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In South Africa's largest cities, U.S. bishops see hope, problems
01-09-2009
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNS) -- A U.S. bishops' delegation touring some of Johannesburg's poorest areas saw an active Catholic parish as well as some of the migration problems facing South Africa's largest city.
In Johannesburg's Alexandra Township, the delegation visited St. Hubert's Catholic Church, where about 10 members of a youth choir were rehearsing.
Oblate Father Ronald Cairns told the two U.S. bishops and other delegation members that his parish is thriving, with between 500 and 700 of its members involved in church activities.
"We have a strong parish council," about 400 young people in catechism classes, active sodalities and parishioners training for the priesthood, Father Cairns said Aug. 29.
Johannesburg's oldest township is four square miles and is home to about 540,000 South Africans as well as people from other African countries, the priest said.
It has a 70 percent unemployment rate. Johannesburg was the first stop on an Aug. 28-Sept. 6 visit to South Africa by a church delegation that included Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., and Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, was to join them Aug. 31.
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20090831.htm
