Cardinal Michael Czerny Visits Bienvenu Migrant Shelter in Johannesburg
Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, visits Bienvenu Shelter in Johannesburg
By Kati Dijane – Despite the wet and chilly weather, the Bienvenu Shelter in Johannesburg opened its doors on Monday, 29 September, to warmly welcome Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, the Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The visit shone a spotlight on the resilience of migrant and refugee women and their children — and on the shelter that has been their refuge for nearly 25 years.
Cardinal Czerny was accompanied by Fr Joseph Savarimuthu, his personal assistant; Fr Dumisani Vilakati, a priest from Manzini Diocese in Eswatini serving in the Dicastery, and Mario Almeida, also from the Dicastery team. They were received by Sr Marivane Chiesa, the director of Bienvenu Shelter and a member of the Scalabrinian Sisters, along with staff, volunteers and the women and children the shelter serves.
“We are truly privileged and blessed to have your presence here today, to share with you our mission of assisting migrant and refugee women and their children to better their lives,” said Sr Marivane as she welcomed the delegation.
A home of hope since 2001
Bienvenu Shelter was established in 2001 to provide holistic support for migrant and refugee women and their children, many of whom arrive in South Africa traumatised, homeless or stripped of their dignity. The shelter offers a safe, secure space where basic needs such as food, accommodation, healthcare, and psychosocial support are met.
“Women come with broken hearts, uprooted and feeling helpless after the trauma they endured,” Sr Marivane said. “We help them regain their dignity and determination to restart their lives and integrate into the community. That is what we call Ubuntu.”
In addition to housing and care, the shelter runs an on-site crèche for children up to six years old. This Early Childhood Development programme enables mothers to attend training courses or find income-generating opportunities while knowing their children are in a loving, safe environment.
The outreach programme continues to support families even after they leave the shelter, providing food parcels, bread and long-term psychosocial care. These efforts are made possible in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Johannesburg’s Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees Department.
In 2017, the shelter expanded its mission by opening the Mother Assunta Training Centre, which offers skills training and business development courses in sewing, baking and other livelihood activities. “Over time, we witness their joyful smiles return when hope is restored and they realise they have found a family where they are no longer strangers,” Sr Marivane added.
Facing harsh realities
Lisa de Sousa, the shelter’s chief operating officer, painted a sobering picture of the challenges confronting migrants and refugees in South Africa.
“Despite worsening conditions, they continue to come in large numbers, hoping for a better life in the ‘City of Gold’. But unemployment among South Africans hovers just below 40%, and the economy cannot even provide for its own citizens,” she said.
De Sousa highlighted the rise in xenophobic tensions, the increasing difficulty of renewing documentation and obstacles to accessing schools and healthcare. Reports of pregnant women being denied entry to clinics or being forced to give birth in hospital parking lots are not uncommon.
“Public infrastructure in Johannesburg is deteriorating, with frequent water and power outages. Yet, we continue to serve because migrant and refugee women and their children are among the most marginalised. We believe we can make a positive difference in their lives and give them their dignity back,” she said.
Voices of courage and resilience
The programme for the day included testimonies from women who have benefited from the shelter’s services. Anne Marie Lupeza from the DRC spoke about her journey through the sewing programme, while Okoye Innostencia from Nigeria shared her experience in the baking course. Volunteers also offered stories about the daily struggles of documentation, education and healthcare access.
The shelter’s preschool children added a poignant touch with a prayer to St Scalabrini — the patron of migrants — and performed two songs highlighting children’s rights and safeguarding.
A gesture of faith and solidarity
After his recent visit to Manzini Diocese in Eswatini, where he participated in the 14th plenary of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa, which celebrated its Golden Jubilee, Cardinal Czerny, also visited Johannesburg, South Africa. During the event on Monday, the cardinal, who has long championed the dignity of migrants and refugees, commended the shelter’s mission. The delegation, also in the presence of Cardinal Stephen Brislin, the Archbishop of Johannesburg Metropolitan, received handmade gifts from residents and volunteers before touring the training centre to see the livelihood courses in action.
Continuing the mission of Ubuntu
The Bienvenu Shelter’s ongoing work reflects the charism of Saint Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, founder of the Scalabrinian order. His vision of providing a home and dignity for migrants continues to inspire their efforts in South Africa.
The visit by Cardinal Czerny and his team not only affirmed the shelter’s vital work but also drew renewed attention to the plight of migrant and refugee women and children in South Africa.
