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“A moment of thanksgiving”: Catholic Bishop on Golden Jubilee of Missionaries of Africa in South Africa

Credit: SACBC
Jude Atemanke

By Jude Atemanke

Johannesburg, 22 October, 2025 / 7:17 pm (ACI Africa).

Bishop Jan de Groef of the Catholic Diocese of Bethlehem in South Africa has described the 50th anniversary of the presence of the Missionaries of Africa (MAfr/White Fathers) in the country as “a moment of thanksgiving” and reflection on the congregation’s missionary journey and contribution to the local Church.

In an interview with the Communication Office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) on the sidelines of the October 19 celebration, Bishop de Groef, a MAfr member, recalled his long journey with the congregation, which began before his Priestly ordination.

“It’s a moment of thanksgiving for all we have achieved, for it is by the grace of God that we have worked in many places and contributed to the local Church by our presence,” the South African Catholic Bishop said on the sidelines of the celebration that was held at Christ the King, Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.

Speaking on the celebration’s link to the ongoing Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year and the ongoing Synodal journey of the Church, he underlined the missionary identity of all baptized Christians, saying that “by baptism we are all called and sent.” 

He said that the Church “must not look only at itself but be open and welcoming,” reminding all that “our family is bigger than the local church.”

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Founded in 1868 by Charles-Martial-Allemand Cardinal Lavigerie, the then Archbishop of Algiers and Carthage in Algeria, the Missionaries of Africa arrived in South Africa in 1972, when the first members of the Congregation came to minister to Malawian mineworkers.

Today, the Congregation in South Africa represents 16 nationalities and serves in the Dioceses of Durban, Kimberley, Johannesburg, and Bethlehem. In these places, they work in parishes, educational institutions, and formation centres such as St. Joseph’s Institute in Cedara and the Merrivale Formation Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.

Also speaking on the sidelines of the celebration that Stephen Cardinal Brislin presided, MAfr Provincial Superior for Southern Africa, Fr. Christian Mulenga said the day was “as much a celebration as a renewal of our missionary calling.” 

He recalled that the first missionaries arrived in 1972 “to accompany Malawian miners” and that fifty years on it was “deeply encouraging to see the community gather with the Cardinal, the Bishops and the faithful to give thanks.” 

Fr. Mulenga emphasized that the Congregation’s mission extends far beyond evangelisation, to human development, social justice, and inter-religious dialogue. 

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He noted the special resonance of the Jubilee with the Mission Sunday, the Jubilee Year of Hope, and the phase of implementing synodality, saying their charism “continues to touch lives through pastoral initiatives promoting food security, education, clean water access, and fighting human trafficking.” 

The Zambian Provincial Superior expressed both hope and concern regarding local vocations. 

While he welcomed the rise of vocations in Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, he regretted that “so far none has come from South Africa.”

Fr. Mulenga said such an absence “is a challenge for both us and the local Church,” and expressed the desire that “one day we might have a South African Missionary of Africa.”

In his remarks during the event, Cardinal Brislin expressed heartfelt gratitude to the White Fathers for their work in the Church.

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He said his message was “a sincere thank you and congratulations to the Missionaries of Africa,” recognising their commitment to justice, unity, dialogue, and inclusion. 

The Cardinal praised the members of the Congregation as “bridge-builders” reaching out to the most vulnerable and forgotten, declaring that their witness one  “that the Church in South Africa is called to embody.”

Cardinal Brislin blessed the missionaries, invoking God’s grace to “keep alive the note” of their founding charism — a spirit of justice, dialogue, and unity that has guided and inspired the Missionaries of Africa throughout their fifty years of service in South Africa.

Jude Atemanke

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.