On World Mission Sunday, the Missionaries of Africa (M.Afr), commonly known as the White Fathers, celebrated 50 years of service in South Africa with a solemn and joyful Golden Jubilee Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg.

The Mass was presided over by Cardinal Stephen Brislin, Archbishop of Johannesburg, and concelebrated by Fr. Christian Mulenga M.Afr, Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of Africa, alongside diocesan clergy, religious sisters, and seminarians. Among those present were Bishop Jan de Groef M.Afr of Bethlehem diocese and Fr Hugh O’Connor, Secretary General of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC).

Animated by the Malawian Catholic community of Johannesburg, the celebration recalled the congregation’s beginnings in 1972, when the first missionaries arrived to minister to Malawian mineworkers. Hymns in English and Chichewa filled the Cathedral, reflecting the multicultural roots of their mission.

A Legacy of Service and Witness

Reflecting on the meaning of the Jubilee, Fr. Mulenga M.Afr, who leads the Missionaries of Africa in Southern Africa, said the day was both a celebration and a renewal of their missionary calling. He explained that they first came to South Africa in 1972 “to accompany the Malawians who were working in the mines” and that, fifty years later, “it is very encouraging” to see the community gather with the Cardinal, bishops, and faithful to give thanks.

He noted that the congregation’s work has gone beyond evangelisation, embracing human development, justice, and interreligious dialogue. “It is really very significant for us that this Jubilee coincides with Mission Sunday, the Jubilee Year of Hope, and the implementation phase of Synodality,” he said, adding that their charism continues to touch lives through pastoral initiatives that promote food security, education, clean water, and the fight against human trafficking.

Fr. Mulenga M.Afr also reflected that this year’s celebration carries special meaning because the Missionaries of Africa are also marking “200 years since the birth” of their “founder, Cardinal Charles Lavigerie.” He said that being under the protection of Mary, especially during the month of the Rosary, deepens their sense of gratitude and mission.

Vocations and the Future

Looking ahead, the Zambian-born Provincial, expressed both hope and concern about local vocations. While he is encouraged by many vocations in Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, he admitted that “so far none have come from South Africa.” He said this absence is “a challenge” for both the congregation and the “local Church,” and he hopes and prays that “one day we will have a Missionary of Africa from South Africa.”

Thanksgiving and Renewal

Among those who have witnessed the Missionaries’ growth over the years is Bishop Jan de Groef M.Afr, now shepherd of the Diocese of Bethlehem, who served in various communities soon after their arrival in the 1970s. He described the Jubilee as “a moment of thanksgiving for all we have been able to do because it’s through God’s grace that we worked in different places and contributed to the local Church through our presence.”

Bishop de Groef M.Afr also underlined the missionary identity of every baptized Christian, reminding the faithful that “through baptism we are all called and sent.” He said the Church “must not be inward-looking but open,” because “our family is bigger than just the local Church.”

In his closing remarks, Cardinal Brislin expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the local Church and the Bishops’ Conference. He said his message was “a very heartfelt thank you and congratulations to the Missionaries of Africa,” recognising their commitment to justice, unity, dialogue, and inclusion. The Cardinal commended them for being “bridge-builders” who reach out to the vulnerable and the forgotten, saying this is the kind of witness “the Church in South Africa is called to embody.”

Voices of Missionary Hope

The celebration also drew many religious sisters who have worked closely with the Missionaries of Africa. Sister Peninah Kamau of the Missionary Sisters of the Assumption said that her message to all missionaries is the same as the Gospel message of the day: “to pray continually and never lose hope.” She acknowledged the many challenges missionaries face but said that perseverance and prayer are what keep the Church’s mission alive.

Sister Mary Joseph of the Franciscan Sisters of Siessen described the day as “very historical,” noting that “having missionaries from other countries” working in South Africa is “a gift.” She said her message to fellow missionaries is “not to be fearful” but to be “fearless, to go beyond boundaries, and to continue evangelising as our founders taught us.”

Continuing the Charism of Cardinal Lavigerie

Founded in 1868 by Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, the Missionaries of Africa are known for their white habit — a gandoura and burnous — which earned them the nickname “White Fathers.”

Today, members of the congregation in South Africa represent 16 nationalities and serve across Durban, Kimberley, Johannesburg, and Bethlehem, working in parishes, educational institutions, and formation centres such as St Joseph’s Institute in Cedara and Merrivale Formation Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.

As the Jubilee celebration concluded, the missionaries sang together in gratitude, while Cardinal Brislin blessed them for continuing to “keep the note” of their founding spirit alive — a charism of justice, dialogue, and unity that has endured for fifty years in South Africa.