Francistown, 29 June, 2022 / 10:35 am (ACI Africa).
The Catholic Bishop of Francistown Diocese in Botswana has highlighted the ministry toward migrants and refugees in his Episcopal See where members of the Clergy and women Religious offer “spiritual, emotional and physical needs”.
In an interview with ACI Africa, Bishop Anthony Pascal Rebello also spoke about the countries of origin migrants and refugees under his pastoral care, saying, “Majority of the people in those camps hail from Burundi, Angola, Zimbabwe and Uganda.”
“This diocese is a welcoming diocese; the Sisters and the Priests are welcoming, and they have been visiting the detention center and the refugee center,” the Local Ordinary of Botswana’s Francistown Diocese told ACI Africa June 24, and added, “I personally have visited both the centers and they are in my heart.”
Bishop Rebello highlighted the kind of apostolate at the detention and refugee centers, including undocumented people on the move detained at Dukwi Refugee Camp. He said, “The Church is doing a lot of work in assisting the migrants and refugees. We see to their spiritual, emotional and physical needs. We are also working towards offering spiritual help.”
The member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) made reference to the four verbs that Pope Francis has used in relation to refugees and migrants, namely, welcoming, accompanying, promoting, and integrating them in communities.