News from St Philomena’s Children’s Home is that all but one of the 36 girls passed their year end exams with flying colours. The child who didn’t make it has been placed with another organisation, which will enrol her in a special school.

Long time Zulu Mission supporters who remember receiving Cardinal Napier’s friendly letters, will be glad to know that the Cardinal may have retired as Archbishop of Durban, but he is still very much involved in the work of the Church!

Our thoughts and prayers are with the American people in the aftermath of the deadly floods in Texas over the July 4th holiday weekend. At the time of writing, at least 110 people were reported dead – including 30 children.

Every year, we ask for your help to provide warm blankets for those in our Archdiocese who face winter without weather-proof shelter, heating, or hot running water. And every year, we are humbled by your generosity.

We mourn the loss of Fr Wandile, parish priest at Corpus Christi in Upper Tongaat, who was called to rest on Thursday 3 July 2025. Prior to leading this parish, Fr Wandile assisted Fr Desmond Nair at Our Lady of Lourdes in Westville.

Our joy at entering the Easter Season was immediately met by the sad news of the passing of Pope Francis. This came as a shock, after seeing him giving his Urbi et Orbi blessing on Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday – the start of Holy Week – commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem for Passover. He was greeted by crowds of people who laid palm branches, representing victory and peace, at his feet.

Young learners at Senzakahle Primary School in Ixcopo express their gratitude for the new school shoes provided by our generous supporters.

I sincerely thank you for your continued support and unwavering generosity over the years. It is awe-inspiring to know that we have friends living so far from us, who care deeply. May God bless you.

Donations from Mission friends are already hard at work in Tongaat, helping people rebuild their lives after the devastating tornado. From everyone in Tongaat, “Siyabonga” – thank you – for caring and reaching out your helping hand.

We could hear it in his voice when we called to let him know that we had the money to complete St Cecilia’s Church. He couldn’t stop thanking us. But those thanks belong to you. Because without generous support from Mission friends, we could not have done it.

On 3 June, the Denis Hurley Centre, in partnership with Grace Church, held it’s 5th annual Street Store. The aim is to create an environment where poor people can ‘shop’ for clothes with dignity – and completely free of charge.

Many people have forgotten about the floods that destroyed great parts of KwaZulu-Natal in 2022. Whilst it could be said that the worst is over, those with no place to go, and no resources, are still suffering.

Our earliest Missionary priests relied on the four legs of horses to take them to wherever they were needed. Today, we’ve replaced four legs with four wheel drive vehicles – essential to enable priest to traverse the rough terrain in rural areas.

Cast your mind back to 2017 when Cardinal Napier asked you to help build a new church at Cornfields to replace a mud building with crumbling walls and windows that no longer closed.  

We go through life accumulating assets – property, material items and money in the bank. Somehow, this accumulation can go unnoticed, until we sit down to draw up, or update, our Will.

In 1938, Missionary priest, Father Wagner, built a church at Ntshongweni – one of the 15 outstations established by father Pfister OMI in 1934. The building materials came by rail to Ntshongweni station, and local people helped to carry it on their heads to the top of the hill where the Mission stands.

School Principal, Dr Mavis Naidoo and the teachers of Kwa Tinthwa School are delighted with the repairs to the Language Stimulation Room, making it safe again for use by deaf chldren.

In the 13th century, St Francis and St Dominic both formed religious orders. Francis became the beggar who beguiled the world, Dominic became the preacher who taught it.