Hope&Joy

Is a network of Catholic organisations who want to bring a message of Hope and Joy to South Africa.
The name Hope&Joy was inspired by the opening words of Gaudium et Spes, one of the documents of Second Vatican Council, called by Blessed Pope John XXIII. Gaudium et Spes is also called the 'Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World'.
2011 and 2012 mark the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Council.
The name "Hope & Joy" was inspired by the opening words of Gaudium et Spes.

Quotation from the Document of Vatican II: The Church in the Modern World

THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

12. According to the almost unanimous opinion of believers and unbelievers alike, all things on earth should be related to man as their center and crown.

But what is man? About himself he has expressed, and continues to express, many divergent and even contradictory opinions. In these he often exalts himself as the absolute measure of all things or debases himself to the point of despair. The result is doubt and anxiety. The Church certainly understands these problems. Endowed with light from God, she can offer solutions to them, so that man's true situation can be portrayed and his defects explained, while at the same time his dignity and destiny are justly acknowledged.

For Sacred Scripture teaches that man was created "to the image of God," is capable of knowing and loving his Creator, and was appointed by Him as master of all earthly creatures(1) that he might subdue them and use them to God's glory.(2) "What is man that you should care for him? You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet" (Ps. 8:5-7).   Chapter 1

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Resources

WHY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH NEEDS VATICAN II

T. P. O'Mahony

The Roman Cathohlic Church faces fundamental problems both in the universal church and particularly in the centre in Rome. Much of this arises from the failure of the church to implement some of the key ideas agreed by the bishops of the world at the Second Vatican Council over forty years ago. These include the redefinition of the church as “The People of God” and the vision of church authority as being exercised in collegiality between the pope and the bishops of the world.

The only way things can be changed is the calling of another council of the bishops of the world – Vatican III – and the finalizing of the unfinished business of the previous council. This will not happen during the papacy of Joseph Ratzinger so it will have to await the arrival of his successor.

2010      112 pages      R139.50

THE CHURCH AND THE NEW MEDIA

Blogging Converts

Author: Brandon Vogt

Following Pope Benedict's call to evangelize the "digital continent," The Church and New Media explores the power and risks of New Media while guiding Christians through this new environment.

2011   224pages    R145.00

CATECHESIS IN A MULTIMEDIA WORLD

Connecting to Today's Students

Author: Mary Byrne Hoffmann

This practical, hands-on book is both an interactive and reflective guide to spirituality and faith formation in a multimedia age.
A great resource for catechists to connect to the iPod/cellphone/Facebook generation.

2011    130pages    R125.00

VATICAN II

Its Impact on You

Author: Peter A. Huff

Vatican II is known to every Catholic at least by name, but we’re a little skimpy on the details. What happened there? Why did it take place? Why have there been mixed reactions to it? Most importantly, what is the impact of the Second Vatican Council on the People of the Church now?
Peter A. Huff answers these questions and more in a lively, brief, easy-to-read, fresh overview of the event that has had the greatest impact on the Catholic experience today.

2011    80pages    R75.00