Archbishop of Durban for 15 Million Minutes – Let’s Help Raise R15 Million
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier OFM, Archbishop Emeritus of Durban, at the Napier Centre 4 Healing. His Eminence invites supporters to donate towards running costs of the NC4H post-rehab care facility for street-level drug addiction. (Pic Val Adamson)
The Cardinal’s Legacy – The Napier Centre for Healing
Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier OFM, who recently retired as archbishop of Durban, has requested that if anyone wants to make a thanksgiving offering to his many years of service to the archdiocese of Durban and surrounding communities in various capacities, that they make it to his living legacy project – the Napier Centre 4 Healing (NC4H).
The goal is to honour his 15 million minutes as archbishop of Durban and in so doing, raise R15 million for the NC4H.
The Napier Centre 4 Healing in rural Iqadi, Verulam, has been open for two years and offers a live-in, after-care rehabilitation facility for street-dwelling substance abusers who have been through a formal detoxification programme but are not yet ready to lead productive livelihoods without some assistance. The Centre provides them with a sustainable, inclusive healing programme.
This includes psychological spiritual and sociological support, skills transference and training for employment in order to give recovering substance abusers a sense of ownership of their own lives, together with purpose and hope for the future. As a registered non-profit organisation, the NC4H provides these services at no cost to beneficiaries.
“We are totally aware that due to the pandemic and lockdown, many people have limited financial resources at present and reserves are low. We know that our project is resource-intensive, but it allows for a sustainable solution to the city’s most forgotten people – street dwelling substance abusers. We are wanting to make a tangible difference to their lives, and focus our energies into a long-term solution, not just a transient band-aid approach,” says Fr Stephen Tully, Chairman of the NC4H.
“To be sustainable and effective, rehab and re-integration is a long slow, labour-intensive and inexact road. There is no quick-fix solution. Typically, the success rate of public rehab facilities is less than 3%,” he said.
Dr David Bayever from the government drug control organisation is quoted on Online Rehab as saying: “The drug problem in South Africa remains very serious with drug usage being twice the world norm and this is just the tip of the iceberg.”
He says that at least 15% of South Africans have a drug problem – and this figure is expected to rise. Drug abuse is costing South Africa R20 billion a year (a conservative estimate) and is responsible for 60% of crimes being committed (according to SAPS).
The Napier Centre 4 Healing currently has 15 residents who are on the road to recovery. When funds allow, the aim is to eventually house 30 people. The Centre is open to people of all faiths, or none; is a project of an independent Trust and is rooted in Catholic / Christian values. The staff includes house parents and social workers who report to a trust registered as a PBO.
Cardinal Napier became archbishop of Durban in 1992, and retired on June 9, 2021. His successor, Archbishop Siegfried Mandla Jwara CMM was installed on August 8.
An offering of gratitude can be made via direct deposit.
Bank: FNB | Account Name: Napier Centre 4 Healing Trust
Type of Account: Current Account | Account Number: 6271 848 0007
Branch Code: 22 05 26 00 | Branch: Florida Road | SWIFT Code: FIRNZAJJ
Please use “Living Legacy” as the reference
Or, to make a credit/debit card donation via the secure online platform PayFast, please visit www.napiercentre.org or click on the following link: https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/thenapiercentre4healingtrust
For more information about the organisation please visit their website at www.napiercentre.org
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