Twenty-five years have gone by since the Daughters of St. Paul arrived in South Africa, the land of Nelson Mandela. Our presence in this country is a fruit of the Missionary Project the Congregation launched in 1994 to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Maestra Thecla. Our sisters of South Africa celebrated their anniversary of foundation by means of a solemn Liturgy presided over by Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale of Johannesburg, in the presence of many priests, men and women religious, laity, friends and collaborators. The climate of joy and thanksgiving was enriched by testimonies about the life of our first community, two members of which are still part of the group.
The first four sisters arrived in Johannesburg on 12 April 1994, two weeks before the country’s general elections, in which the majority of South African citizens voted for the first time. With the election of Mandela as president, South Africa emerged from the tyranny of racial apartheid.
Deeply inhaling the fresh wind of freedom that was blowing through society and the Church, the Daughters of St. Paul set about integrating themselves into the country’s new journey.
Making its own the motto of St. Paul, I make myself all to all, the small community has always had the traits of a missionary community–one that is international and open to all ethnic groups and religions. These characteristics grew even stronger over the years with the arrival of new members, fresh steps taken in carrying out the Pauline mission, and the opening of a second community in Durban.
An article in the Catholic weekly, Southern Cross, and an interview with one of our first missionaries to this country conducted by Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria and broadcast on Radio Veritas, helped to spread throughout the country the joyful news about our community’s Jubilee.
