South African couple: We are blessed to be in Philadelphia

A South African couple attending the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, USA has said that troubled South African families need healing through support groups and prayer groups.

Ignatia and Ali Motiang who are members of the Pretoria Archdiocese’s family ministry in South Africa told Vatican Radio’s envoy in Philadelphia, Albert Mianzoukouta that they feel privileged and happy to be part of the World Meeting of Families which started on Tuesday 22 September, this week and concludes with Holy Mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis Sunday, 27 September at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

“In south Africa the number of broken families is growing. There is lack of dialogue in some families; our children are frustrated and angry as a result. There is also the problem of violence in some families. All these call for healing and support groups. We have to lend a hand to troubled families so that they too can feel the effect of having Christ in their lives and homes. If we have support and prayer groups in parishes, these would go a long way in bringing harmony to troubled families.

The situation of families in South Africa is often said to be extremely complex and one that defies generalisation, in part due to the legacy of apartheid whose consequences are still felt today.

The apartheid migrant labour system divided and alienated black African families. Husbands or wives often had to seek work in big cities while their families remained in the rural homelands or ‘Bantustans’ to be raised by grandparents or relatives.

Single-parent households, as elsewhere in the world, are also prevalent in South Africa. 

As in many countries, poverty, HIV/AIDS have also taken their toll on South African family-life.  In a February interview with Radio Vatican, in Rome, the Archbishop of Johannesburg, Buti Tlhagale told this author of the Church’s concern for orphaned and child-headed homes in South Africa. These, said Archbishop Buti, were households where an older sibling was caring and fending for younger brothers and sisters. The Church sees this as an added burden on children who themselves need guidance. Archbishop Buti regretted the fact that the extended family system for which Africa is known was disintegrating in preference to the nuclear family.

The concept of the nuclear family is seen mostly as a Western notion. Most Africans societies speak of the extended families as comprising uncles, aunties, cousins and other close relatives. Since many African countries do not have well-developed welfare and social security arrangements these familial ties need strengthening. Notwithstanding challenges, the extended family system endures in Africa particularly in times of crisis such as death and sickness as well as at significant moments such as marriage, naming ceremonies and so on.

The World Meeting of Families and Saturday’s Festival of Families in Philadelphia are an international celebration of family, community, and faith. The Holy Father joins families of the world to respond with compassion to the challenges they face. It is Pope Francis’ way of reaffirming the love that is shared in families. As he has often said in his Wednesday audience catechesis, even with the brokenness in families, there is no perfect family. For Pope Francis, family is living together as “an art, a patient, beautiful and fascinating journey … which can be summarised in three words: please, thank you and sorry.”

It is no wonder Ignatia and her husband, Ali Motiang were keen to emphasise that, “we feel truly blessed to be at this historical meeting of families in Philadelphia. We see it as a blessing from the Almighty,” the South African couple said.

(Paul Samasumo, Vatican Radio)

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