Johannesburg, South Africa – March 2025 –The Salesian community of Johannesburg led a Salesian Missionary Week at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Port Elizabeth from March 18 to 23.

Salesian Bro. Clarence Watts, Fr. Odise Lazri, and Fr. Alberto Villalba, the Rector of the community, guided the parishioners through various discussions on themes of hope, family life, ecology, and reconciliation.

This mission had three key purposes:

Celebrating 150 years since the first Salesian missionaries were sent by Don Bosco. Expressing gratitude to St. Joseph’s Parish, which has produced two Salesian vocations: Fr. Chris Sharpe and Bro. Clarence Watts. Spreading Salesian charism in a non-Salesian settings, in alignment with the Jubilee of Hope celebrations.

As part of the mission, the Salesians also visited the sick and blessed around 60 homes. The event concluded with a special day dedicated to the youth of the parish, centered on the theme: “Young Pilgrims of Hope.”