Pastors Corner
Our Parish Priest
Fr Bruce Botha, S.J.
Fr Bruce Botha SJ was born in Durban, KZN. He received a diploma in education from the University of Natal and then taught physical science for 4 years at Scottburgh High School. He joined the Society of Jesus and did his noviciate in Cape Town. He then studied philosophy in London and theology in Berkeley, California. Between philosophy and theology, in the period of formation known as regency, he worked as the director of counselling for an HIV research centre. After ordination in 2006 he worked in Holy Trinity, Braamfontein until 2010, when he was appointed parish priest of St Martin de Porres, Orlando West. In 2021 he returned to Holy Trinity as Parish Priest and continues to serve as the Episcopal Vicar for Evangelisation for the Archdiocese of Johannesburg. In July 2024, Fr Bruce became Parish Priest of St Martin De Porres, Craighall Park.
Synodality and Governance
Governance within the Catholic Church refers to the exercise of authority and responsibility by those entrusted with leadership. The Final Document of the Synod on Synodality points us to areas in which governance of the Church should be practiced in
Transformational versus Performative Religion
On Wednesday of this past week the gospel of the day was taken from the Ash Wednesday mass. Jesus was reminding his listeners that we need to do our spiritual practices such as prayer, fasting and almsgiving for the right
Overcoming Our Thorns
One of the topics that recently came up in our Genesis Compass program was the obstacles to true evangelisation in a parish, and they are called “anti-evangelistic thorns”. As I go through them, see if one or more of these
The Solemnity of Corpus Christi
This feast originated in the 13th century out of a pious desire to have a feast which focused only on the precious body and blood of Jesus, unlike the mass of the last supper which has two focal points, the
Magnifica Humanitas – The Grandeur of Humanity
Marking the 135th anniversary of Rerum novarum, Pope Leo XIV releases his first encyclical, entitled ‘Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence.’ He appeals for the safeguarding of humanity, promotion of truth, dignity of
Come, Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is one of the least appreciated and understood figures of the Trinity. It is easy to understand and relate to God as Father, as we all have some kind of experience of father figures in our life.
