A place of worship and care for the community
BRAMLEY – St Catherine's Anglican Church located in Bramley North is not only a place of worship but a palace where the community finds care.
The St Catherine’s Anglican Church Rector Reverend Brent Frieslaar’s vision is to help the church in Bramley North transform from being maintenance to a missional parish that deepens it’s bond with God.
The well-spoken priest aspires to grow the church that embraces spirituality and provides care for the community through outreach programmes.
Since his appointment as a rector in February 2016 and licensed by Bishop Steve Moreo of the Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg, Rector Frieslaar has gradually grown the church into being a community asset.
He said he would use his leadership role to ensure the church offers services to meet the needs of the community. “Growing more into being a vibrant Christian community that warmly welcomes all to encounter God and deepen their relationship with Jesus through discipleship courses like Alpha and Rooted in Jesus.”
The church had embarked on several outreach initiatives to help the community since his arrival.
These initiatives include the weekly visits on a Tuesday by volunteers to Ithlokomeleng Association for Aged and Disabled Persons in Alexandra Township.
Volunteers distribute food and other items to residents. In June this year, the church’s youth ministry visited New Life Centre, blessed them with a meal and conducted a communion service and also shared the word of God. In the same month, it subsequently hosted blood donation in partnership with SANBS.
He said they also enable some parts of the church to be used by residents associations and policing forums to conduct their meetings.
An ordained priest in full-time ministry, a married father with a teenage daughter and a younger son, Frieslaar has a keen interest in helping the church in its response to gender violence and human trafficking.
He is currently studying toward his master’s degree in practical theology as he wants to grow and expand his knowledge in those challenges troubling the country.
He explained, “I have a passion for teaching and proclaiming the good news of God’s love, grace and salvation and enabling others to reach their full potential as valued members of society, the Body of Christ and created in the image of God.
“St Catherine’s is my first appointment as rector, having previously served as assistant priest at St Michaels Anglican Parish in Bryanston.”
He said being an instrument of God’s love, grace, light and hope to communities is a fulfilling gesture.
The church celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Bramley area in 2012. It is a parish within the Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg. It has two services on Sundays at 7.30am and 9.30am.
As a place of care for the greater Bramley community, the parish has a long-standing relationship with Itlhokomeleng. In 2017, a service of Communion was started to care for the spiritual needs of the residents.
Last year, the Parish Council agreed to adopt New Life Centre in Midrand, formerly called Lombardy Home for Girls, as one of its beneficiaries of social outreach. St Catherine’s also makes monthly donations to both New Life Centre and Ithlokomeleng Centre to assist in meeting some of the needs.
The parish also allows parts of its property to be used for ballet classes and for burial societies to have their meetings and some of the plans in the process are to develop partnerships with organisations where parts of the property will be used to render services to the community.
Details: St Catherine’s Anglican Church 011 786 5541.
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https://northeasterntribune.co.za/232918/local-church-youth-auction-own-photo-work/
