Scalabrini Day: Reflecting on Ministry, Impact, and Future Possibilities
Yesterday, as we celebrated Scalabrini Day, we were invited not only to honour the legacy of Saint John Baptist Scalabrini but the day provided an opportunity to revisit the foundational values of solidarity, hospitality, advocacy, and service to migrants, refugees, and vulnerable populations. A central theme that emerged throughout the celebration was the importance of understanding the lived reality of missionary work in the field. Across different contexts and regions, Scalabrinian missionaries,...
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Empowering Youth: Honoring Courage, Fighting for Change & Shaping a Better Future
In June, we celebrate Youth Month in South Africa, marked by an annual event on June 16. The national holiday commemorates the Soweto uprising, a youth-led protest that challenged the former apartheid government. The protest took place on June 16, 1976, after over a year of mounting frustration from Black communities across South Africa due to a new policy that required Afrikaans and English to be the only languages taught in Black schools. It entailed upwards of 20,000 participants and...
The celebration of St. Scalabrini
The celebration of St. Scalabrini occurs annually on June 1st. Similar to the previous years, the event was hosted at the Scalabrini Center of Cape Town, uniting the various Scalabrini Network of organisations in the city, including the Scalabrini Center of Cape Town, Lawrence House, SIHMA, and the Missionaries of St. Charles Scalabrinian, and totaled over fifty participants. The celebration highlighted the values of St. Scalabrini, which included a dedication to refugees and people experiencing poverty, a...
Message from the General Administration: Pope Francis, shepherd of mercy: a legacy that illuminates the path of the Church
The news of the passing of our beloved Holy Father Pope Francis leaves us deeply saddened, but our faith in the Resurrection comforts us. "Life does not end with death, and Christian hope is a gift that urges us to move forward," he wrote in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti. With him, the Church experienced a season of profound renewal, founded on mercy, closeness to the least among us, attention to God's creation and universal brotherhood, on an unceasing dialogue...
Remembering the Sharpeville Massacre: Protecting the Rights of Child Migrants in South Africa
As we commemorate Human Rights Day in South Africa, we remember the tragic events of the Sharpeville massacre on March 21, 1960. On that day, police opened fire on a crowd of protesters, killing 249 people, including 29 children (Lodge, 2011). Today, we honor the memories of those child victims by reflecting on the progress of children's rights in South Africa, particularly for child migrants.
Good news for children of undocumented foreign parents and guardians for their admission into South African schools
CHILDREN of undocumented foreign nationals will not be required to produce any form of identification before registering for admission at any school in South Africa. For decades, undocumented children have been largely excluded from the education system, left on the margins by restrictive policies and legislative gaps. Recent developments signal a monumental shift towards a more inclusive approach, harmonizing South Africa’s laws with international standards and reinforcing undocumented immigrant children's right to basic education.
