About Us
Our History
The Scalabrinian Congregation was established in 1895 as a response to the large immigration influx from Europe to North and South America. Its founder, John Baptist Scalabrini was able to grasp in the social and religious needs of the migrants. Today, The Congregation is an international community of religious serving migrants and refugees of different cultures, religions and ethnicities in 32 countries and on 5 continents. In 1998 missionaries from the Congregation arrived in Johannesburg by invitation of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, to coordinate the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees.
The Beginning...
In 2001, the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of St Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians), initiated the project of Bienvenu Shelter as a result of our commitment in promoting the human dignity and human rights of migrants, and always in cooperation with other organizations such as Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), the Holy Family Sisters and the Comboni Missionary Priests, Refugee Aid Organisation (R.A.O), Sophiatown Community Psychological Services, Lawyers for Human Rights, Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR-Clinic).
Our aim
Our missionary focus is to be migrants with the migrants and to be in mission with people on the move along with a special priority for the poorest and most vulnerable, safeguarding and promoting the dignity and rights of migrants, refugees, internally displaced people, seafarers, itinerants, and people on the move.
List of our volunteers
In order to maintain the Shelter many hands are needed. If you are interesting (interested) in share (sharing) your time and your abilities with us, please do not hesitate to contact us
Yvette Muteba
Creche Teacher
Thandi Ndlovu
General Cleaner Outreach Support
Thandeka Gumbi
Baby Room Teacher
Tabu Ekanje
Volunteer
Sr Maria de Lurdes Lodi Rissini
Volunteer (MSCS)
Sr Lidia Danyluk
Social Worker
Seipati Mofokeng
Night House Mother
Salva Ngolwema
Volunteer Baby Room Cleaner
Rev Philippe Lukusa Lumpunga
Training Administrator
Phindile Masheola
General Coordinator
Philemon Nonyane
Driver
Jacqueline Bloy
Receptionist
Mariquinha Hadebe
Creche Cook Housemother
Lerato Mohone
Communications and Project Assistant
Joseph Kakese
Sewing Teacher
Jean Droit Mabiala
Volunteer Assistant Interpreter English Class
Memory Themba
Reception Volunteer
Agnes Makaringe
House Mother