Pastoral care For

Migrants and refugees

Catholic Archdiocese

of Johannesburg

Brief History In 1998 the Scalabrinians Missionary Sisters, arrived in Johannesburg by invitation from the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, to coordinate the Department of Human Development and Refugees Department.

From 2000, the refugee department became independent and from this Pastoral Care opened

the doors to migrants and Refugees, focusing specifically with the Portuguese and French

community.

The reality of migration within our Archdiocese is a very complex one. Some of

migration is voluntary although many families/individuals are forced to migrate due to

economic, social and cultural challenges.

Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees opened in 2011, for all communities of migrants and refugees in the archdiocese, working together in the spirit of Communion, Participation and Integration.

In 2012 our office moved into

the chancery premises, which

is vital for the expansion of this

apostolate.

June 2013, the Scalabrinian Priest joined Pastoral Care to work as a Vicar for the department.

SOCIAL AND ECCLESIAL are the two main focuses within the department of Pastoral Care.

Our Aim is to promote a Catholic spirit of bringing people together from many different nationalities, languages, ethnicity and traditions.

Main Objective: To promote dialogue, to welcome and integrate migrants and refugees

within the local community, thereby

strengthening their faith in the spirit of the new

evangelization.

1. Formation agents/Coordinators

2. Direct Attention & Skills to

migrants/refugees

3. Pastoral Care in Parishes

4. Liturgy and Celebrations

5. Home visits

6. Empowering Mothers and their children

through intervention programmes.

7. Networking

Programmes:

Study of the social Doctrine of the Catholic Church (Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi, & others documents of the Church).

Providing training and support meetings to volunteers and Parish Coordinators.

Creating Material support.

Guidance and information for Migrants/Refugees on catechisms, liturgy, etc.

• Individual assessments

• Counseling and Spiritual support.

• Advocate for the rights of migrants and refugees.

• Data-base registering the needs and support provided for migrants, refugees and their families and or relatives.

Legal Assistance (DHA transport, LHR transport, translation & SAQA)

Health Assistance (transport to hospital , trauma clinic and others)

Education (uniforms, stationary and school fees)

Emergencies (food parcels, funeral transport, repatriation, small enterprises,

rent/accommodation)

Formation's Skills (Sewing, searching job opportunities and others)

Clothes, Shoes and blankets

• To animate and coordinate the Parishes already

existing Pastoral Care for migrants/Refugees (16

Parishes).

• To implement Pastoral Care in the Parishes on

request motivated by the Archbishop.

• Providing support to

Chaplaincies and

communities (Portuguese,

Nigerian, French, Korean,

Chinese, etc.)

• Pastoral Care of Welcoming.

• Participation of

Migrants/Refugees on

PPC’s.

• On going visits to various Parishes to dialogue with

the parish priest to fortify and motivate PC.

• Elaboration of orientation guide to support PC in the

Parishes.

•Celebration of Migrants’ and Refugees’ Day.

•Celebration of popular piety (Patron Saint from Country of Origin and other important dates).

•Retreats and religious activities.

•Support for prayer groups.

•Inter-religious prayer groups and dialogue.

Action taken by a group of Volunteers.

Support for the most Vulnerable families.

Visited more then 20 families on a monthly bases. Most of the families are directly connected to the Pastoral Care offices.

Pastoral Care supports the Social, Spiritual, psychological, educational and physical aspects of individuals needs.

Emotional needs Gross motor development Communication fine motor/cognative skills

Mothers and Children work together within the stimulation programme

Mothers meet together (support group) Empowerment to the Mother:

- How to work specifically with their own child dependent upon their needs. - Nutrition - How to recycle material to become environmentally friendly

• Dialogue with local, national and international Government (Home Affairs, Social Development, Migrants Help Desk, SAP’s, Clinics, LHR, UNHCR, City Hall, etc.)

• NGO’s & Organizations (Shelters, Congregations, CSVR, Sophia Town, Sunshine Association, etc.).

• Inter-religious dialogue.

• International Support to Mozambican migrants

(CEMIRDE – Bishop Adriano)

• Networking with Scalabrinian Sisters from

Mozambique, Angola and DRC.

The Department of Pastoral Care for Migrants

and Refugees, plays a fundamental part in

providing spiritual and social needs. The

merging challenges demand a constant

overview and openness to better understand

the reality of people on the move. The new

structure, provided by the Archdioceses

contributed to improve and to give priority to

their needs.

Seeds migrate on the wings of the wind, trees migrate from

continent to continent carried by currents of water, birds and all animals migrate, but more

than anything else people migrate...

In 2013 PASTORAL

CARE Will CELEBRATE

15 YEARS of serving the most

vulnerable.

Vicar for the Department: Fr. Ivaldo Bettin, cs Coordinator: Sr. Kadia A. Prigol, mscs Vice-coordinator: Sr. Therese Musao, mscs Volunteers: • Sr. Susanna Lee, Fmm • Ernest • Adrienne Matembatemba