“To see commitment to the poor only in terms of social issues is not enough,” says Gustav Gutierrez OP. The Christian witness to the resurrection is Life – Poverty is death. Theology is a hermeneutic of hope and hope is a gift which must be received. Poor people need to say to society we exist.
And that is what the Sisters of Mercy seek to do amidst the homeless people of Johannesburg. We exist and we need hope.
One of the saddest aspects of the glorious breakthrough to democracy in our country is the number of people who have been rendered homeless especially in the cities.
Around 1994, people from rural areas flocked to the cities to seek employment and so be able to create a better life promised for all. Johannesburg known as Egoli (city of gold) was the most popular place for people to come looking for work. But for many unfortunately there was no work and few facilities to improve the skills necessary for finding work. As hope began to fade thousands had no option but to add themselves to the growing number of people sleeping under bridges and at bus shelters, on park benches and even on pavements.
The Sisters of Mercy who for years had provided soup kitchens for people in need now heard the call of a new challenge – to provide safe temporary transitional accommodation and skills training facilities to the homeless people in the area. Two Sisters visited USA and spent time viewing the excellent work in social housing being done by the Sisters of Mercy of California, the decision was taken to find a suitable building for use as a night shelter. Providentially the parish hall which is next door to Saint Catherine’s Convent in Rosebank became available for purchase and with no money but with the usual determination, the funds were acquired and the hall was prepared as a night shelter. When the Solidarity Fund was set up by the Irish provinces very substantial donations came our way and today the facilities, though modest, meet the needs of 100 people every night. Goal Ireland, Electric Aid Ireland and many charitable groups, families and friends also provided assistance and the people can now avail themselves of meals, laundry and ablution facilities as well as skills training and modest recreational opportunities.
The Provincial Housing Board gave a once-off grant towards the costs and we are happy to relate now that the Department of Social Services has taken the project on board with an annual subsidy which part pays the costs. And in true mercy fashion we work closely with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul which holds its meeting at the hall every Tuesday and contributes blankets, food and a host of other essentials in kind. The Bishops Lenten Campaign is another source of funding while the Mercy Schools and Dominican Sisters make regular contributions to the on going life of the shelter. Local business too and the local church forums (ecumenical) have also taken the project to heart while many schools send their students to do community service at the Centre. A Board of Management headed by the Vice Principal of St. Matthews School Soweto sees to the ongoing welfare and development of the project. In all their planning and their efforts they take courage and guidance from the Catherine’s inspiration and good common sense.
“The Lord and Master of our house and home is a faithful provider. Let us never desire more than enough. He will give us that and a blessing and again.. Since there is little wrong that can be rectified or good that can be accomplished without some use of money let us use very wisely whatever money we have.” – Catherine McAuley.
One of the special gifts of God to the project has been the involvement of staff that has been employed. Since becoming Project Manager Jacob Modise has been ordained as a permanent Deacon and he brings to the care of the needy a special gift of kindness, a great love for our Blessed lady and for Catherine McAuley and his ministry to the people is always in the spirit of peace friendliness and a readiness to listen. Out of the experience in Immaculata Hall two more shelters have been opened by the Sisters of Mercy in Johannesburg with ministry adapted to the needs of each.
The late Bishop Orsmond invited the Sisters to open a shelter in the Inner City at 98 Kerk Street, a diocesan property which formerly housed the Catholic Bookshop and offices. Some urgent help was needed for the many people who were sleeping on the pavement in the area. Some of these were small time hawkers who tried to sell by day and then slept beside their goods at night.
After renovations the building was able to give accommodation to 100 people. In the centenary year of the foundation from Strabane, Co Tyrone, Ireland the second Mercy shelter was opened in Johannesburg under the name Strabane Mercy Centre. In the course of our celebrations we had the special joy of having two Sisters from Strabane unveil the name over the door of the new shelter. The local people like to call the centre ‘Strabanee’.
More recently Primedia Talk Radio 702, where one of the talk show hosts is John Robbie a Dublin man, announced that Primedia was looking for an NGO group to take over a large house in Berea and use it for the benefit of Women in Distress. A long-time friend of Immaculata Hall suggested to Primedia that they approach the Sisters of Mercy. So it was that a Mercy Centre was opened in Berea, a suburb just east of Central Johannesburg. It provides transitional accommodation for forty women, with the aim of giving them a secure, safe base from which to explore opportunities for counselling and personal development and regain their confidence in their own talents and self worth and return to their communities and sustain themselves effectively. Residents drew up the house rules and respect them as they help to create a friendly supportive community at Berea Mercy Centre.
In total 230 people are accommodated each night in the Mercy Shelters Johannesburg and daily cooked meals are available. The ‘outreach’ from Strabane Centre is the Soweto Feeding Scheme for 600 families each month and in Rosebank 200 – 300 people who cannot be accommodated receive a full cooked meal and also have use of ablution and laundry facilities.
Laundry service for people living on the streets
In thanking God for the blessing on our efforts and acknowledging the great debt of gratitude which we owe to so many benefactors and co-workers we cannot help thinking about the countless homeless people in Johannesburg and in Africa who must still cry silently in the words of the poor man at the pool of Bethzatha ‘I have no one to help me’
Who will give them the Hope which is Life?
Evangelist Quinlan rsm
South African Province
