FINDING A HOME
This painting represents the reality of so many people in the world looking for a place to stay, especially as they flock into crowded modern cities, searching for jobs or fleeing from various situations of conflict. The need to create living spaces for them is acute. Like Joseph and Mary, who found no place at the inn, millions of people risk ending up unsheltered in the streets and deprived of a dignified dwelling which they can call home.
Painting by Fr Raul Tabaranza MCCJ
CREATING HOMES
According to the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat), globally there are some 100 million homeless people and around 1.6 billion lacking adequate housing. Experts say that this figure could rise to 3 billion by 2030.
IMMEDIATE AND DECISIVE ACTION NEEDED TO ERADICATE WORLD HUNGER
Pope Francis addressed the G20 Summit for international economic cooperation, hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 18 to 19 November 2024. The meeting was attended by the leaders of the 19 member countries, plus delegates from the African Union and the European Union. The Pope’s words, read by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, called for immediate efforts by all to eradicate world hunger and poverty.
ILLEGAL MINING CLAMPDOWN IN SOUTH AFRICA: TREATING DESPERATE PEOPLE LIKE CRIMINALS IS AN INJUSTICE
Illegal artisanal gold mining in South Africa is in the spotlight again. Under Operation Vala Umgodi (“plug the hole”), South African authorities have since December 2023 been trying to disrupt the illicit gold mining economy by cutting off water, food and other supplies to the miners working underground.
THE SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE COMBONI MISSIONARIES APPOINTED AUXILIARY BISHOP OF ADDIS ABABA
On 6 November 2024, Pope Francis nominated Fr Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia). Fr Tesfaye was the Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) since the 2015 Chapter.
“PASSION FOR CHRIST – PASSION FOR HIS PEOPLE”
I am the fourth child of seven (four brothers and two sisters). All my schooling and tertiary studies were completed in Pretoria. I worked for two different companies for a total of 15 years as a computer programmer, systems analyst and project manager. I enjoy nature, gardening, music, cooking and watching international rugby, football, athletics and cricket.
CLIMATE SUMMITS MATTER
The Cop29 UN climate talks in Azerbaijan concluded on 24 November 2024, 12 days after its opening. Delegates from nearly 200 countries met to discuss key issues: a new global climate finance goal and what needs to be done about fossil fuels.
THE RIGHT TO HOUSING
There is no doubt that South Africa has a housing shortage. Every city and large town has informal settlements, some of them extending for kilometres and hosting tens of thousands of people.
TIME TO BE GRATEFUL, TIME TO MOVE FORWARD!
The centenary celebrations of the Comboni Missionaries in South Africa and of the Diocese of Witbank reach their conclusion
THE GARDEN OF EDEN IN DECAY
Evidence points to the fact that global warming and consequential climate change are causes of great havoc to the natural world. The tell-tale signs of these phenomena are evident everywhere; however, we still have the capability of restraining the damage already incurred.
CATHOLICS WORKING WITH ALL FAITHS TO SERVE THE HOMELESS IN DURBAN
There are many examples of Catholic parishes around the world which help the homeless. Some run soup kitchens or hand out sandwiches; make their halls available for people to sleepnin during winter or collect and distribute second-hand clothes; some are even involved in running training programmes or in helping unsheltered people find work and become self-sufficient. However, the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban adds an extra dimension to this ministry.
HOUSING: A VERB AND A PLACE
The word ‘housing’ does not just refer to a place, but it is also a verb. It is an active process of homemaking, of mediating access to the city, of ensuring that all people, regardless of vulnerability, income levels or special needs, have a place to stay. ‘Creating home’ is an on-going task, which will only come to its conclusion once nobody is unhoused or homeless.
CREATING HOMES IN TSHWANE
The Tshwane Leadership Foundation (TLF), a faith based Non-Profitable Company, seeks to create Pathways out of Homelessness for the most vulnerable communities in Tshwane (Pretoria). The author explores what churches could do to foster a ‘home’ environment in our democratic society.
INCARNATION AS THE ETERNAL HOPE OF LIFE
This reflection highlights how the Incarnation is a constant reminder of eternal hope knocking at our door despite the difficulties of our times.
THEOLOGY FROM THE GRANARY
Jean-Marc Éla spearheaded a generation of African theologians who did not remain impassive when faced with the various challenges of the continent, but strived to identify their root causes and proclaim the Gospel as a force of liberation from all kinds of evil.
SEARCHING FOR A MORE JUST LIFE
Lola and Dani, a married couple of Catholic lay missionaries, both nurses by profession, spent six months in the Comboni missionary hospital of Saint Joseph de Bébèdjia in Chad, in 2011. Upon their return to Spain, they decided to open Mission Emmanuel, a home for immigrants. Apart from their seven children—aged between 4 and 16—it currently hosts another 16 residents from eight different nationalities, mainly African, and among them a baby.
GOD: OUR IDENTITY AND HOME
Reaching out to evangelise, especially the youth, requires creativity and the use of digital platforms where they are present. The author presents some examples of new ways of bringing the gospel to all.
“THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR THEM AT THE INN” (LK 2:7)
From the beginning of the 2nd century, the tradition of Jesus’ birth in a cave has been documented. Jesus’ earthly life enfoldes between the mystery of two caves, that of the manger and that of the cross, two episodes evidencing His absolute humility.
WE RECEIVE MORE THAN WHAT WE GIVE
On the 25th of December, we once again met in the Parish, as our days of missionary experience came to an end; each one of us with a small suitcase and one or two boxes of yucca, bananas, cocoa, oranges, etc. …. foods produced in these lands and given to us, apart from hugs, by the Christians, as signs of affection and of their gratitude for the time shared together.
THE HOME OF A MISSIONARY
It has been almost three years now that I have been doing Vocation Promotion here in South Africa. When I have one-on-one encounters with candidates, I always find two or three who question me about leaving their homes and leaving South Africa and about what would happen to them on a mission far from home.