interested in joining any of these bands contact Jean Marc & Jacqueline Desfontein, the music coordinators.

The main function of the Society is to reach out to the poor, by befriending them and providing food, clothing and spiritual encouragement as needed. Obtaining materials and equipment for projects such as a vegetable garden, sewing club and soup kitchen encourages self-sufficiency. These efforts are mainly focused in Sandspruit, the local informal settlement.

Fund raising is done to help finance or buy food for various charitable organisations. Christmas parties are organised for crèche\'s and a pensioners club in the local informal settlement. A yearly blanket drive takes place and the Care and Share project to buy food parcels for the poor at Christmas. Prayer cards and bibles are also distributed in the local informal settlement.

For more information about joining or just helping, please contact Tony Jones, Cecilly Mina or Darryl Reynecke.

We try to keep you posted on what has taken place at St John\'s by publishing the Parish Pulse every three months. Your contact is Deidre van Staden. We are also responsible for the St John\'s website. If you have any ideas please contact Nicholas Bell or Darryl Reynecke.

Are involved in :

• Couples for Christ, family renewal program for couples, singles, widowed, divorced, youth and kids for Christ.
• Marriage preparation, engagement encounter, marriage encounter.
• Divorce Counselling
• Parenting courses
• Marriage counselling and programs
• Promotion of family-centred events and publications
• Widowed support
• HIV/AIDS awareness and support
• Baptism preparation

For further information contact Roy Lailvaux

Over the last 6 years the Entertainment Ministry has provided social events for the members of the Parish. These events have included the various Pub evenings, including our popular St Patrick\'s evening held every March. The entertainment committee have also organised all of the Spring fairs, as well as our successful raffle with 2 return overseas tickets as the main prize.

Any parishioner interested in joining this ministry is most welcome. For further information kindly contact Josh Viljoen.

Members share time and outings together supporting one another with lifts, friendship and fun. They meet every first and third Monday of the month and have a regular Tuesday morning exercise program. Call Donald Pearton for more information.

Junior

Catechism classes are held on a Sunday 8:30am - 9:30am and on a Wednesday 16.30pm - 17.30pm. Children attend either a Sunday or a Wednesday. We follow the government school terms and there is no catechism over a long week end or if the Wednesday is a public holiday. St John\'s has presently got 25 junior catechism teachers.

We had have classes for grade 0 to grade 7 and have a bridging class for school going children that haven\'t made their first communion. For the past 2 years we have had over 400 children attending junior catechism and over 80 children making their First Holy Communion.

Bishop Buti Tlhagale in his foreword in the \"Policy for Catechesis in the Diocese of Johannesburg\" has stated that \"Catechesis should bring all those who are on the journey of initiation into relationship with Jesus Christ, to profess faith in God who is the father, Son and Holy Spirit. It involves knowledge of scripture, education in the faith and of the sacraments\". We therefore follow the liturgical year with the gospel readings and bring in our catholic doctrine and catholic culture to each lesson.

The main aim of all catechesis is to have a personal and meaningful relationship with Jesus.

The grade 1 teachers use \"The complete Children\'s Liturgy Book\"

Grade 2 who a book written by our Sunday grade 2 teacher Barbara Kemp\"

Grade 3 and grade 4 , the First Confession and First Communion classes have various guides to teach the children what has been outlined by the catechetical office for this phase . The first confession teachers concentrate on God\'s love and forgiveness and the 10 commandments and the First Communion class is based on the Holy Mass.

The Grade 5,6 and 7 use the same book , Gold panners for 11 -13 year olds in the 3 different liturgical cycles.

The bridging class teachers the sacraments, mass, prayers traditions of the catholic church as well as catholic doctrine.

The teachers have access to a number of books and video\'s that are kept in a catechism cupboard for them to enhance their lessons. In addition the catechetical office holds courses and workshops through the year for the teachers, as well as organizing a retreat for each region\'s catechists every year. Catechism is but a small part of your child\'s journey in faith, the major role is played by parents and the community. As catechists we ask Parents to reinforce what the children learn by bringing them to Holy Mass each week.

Anyone interested in becoming a catechism teacher is welcomed to contact the church office. You don\'t need to be trained as a teacher all you need is a love for God and a love for children.

Senior

The Senior Confirmation classes take place on a Tuesday evening here at St John\'s. The Sacrament of Confirmation takes place in Grade 11. Our senior co-ordinator is Donald McLaughlan.

Youth

Senior Youth meets every Second Sunday from 5-7pm at the church. The group is made up of young people from 13-19 years old (and a few older) who meet together for fun, friendship, discussion of life issues, and who challenge each other to grow in their relationship with God.

Young Christian Kids is our Youth group for all those from Grade 4 - Grade 7. It meets every second Friday night from 6-8pm at the church. Programs include games, group discussions, food and fun - all run on a faith theme for the evening. We are looking for more leaders to assist in the planning and running of these evenings.

Young Adults Takes the form of cell groups. They meet every week at one of the homes. This is a good group for spiritual growth and meeting other young people in our parish. Contact Niki or Cliff.

Youth Mass St. John\'s has a Youth Mass every Sunday at 5:30pm. There are a number of ways to get involved including by reading or commentating at the Mass, helping with the selling of food afterwards, and through the Youth Band.

Parish Youth Committee The P.Y.C is a group that co-ordinates all youth activities in the Parish and helps in running once-off events. Enthusiastic, committed young people and adults who believe in the value of developing our youth are welcome to join.

Children\'s Liturgy Assistants Many young people in our Parish assist once a month with the Children\'s Liturgy classes during parts of the 7:30am and 9:30am Masses. This is to help the teacher who often has 50 or more children who attend.

Outreach Part of the long term plan of our Youth ministry is to get involved in helping those less fortunate through outreaches on a monthly / bi-monthly basis.

Faith enrichment ministry is to increase knowledge of the faith, deepen spirituality and involve the laity in the work of evangelisation by spreading the word of God in various ways. Through courses, programmes, convert classes and developing a resource centre in the Parish, this ministry fulfills a necessary need. Contact Paul Mina for more information

The following people were elected, by popular and confidential vote, to serve on the Parish Pastoral Council for a period of three years: Roy Lailvaux Jnr Felicity O'Donnell Wayne Towell Brad Page Solly Motsomane Lawrence Umunna Randall Cupido Marie-Anne Te Brake Gay Viljoen Paul Mina Nic Bell Paul Sonderup Vincent Joseph John Cato Geoff Baker Darryl Reynecke Penny Mahon Hans Fischer Deidre Van Staden Lance Coertzen