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Long-time supporters of the Zulu Missions will recall the heart-warming story behind the establishment of KwaThintwa School for the Deaf by the late Archbishop of Durban, Dennis Hurley.

During a visit to a rural community in Inchanga in 1980, the Archbishop was approached by a young boy, Henry Bekeni Dube, who was deaf. He tugged Hurley’s robes, to get his attention.

We asked for your help to bring winter warmth to needy people on the Missions – and once again, your generous response has amazed and humbled us.

Thank you sincerely for opening your hearts and wallets to Mission people who face winter without weather-proof shelter, heating, or hot running water.

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. 

Again, friends like you stepped in to provide Christmas “Basins of Blessings” for families in dire need. Your gift was nourishing food items – not wrapped in bright paper to be thrown away, but in a basin of continued usefulness.

Thanks and appreciation from Archbishop Jwara The floods that overtook our province brought pain to many communities. And sincere thanks are due to everyone who responded to the critical need. Caritas Durban distributed the food, clothing, supermarket vouchers and...

Taking your caring to the place of care Sukumawenza (meaning ‘the place of care’) Hospice at Inanda was one of the Archdiocese projects badly affected by the floods in July. An investigation into what help might be needed revealed more than damaged infrastructure...

Important information to help you send your gifts online In order to prevent fraud, the South African authorities now require all Internet transactions to be '3D secure'. If your card is not already enrolled for 3D, you'll need to have this enabled by your bank....

Archbishop Jwara's formative homeground - Mariannhill Diocese Siegfried Mandla Jwara was born into the Mariannhill Diocese and this is where he spent his formative years of faith. Perhaps you'd like to know a little more about Mariannhill. The story of Mariannhill...

If there's space ... Whilst the primary objective of a Will is to provide security for one's family, IF there's space to share a "little something" elsewhere, would you consider leaving a bequest to the Archdiocese of Durban? As a loyal supporter of the Zulu Missions,...

What to pray for as we begin a new year For attentiveness to what truly matters. For opportunities to learn and do more. For discernment of God’s will for us in this year. For freedom from fear and doubt. For confidence in God’s love for us. For peace in all...

We're already anticipating Easter The Covid pandemic called a halt to all gatherings including the traditional Good Friday Mission processions where the cross is carried as Jesus carried it on his way to Calvary. This year, gatherings of this nature will again be...

Bringing justice to the streets of Durban Through an initiative of the Denis Hurley Centre, 4th year UKZN law students are spending time on the streets of Durban, gaining an understanding of the difficulties homeless people face in accessing justice. From April to...

An interesting and stirring read The Adventurous Nun – Stories my family told me is a comprehensive biography of Sister Mildred Lungile Madlala, a Franciscan Missionary of Mary (FMM), born on Mistake Farm, KwaZulu-Natal south coast, South Africa. As a Sister, a nun, a...

Former addicts rehabilitated at the Napier Centre 4 Healing We are delighted to report that our residential programme to rehabilitate street-dwelling drug users is producing very encouraging results. Meet two of our success stories ... Lundi (35) (pictured alongside)...

Body of missing priest found It is with great sadness that the Catholic Archdiocese of Durban confirmed that the body of missing priest, Father Bheki Joseph Motloung, has been found at the Bergville Dam on 2 July. Fr Bheki was parish priest at St Yves in Bergville,...

God bless you for preparing them for winter Your early generosity has already helped us to give blankets to certain families just ahead of winter. In addition to your gifts of winter warmth, we were able to add food parcels to each of these critically poor households....

You may have forgotten, but we haven't As time goes on, you may have forgotten how many needs you've answered with your generosity. Here's a reminder of some of them, and the huge differences that you've made: Fighting Hunger. Hunger regularly stalks poverty stricken...

The ties that bind Over the years, we've been privileged to have Missions friends visit us, and see for themselves how their donations make a difference, especially in poor rural Mission communities. Others have shared with us their family history that relates back to...