FEATURES • SOPHIE WILLIAMS

The Lord´s Call in this Season of my life

In a reality where thousands of homeless people feel abandoned in the streets of Pretoria, Sophie Williams, 62, is dedicating her life to them. Originally from Western Cape, she founded Mountains and Valleys, an organization which serves hundreds of homeless people a day in Eesterust Township

BY Sr M. Marta Vargas CMS | Pretoria

When did you start getting involved with the homeless community?

At the age of thirteen, I already knew the streets. Nobody had taught me what was right and wrong. My mother and father worked most of the time. We would see them on weekends, but my father was often drinking and there were always fights at home. We did not really have a mother and a father.

I left school after grade nine. I made the wrong friends and ran away from home. I ended up living on the streets from the age of 15. And from about 18 years of age, I found myself homeless, in the streets of Marabastad, Pretoria.

So, it all started on the streets. What happened after?

While living there I met a guy, one of the most abusive persons I have ever known. He used to beat, abuse and rape me until I became pregnant with my first child and stayed like a prisoner in his house. I gave birth to a baby daughter and after a few months, I became pregnant again.

The man, after smoking “dagga”, used to beat me until I couldn´t scream any more. After giving birth to the second child, I told myself: “I need to run away from this man because he is going to beat me to death”. One day I did so and left my two children with him.

I went back to the streets and started selling myself as a prostitute to make money so that I could leave Pretoria and take my children to Cape Town. Nobody in my family knew where I was.

How did change come into your life?

When I was a child, on Sundays, my mother would say: “don´t be lazy and go to Church”. I used to go with my siblings. There was a lady there who played the guitar and I loved to see her.

Back on the streets, I became pregnant again. I met a white lady who told me: “You look like somebody who doesn´t know any life outside this. Don´t you want to come and look after my children and I will pay you?”. She took me in at my advanced stage of pregnancy. I know now that it was the Lord opening a door for me so that I could leave the streets.

One morning, while I was looking after her children, I saw that man standing outside. He was going around looking for me all the time and he took me back to his place. He tried many times to murder the baby inside me. He even gave me money for an abortion, but I couldn´t do it because I already felt in love with the living creature inside me. He continued beating me, but I didn´t run away anymore.

One night, after giving birth, he tried to burn the child. That night I prayed: “Lord I don´t know you, I don´t know who you are, but I was in Sunday School and I heard about the God who could help me when I am in trouble. I am talking with that Lord that I heard of when I was a child: if you are there and you know about me, please help me. If you take me out of this mess and take me away with my three children, when I get home, I will serve you”.

Today I serve the Lord by giving my whole heart to the people in the streets where I once was

That is the reason why I serve and love the Lord today; because He helped me in a wonderful way. He took me to a policeman, to whom I explained that my family stayed in Western Cape and I ran away from an abusive man with one baby, but I left two other children behind. So, the police in Pretoria phoned those in the Western Cape and they arranged my trip to go back there, with my three children.

Back home I heard the Lord´s voice: “Isn´t it that you made me a promise?”. I answered: “Lord, I am going to serve you”. I gave my heart to the Lord and I asked for forgiveness and He forgave me. He took me from where I was and brought me to a place where I can be myself and serve Him.

How do you serve Him in your daily life?

Today I serve Him by giving my whole heart to the people in the streets where I once was. I know how they feel, I know their pain in the streets. That is the reason I feed hundred to three hundred people every meal, every day.

This is a passion, a calling, something inside me, to give myself to the people on the streets. That is what I am doing at the moment and I think that I will always do it, because this is not something that somebody puts in your heart, but the Lord called me for such a mission.

You find impatient people, rude or with no empathy; but the ruder they are, the more you love them, the more they do wrong to you, you just want to do good to them.

After all these years of work and transformation, who is God to you?

God is the love of my soul. I love Him, He is my saviour. When everyone rejected me, He became my pillar. I feel like I am His favourite because He saved my soul, and He changed my whole being. I was a wrongdoer and He changed me into a loving person. I was a fighter, but after the Lord found me, I became who I am today. He is my everything, I love Him.

How do you experience His presence in your service to the poor and homeless?

I can see God in what happens every day; the way He provides food, not just for me, but for all people. I experience Him in the people as He opens doors to bring people together. He opens people´s hearts to bring and donate food so that I can go out and live the life the Lord called me to; to feed people wherever I go, to serve Him through giving and through loving them.

I experience Him through His Word and, also, when people are in need and I can pray with them and guide them in the right direction.

What does it help you to remain doing this work of charity in difficult times?

When things are not right, I go to a quiet place and just by being there, in His presence, I know He will sort out all. In His presence I find serenity.

People will disappoint you. Some people will help, but will not walk the whole road with you; when they become tired, they don´t worry if you are sorted out or not, but God will never disappoint you. He will not forsake you or leave you. Even when it is dark you will find in Him the solution.

What is the purpose of Mountains and Valleys, the organization which you founded?

The name Mountains and Valleys comes from what the Lord called me for: “Go to the mountains and valleys and seek the lost sheep, take them and bring them to the house of the Lord”.

It is an organization for homeless people. Homelessness is usually linked with substance abuse, a pattern of behaviour in which even children can be involved. The other day I took a pregnant mother out of the bush, two weeks before giving birth, so we could save the child who is now waiting for foster parents.

Homelessness is usually linked with substance abuse, a pattern of behaviour in which even children can be involved

At our main office, we have the admin staff and people volunteering to prepare food. Three times a day we give out food, from Monday to Sunday. Sometimes it goes up to eight hundred or nine hundred meals per day. Some come to our kitchen, especially mothers with their children, but mostly food is distributed in ´hot spots´.

We also run other programs to reach out to people, pray for them, listen to their situation and try to make it easier for them. There are special times when others will also donate clothes that we will distribute as well.

Many people have lost everything in life, they even lost themselves. Through this organization the Lord gives me the opportunity to serve them, to bring them in and to help them restore their lives.

SPECIAL REPORT • TIFFANY HESLOP

“My faith plays the biggest role in my life as a young entrepreneur”

Tiffany Heslop is a young Catholic entrepreneur, born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, now based in Centurion, Gauteng. She created two companies out of her conviction and faith in her God-given talents. She encourages any young person to follow her example

BY FR RAFAEL ARMADA | MCCJ

How did the idea of creating two companies come about?

I have been an administrative professional for 10 years, leading comprehensive administrative and operational support to C-suite personnel (high-ranking executive titles in an organization). Early on, in my career, I worked in small companies, although I had the title of personal assistant, I fulfilled many positions within the companies, which allowed me to learn and get experience in all the departments of a business. Today I consider myself a professional who understands the complexities of business, the business landscape within and outside the organisation and all the stakeholders involved.

When I failed, I dusted myself off, took the lesson and tried again, and again until I got
it right

 In 2020, I knew that I wanted to start my own company. So, I took a leap of faith and registered a company with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). I just knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I prayed and asked God to give me the wisdom, knowledge and understanding, that I would need to complete a successful business plan and launch a successful business.

 At the time I still had a full-time job, but in March 2021 the company I worked for closed down and I was left unemployed. I tried looking for a new job, but there were no opportunities available. Then I had a light bulb moment: I have a registered company; I have extensive expertise and knowledge for running a business. It was the moment to take a leap of faith, to have courage and believe in myself.

 I prayed, did the research, and put in all the smart work, developed a business plan I was proud of, which lead to the launching of my first company. I became the exclusive distributor of portable pizza ovens in Africa.  My second company was born when I met, my now good friend from Senegal, who believed in me, saw my talents, strengths and hunger to build something great, that would create a difference in the world for somebody.

I had no capital, no business plan, no help, I just had my faith, my skills, creativity and courage. I didn’t focus on what I didn’t have, I only focused on God and my burning desire to be an entrepreneur. With every no I got, I didn’t get discouraged, I saw no’s and failures as an opportunity to grow, and develop something better.

 I created eight business plans before I found the one in which everything just flowed. I knew that that was the business plan I had prayed for and that God’s blessing prepared for me.

As a young entrepreneur, how do you see the possibilities  of job creation for the youth in South Africa today?  

I strongly believe that if I could do it, anyone can! The opportunities are there to create jobs, no matter where you are or what you have. It all starts with you. In life things are not always going to be handed to us on a silver platter; most times we have to create the opportunities ourselves. The big questions we have to ask ourselves are: Are we creating a business that will bring value to people, customers, suppliers and employees? Are we doing it out of love for the others? what is our intention? Then we can take that leap of faith, do the smart work and believe that what we have asked God for, He has given to us. God is with us, and God is good.

 We just need the patience and understanding, that when we ask God for something, with good intentions in mind, when we truly seek it with all our hearts and have faith that if it is in accordance with God’s will, it will manifest in our lives; then it will. The obstacles we face along the way are there to mould us and transform us, so that we can be ready for God’s blessing.

What are the main challenges you face in your daily  activities in your  companies? 

When I started my companies, they had business models which I didn’t have experience in. Most things were a first-time experience for me, I didn’t know how to do a lot of things and I had to build everything up from the ground, with no help, no capital, with no assets, but I was not discouraged, because I knew that God had blessed me with everything I needed to succeed. With the internet, you have an abundance of knowledge at your fingertips, so I did the work and the learning. When I failed, I dusted myself off, took the lesson and tried again, and again until I got it right.

 You never stop learning in business, every day you face challenges, with customers, suppliers, with staff; it’s part of the journey, nothing stays the same, things are evolving at a fast pace, so you always have to be ready to face any challenge with patience and understanding.  You must have a plan A, plan B and plan C.

 Some important lessons I’ve learnt which have helped me to cope with a lot of challenges, are: to have a good moral compass and stay true to your company values and mission. Build a good structure/ foundation for your ecosystems. You must be a multi-tasker, well organised and pay attention to the little details because they count. Set up effective processes and workflow structures for every ecosystem: your suppliers, your employees and your customers, so that at every touch point you have a plan A, B and C.

How does your faith play a part in your life as a young entrepreneur? 

My faith is my foundation. It has taught me to be respectful towards myself, my neighbour and the planet; it has taught me to be humble and obedient. To be accountable for all my actions and to live with dignity and integrity. My faith plays the biggest role in my life as a young entrepreneur. I humbly believe that I am nothing, without the presence of God, it is God who sustains me. I am only here by God’s grace and will. I am at a stage in my life, where I try constantly to live by this prayer: ‘Not my will Lord, but may your Divine Will oh God, be done’.

 I try to offer to God all my actions, all my thoughts and all that I do, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the whole world. Offering everything I do as a prayer to the Lord our God, in my personal and professional life. It’s not an easy journey, and most times it means going against the ways of the world and letting go of your wants, but it’s a beautiful humbling experience and something you have to work on constantly. I am far from being perfect, I am a sinner, but just like I pick myself back up when I fall on my business journey which is often, I do the same in my faith… Oh, how I love the gift of the Holy sacrament of confession. There are so many obstacles and bumps and potholes along the way that you sometimes don’t see, so you can fall really hard, but what matters is that you get up, dust yourself off, and keep on moving, then with more awareness, letting God lead, seeking His voice before you take each step.

 I love Jesus so much! Nothing in this world can give you the peace and love that God can, so seek Him first above all things. He is all you need and the greatest gift of all.

What dreams do you have in life?

My greatest dream is to become a saint in the kingdom of God. The earth is my temporary home, while I have been blessed with the gift of life from the Almighty. I honestly want to do the will of God. So I live my life day by day, seeking the voice of God. Thirsting for His presence, for it sustains me.

I love being an entrepreneur and I would love to own a sustainable farm in the near future, which creates many job opportunities. I pray for it.

My greatest dream is to become a saint in the kingdom of God

I am also working on an App, which will help many Catholics on their journey of faith because bringing souls to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is also so important to me. Jesus loves us all so much and He is constantly pouring out His Precious Blood and His Divine Love and Mercy for us.

 If God says yes, then it’s a thumbs up, but if God says no, then in obedience I will humbly follow His command, no matter how painful it will be, for I know it is for the sanctification of my soul.

FEATURES • BISHOP CONSTANTINO BOGAIO MCCJ

‘SAVE AFRICA WITH AFRICA’

The episcopal ordination of the Comboni Missionary Antonio Constantino Bogaio as Auxiliary Bishop of Beira, took place on 19 February 2023 in the Central Mozambican city. Archbishop of Beira, Most Rev. Claudio Dalla Zuanna, the main ordaining Bishop, was assisted by Most Rev. Inácio Saúre, Archbishop of Nampula and President of the Bishop’s Conference (CEM), and Rt. Rev. João Hatoa Nunes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Maputo and Vice-President of CEM as co-ordaining bishops

BY RAFAEL ARMADA MCCJ | IN BEIRA, MOZAMBIQUE

A crowd of over five thousand faithful witnessed and joyfully participated in the ceremony celebrated in the multi-purpose hall of the Railway Company of Beira. In December 2022, the nomination of Bishop Bogaio by Pope Francis, as the first Mozambican Bishop of Beira, came just after he had concluded his six-year service as Provincial Superior of the Comboni Missionaries in Mozambique. A day after the celebration, the newly ordained Bishop offered his first interview to Worldwide

How would you evaluate your experience as Provincial of the Comboni Missionaries in Mozambique?

I am grateful to those who believed in me and entrusted me with this service to my Province of origin which, nevertheless, has not been an easy one. In this ministry of leadership, you may find that each confrere has an expectation of what the Provincial can do for him and for his community. Instead, you have to look at things as a whole, considering our Comboni presence, the legacy received, the charism now flourishing in Mozambique and its impact on the local Church. We have tried to give relevance to St Daniel Comboni’s motto, ‘Save Africa with Africa’ through fostering and supporting local vocations. In fact, a Province without vocations does not have much future.

In Mozambique, we are living in a moment of a ‘vocational boom’, but the vocations are not ours, but of the Comboni Institute. Those in formation must be aware of that and the confreres too. The congregation needs to invest in the field of formation, providing enough formators in Provinces where there are many vocations, so that we can accompany them properly. This is very important because the formation phases are where we transmit the values of consecrated life, our charism in its universal dimension and we teach the candidates how we evangelize as Comboni missionaries. After the formation, some will part from their country and others will have to remain here to consolidate our presence; the Mozambique Church has always relied on the Comboni missionaries.

Another challenge is to be the first Mozambican Provincial. The Mozambican confreres expected me to be on their side and the African confreres thought: ‘now we have one of us’; also there was the anxiety of the elder confreres about what I was going to do; but I am at the service of all missionaries, our work is Catholic, as Comboni said, not Mozambican or Portuguese. This is our Comboni identity and from there is where we must start.

Our Comboni identity is very beautiful because we are called to live as Cenacles of Apostles, whereby in diversity we share our lives. Mission is not done alone, but as a community, we need each other. Another challenge I faced was how to reorganize our presence in Mozambique. We had much impact in the northern and central regions, but in the south, we have transferred many parishes to the local Church, with an intention of requalifying our presence. We had Comboni communities which served two parishes, a distance of 70 km from each other. There was a great dispersion. Therefore, the idea was to have one parish for each Comboni community. We have reduced the number of our commitments in order to consolidate our presence, a process that needs time. We have remained with 12 Comboni communities in the country. It is true that we have a decreasing number of confreres working in the Province, but we also have a future with 42 postulants, 25 pre-ostulants and novices.

Is the Mozambican Church a missionary Church?

Yes, definitely, the Mozambican Church is a missionary Church, but that dimension is now a bit shaky because we have been focusing on consolidating the local Church. We have to emphasize the missionary dimension now. We still have many places of first evangelization. The missionary dimension also includes lay evangelizers, such as many catechists committed outside the cities, in rural areas, who maintain parishes with no priest and other Christian communities. It is important to maintain that spirit.

As President of the Conference of Religious Institutes in Mozambique you were dedicated to assisting those affected by the crisis in Cabo Delgado in 2021. How have you seen that ministry and its impact on the lives of the people, even beyond its ecclesial aspect?

The first thing we tried to do was to welcome our brothers and sisters, supporting especially the consecrated who were working on the front line. The Church in Pemba, even today, is giving a great response to this situation of terrorism, welcoming the displaced population and helping them to overcome their traumas through psycho-social counselling and also to maintain their faith.

In Mozambique, we are living in a moment of a ‘vocational boom’, but the vocations are not ours, but of the Comboni Institute

Terrorism here has various aspects and interests. We do not understand the core of what is taking place. The word ‘terrorism’ hides many things. We, as the Bishop’s Conference wrote and explained, need to help especially in ending the terrorism and supporting those who know about this reality.

How do you evaluate the exercised prophetic role of the Church regarding the denunciation of social evils?

There are two aspects regarding this dimension of denunciation; we do not want more casualties, but we believe in the daily martyrdom of those who work there. It is very easy to denounce and be shot, but what is the purpose of it? Instead, every day’s commitment, giving witness to the people and making visible the reality that is causing this war—that is for me the real denunciation.

What are the social challenges in the region and those you may find in this new ministry as Auxiliary Bishop of Beira?

The level of poverty is high and this is one of the challenges. Another one is climate change with an average of 5–6 cyclones affecting this area every year. After cyclone Idai in 2019, people showed their resilience by managing to rebuild many structures and houses affected
by it, without much aid. We also need a change in our lifestyle. Mangroves are disappearing and trees are being cut down.

Another issue is inequality, with some people who own a lot while others barely have one or two meals a day. Some think that our mineral resources will save the country, but that is not the case.

Regarding my new service, I know that many people may think that I came to fulfil their expectations, but I came to evangelize. Secondly, I came to be in communion with the Church and to make the Gospel reach further. The Archdiocese has remote areas in need of evangelization. My mission is to give life and to help people to recover their ethical values.

A Church which has no sons and daughters, and does not allow her children to leave is a dead Church

I am also aware of possible conflicts among different cultural groups in the Archdiocese—but this is something often fostered by politicians who are not at the service of the people; not by ordinary citizens.

What is your dream as the new Auxiliary Bishop of Beira?

My dream is to serve the Church in the Archdiocese of Beira, together with His Grace Archbishop Claudio. My expectation is that we may shepherd and consolidate this local Church together, responding to her dimension of faith, also as priests. A Church which has no sons and daughters, and does not allow her children to leave is a dead Church. Pope Francis tells us often: go out! The local Church includes those who are present in her and those who leave as missionaries to other parts of the world. I will serve the Church with the Comboni charism, ‘save Africa with Africa’, and as auxiliary bishop, I have to assist and support the commitments of my brother His Grace Archbishop Claudio.

FEATRUES • SR MARIA DE LOURDES LODI RISSINI

PASTORAL CARE OF MIGRANTS: WELCOME, PROTECT, PROMOTE AND INTEGRATE

Sr Maria De Lourdes Lodi Rissini, a Scalabrinian Missionary Sister hailing from Brazil, has been working in South Africa for more than ten years. Currently, she is the National Co-ordinator of Caritas South Africa and Co-ordinator of the Migrants and Refugees Office for South Africa, Botswana and Eswatini on the South African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC). Here she shares about this important service in the Church

BY RAFAEL ARMADA MCCJ | PRETORIA
SR MARIA LODI RISSINI | SACBC MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES OFFICE

What is the estimated population of migrants and refugees in the SACBC region and what are their main nationalities?

The number of people living in South Africa born in other countries was
estimated in the 2022 Africa Migration Report to be about 4.2 million, or 7% of the total population of the country. Among them are more than 250 000 refugees and asylum seekers from countries such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia and Zimbabwe.

What are their main urgent needs?

They have a variety of needs according to the reasons for their immigration to South Africa. For most, South Africa offers economic opportunities. Asylum seekers and refugees are coming for safety
purposes due to persecution and wars. In Africa, approximately 30 million people are displaced due to environmental hazards. Those asylum seekers or refugees coming from an unskilled background have more needs than others. They need counselling, access to family tracing services, legal and migration advice regarding their documentation, interpreters/translators, health and mental health care, and access to education. Upon arrival, they have urgent basic needs such as nutrition,
clothes, shelter, domestic items and access to government services, such as Home Affairs, Health and Education.

What types of exploitation are they mostly exposed to?

Most of them are exposed to exploitation from the time they depart towards South Africa. On their way, most women are victims of robbery, rape, torture and hunger, often including their children. Once they are in South Africa, immigrants are exposed to robbery, slavery, sexual abuse
and labour-related abuses, exploitation, corruption in public services, (such as Home Affairs), and xenophobic behaviour by officials, including harassment.

What kind of help do they seek when approaching the Catholic Church?

In general, when they approach the services of the Catholic Church, they ask for assistance related to food, nutrition for babies, clothing, domestic items, school stationery, school uniforms, payment of rent, assistance for funerals, legal assistance for documentation, access to
Home Affairs, transport, medication, access to health, skill training, help to study English and local languages and to have access to work or to start small businesses.

On March 2022, you were recognised as a Distinguished Knight of The Order of the Star by the President of Italy. What does that award mean for you?

I was not aware that I was being considered for an award. I felt honoured to receive that distinction from the President and the Government of Italy, through their Embassy and Consulate in South Africa.

I dedicate this important award to God who called me to serve Him in different countries. The mission as a Scalabrinian Missionary Sister has been enriched by the diversity of people whom I have met and served during my life. This is part of the Mission of the Church and the calling
I received, of putting into practice the invitation of Pope Francis to welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants and refugees through Caritas and Pastoral Care.

I am grateful to many people who are working with me and I consider them also as co-recipients of this award even though I am unable to mention them all. I just mention a few of them, the Scalabrinian Congregation; the Bienvenu Shelter; the Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg, especially Archbishop Buti Tlhagale for being an inspiring leader and for his continuous support and encouragement to respond to the challenges imposed by modern society; the SACBC, especially those who are part of its Migrants and Refugees Office; and
Caritas South Africa. This award includes all the people that are part of my history. I am grateful to them all.

How successful has the Church’s response in southern Africa to the invitation made by Pope Francis been? What challenges still lie ahead?

The Bishops during their Plenary meeting of February 2019, decided that a coordinated response is needed to the plight of migration in all dioceses of the SACBC region. They approved common resolutions to implement the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees in their respective dioceses and parishes.

In order to implement this structure, the SACBC Migrants and Refugees Office provided a common tool for training and formation programmes for Pastoral Care agents and distributed it to all 29 dioceses.

Formation/training for leaders took place in 18 strategic arch/dioceses which are bordering the different countries or entry ports to South Africa. Afterwards, the arch/diocese can train its volunteers and collaborators. The four verbs used by Pope Francis, welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants are included in the formation programme and
structure of the office at the diocesan level. This plan helps to better address the challenges of migrants and refugees.

Since 2020, Archbishop Buti Tlhagale OMI of Johannesburg is part of the Multi-Religious Council of Leaders of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and Religions for Peace. He is also the High-Level profile to prevent Statelessness and the UNHCR # I Belong Campaign.

Some of the challenges we face are related to the economic situation of southern Africa which does not permit us to have enough human and material resources to better run our socio-pastoral programmes.

The environment and reality that migrants and refugees live in are exposing them to more vulnerabilities, exclusion and poverty.

What is the role and activities of the Diocesan co-ordinators for migrants?

We aim that each Pastoral Parish Council (PPC) identify, elect or co-opt a subcommittee among its members whose functions/roles could be:

• To co-ordinate migrants’ and refugee
  affairs within the parish community.
• With the assistance of the rest of the PPC,
  facilitate, create and promote a welcoming
  and hospitable parish community.
• To create a discussion forum on issues
  of concern to both migrants and the
  local communities.
• At the parish level, liaise with the religious
  and NGO groups that are involved
  in migrant issues.
• To plan and adopt best practices concerning
  the assistance given to migrants
  and refugees.
• To co-operate with other organizations
  such as Caritas, St Vincent de Paul, Catholic
  Women’s League and the Knights of
  Da Gama in their charitable activities.
• To facilitate the provision of language
  lessons, if needed.
• To pay special attention to the needs of
  migrants’ children.
• To facilitate the integration of migrants
  into the local community.
• To find ways and means of dissuading the
  local community from taking out their
  dissatisfactions on the migrant community.
• To help migrants to cultivate their faith and
  respect their beliefs, including prayers of
  reconciliation and bereavement.
• To prevent statelessness.

To implement these activities financial/material resources are needed. Churches are offering humanitarian support to many people in need. This is a challenge for all the faithful to work together in unity and solidarity.

How is the Church counteracting xenophobic attitudes in our society?

The Church tries to quickly respond to victims of xenophobia by providing food, shelter, clothes, and medical assistance in solidary with their pains and loss.

The Church in South Africa guided by its leaders, denounces xenophobic or Afrophobic attitudes. The SACBC Liaison Bishops for Migrants and Refugees has issued various statements and Pastoral Letters to South Africans and non-South Africans against xenophobia. They invited the Government to play its role to bring to account those who promote xenophobia. The South Africa Council of Churches together organised roundtable discussions, prayer sessions and statements against xenophobia. The Church, in general, is mobilizing
and promoting peace, reconciliation, and respect, principles of common ethics for all people of different cultures. One of the principles of democracy is respect for the rights of movement. The Social Teaching
of the Catholic Church is also very clear regarding human dignity. The Church continues to give awareness to their communities to live with respect and harmony.

What would you invite the readers of Worldwide magazine to do faced with this situation?

I would like to invite all people of God to combat xenophobia. I believe this is the responsibility of each human being, as God made us all in His own image. In our social space, we can live out our duty as a public witness to the reign of God, opposing these kinds of attacks which
cause deep entrenched pain and hatred.

We are called to engage with our churches and civil society to create a safe environment that is good for all. It implies moving from our selfishness to thinking of others. We also need to have a co-ordinated
strategy with other stakeholders and agencies in order to come up with a more lasting and effective plan to prevent future re-occurrences of such brutal attacks.

FEATURES • CRYSTAL ORDERSON

In 2018 the city of Cape Town was about to experience the depletion of its water reserves after three successive years of below-average rainfall attributed to climate change. This situation was coined with the term Day Zero. It meant water supplies would have to be switched off and residents would have to queue to get daily water rations. The taps would run dry. Historically, if it had happened, it was going to be the first metropolitan city to run out of water.

BY INTERVIEW BY DR RUDO A. SANYANGA HUNGWE | FRESHWATER ECOLOGIST
RAFAEL ARMADA MCCJ | PRETORIA

CRYSTAL ORDERSON, a Capetonian journalist now based in Johannesburg, was living in the Mother City at that time, covering these events for various media. She now shares her experience with Worldwide

What did Day Zero mean for you?
I grew up in Cape Town and spent all my childhood there. We used to go to Steenbras Dam, now one of the main electricity sources for the city. I was always aware and mindful of water issues. Leading towards the time of Day Zero, I started noticing that the water levels were dropping. As a journalist, I had covered stories about excessive rains and droughts; but at that time, I did not fully realize that we were running out of water until the city launched its public campaign. I think the term Day Zero was meant to force citizens to respond and also served as a scare tactic.

How did the Day Zero campaign change citizen’s attitudes?
The City of Cape Town carried out an excellent and huge public campaign. Every citizen, from my mother in the township to people in affluent suburbs such as Constantia or the township dweller in Khayelitsha, became aware of Day Zero. Everyone started buying a bucket or a little bowl to put under their sinks. In the Cape Flats, pensioners and those who could not afford containers, were given buckets by the city.

They would wash their dishes and would keep that water for their gardens. In bathrooms and showers, the water was collected and used for flushing the toilets.

The concept of the one-minute shower was borne. At the gyms they installed alarm clocks that would go off after one minute. One would be embarrassed if one was still under the shower when the alarm went off.

What sector of society was more affected and what kind of responses were given to the challenge?
The tourism sector was immensely impacted by the notion of Day Zero and the city running out of water. It had a negative impact as it reduced the number of visitors coming to Cape Town.

As an individual, I got involved in teaching my daughter to be water conscious. When she washed her hands there would be a bucket underneath, and that water would be recycled. There was an acute awareness everywhere that we needed to save water and to be conscious of that.

Parallel to the campaign, the city became very proactive, looking at desalinization plants, natural water resources and water catchments from Table Mountain. The initiatives and the ingenuity that we saw coming from people, rallied Capetonians around the notion of not being able to have enough water as a resource.

Have people maintained that water-saving spirit? Is it possible that
Day Zero can happen in the future?
I think people in Cape Town are very conscious of water. I see in Johannesburg that pipes are leaking everywhere. I sense that people elsewhere in the country are not as conscious as they should be. Up to now, I still take a two-minute shower and I never take a bath. That type of consciousness permeated through the minds of Capetonians.

At the back of their minds, many Capetonians believe that Day Zero can happen, though there is water now after a few good rainy seasons.

Is desalinization a solution for the future?
It is just one of the solutions. There was much public talk about desalinization, though it is not cheap. In fact, the first city in South Africa to have a desalinization plant was Knysna. They did it as a business-driven project since they have one of the biggest concentrations of billionaires in the country. In Cape Town it was one of the projects; in the Strandfontein area, the plant is still working. Desalinization is only feasible for cities near the oceans.

In Cape Town, a combination of solutions, including harnessing water from Table Mountain was considered. One has to think outside the box. Cape Town is blessed with the natural endowments of mountains, rivers, and a long coastline, enabling it to explore several solutions. There has been research done by the Table Mountain National Project to study the amount of water Table Mountain can provide.

Looking at Gauteng, three major causes for the current water crisis have been mentioned: the scarcity of rain, the increase in the use of water and the maintenance of the distribution systems. What is your opinion about this?
Gauteng is in big disruption. Even where I live, I am shocked. Pipes are not maintained; there has been no public campaign, there is corruption, lack of infrastructure maintenance, and no public consciousness around water, yet we do not have unlimited resources. I am very concerned about Gauteng; Rand Water and Joburg Water simply may not able to keep up. All these political shenanigans. It is worrying. I have friends in Melville, Oakland Park, Brixton and hospitals running out of water. It is a disgrace!

How is infrastructure maintenance done in Cape Town?
Cape Town realized that if you apply a ‘plaster’ it’s ok but the plaster is going to come off sooner or later; to properly maintain a pipe will cost you a R100, but if you don’t do it, it will cost you a R100 million.

Whether in a township or an affluent suburb, when there is a problem, one can call a municipal free toll number and they will send people to fix it as soon as possible. If one ignores problems, leaving water pipes unmaintained and leaks unattended, one creates a bigger issue.

If one ignores problems, leaving water pipes unmaintained and leaks unattended, one creates a bigger issue.

Cape Town is not perfect. It has its problems, serious socio-economic issues and tons of contradictions; a whole lot of crime and violence, some of which is directly linked to inequality. Nevertheless, when I am in the township where I come from, I see City water staff out fixing problems and when there is an issue, it is being addressed. Cape Town has allocated a huge amount of money for maintenance. They are listening to the engineers who advise them that if they do not fix things, they will create big problems in the years to come.

I know that if I call the municipality, whether it’s a road issue, picking up rubbish, or fixing something, they try their best to come out. If not, one can escalate the issue and it is not ignored. In Cape Town, as a whole, there is an effort to fix what needs to be fixed. Because if they don’t, they are going to sit with insurmountable bills for maintenance.

Is there enough awareness of water issues in South Africa?
What is happening in the provinces of Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal and Northern Cape, in terms of water, is well known. However, there is a dearth of information in the public arena on Mpumalanga, the Northern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State. When the Water Boards submit their annual reports, we don’t pay attention to their issues. Needless to say, there are a lot of problems and corruption.

How are we preparing ourselves for a possible scarcity of water in South Africa, due to climate change?
To be honest, from where I am sitting, as a journalist, I don’t think we are doing enough. Corruption has permeated all areas of our society. We are so fixated on Eskom, strikes by Transnet workers and the price of exports going up and political leadership’s corruption, that we are not observing the Water Boards and what is happening there––the corruption and death threats. We have no idea of how to measure the millions one can make out of having access to water rights. We do not technically measure the value of water services; we tend to see water as an infinite resource.

We are not paying enough attention to what is happening with water politics, regarding old and new realities; why historical white farmers are owning rights to water, communities without water, and other issues.

In South Africa we had previous ministers, Kadah Asmal and Rony Casrils, who shaped our water policies, but now we do not think of water in the same way as they did. This is a real concern, especially for water-scarce places like Gauteng which relies on Lesotho for its water. I just do not think enough is being done––maybe it’s because water is not seen as important enough. Everyone should be made aware of what is happening and why we should care. We can live without electricity using other alternatives, but not without water.

FEATURES • ARCHBISHOP BUTI JOSEPH TLHAGALE

Our Church is still young

The clash between the Gospel and ancestor worship, patriarchy in the Church, and racial divide in the Christian communities are some of the crucial topics discussed in conversation with the Archbishop of the diocese of Johannesburg

BY Efrem Tresoldi MCCJ | Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG IS a cosmopolitan metropolis where South Africans of various language groups from every corner of the country have established themselves together with immigrants from European countries and more recently with people hailing from different African nations. It is in this multicultural context that the Church is called to be a symbol of unity in diversity. Such has been the aspiration of Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale, who has been leading the diocese of Johannesburg since his installation in 2003.

Racial integration

Archbishop Buti begins the conversation confessing: “I didn’t make it, I failed. I have tried in many ways to realise the dream of a greater unity among Catholics, above all through liturgical celebrations, Sunday Mass in particular. I did not succeed. For example, Catholics—whites, blacks, coloureds and Indians—who live next to each other in Johannesburg’s suburbs could come together for the celebration of Sunday Eucharist, which is in English, a language everybody understands. Instead, they do not. What is happening is that, in the same parish, whites attend the early Mass on Sunday morning or the pre-festive one the day before, while blacks take part in the mid-morning Mass or vice versa. Racial separation within the Church is also evident on other occasions”.

“There is a resistance on the part of white Catholics to participate in diocesan ecclesial events. In more than one case, after the invitation had been sent out to all parishes for a commemoration in a stadium or in a public place, only blacks participated in it, with the exception of a small group of whites. What happens in society is reflected in the Church. Let us take the celebration of national holidays: whites use the opportunity to go on safari, while blacks gather to take part in political rallies. They do not mix. Racial separation is the disease of South Africa. It is a long-term challenge for South Africa and a solution for it cannot be found overnight”.

Ancestors’ veneration and the Gospel

“Personally, I think that the veneration of the ancestors is totally opposed to Christianity. Some years ago, I would have said that there is a way of integrating this particular cult into Christianity. Now, on the contrary, I am convinced that the veneration of the ancestors is a recognition of a foreign power that intervenes in the life of the living. The saints too are involved in the life of the living and it is our belief that the spiritual world intervenes in the life of the living. However, the ancestors have an influence on their offspring in such a way that they literally are given a role which would correspond to God. If one maintains that the ancestors are able to heal you physically and mentally, where is Christ’s power in that context?”

“I still think that many of the African people have a double affiliation; they have faith in the traditional belief of the ancestors, and partial belief in God, in Christianity. It does not mean that when you are catechised and you are baptised, you are a fully-fledged Christian. I have pointed out that among the catechists, there are many who have very little educational background and therefore, they cannot offer much doctrinal knowledge. And yet, we continue to baptise and accept people who come into the Church, who are only partially converted as it were, and that is a big challenge. That is why, I think, the majority of African Christians still consult traditional healers. Catholics keep consulting traditional healers. Although western medicine is available, via hospitals, clinics and doctors, they still go to these people because they have confidence in the ancestral powers”.

The Christian faith is young in South Africa; it is only a hundred and eighty years old

“It is my conviction that the ancestors are the enemies of Christ. I would not have said that some years ago and I would have fought for ancestral veneration. Not now! I am really against it. Three or four years ago, the bishops of the Southern African Conference wrote a pastoral letter addressed to priests saying that they should not be traditional healers. A committee has been appointed to investigate whether Ubungoma, the traditional healing and traditional healers are consistent with the Gospel. The committee is composed of lecturers at Saint John Vianney Seminary, and from time to time the chairperson updates the bishops about their research and outlines what they are going to do next. Hopefully, in a year or so they can come up with suggestions, and it will be very interesting, because we have never faced this challenge squarely and yet it is a major one”.

Putting down roots

There are people who maintain that Catholicism has not entered fully into South Africa. Others feel that it is still a foreign religion, something for the whites. The Archbishop agrees, and further expounds: “That is true, Catholicism has not grown roots—that is why you see that people move in and out of our Church with ease and go to new Churches, like the Pentecostal ones and to others that are grounded on traditional beliefs such as those that we call the Zionist Churches. A number of Catholics have gone there. The Christian faith is young in South Africa; it is only a hundred and eighty years old”.

“Church denominations are on average one hundred years old. Protestant Churches arrived here around 1830 or 1840, while Catholics, very few in numbers at the time, established themselves in the Cape after 1840. Most of the parishes around the country are not even a hundred year old. In South Africa, Catholicism is very young because initially the missionaries were only serving white communities; it was only later on, in the 1940s and 1950s that they began to go to the townships and rural areas. Also, here in Johannesburg, our Church is only a hundred and thirty or forty years old, but in the townships, they are only about fifty years old. So that is why this phenomenon of believing in traditional religion is still very much in the heart of the people”.

Patriarchy in the Church

This is another stimulating topic that Archbishop Tlhagale is eager to talk about. “For quite a long time women have been complaining about patriarchy in the Church. Lately, Rome allowed women to become acolytes and lectors, but they were already reading in Church and I ask myself if that really enhances their dignity as women. The contribution and the role of women in the Church have been addressed in encyclicals and pastoral letters, but we never resolved the real challenges”.

“I think we should just sit down and talk about patriarchy; what does it mean? What has it done to women? How do we change it? Now this has nothing to do with the ordination of women—that is a different topic. We have decided consciously not to discuss the ordination of women because Rome does not want to, so we put it aside but anything else should be addressed. For instance, at the diocesan level, there are structures: the priests’ council, vicars, parish councils etc. Let us take the priests’ council for example: it is made up only of men and yet it talks about pastoral issues. I do not see why we cannot have women who are involved in the departments of catechesis, liturgy, and taking part in the priests’ council”.

“I know the Pope has appointed a religious sister in one of the congregations of the Roman Curia (after the conversation had taken place, another religious sister and a lay woman were appointed to the Dicastery of Bishops), yet much more should be done. Even though women are not ordained, they can occupy high offices in the hierarchical structures of the Church. There is no reason why only priests should lead in those offices. Even at the diocesan level, women can run offices such as the department of education, of catechesis, of culture. We should get rid of clericalism and ask ourselves—why do we men think that we are better than women?”

“In South Africa, the ANC says that fifty percent of leadership positions should be filled by women. We should aim for the same in the Church. We should stop saying we respect women and uphold their dignity when in reality we do nothing about it. We should stop talking about it and do it, by finding ways and means to challenge patriarchy in the Church”.

Transmitting the faith

The transmission of faith from the older generation to the youth is rather problematic. It is quite common to see that young boys and girls stop going to Church after receiving the sacrament of Confirmation. Archbishop Tlhagale has some ideas on how to respond to the challenge.

Perhaps a more relaxed approach can be adopted for those who have been confirmed with a follow up programme once a month at least

“I think that after Confirmation we should have a policy of regarding the confirmed as young adults or make a programme which is less rigorous than that of the preparation for Confirmation which requires the attendance of classes every week. Perhaps a more relaxed approach can be adopted for those who have been confirmed with a follow up programme once a month at least”.

“I see that the young people, theologically speaking, remain at the level of Confirmation and never study anything beyond that. They are extremely impoverished in terms of personal faith, they do not know the contents of their faith and they do not read the Bible. They could meet once a month and come with their Bible for instance. If they are helped by someone who is knowledgeable and fascinated by the stories of the Bible, we would actually have young people interested in the Sacred Scriptures just as they are interested in classical novels. They would enjoy entering the theology of the Gospel stories—and hopefully they would grow”.

Adults’ ongoing Christian formation

“Another thing that I have not succeeded in doing is the formation of sodalities: Sacred Heart, Saint Anne, Men’s sodality, Children of Mary. They invite me once a year to have Mass with them and I used to ask them: What have you learned this year about the Church? I realised that they have not learned anything. Therefore, I suggested to them that each year the sodality takes an encyclical letter or a document of the magisterium and studies it. Surely, in each sodality you will find that there is a lawyer, a teacher, a medical doctor and a professional among them. I suggested to the members of one sodality, that someone among them summarise an encyclical or a document of the Church and then present it. I say that the sodalities should be obliged to study something. They will find it worthwhile to know about what is happening in the Church: What is the Pope saying? What are other ecclesial documents teaching? If you do that, just once or twice a year, and keep going for ten years, it would be a great success”.

“I bought a hundred copies of Pope John II’s encyclical on Mary (Redemptoris Mater) so that when we meet, I would summarize half the book and at the next meeting we would cover the other half. I said that they must know something about Mary, some doctrinal things about Mary and come to know stories about what happened in Fatima, Lourdes, etc. What I am trying to say is that each sodality should study some document during the year, and they do not need their priest or chaplain to do that work. One of the teachers, nurses and any professional person can read and summarize it, then explain it to the others”.

Archbishop Tlhagale, who will tender his resignation on 26 December upon reaching the retirement age of 75, as the law of the Church requires, continues his mission, encouraging the Catholics to deepen their faith and become more acquainted with the rich teaching of the Church.

FEATURES • CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL

Connecting people to God through music

Twins, Lesedi and Lebone Khunou, are Catholic Gospel artists who are passionate about communicating a message of faith and hope to their audience, through contemporary Gospel songs

BY Jill Williams and Rafael Armada | MCCJ

Q: Who are The Light Twins?

Lesedi (LS): Our names, Lesedi and Lebone, both mean “light”, in our Sesotho language. We always felt the need to bring the light of Christ to other people, whether through music or prayer. We grew up at St Hubert Parish, in Alexandra where we were members of the Youth Choir from the age of 10. When we sang, many women would come to us saying ‘I really felt God’s presence!’. It was then that I realised that what we had was something profound and different. Later on, at the age of 26, we decided to go beyond the walls of the Catholic Church at St Hubert, taking this ministry on and preaching the Gospel of God to the greater Church.
Wherever we go, there is a light that follows us, for people to come closer to God because of us. What God has called us to be, The Light Twins, is such a powerful witness!

Q: What is ‘Contemporary Gospel’ to you?

Lebone (LB): Where we come from, Gospel is a very traditional genre and Catholicism is a very traditional religion. ‘Contemporary Gospel’ is fusing secular and contemporary pop sounds with the Gospel, which is traditional.

Q: Where do you get the inspiration for the messages in your songs?

LB: Our inspiration always comes from God; what God speaks through people, though not necessarily in a literal voice. That is how we normally know that God wants us to sing a specific song. In 2017, we released an album titled, Filled with hope. God was speaking to us through people. Over the years, we have been releasing individual songs not necessarily based on any specific liturgical period, but on what we were inspired to create at that time.

There is something about our Catholic teachings and hymns that is needed in the greater world and we are here teaching people about the message of God through our music

LS: Our first and most popular song, “O tla ntshedisa” (2017), has a chorus taken from a Catholic hymn. We expanded it adding what it means to us: God’s comfort. Although we weren’t going through hardships at that time, people would come to us and say that that song helped them to get through difficult periods, such as the loss of loved ones. In 2021, we lost our aunt to COVID-19, and we sang at her funeral. We cried through most of it! Then we understood what people meant when they said that the song had carried them through hardships. God spoke to us at a time when we didn’t even know we would need that song.

Q: Does it often happen that you sing a song and later you realise that it was actually meant for you more than for the people you were singing to?

LB: It happens quite frequently. We released a song recently which we had posted three years ago. It’s a song that we have been singing throughout our lives but only now, after COVID-19, it had a great impact and went viral on social media. The lyrics translated say, All who thirst, come to Christ! I now have a deeper understanding of what the song means.

Q: When you visit a parish, do you integrate your songs into the liturgy?

LS: There is one song of ours, in particular, that is a medley of communion hymns. Whether we can play it or sing it at Mass, depends on the circumstances. We have music that incorporates the liturgy of the Church. We visited a lot of parishes before lockdown and we sang our songs. It was amazing!

Q: At other Christian churches, such as Christian Revival Church or Hillsong, there are either large groups or one-person leading worship. In your opinion, is there room for it in the Catholic Church or is our current choir type more appropriate?

LB: There is power in both! Choirs and the singular worship movement of Hillsong-type churches are both essential. They play a different role and move the soul in a different way. In terms of the structure of the Mass, it has the capacity to accommodate both. A worship team or a single person can be used during communion or collection times, versus the moment of the Kyrie and Gloria. It would require a shift in mind-set because the Church is not used to that type of sound and one can risk creating the perception that one wants to do a solo, or be a diva during the liturgy.

LS: At the end of the day, it is about connecting people to God through music; whether it is the Hillsong route or the choir route. At St Hubert, we have played both roles, not only because we had the instruments, but also had songs where one person could lead. It depends on the structure and how you go about doing it, but there is room for implementing anything that brings one closer to God.

Q: Are you ‘accepted’ outside the Church?

LS: The reception has been amazing. We actually have a song called Kwake kwathi, speaking about the Annunciation to Mary by Angel Gabriel. We released that song in 2017 and it is loved by people who aren’t even Catholics. This showed us that there is something about our Catholic teachings and hymns that is needed in the greater world and we are here teaching people about the message of God through our music.

The contemporary nature of our ministry speaks to people who are active members of the Church, to those struggling to return as well as to people who aren’t even church-goers. We need to draw people back to the Church, not only in a way that says ‘come back to Church’, but firstly says ‘come back to God!’.

Q: How do you evaluate social media and its influence on the youth? What is your opinion about the online contents of the industry in which you are involved?

LB: We come from a corporate background and always think of branding. We take that into our Catholicism and what we do on social media where you are your own brand. The various platforms have helped us to connect and reach people across the world. It has its pros, but the youth often forget that it does also have bad repercussions if misused. It all depends on the content you put out there. So, you can go viral for good or for bad things, it is your choice as a youth, how you want the world to receive you.

LS: Just as the Church saw the need of online platforms, especially during lockdown for Masses, we also used platforms to give people hope throughout the pandemic. We hosted rosary evenings daily. We called it “Rosary for an end to the Corona Virus.” We prayed with people and asked God and Mother Mary to intervene in the situation. Later, when we stopped, people would ask us to pick it up again. We can use social media in a positive way, to enrich people’s lives.

Q: What are your dreams as The Light Twins?

LS: Our names give weight to the calling that we have, which is to shine the light of Christ through our music and any form of ministry. Apart from that, we are also full-time workers. Lebone is in project management and I am in business management and communications. From a career point of view, our hope is to advance in our careers, to have our own businesses and to partner with many people, particularly in the fashion industry. For the ministry, we hope to sing for the Pope one day!

Q: What are the challenges you face on this journey?

LB: What we are doing in the Church is not really popular as people are used to choirs. We were among the first few solo-artists in our Church. In the Gospel industry, we are probably among the youngest. Gospel is often done by older people so, to get respect from the elders is tricky. The way we sound is also very different because we come from a Catholic background. We don’t raise our voices the way other singers do and, we can be perceived as not worshiping enough, because of that.

LS: We have received a lot of ridicule and criticism, with claims that we are trying to be Protestant, but all we try is to bring people closer to God. Sometimes people don’t hear our Catholic hymns despite them being so rich. It is like praying the Hail Mary and not paying attention to the words. We might not sing all eleven verses of a common hymn, but rather the three that touch us, singing them in a way that someone can really listen to and not just hear it.

Q: Do you collaborate with other musical groups?

LS: We have collaborated with a few other Catholic artists. Recently, we had The Music Extravaganza at Regina Mundi Catholic Church, in Soweto, to fundraise for the building of a Marian Shrine in the Archdiocese. We have also collaborated on a song with an artist from Pretoria Archdiocese. We featured a Catholic poet in one of our songs. We have worked with many artists. We have not yet had the opportunity to feature a choir, but we want to. We are also going to be featured in a song with a Hip Hop artist in the mainstream Gospel space.

Q: What impact do you think Catholic authored music and its specific sound makes in the Gospel industry and in the music industry at large?

LB: Because of the powerful lyrics and music we have as Catholics, we find Gospel artists from other denominations taking our hymns and making them their own. It’s time that we, Catholic artists, take our music, which has so much depth, to the world. We have so much to give.

LS: I think it’s also in the packaging. Our neighbour heard us sing and asked which Church we attend. We said that we were Catholics. She replied that we do not sound Catholic. As much as it was a compliment, it made me wonder, what does Catholic sound like? But it showed me that there was something that appealed to them. As Catholics, we need to package our music in a way that any person (who is not a Catholic) will be able to hear and understand.

Q: Is your music addressed to the youth or to people of all ages?

LB: We are young and we try to make our music appealing to the young people. Fortunately, we have been able to get buy-in from the young people due to the sound we are ‘selling’, but adults are also drawn to our music. It is nice to know that we can speak to the youth and to the adults alike. When we perform on radio, people in our space always ask: ‘who is your target audience?’, our answer is that we don’t have one because we want to reach everyone. This is what makes our music quite unique, because it is not youth-orientated or adult-orientated.”

LS: Most of our supporters are older people. Whenever we are on Radio Veritas, all the people that call in are elderly. They love our music. We find that so amazing because if we get blessings from our elders, we know that God is blessing us.

LB: We are followers of the fourth Commandment, so when adults give you their stamp of approval, you know you are doing something right. It is just as touching when we go to a parish and twelve- or thirteen-year-old children tell us that they are inspired by our work and look up to us. We are making a positive impact on the youth.

LS: Their being inspired goes beyond trying to get into a solo act. Many are asking how to start a choir. The work that we do inspires people to do better for the Church as a whole.

Q: What support have you experienced from your Church or the community at large?

LB: We have been so blessed! Every time we knocked at parishes and ask to render some items, everybody opened their doors to us. We are also freely allowed to sell our CDs. In 2019, we had a launch and the bulk of the attendees were our parishioners. To know that we are supported at home is always beautiful.

LS: Another Catholic organisation that supports us is Radio Veritas. They play our music all the time. It helps us reach people we don’t usually reach, which is phenomenal. Beyond this, posting on social media is the kind of support that can be given to groups like ours. It greatly assists us to reach more people.

Q: How could the Church be more outreaching?

LB: People have to be ready to receive you before they are willing to share what you have to give. If you love our music, post it or share one of our songs with others.

LS: Online Mass has been working, and it is not only for lockdowns, but even for those who cannot attend church on Sundays. It can assist the Church to reach more people.

God used us as a vessel to give someone hope and faith

Q: What advice would you give to young people who are aspiring to do what you are doing?

LB: We always say ‘yes, you can!’ as Barack Obama said. A lot of people don’t believe in themselves. It’s so important to find your voice and niche. Everybody has something to offer. Our society often focuses on the negative and not on what people can actually do. We always tell the youth that they can make a difference in their family, community and church. We say, ‘Just get started and forget about the nay-sayers’.

LS: My advice would be to stay in your lane. There is something about being yourself. God called you for a reason. Someone once said: “It wasn’t a conference call when God called you”. That is what Lebone and I remind ourselves of when people ridicule and criticize the work we do. We rest in the fact that our fruits will follow us, and we always see the fruits. In a prayer session one lady said that after praying with us, her dad woke up from a coma. That was amazing! God used us as a vessel to give someone hope and faith. So, we already know that there is something we do that no one else can do. There is a reason why God called The Lights to do what they are doing and someone else to do what they do. So I say “stay in your lane and don’t compare yourself to other people because God made you to be you.” Even Lebone and I have different voices. She must play her role and I must play mine and God just makes magic.