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.
The invitation to participate, the invitation to belong
Our parish has been blessed with many people who would like to participate in the life of the community, in one way or the other. If you were to ask them how they experienced community before being invited to serve,
Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Jesus Came to Save and Not to Condemn Many people, if not most people, carry a crippling sense of shame and unworthiness. We are like dogs with our tails between our legs, waiting for a cruel and unpredictable owner to
Catch the Vision, Cast the Vision
What kind of community do you envision St Martin de Porres becoming? Does the following statement ring any bells with you? “We are a welcoming community, open to all who seek to encounter the love of Jesus.” Or how about
The Season of Creation
On the 1st of September 2025, we begin the Season of Creation 2025. This is a reminder for Christians and people of the world about our significant role in minimizing climate change and ecological crisis. We are all called to
Writing your Obituary
Fr Peter Dougherty, who had been resident in the priest’s retirement home at 37 Lancaster, went home to his father’s house last week. This week the Church of Johannesburg has been saying its farewells to him. On Wednesday evening there
Faithful Women: Honoring Mary’s Assumption and Legacy
As we come together this Sunday to celebrate the Assumption of Mary, we are invited to reflect on the beauty of surrendering fully to God’s plan. Mary’s “yes,” her “fiat,” was not just a polite response to an angel; it
