The Missionaries of Africa

At the moment we are two of two different nationalities: Didier Michon comes from France and Jan De Groef comes from Belgium. Both of us have been in other African countries and have also done some years of home service. This is of course part of life for a missionary.

I would like to present in short our present commitment in Siyabuswa, which is part of the region of Kwa Ndebele (a former homeland during the apartheid regime which tried to divide the people according to tribe). Two languages are used in this region: Ndebele and Pedi. It is basically a rural area where apart from teachers, nurses and some other government jobs people have to look for work elsewhere often far from home.

In our pastoral work we are faced with mostly scattered small communities apart from two bigger communities in Siyabuswa itself. It is good to know that the Roman Catholic Church is a late-comer in this area and, as a result, is a small minority. The African independent churches and Pentecostal churches have in fact the majority. The tribal customs and traditions play a major role in the life of the people here. We tried to challenge our Christians to discern how to live their Catholic faith in this context.

We felt that we had also to be socially involved trying to alleviate the suffering and hardships of the people of this area regardless of their beliefs or cultural origins. In this light we started a computer course which helped quite a few people to find a job; a Home Based Care group who visit sick people at home (among them are many HIV/Aids victims); a Children’s Home for orphans and children in need of a safe haven and related to it a group of people who visit families who need help to educate their children well under the umbrella of Isibindi, a national NGO for care of abandoned children. We try to involve the lay people through establishing Boards so that these organizations really become theirs.

We are due to hand over the parish to diocesan priests at the end of June 2008. One diocesan priest has been appointed already to the parish in view of the hand over.

Frs. Didier and Jan

Click here to see photos of Frs. Jan at their parish

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