Sisters of St Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians) converged on Koinonia from 7 – 9 July for the first-ever regional meeting in Africa.

Scalabrinians are represented in 27 countries. They form part of bishops’ conferences working in dioceses, parishes and borders, focussing on migration and refugee concerns. The countries that took part in the assembly were South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Mozambique.

The opening Mass was celebrated by the Episcopal Vicar for Migrants and Refugees, Fr Ivaldo Bettin cs.

The assembly was led by General Consular for the Apostolate, Sr Albertina Pauletti and Provincial Superior Sr Analita Candaten.  The objective of the assembly was to review the Scalabrinian mission and to explore ways in which to face challenges of human mobility.

The assembly included work groups, presentations on different realities on the congregation’s mission of the congregation and strategising about future action in critical points of migration.

The most pressing needs for refugees are documentation, shelter, food, education, medical attention and employment opportunities.

Sr Albertina said she was impressed to witness how the sisters handle the mission of migrants and refugees and how they identify themselves in the Archdiocese and the country with the work they do as Scalabrinians. In the Archdiocese, the Scalabrinian sisters coordinate the Department of Pastoral Care and the running of Bienvenu Shelter for refugees and displaced women and their children.
Lerato Mohone