Catholic Work in South Africa

After a long history of colonialism that began with the Dutch in 1652, South Africa became a republic in 1961. However in 1948, the Afrikaner-dominated National Party was voted into power and instituted apartheid. Apartheid is the state-sponsored policy of segregation between the races. Apartheid officially ended in 1994, but South Africa has since struggled to change apartheid-era imbalances in areas such as housing, education, and healthcare.
7.2 million people in South Africa live with HIV/AIDS, the most of any nation on earth. 94.4% of South Africans is literate, and 86.6% are Christian.
Read through the tabs below to learn more about how you can make a vital difference in South Africa today.

Sisters of Nazareth Impact Johannesburg in Big Ways

Sister of Nazareth with group in South Africa

The Sisters of Nazareth were originally founded in 1861 by Victoire Larmenier. The original Nazareth House opened in Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom, in 1857, while Victoire was a member of the Little Sisters of the Poor. The Sisters of Nazareth eventually became its own order.

Today, there are 37 Nazareth Houses around the world, including the UK, Ireland, Australia, Zimbabwe, the United States, and South Africa.

The Sisters of Nazareth have committed themselves to the service of God in caring for those who are most in need. They do this specifically through Nazareth House, where they provide hospitality and care to all who come to Nazareth House, irrespective of age, color, race, or creed. The sisters care especially for marginalized and disadvantaged with a spirit of love, compassion, and justice.

Nazareth House works to be an active part of building bridges for the local poverty-stricken and ill communities. Nazareth House works to provide opportunities for the poor to lift themselves up through good healthcare and by offering programs whereby local residents can learn long-term sustainable skills and strategies that will allow them to find jobs, care for themselves, and improve their quality of life.

Catholic World Mission’s work with Nazareth House Johannesburg began in 2018.

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