Focolare Movement

South Africa: an important anniversary

Nov 25, 2015

Big celebrations in Taung, where 120 years ago, the first Catholic Mission was established in South Africa. And where also the Focolare landed 30 years ago. The success story of a person-centred school.

20151124-aTaung forms a sole diocese with Kimberley, famous for its ancient and deactivated diamond mine. Visitors flock from all over the world to Kimberley to admire its Big Hole, the hollow that remained after the diggings, and where, surpassing the steep ravines, the bravest tourists can immerse in a really fantastic lake. But also Taung boasts its own primacy. In 1924, precisely there, the fossile of a child’s skull was found , and traced to 2.3 million years ago, a very important find for scholars and researchers, and was named the Taung Child. However, the 24 October feast was not only a geological-cultural one. Four thousand people from far-off towns and village reached Taung to celebrate the 120th anniversari of the arrival of the Catholic Church among the Tswana people of South Africa. The Prior of the Oblates and the local bishop were the honoured hosts. Also Bishop Klerksdorp and about fifty priests and religious were there. The Minister of Culture of the province represented the government. Also present was Kgosi, the traditional chief of the Tswana population – about 300,000 in all – living in the villages of Taung. 20151125-06During the celebrations, great importance was given to the activities of the missions, especially those conducted by three members who live in the Focolare community: Dominic, from Cameroon, and Chris who is German and Moris from Kenya. Each of them play a key role in the mission. Dominic, who is a priest, acts as vice-parish priest. Given that he has been there for a short time, he is still learning the Tswana language, and so, during the sermon, is helped by Rapelang, father of a family who has embraced the spirituality of the Focolare and more than willingly acts as his interpreter, and often completes the sermons with his own experiences on living the Gospel. Chris has been entrusted with the two-year professional school and which certifies yearly about thirty young and promising carpenters. These are young people who had to leave for various reasons the public school, and are offered a second chance to learn a trade. Moris is the dean of the primary school with 550 students. 20151125-05It is really impressive to see, in the morning, this throng of kids and children line up for inspection, which is performed by the assigned students themselves every time, to check the hygiene and uniform of the students. Besides a professional education the school also offers a spiritual and moral education for their personal lives. Its innovative programme and teaching style, centred on authentic values, has earned the school its reputation as a school of excellence. It is attended not only by the children of Catholic families but also of Protestants (who represent about 30% of the entire South African population) and among whom ecumenical dialogue is always open and constructive. The Catholic Mission schools, across the 100 years of activities have formed men and women of great human and professional stature, who have played key roles in society.

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