Bonteheuwel is a working class township on the outskirts of Cape Town. Matthews Catholic Church in Bonteheuwel was blessed and opened in 1964. Almost forty years later, in September 2002, His Grace Lawrence Henry the Archbishop of Cape Town officially dedicated it and later entrusted to the care of Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales.

We get Job!

What kind of Job ?

Naturally, there were apprehensions with Fr. Job’s appointment as Parish Priest. There were also expectations. The apprehension soon faded as the months passed and became years. Our parish was gradually being transformed from a mere faith community to faith community with action. The structures/societies of the parish were re-instituted, the parish pastoral council was elected and each of the six parish councillors were tasked with one of the following ministries, 1) Family life, 2) Social upliftment, 3) Property management, 4) Youth, 5) Catechism and 6) Evangelizing the unchurched.

Job does good Job !

The appointment of Fr. Job was like a breath of fresh air as the parish was coming to terms with the results of the oppression it had suffered under apartheid and the beginning of a democracy appearing to be torn apart by gangsterism, drugs, alcohol, unemployment and other social evils. A new chapter had dawned in the history of our parish with the appointment of Fr. Job.

In the news bulletin  Out of Africa, Volume I 2004, the editors Frs. Johnson and Thomas articulated the concept of “Daring to be different”. As mentioned by the editors, the title of the news letter was inspired by the movie “Out of Africa’. This brought home the point about our faith to me and that even our differences are often the very fabric that can bind us together as human beings and the people of God because of our common faith. Here was a man from a different country, culture, language and who has left behind his loved ones to be appointed to a community that he had very little knowledge about or no contact with prior to his appointment as parish priest of St. Matthews. This parish is a coloured (mixed race) community that originated in the sixties given the apartheid regime’s forceful removal policies and laws of removing blacks and coloureds from various areas to race designated townships.

We are happy with our Job!

In hindsight, one can see the wisdom of Fr. Job, as his approach was an attempt to address the challenges faced by our parish. Gangsterism, alcohol, drugs, poverty and teenage pregnancies are destroying our families and youth. Catechism was to become the focal point to strengthen our community and social upliftment to ensure that we do not only pray but also do as a community. The evangelization was approached in visiting Catholics in the parish who no longer attended Mass. Mass would then be arranged in a home in the area and people would be invited to attend Mass in their area.   The church and the vicinity were revitalized and beautified. Our economic situation in the parish has also improved considerably. The youth remain a challenge but a positive challenge. 

May god bless Job and his team!

As a parish, our apprehensions and expectations have become irrelevant as we are experiencing one of the most beautiful seasons in the life of our faith sharing community and we thank Almighty God who has blessed us with a priest who has reminded us how to love, how to be patient and to see Jesus in whoever we come across irrespective of creed, race, language or class. His living example speaks volumes. May God continue to bless the good work He has started with the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales. May St. Francis de Sales the Patron together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Founder of the congregation, the venerable Fr. Peter Marie Mermier intercede for all the missionaries. May the works of the Missionaries always bear fruit. 

Mr. Mark Seale, Parishioner, St. Matthews Bonteheuwel, Cape Town