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Napier Centre 4 Healing Update It has taken us over 3 years to go from the dream to the reality of helping the most vulnerable and marginalised people – street-dwelling substance abusers. There is a huge need and we are dedicated to doing what we can with the skills...

Wilfrid Napier (left) became Archbishop in 1992 when he took over from Archbishop Hurley. His mitre shows the insignia of the Franciscans of whom he is a member. (photo: IOL Archives) 50 years as a priest Not many people have had the same job for half a century, but...

You reached out with love and a blanket - thank you When you responded to the need for winter blankets on the missions, you gave the warmth of a blanket, but also the warmth of your love. You reached out when Spring was bringing new life to your country, and we were...

Thank You for Your Easter Evangelisation Gift More than the tangible ways in which your donations find expression on the Zulu Missions, a gift towards evangelisation is more difficult to show. Your gift of a food parcel, a blanket, a school uniform, and many others...

Postponement of Father Sfiso Mpanza’s ‘Impossible Dream Come True’ Parish priest to the people of St Vincent’s mission at Pelum, Father Sfiso often dreamed about visiting the Holy Land to be able to walk where Jesus walked. But realising that dream was always totally...

‘Bring a Friend when you come to Mass’. Archbishop Abel Gabuza calls Confirmation Candidates to Evangelise. Since his arrival in Durban, Archbishop Abel Gabuza has been warmly welcomed on the missions. Rural communities feel a great sense of pride when a Bishop comes...

A Visit to St Anne’s Mission at Mpophomeni The location of St Anne’s Mission was a result of the Apartheid system’s Group Areas Act. People were removed from their homes in Howick and Zenzele and placed in a new township 15 kilometres away. Father Isidore Freoux, who...

Please Pray for Rain in Africa In our last newsletter you read about something that nobody wants to experience – Day Zero – the day when our water sources run completely dry. All life is supported by water, but climate change and ongoing drought in Africa is making...

Add Your Ethics to Your Will The importance of having a Will can’t be overstated. It puts your affairs in order; it provides security for your loved ones; it carries your personal wishes; and it gives the opportunity to continue your commitment to causes that you’ve...

Thank You for Keeping our Postbag Full Despite the many problems with mail which have affected our communications over the past few years, you’ve continued to have faith, you’ve continued to write to us. Thank You! ‘Thank you’, because your ‘Zulu Mission family’...

We mourn the death of Fr Joseph Hollander On 13 January, 83-year-old Oblate Fr Joseph Hollander, a missionary of Oblates of Mary Immaculate in South Africa (OMISA), was found dead in his house in the village of Bodibe, about 200 kilometres west of Johannesburg. His...

Thank you for sharing the joy at Christmas! You shared the joy, willingly and generously with your Christmas donations to the Zulu Missions, especially sharing with the children of Ekujabuleni Home. Thank you. Through your kindness, Home Manager Margaret Qali was able...

In his diocese of Kimberley, Bishop Gabuza (pictured right) was no stranger to rural outstations. On the left he is shown leaving his car at the side of the road and proceeding to an outlying village by donkey cart.   Introducing Archbishop Abel Gabuza 'It was on...

Joseph adds to our Christmas wishes for you Over the years, local artist, Joseph Manana, has frequently painted a Christmas card design specially for you – his tribute to Zulu Mission friends. Art wasn’t taken seriously when Joseph was at school because it wasn’t seen...

What if? Sometimes we miss seeing an opportunity, or just don’t give that opportunity a second thought. But ‘what if’ you saw an opportunity to not only take care of your loved ones through your Will, but to also give something to a cause that’s close to your heart?...

How you helped turn hope into reality at Hopewell For a community desperate for a church they could be proud of, you helped to turn their wish and their hope into reality. Thank you. Thank you for sharing the wish and the hope. Thank you for helping to provide the...

Justice and Peace Commission responds to recent gender violence During August – national Women's month – the Justice and Peace Commission in the Archdiocese of Durban facilitated a Women and Girls Dialogue at St Vincent Parish, KwaMpumuza.  55 women and girls attended...

'Thank you', from both the young and the old Walking into a rural home on the Missions, gives an immediate picture of the poverty. Floors - sometimes mud, sometimes cement, are bare. There may be a bed, which will be used by more than one person. Perhaps a rickety...

You've brought the hope back to Hopewell After having had harvest collections for years towards funding a new church, the people of Hopewell were becoming disheartened by nothing much happening. Your donations to help build the new church changed all that. In a...

Hot water is back on tap at Mother of Peace Thank you, thank you, for restoring the hot water system at Mother of Peace. The children are once again enjoying hot showers, thanks to the new geysers, as are their House Mothers. You helped to make such a difference...

There's more than joy in toys When we told you how little Zenandi’s life was changed by his experience of the toy library at Hlabisa, you helped to expand the range of educational toys in this really important resource centre. Whilst toys can be dismissed as something...

The Resurrection is for all seasons Each year we prepare for the passion of Jesus and His resurrection through the 40 days of Lent. If you counted your blessings during Lent and made sacrifices to send the blessing of a donation to the Missions, thank you, so much....

The challenges of growing older Every age has its challenges. But the younger and stronger one is, the more easily those challenges are met. From our mailbox, it’s apparent that many of our loyal Mission friends can be counted as ‘seniors’ enduring the challenges of...

It's not in the name It may be called a bequest, a legacy, or simply a gift in your Will. But remembering a charity in your Will, one that you’ve supported during your lifetime, is a special gift that creates an ongoing memorial to your personal values. Should the...

Photo: Bongani Mbatha / African News Agency (ANA) Death toll rises to 70 in Durban flood disaster Throughout the night of  Monday 22 April and into the following morning, Durban and surrounding areas was hit by torrential rains. At least 70 people, including children,...

‘The Here and Now Christian’  The Here and Now Christian’ compiles a collection of articles and talks given by South African cardinal, Wilfrid Napier OFM. The book was launched at the parish of St Joseph’s in Durban on Monday 8 April 2019. Cardinal Wilfrid Napier OFM,...

Make a palm cross for Palm Sunday Making a cross out of a palm frond is an enduring tradition among many Catholics. With a little practice, these crosses are quick and easy to make, and serve as a lovely memento. Tuck one into your bible, or carry it with you to...

Heroes at Mother of Peace – you, and the humble solar heating panel When Cardinal Napier wrote to you about how a fierce lightning storm had destroyed the electrical water heating systems at Mother of Peace children’s home, Mission Patron heroes came to the rescue....

Praise God, and Mission Supporters like you - three new Priests for the Missions Meet Deacons Mtshengiseni Dlamini, Wandile Chagwe, and Simon Sibisi – all to be ordained in early March 2019. They will become your partners in spreading the Word of God. Deacon Wandile...

The tragedy of homelessness Home is where we are safe, cared about and protected. Homeless is where we are at high risk, even of losing life itself. At best, men may be able to survive on the street, but women and children are critically vulnerable. To meet this need,...

Drop In Centres = 'family' for orphaned and vulnerable children The Valley of a Thousand Hills is home to a huge poor rural community. It’s an area where the Church’s religious and lay volunteers see the welfare of children as vitally important. This is especially so...

Napier Centre for Healing update Although renovations to the former Catholic boarding school at Ekukhanyeni – which will house the new Napier Centre for Healing – were completed successfully last year, raising sufficient money to cover running costs has been holding...

Archbishop Hurley honoured Every year in February, there is a special memorial 'Hurley Weekend' at Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban, in honour of former Archbishop Denis Hurley who died in February 2004. This year, the preachers at the special Hurley Masses were Fr Neil...

Thank you for your beautiful generosity Your missionary spirit is part of the Church in Africa every year, but here’s a little reminder of the special instances where your kindness was at work during the past year of 2018. You gave so that the crumbling little church...

Enough blankets to also help the people of a sister Diocese A letter of appreciation for you Mariannhill Diocese has 45 parishes, most of them in rural areas where the majority of people are not working. Priests who are serving these communities are able to distribute...

Quick news Your past gifts to the Kwa Thintwa School for the Deaf at Inchanga Mission have allowed the children to go forward helped by technology. Their progress was highlighted at a recent choir concert for schools, where their singing was a major highlight....

A special 'thank you' If you have promised a gift to the Archdiocese of Durban in your Will – thank you for your vision for the future. For those friends of the Zulu Missions whose gifts in their Will have been received – an ‘in memoriam’ thank you. For families and...

Prayer for an unborn child Humble Mary of Nazareth, You were chosen by God to bear within you our world’s greatest gift. I come to you now, on behalf of (name/s) who prays for the health and safety of the child that God has graced her to conceive. I ask for your...

The Napier Centre 4 Healing is ready to welcome patients Whilst those homeless people addicted to alcohol or drugs who want to turn their lives around can attend the eight week detoxification programme run by the local municipality, it isn’t enough. Cardinal Wilfrid...

Not just any store - one that also dispenses dignity The Denis Hurley Centre, adjacent to the Emmanuel Cathedral in Durban is our ‘city mission’. This is the place which brings gifts of compassion to the poorest of the city’s poor – people living on the streets. To...