Apostles for Today
April - 2025
"I came so that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Jubilee of the Sick and the World of Healthcare
In this Jubilee of the Sick and World of Healthcare which will be held on 5th and 6th of April 2025, we celebrate the precious gift of life and the enduring hope that comes from compassionate care, guided by the belief that every person deserves not just survival but abundance of life.
John 10:10 makes a powerful declaration: “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly.” This statement, firmly rooted in Christian theology, provides vital insights into the essence of human existence and underscores the pivotal role of healthcare in achieving a truly abundant life.
St. Joseph’s Home, South Africa To bear witness to this divine healing power of God I wish to present to you St. Joseph’s Home in Cape Town, South Africa which is a home for chronically ill children. It was founded by the dedicated Pallottine Missionary Sisters who travelled in 1923 from Germany to South Africa. Rooted in their mission service, they established schools, nursery schools, sewing classes, district nursing and orphanages. In 1935 with the vision of Late Rev. Bishop Francis Hennemann, SAC along with sisters transformed an empty presbytery in Philip, Cape Town into a sanctuary for the sick. Starting with just eleven patients, the veranda became a ward for children battling tuberculosis. This beginning was the seed of a legacy that continues to thrive. For 90 years St. Joseph’s Home has walked alongside vulnerable children and their families, offering holistic care that restores health, uplifts spirit and renews hope. This sacred mission continues today as we embrace each life with unwavering faith in its potential, honouring the dignity and beauty of every individual entrusted to our care.
Evolving to meet the complex needs of children, St. Joseph’s Home is now a 175-bed facility offering multidisciplinary, transitional care to those with life-limiting or life-threating conditions such as cerebral palsy, infectious diseases, neurology and oncology. Over the past 90 years, St. Joseph’s has been a bridge between hospital and home for medically fragile children. At the core of our mission is the unwavering commitment to putting the child’s needs first providing free care in a nurturing, schooling and loving environment infused with Christian compassion.
Hope in the Face of Despair
For individuals facing serious illness, John 10:10 offers a profound message of hope, assuring us of healing and the promise of eternal life. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in nurturing this hope and supporting patients and their families through difficult times. Faith-based organizations, like St. Joseph's, provide not only medical care but also essential emotional and spiritual support, significantly enhancing the health and well-being of underserved communities worldwide.
A Vision for the Future
In John 10:10 we are presented with a powerful vision for accessible quality healthcare, where suffering is reduced and life flourishes for all. Achieving this vision requires collaboration among governments, healthcare providers, and communities to foster a just and compassionate world. By embracing compassion, equity, and holistic healthcare, we can address the root causes of ill health and work towards realizing the promise of abundant life for everyone. Of compassion, equity, and holistic healthcare and by working together to address the root causes of ill health, we can strive to create a world where the promise of abundant life is realized for all.
St. Vincent Pallotti and his Care for the Sick
We are also this year commemorating the Pallottine Jubilee year. Let us glance into some incidents of Pallotti’s life and his compassion for the sick and suffering during his time. Father Vincent showed deep compassion for the sick, especially the poor, seeing Christ in them. He dedicated himself to their spiritual and material relief, expressing a desire to be a source of strength and healing for those suffering. He once advised a woman whom doctors had given up on to pray to the Madonna, and she miraculously recovered shortly after. The doctor, upon hearing this, remarked that Father Vincent must have visited her, as he often encouraged the sick to trust in God's goodness. On one occasion, he was called to the bedside of a man who had lost the power of speech and consciousness. After praying, he encouraged others to pray as well, and when he returned, the man had regained his speech long enough for confession before losing it again.
One day, a nurse asked him to visit a patient with a violent temper. Approaching cautiously, Father Pallotti managed to engage the man by slipping a biscuit into his mouth during an outburst, preventing further verbal attacks while he encouraged him to make peace with God. In another instance, he visited a dying revolutionary who threatened any priest with a pistol. Waiting for darkness, Father Pallotti disguised himself and placed a Madonna picture under the man’s pillow before revealing his identity. This led to the man, once hostile, reconciling him with God and receiving the Holy Viaticum before he died.
Pope Francis beautifully highlights the connection between faith, love, and service. He reminds us that faith isn't complete without love, and love without service is not genuine. As we commemorate these jubilee years with great devotion let us join together in celebrating the strength, resilience and the compassionate face of humanity that shines through in the face of illness.
For reflection
1. How can we build a world where compassion heals and abundance of life is the reality for all?
2. Just like St. Joseph’s remains a testament to the power of faith, love and service place where every child’s journey is embraced with hope and healing. In which way can we make our homes and our communities a welcome place of God’s healing power?
In a world caught by suffering and strife, may this Jubilee year of the Church and the Pallottine Jubilee year, be a powerful testimony of God’s power to take charge of us. In return may our words and actions be a testimony of the same healing and Divine power of God’s healing to those we encounter.
Lesley Liddle,
Head of Business Development St. Joseph’s Home,
Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town, South Africa
Sr. Mahija Bridget SAC,
Pallottine Missionary Sister, South Africa
Piazza San Vincenzo Pallotti, 204 00186 Roma, ITALIA
Tel: (+39) 393.556 0794 E-mail: uacgensec@gmail.com
Tel: (+39) 393.556 0794 E-mail: uacgensec@gmail.com