'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...

Photo: Roy Naicker People from all walks of life share Meal of Reconciliation There are few places in the world where an American diplomat, a blind Muslim activist, a homeless person and a Catholic nun can be seen sharing a meal together. But that's the whole purpose...