Our Lady Flight Into Egypt ~ Mary is honoured as the Chief Patron of our Diocese of Port Elizabeth. In accordance with the official liturgical Pastoral Guide it is therefore elevated to a solemnity (big feast) for the local church and celebrated on the Sunday that occurs on 4th February or between the 4th and 10th February each year.

sT. KIZITO’S PROGRAM FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREn

 

INTRODUCTION

During 2001 Bishop Coleman called together all stakeholders and interested parties in the Catholic Diocese of Port Elizabeth to discuss the problem of orphans and vulnerable children affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic in order to find a holistic solution to the ever increasing plight of these children. He requested the Sodality of St. Anne to collaborate with the diocese to set up centres of assistance in those parishes in which they had sodality branches. The diocese now supervises and assists in the administration of 12 branches in township and rural areas.

AIM OF ST. KIZITO’S / ST. ANNE’S PROGRAM

The aim of this program is to:

Offer basic assistance to orphans and vulnerable children, such as meals five days per week.
Offer after school care in those centres where facilities are available, e.g. to help with homework after school and allow smaller children to play in a safe environment .
Assist with the purchase of school uniforms, clothing, bus or taxi fares to school and school fees.
Assist children to obtain birth certificates, identity documents and social grants where applicable, in collaboration with suitably qualified social workers and to be able to take new children into the project to replace any who started receiving grants.
Collaborate with Hospices in those centres which also offered hospice care for children already invested with HIV/Aids.
Place children in foster care with parish families or members of the Sodality of St. Anne.
Assist parishes with the available land to establish vegetable gardens to supplement daily meals with fresh vegetables.

AREAS SERVED

The following areas are currently served by this project:
KWANOBUHLE: 160 children
DIMBAZA: 53 children
DUNCAN VILLAGE: 1500 children are fed at 7 feeding points. Vegetable garden have been and are in the process of being established on church properties in various areas of Mdantsane.
KWAZAKHELE: 220 children. A vegetable garden has been established on the church property.
NEW BRIGHTON: 110 children.
PEFFERVILLE: 250 children. This project receives some help from the city parishes and Catholic Women’s League in East London.
MDANTSANE: 118 children. Although under the St. Kizito’s program this branch is cared for by volunteer women of the parishes not affiliated to the Sodality of St. Anne.
PHUMLANI: 45 children
ZWIDE: A new centre has recently been opened for 20 children and is expected to grow substantially once additional funding is made available.
KEISKAMMAHOEK: A new centre has also recently opened here for approximately 50 children.
PORT ALFRED: The Assumption Sisters with the help of the St. Vincent de Paul Society distribute food parcels to children affected by HIV/Aids.

ASSISTANCE REQUESTED
Some funding is received through the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) for certain aspects of the children’s welfare, e.g. counseling, school uniforms, fees, etc. but much more is needed to purchase food and clothing. If you are willing to assist please write to diofund@telkomsa.net and details will be forwarded to you.

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