Latest News

Hurley Anniversary Weekend - a few days to go Hurley Weekend 2017: Various events this weekend mark the anniversary of Archbishop Hurley who died on 13 February 2004. Sat 11 February 14h00: the official opening of the Hurley permanent exhibition at the Denis Hurley...

Thank you for supporting an act of faith – you’re honoured at St Leo’s School When the need for extra classrooms at St Leo’s school was identified, it was already urgent. The new school year begins here in January – how would the children be accommodated? With the...

Easter – The most important feast day on the missions It’s commonly known that Easter is more important to the Zulu people than Christmas. Cardinal Napier explains it this way: Because of people being received into the faith, Easter is both a family and a community...

The blankets you gave Unlike in your part of the world, winter 2016 is well in the past here in South Africa, and our gratitude for the blankets you gave is ever present. Those who received them were wrapped in your kindness. And there were enough to share with the...

A thought to consider Should you want to continue your support of the Zulu Missions beyond your own lifetime, it can easily be done by making the Archdiocese of Durban a beneficiary when making or updating your Will, or adding a codicil to that effect to your existing...

Remembering Carol Mission friend, Mrs Frances Gallagher, wrote to us recently with a special request. She wanted to do something in memory of her close friend, Carol, who’d lost a 10-year struggle with cancer. Frances asked us to choose a classroom in a primary...

Might you want to be a Mission Patron? Perhaps you already know about the group of mission supporters who are known as ‘Patrons’. But if not, here’s an introduction to them. The Mission Patrons donate to the work of the Church in impoverished mission communities, in...

Nine years later Meet two of your co-mission supporters – Bill and Mai, from Ireland. In 2007, Zulu Mission friends, Bill and Mai, visited South Africa on a fact-finding holiday. They came with donations and gifts from family and friends in Ireland, and we were...

Sing with One Voice for the Dennis Hurley Centre Seven Durban Catholic schools are uniting to show their support for the Dennis Hurley Centre with an evening of choral music at the Emmanuel Cathedral this Thursday, 25 August. The participating schools are: St...

Floods, cold cause misery Heavy downpours led to severe flooding in Durban at the weekend. Although the rain is a blessing – bringing relief after months of severe drought – the deluge, combined with gale-force winds, massive ocean swells and snow on the southern...

Thank you for putting the pictorial Bibles into the hands of our Mission children for Easter During 2015, Mariannhill Mission Press took the initiative of securing the rights to print a pictorial Bible for children, with texts in a number of home languages. Zulu was...

May is the month of Masi-sizane recognition Helping one another’ is the meaning of Masi-sizane, and the name that gathers together all our Zulu Mission supporters who choose to give a monthly donation. May is the time for recognising this commitment and our...

How your donations support the works of Mercy on the Missions There’s no question about how your generosity has supported the Spiritual Works of Mercy on the Zulu Missions. And this will continue with any future donations, in the form of catechetics, Mass and the...

St Joseph's, Howick, prepares to celebrate 75 years The first Catholic church in Howick – an hour-and a- half’s drive east of Durban was built on a farm in 1912. Two years later, the farm was sold, the chapel had to be removed and the Mission was closed. Bishop...

Shweshwe cloth - 'The tartan of South Africa' Shweshwe cloth has its origins in fabrics introduced in the 19th century by German and French missionaries. Not only is it a favourite in the production of traditional outfits, but it has also expanded to become a wider...

Cardinal Wilfrid Napier calls it quits [Source: Clinton Moodley, Independent Newspapers] Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, the leader of the Catholic Church in South Africa, has written to Pope Francis, tendering his resignation - in line with canon law that requires him to...

Happy 75th Birthday, Cardinal Napier On Tuesday 8 March, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier celebrated his 75th birthday with Holy Mass at the Emmanuel Cathedral, during which about 300 children from nine Catholic primary school choirs sang “Happy Birthday” to him. Afterwards,...

How you gave 'learning' for Christmas Thank you! We wish you could see the light of understanding dawning in the children’s eyes, as they grasp the mathematical concepts that were previously so difficult to imagine. Partnering with the initiative of one of our Mission...

Do you remember Maphumulo? Over the years of communication between friends like you and the Zulu Missions you may recall the first time that you were introduced to Maphumulo and the need for a water pipeline for the community. The water for the community at Maphumulo...

It costs you nothing now ... ... but leaving a Bequest to the Archdiocese of Durban can make a massive difference to the future of the Zulu Missions. Your family, and those closest to you must always come first in your Will. But if there’s the possibility of also...

Prayer to implore favours through the intercession of Blessed Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa O Blessed Trinity, you filled the heart of Blessed Benedict Daswa with great love and zeal for building up your kingdom. You chose him and gave him the courage and...

Thank you for the wonder of the Wonderbags We asked, and you answered. Your generosity is enormously appreciated. St. Joseph’s was the first parish feeding scheme to receive their Wonderbags, which meant that the food could be kept hot for serving during our winter...

Wonderbags – the simple eco-friendly invention that saves fuel and time When asked how the feeding scheme at St Joseph’s parish could be improved – in both economy and efficiency – the parishioners who do the cooking exclaimed with one voice: 'Get us a supply of...

South Africa gets its first Martyr On Sunday 13 October, Benedict Daswa was named the country's first martyr at a beautiful ceremony broadcast live on national television. He was proclaimed “blessed” in an apostolic letter read on behalf of Pope Francis by Italian...

Gift of education from UK Mission friend On Thursday 2 July, Tony Watkins, a retired maths lecturer at the University of Plymouth, visited Cardinal Napier to hand over educational kits for the children at Emolweni School at St Leo's. Also present were retired deacon...

‘I was hungry, and you gave me food’ (Matt. 25:35) Hunger is a very real part of poverty, unemployment, and homelessness. And it’s often thanks to your compassion and generosity that the Archdiocese is able to provide food for those who are hungry. In many cases it’s...

St Leo's Mission is 100 years old It was the Trappists from Marianhill who began to evangelize in the area where St Leo’s stands today. They sent a catechist by the name of Mvubu to visit families. And in 1915 they established a small mass centre, using the hut owned...

To everything there is a season In the lives of the rural people on the missions, the seasons are a strong influence. There’s a season for sowing and a season for reaping, and the month of May is very much about conserving what little families may have, to see them...

Ernestine thanks you Ernestine’s heart overflowed with gratitude when she was once again able to feed hungry children and frail grandmothers during the long end of year holidays. To Ernestine’s act of faith in initiating this holiday programme at Bethlehem mission,...

Catholic schools - a precious resource to be preserved The present status of Catholic Schools in our Archdiocese is that of ‘public schools on private property’, rather than on state property. The difference between the two lies in ethos. Whilst the state is...

The Denis Hurley Centre is about kindness and love After years of planning and fundraising, the Denis Hurley Centre is finally a reality and was officially opened on what would have been the late Archbishop’s 100th birthday. The building was blessed by interfaith...

You gave joy to the children and teachers of Kwa Thintwa School for the Deaf Wishes are fragile things. There’s never a guarantee that they will be realised . . . unless they are put into the hands of friends like you. Your Christmas offerings to fulfil the Kwa...

Samuel - no longer ashamed to attend Mass thanks to friends like you Samuel is one of our poorest mission people who received blankets through your generosity during the past winter. But he also received much more. The hearts of friends like you opened to Samuel and...

A prayer for help is answered Coinciding with the Year of the Family, Margaret Mkhize of St Michael’s mission in Ndonyane, has woven a wall hanging of the story of The Prodigal Son. A parishioner of St Michael’s since her youth, Margaret trained there as a weaver...