This Wednesday, the 22nd, the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, experienced a historic and deeply moving moment with the festive celebration of the 25th anniversary of the mission of Bienvenu Shelter, a work of the Scalabrinian Sisters dedicated to welcoming refugee and migrant women, as well as children in vulnerable situations. The ceremony took place at Holy Angels Catholic Church, in front of the Mother Assunta Training Center, bringing together more than 300 people, including religious sisters, clergy, authorities, benefactors, and friends of the mission.
The Holy Mass was presided over by Stephen Cardinal Brislin, Archbishop of Johannesburg and President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), and concelebrated by several diocesan priests, Scalabrinian missionaries, and religious from other congregations. Cardinal Brislin thanked the congregation for its work in serving refugee women and children and prayed that God would continue blessing this mission.
Also present at this jubilee were representatives of various partner organizations, local benefactors, and others who came from the Netherlands and Germany, witnessing to the international dimension of solidarity that has sustained this work over two and a half decades. The Scalabrinian Sisters were represented by Sr. Analita Candaten, Provincial Councillor of PMMM, and Sisters Marizete Garbin and Neide Lamperti. The director of Bienvenu Shelter, Sr. Marivane Chiesa, could not be present, as she is currently in Brazil.
In the homily, Fr. Jean-Marie Kuzituka Did’ho, President of the Bienvenu Shelter Council, highlighted: “Bienvenu Shelter chose the path of the Gospel. For 25 years, the shelter has said to its residents: Here, you are not a stranger. Here, you are a sister. Here, you are a daughter of God. The shelter has become a place of healing for women who have suffered violence, exploitation, and displacement. It has given children not only safety, but also a future. And in doing so, it has revealed something essential: human dignity is not earned by citizenship, language, or status. It is given by God. Human dignity is inherent, because we were all created in the image and likeness of God.”
At the end of the celebration, Sr. Analita expressed profound gratitude to all those who, throughout these 25 years, dedicated part of their lives to ensuring dignified welcome, protection, and hope for the women and children of Bienvenu Shelter. She especially remembered the Sisters, collaborators, volunteers, and benefactors who transformed suffering into new opportunities for life: “In every gesture of love and dedication, of compassion and solidarity, of tireless service and courage, especially in the most difficult moments, you have demonstrated the strength that keeps the mission of Bienvenu Shelter alive, a unique work recognized by all in the Church and in society. The efforts of each person, past and present, have been immense, and today we celebrate them with joy, seeing fulfilled what our founder Saint John Baptist Scalabrini said: ‘Great rewards are achieved only after great efforts.’”
In turn, Sr. Katy, Provincial of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family, the congregation that donated the house to Bienvenu Shelter, gratefully recalled the partnership built with the Scalabrinian Sisters. She highlighted the important response offered to the needs of refugee women and children, as well as the life transformations that, through the Scalabrinian mission, continue to happen to this day. She also emphasized the many fruits that continue to flourish among the women and children welcomed by the shelter.
During the celebration, the words of the Superior General of the Scalabrinian Sisters, Sr. Luiza Dal Moro, were also remembered. She stated that Bienvenu Shelter was born from “a dream of compassion” and became a “beacon of hope for women, children, migrants, and refugees.” She further emphasized that each year celebrated represents restored lives, rediscovered dignity, and rebuilt futures. Her words encouraged those present by recognizing that the true legacy of this mission lies in the stories of courage and overcoming of so many families who were welcomed.
The Silver Jubilee was marked by festive songs, prayer, thanksgiving, and a strong spirit of communion, as well as a delicious lunch offered to all present. There were also moving testimonies from former residents who had been welcomed since the early years of the house, as well as current residents, who shared how their time at the shelter profoundly transformed their lives. Some reported that, thanks to the support they received, they were able to rebuild their lives, complete their studies, and today work in medicine and other professions.
More than recalling the past, the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Bienvenu Shelter renewed the commitment to the future: to continue being a house with open doors, a space of healing, and a concrete sign of God’s love for those most in need. In an atmosphere of joy and hope, all present gave thanks for the 25 years of presence and service of this important mission in the Church and in South African society.
By Sr. Neide Lamperti and Sr. Marizete Garbin
