Br Roger Stewart

June 2025 News

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Before our Order’s annual Chapter meeting formally began at our Holy Cross Monastery near West Park, in upstate New York in the USA, the entire group of six junior monks (including the three from South Africa) were taken by Br Ephrem for a day of hiking and sightseeing in the Catskills. This was a good time of being together for all of them.

The actual Chapter meeting included the passing of resolutions on various aspects of our life, presentations on such matters as the Order’s financial situation, our Holy Cross School near Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, and the journey towards a new home for the community currently at St Benedict’s Priory in South Africa. There were also elections to positions on the Order’s Council. Br Roger continues to serve on the Council for another year, as does Br Scott. The Council met several times while we were all over there.

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Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost by Br Mpumelelo

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Scripture Readings

Let us pray: Show us Your ways, O Lord; teach us Your paths. Lead us in Your truth and teach us, for You are the GOD of our salvation; on You we wait all the day. Amen.

Today’s Gospel is about JESUS’ journey to Jerusalem to accomplish His work of salvation there. That is where JESUS would give up His life to save people from sin. Then He would rule as King from Heaven. A village in Samaria refused to let JESUS stay there while He travelled to Jerusalem, as we know that Jews had no dealings with Samaritans, but JESUS didn’t punish them. Even though His two disciples James and John in their zeal wanted to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them. No wonder JESUS gave them the nickname “Sons of Thunder”. It is because of their passionate and sometimes fiery personalities. So at this point they were indignant at this rejection. They viewed it as a grave insult to JESUS, without knowing that JESUS was ready to face any challenges or adversity for the salvation of the world. That’s why He rebuked them for their suggestion, demonstrating that His way is not one of vengeance or destruction, but of love and redemption. He shows them that they do not understand the true nature of His Kingdom and that the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives but to save them. As John the Evangelist would say, “For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

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Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost by Br Mpumelelo Read More »

Sermon by Br Josias for the Second Sunday after Pentecost

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Scripture Readings

In the name of God, the Creator, the Redeemer and Sanctifier. Amen!

“The greatest disease in the World today is not TB or leprosy or HIV; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love.”[1]

This is one of my favourite quotes from Saint Teresa of Calcutta. The only cure for despair and hopelessness is love. I think those words resonate well with what Jesus is doing in the gospel passage this morning. We are told that when he got out of the boat at the country of the Gerasenes, opposite Galilee, he was met by a man of the city who had demons.[2]

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Sermon by Br Josias for the Second Sunday after Pentecost Read More »

May 2025 News

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This past month, Br Mpumelelo was able to enjoy time with family and friends in KZN, including a visit to the Sisters of the Community of Jesus’ Compassion. After his return, our monastic community enjoyed a braai lunch together while celebrating Br Mpumelelo’s birthday with him. Earlier that same weekend, we had also enjoyed a time of celebration of Esther de Gruchy’s birthday together with her family and friends.

Br Josias hosted a first online session of South African Associates meeting together to begin discussing the book, A Hidden Wholeness (The Journey Toward an Undivided Life) by Parker J Palmer. The Associates will continue the book discussion on a monthly basis. Br Josias continued to spend time at the local Ithemba special-needs centre most weeks.

Br Aelred participated in another module of the online Spiritual Direction course he has been attending. Brothers continued to provide spiritual accompaniment to individuals online.

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May 2025 News Read More »

Sermon by Br Josias for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

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Scripture Readings

In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Jesus spent most of his time on earth modelling a way of maintaining good relationship with God, a way of seeking justice for those in the margins of society and a way of living in harmony with God’s creation. With many teachings and his active ministry, he tried to form a moral community. The Bible tells us that he chose 12 ordinary men whom he later called friends, because he shared with them all that God revealed to him.[1] He was not interested in creating a social group just to hang-out with, he was building a group that will effect change and thus change the world view of their time.  

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Sermon by Br Josias for the Fifth Sunday of Easter Read More »

April 2025 News

News from the Priory / /

A significant focus of our community life during the past month was of course on our observance of Holy Week. We started our preparations for this by making palm crosses together, for use during the Palm Sunday procession in remembrance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Thankfully, the rain stopped in time for us to begin the procession outside in the chapel garden.

We constructed an Altar of Repose in the smaller chapel together during the afternoon of Maundy Thursday, before the evening liturgy which included foot-washing, the commemoration of the institution of the Eucharist, and the stripping of the altar. Most of those who attended spent some time in silent prayer before the Altar of Repose afterwards, remembering Jesus with his disciples in the garden before his betrayal and arrest.

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April 2025 News Read More »

Easter 4C – 11 May 2025 – Sermon by Br Daniel

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Scripture Readings

Many years ago, when I had more hair than I do now, I did a few months of theological studies at the College of the Transfiguration in Makhanda, as part of my novitiate. I think the thing that I remember most vividly is that one of the lecturers said something like: Good theology is not about good answers, but about good questions.

And so, with that in mind, we move, in what feels like one fell swoop, from “Hallelujah, Christ is Risen,” to “Tell us plainly, are you the Messiah?” – and do not keep us in suspense!

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Easter 4C – 11 May 2025 – Sermon by Br Daniel Read More »

Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter

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Scripture Readings

Among the Scripture readings assigned for today, we find two stories that I think resonate strongly with each other. They are stories of two men who had each been very sure of who they were and what their lives were about, until they encountered Jesus after his resurrection. They are each conversion stories that include descriptions of wonderful intimacy with Jesus. They each contain a significant pause that invites deep introspection on the part of each man.

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Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter Read More »

Sermon by Br Josias for the Second Sunday of Easter

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Scripture Readings

In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

During the course of this week, I came across a quote by one of the American revolutionaries, Malcom X, which said: You cannot separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.[1] In other words, we cannot receive peace without freedom. And I believe this could be the case with the gospel passage this morning.

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Sermon by Br Josias for the Second Sunday of Easter Read More »

Thursdays at Volmoed – 24 April 2025 – Reflection by Br Aelred

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Scripture Readings
— Acts 3:11-26
— Psalm 8
— Luke 24:36b-48

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

During Cardinal Stephen Brislin’s interview on the SABC news, regarding the death of Pope Francis, he said that, after hearing the news, he felt sad, but he also felt a sense of serenity and peace, knowing that the Holy Father lived his whole life for that moment.

If we are to die, can the same be said about us?

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Thursdays at Volmoed – 24 April 2025 – Reflection by Br Aelred Read More »

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