We strive to respond to the needs of people who are suffering and in distress – whether those needs are spiritual or physical.

Along with evangelisation, we provide practical assistance in communities where there is great poverty and a lack of resources, such as primary health care and education.

Evangelisation

Sharing the Gospel with the people of South Africa is our primary focus. God’s message of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption and eternal life, is often all that the Zulu people have to give them hope and strength in their daily struggle.

Part of this mission to evangelise is to promote the Catholic life of the Family and traditional Christian family values.

Will you work beside us, and support the Zulu Missions with your gift today? Click here to donate online.

Hunger

Hunger is a daily reality for our people – in both rural and city communities. We see the face of Jesus Christ in every hungry person, and through our soup kitchens and food parcels for desperate families, child headed households (where children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS) and the aged, we ‘give Him to eat’.

When a starving man turns to us and says, ‘It’s only your soup that keeps me alive’, we know how grave the situation is, and how much more support this outreach needs. Click here to donate online.

Justice and Peace

The promotion of justice is an integral part of the work of spreading the good news of salvation. Previously, the Department of Justice & Peace concentrated mainly on fighting against apartheid and defending the rights of people. Now it focuses on issues such as the rights and duties that freedom and democracy bring,

We raise awareness of the causes of suffering and poverty and of the social implications of our faith. The department is also actively involved in the debate on climate change, gender issues, human trafficking, international trade and land issues.

Self help initiatives

Whilst hunger demands an immediate response, we are strong proponents of the believe that 'if you teach a man to fish, you feed him for life.'

The Archdiocese supports many self-help initiatives including food gardening projects and sewing/handcrafts projects which enable people to feed themselves and earn an income, however small.

Education

Under Apartheid rule, many of our Catholic schools were forced to close their doors. The few that are left exist on meagre budgets, and it’s a daily struggle to keep going.

If you believe as we do, that education is the key to a better life for people in their effort to escape the cycle of poverty, you may wish to support our rural schools.

Right now, the Archdiocese of Durban is assisting several rural schools in establishing libraries. Funds to stock newly installed shelves in fledgling school libraries is an ongoing challenge. Please click here if you would like to donate towards this important project.

Children

No child deserves to grow up on the street – without love, guidance and material necessities.

Our St Theresa’s, St Philomena’s and St John Vianney Homes provide loving care and shelter for abandoned and orphaned children, whilst the Streetwise rescue and rehabilitation project is aimed at reuniting street children with their families, or placing them in good foster homes.

The sisters depend entirely on outside funding to continue their work, and would so appreciate any help you might be able to give them. Click here to donate online.

Right to Live

From the moment of conception, to the moment of death, life is a gift from God, to be protected, cherished and nurtured.

When abortion was legalised in South Africa, our response was to create the Mater Vitae Home for women in pregnancy crisis. Today there are seven Mater Homes, offering a refuge for vulnerable women and their babies.

Some of the women have suffered rape or abuse while others are affected by HIV/Aids. Project coordinator, Father Massimo Biancalani has always believed that it is not enough to expect vulnerable women to reject abortion without providing them with support through pregnancy and birth.

We reject euthanasia, abortion and whatever devalues or destroys human life.

HIV/Aids

The number of people living with HIV/Aids grows constantly – so the demand for practical support, advice and encouragement for sufferers and their families, and the ever-increasing needs of orphans and vulnerable children are a critical focus of our work.

Sinisizo is the Archdiocese of Durban’s flagship project and specializes in home-based care of the sick and dying and all it involves. When families can no longer cope, there is the Mater Consolans Hospice to turn to. Here, terminally ill patients can live out their last days with dignity, surrounded by love, prayer and peace.

Youth Ministry Committee encourages young people, through a behavioural change programme, to embrace good personal morals to avoid becoming infected with the HIV virus. 

Orphans & Vulnerable Children (OVC) Programme operates at parish level and offers welfare and emotional support for orphans.  Child-headed households, where younger children are being cared for by older siblings or by 'less-than-ideal' substitute families, are a constant concern.

Parish Nurse Committee is a new programme that is designed to combine medical and material support with sacramental and spiritual care.

These are just a few of the hundreds of programmes we support, ranging from large, well-established projects in urban areas to smaller, simpler initiatives deep in rural communities.   The needs are real and God’s love is present in them all.  All we need is your love and support to continue our work.   Please can you help us?  Click here to donate on line.

Healthcare

Imagine in this day and age losing a baby to a common childhood disease that could be prevented by inoculation. In the deepest rural areas of our Archdiocese, this is not uncommon.

Here, clinics run by the mission sisters make all the difference. They also run homes for the chronic sick, caring for those who are blind, physically and mentally disabled or suffering from epilepsy, Aids and other diseases.

Care of the Disabled

Our Bethany Home at Montebello Mission cares for physically and mentally impaired people of all ages, from children to the elderly. Some of the residents have never known any other home.

It takes great love and considerable funding to keep this special home running and facilities, such as radios and TVs for people who are unable to leave their beds, are always needed. If you would like to contribute to this work, kindly click here.

Refugees

Southern Africa has more than its share of refugees and displaced people. They arrive here from all over Africa, but especially from Zimbabwe and the conflict regions of DRC, Rwanda and Somalia.

We provide information to migrant people and liaise with the Department of Home Affairs on issues affecting refugees and migrants. The need for education and awareness became more evident during the recent xenophobic attacks.