By Judith Dumbutshena, Link Communicator, Province of South Africa
A candle lit earlier this year to mark the 120th anniversary of the arrival of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd to South Africa came to its journey’s end on October 31, having traveled through all the Good Shepherd missions and communities in the country.
Imprinted with the dates of our presence in the “rainbow nation,” it was lit on September 8 at the Good Shepherd Church in Hartbeespoort, commemorating the first Mass celebrated by the sisters in 1904.
It was on April 17 of that year when five brave sisters left Angers, France, by train, reaching England on April 21 before setting sail on a perilous – near disastrous – voyage on the ship Inkosi to Durban on South Africa’s eastern coast, where they arrived on May 17, 1904.
Initially hosted by the sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux, our pioneer sisters moved into their own unfurnished house in Yeoville, Johannesburg – which at the time was little more than a tent village surrounding the gold mines.
Within a short time, they relocated to the nearby suburb of Orchards, where a small, corrugated iron house was built for them (pictured). On September 8, 1904, the Feast of Our Lady’s Nativity, they celebrated their first Mass in the house, marking the humble beginnings of what would become the Maryvale Parish.
The sisters embraced a life of poverty, with some financial relief coming from sewing garments for women and children and suits for workers. Life was challenging, and transportation was by ox wagon. Despite this, their faith and dedication, deeply rooted in the teachings of St. Mary Euphrasia, kept them going.
Her words on her deathbed, “Love the Cross and have zeal for the salvation of souls,” remained their guiding light.
In 1905, their situation changed when the owner of Cullinan Diamond Mine visited the sisters and – moved by their poverty – donated £3,000. This generous gift enabled them to build a brick laundry with modern amenities, improving their living conditions and allowing them to serve their mission more effectively.
In 1919, the Bishop of Cape Town invited the sisters to establish a home there, which later led to the creation of other homes across the country, including a new establishment in Durban in 1938.
Over the years, the sisters founded homes, schools, and training centers to provide education and care for girls in need – despite facing opposition, particularly during the enforcement of Apartheid laws (1948-1994).
However, the work of the mission continued with unyielding dedication, and by the time we celebrated the Golden Jubilee of our arrival in 1954, we had grown to 54 sisters.
The mission continued to expand as Fatima House in Pretoria North was opened in 1959 for teenagers in crisis, and further community development programs were established, particularly in underprivileged areas like Mmakaunyane, Madidi, and Hebron. These efforts included feeding schemes, pre-schools, and skills development programs for women.
In the 1970s, as government policy shifted away from institutional care, the mission was adapted to focus on outreach projects and pastoral ministry in communities such as Eldorado Park, Kliptown, and Port Elizabeth. These efforts, often in collaboration with local people, aimed to provide social services, education, and support for vulnerable populations.
Today, the work of our mission offering support and care to those in need continues to thrive with the full participation of 94 partners-in-mission (lay associates, staff, board members, and volunteers), not to mention our many other friends and benefactors.
Together, we continue to serve with the same zeal and compassion that has characterized our enduring mission for over a century. Our vital mission in Hebron, Madidi, and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) offers hope and assistance to thousands of people through education, skills training, and community development programs, such as our food garden project.
During these past two months, as the commemorative candle shone a light on our legacy and illuminated the path ahead, we have continued to give thanks to all the sisters and partners-in-mission living and deceased. We thank the Lord for the abundant graces and blessings that allow us to be the living presence of the Good Shepherd at the southern edge of Africa.
