Pilgrimage to Ingwavuma

AVI

Images of our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Ingwavuma (September 20, 2009)

Imágenes de nuestra Peregrinación Diocesana a Ingwavuma (20 de septiembre de 2009)

Immagini del Pellegrinagio Diocesano a Ingwavuma (20 settembre 2009)

Visit by the US Bishops

Johan Viljoen

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A delegation from the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference visited the Vicariate of Ingwavuma at the beginning of September. The de legation consisted of Bishop Ricard (the chairperson of the USCCB’s “Solidarity Fund”, and a member of the committee that advises the USCCB on policy towards Africa), Frank Butler (the President of FADICA – an umbrella organization of a ll Catholic foun dations and donors in the US), Ms Leanne Raskob (of the Raskob Foundation), Steve Hilbert (of the USCCB) and Fritz Zuber (also of the USCCB). They were acco mpanied by Davor Dakovic (CRS) and Antoine Soubrier (SACBC).

The group arrived the evening of Monday 31 August. They were welcomed in St Lucia by Bishop Jose Luis Ponce de Leon, Fr Declan Doherty and Johan Viljoen. The whole group went out for dinner. After that, the adventurous ones went for a walk on the beach, where they admired the reflection of the full moon on the Indian Ocean.

On Tuesday 1 September the group visited the SACBC’s ARV treatment project. On Tuesdays the team (doctor, nurses and counselors) see patients at Malusi Omuhle Mission in Hlabisa. This is where the delegation met them. There were about 40 patients waiting to see the doctor or nurse, and to collect their monthly supply of ARV’s. Dr Mbatha was seeing a critically sick new patient – his CD4 count was only 5, and he was too weak and emaciated to walk.

Hlanganani Community Trust

Hlanganani

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INTRODUCTION:

The Catholic Church considers the scriptural injunction to address the welfare of “our neighbours”, and to fulfil the role of “our brother’s keeper”, as central to the Christian faith.

The Church attempts to comply with this injunction in southern Africa through community initiatives.

Community development for the poor and the needy and anti-poverty initiatives by creating environmental awareness, providing resources, training and facilities, product development with the goal of creating skills development and to encourage, support and give assistance to emerging micro enterprises to improve capacity and to start and manage businesses.

The Church raised funds from Government and other sources for the purposes of initiating and supporting this programme in South Africa to implement and co-ordinate poverty relief activities of the type referred to in paragraph C above, in a manner which facilitated the development of human capacity and self-reliance.

The Church and the community initiated the establishment of this Trust in order to implement activities of the type contemplated above.

Hacen fuerza para que la selección se clasifique

Por Nicolás Balinotti De la redacción de canchallena.com

English Italiano

José Luis Ponce de León es un obispo argentino que peregrina por la Sudáfrica recóndita. Fue nombrado por el papa Benedicto XVI como obispo titular de Maturba y Vicario Apostólico de Ingwavuma, en el Este de Sudáfrica.

Es un sitio precario, donde la pandemia del HIV camina con pies de plomo, y la ayuda humanitaria y religiosa es un brazo solidario que intenta socorrer a una población de 618 mil habitantes.

Desde este contexto de necesidades, surge una voz de respaldo para el seleccionado argentino. El deseo de Ingwavuma es tener al equipo de Maradona en su país el año próximo. Cada vez que los chicos nombran a Messi se les dibuja una sonrisa estimulante.

En afán de colaborar con la causa religiosa y social de Ponce de León, la embajada argentina en Sudáfrica se acercó hasta Ingwavuma. El embajador Carlos Sersale di Cerisano les obsequió a los chicos un juego de camisetas de la selección para jugar un torneo de fútbol. El equipo de Ingwavuman, de radiante celeste y blanco, se llevó el título al superar al equipo de Corridonia. Dicen que fue una fiesta.