Neocatechumenal Way Mission in the Streets of Oudtshoorn and all of South Africa

by Admin · April 29, 2024

By Pietro Poggiali – Pope Francis said to the Youth of the World. “Yet, you must fearlessly go against the current: take life into your hands, get involved; turn off the TV and open the Gospel; get off your cell phone and encounter people!”

Encouraged by the promise of the Risen Christ in this Eastertide, a group of more than forty youths from the Neocatechumenal communities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth embarked on a journey to join their peers in Oudtshoorn diocese for a weekend of evangelisation.

They were welcomed by the Missionary Sisters at Kolping House in Dysselsdorp. Bishop Noel Rucastle came to greet and pray lauds with them in St Conrad’s parish hall. After a word of thanksgiving for their support to the local community and of encouragement to love God through the Scripture, he sent them out for the mission with a blessing.

The youth went off into the streets of Dysselsdorp to sing and speak with people in the streets and in their homes, announcing to all the love of God and the resurrection of Jesus Christ through their personal experience. The mission continued in the area around St Nicholas of Flüe parish in Bridgeton, where two of them were invited to address the congregation with a personal witness.

During a brief visit to the beautiful St Saviour Cathedral, they had a moment of prayer in front of the icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa in the crypt, entrusting to her all their experiences and asking for the graces they need to persevere in faith. The promise was fulfilled, as the youth, after this weekend of sowing together with Christ, “came home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves” (Ps 126).

Dino Furgione, responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way for Southern Africa adds: “Full of gratitude we feel the responsibility of carrying out this mission and announcing the Kerigma to this wounded and confused society. In fact, in many dioceses of South Africa and in the rest of the world, accompanied by the blessing of the Holy Father and by the letter from each Bishop, the members of the Way are going 2by2 to bring the joy of the risen Christ to the streets.”