Michael Rua – A mission situated in Randvaal, Gauteng

Our Goals:

To be the local Christian centre with quality education for all
To develop the youth’s potential through learning
To provide skills to upgrade their lives and that of the community
To inspire our youth to be honest, caring and enthusiastic members of societ

Our Methods:

The school seeks to be a welcoming, caring environment that strives to promote good, sound education and spiritual growth in close interaction between all the stakeholders in education.

Our History:

In 1951 a primary school was opened for the children of the families of farm workers and domestic employees in the valley between Walkerville and Daleside.

The Salesians kept this school going through the years of so-called Bantu Education, without any Government assistance. After Bosco College closed in 1993, much was invested in improving the facilities, and eventually obtained some assistance from the State. In the last decade, the school grew to include up to grade 10, as a Catholic Public school on private property, and was zero-fee rated. The number of learners increased to nearly 1000 under the dedicated direction of Fr Dino Miotto SDB who was principal from 1994-2010.

From January 2013, the Education Department decided to reduce Michael Rua school to a primary school and the inter-mediate learners have regrettably moved to other local High Schools.

The school now has approximately 600 learners up to Grade 7. Br Victor Ndlovu SDB and Br Raphael Bhembe SDB from Bosco House community nearby are currently on the teaching staff.

Blessed Michael Rua (1837-1910)

The Southern African province or region, which includes South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho, has Blessed Michael Rua as its patron. Born on 9 June 1837, the last of nine children. He entered Don Bosco’s Oratory in 1852. Don Bosco told him: “We will go halves in everything.”

He was among the first few with whom Don Bosco shared the idea of forming the ‘Salesian Society’. For 36 years he was Don Bosco’s closest collaborator in the development of the Congregation. He was ordained a priest in 1860, and amongst many other important offices, he was the companion of Don Bosco on his many journeys.

At the explicit request of Don Bosco, Pope Leo XIII nominated him to succeed Don Bosco as Rector Major in 1888. Fr Rua was seen as the ‘living Rule’ because of his austere fidelity, yet he also displayed a fatherly spirit that was capable of great thoughtfulness, so much so that he was known as ‘a king of kindness.’

As the numbers of members and communities increased he sent Salesians all over the world, showing special care for the missionary expeditions. In the long journeys which he undertook to visit the Salesian works in Europe and in the Middle East, he was a constant source of comfort and encouragement, always referring to our Founder: “Don Bosco used to say… Don Bosco used to do it this way… Don Bosco wanted…”

When he died, on 6th April 1910 at the age of 73 (same age as Don Bosco!), the Society had grown from 773 to 4000 Salesians, from 57 to 364 communities, from 6 to 34 Provinces in 33 countries.

During the Beatification ceremony on 29th October 1972, Pope Paul VI declared “The Salesian Family had its origin in Don Bosco, its continuity in Don Rua… He made the example of Don Bosco into a school, his Rule into a spirit, his holiness into a model; he transformed a spring into a river.” His body is venerated in the crypt of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin and his memory is celebrated on 29th October.

How can you help?

Without financial Government assistance we depend entirely on donations and fundraising events to feed, accommodate and educate the children in our care. Donations, sponsorship, organising a fundraising event or volunteering are what keeps this programme running. Having read the brief description above about the work we do, and if you are able to help us please visit our donations page, thank you.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE A DONATION

CONTACT US

Thank you so much for taking the time to browse around our web site – which projects just a touch of the enormous challenges we face and work with, an impossible undertaking without your financial assistance. If you are interested in more detailed information on any given project, or want to simply make contact, please do so by filling in the form below – the information is strictly confidential and will not be used for spam or redistribution.

Denise Hards: missionoffice@bucknet.co.za
Fax: +27 (0)11 476 8315

” S a l e s i a n M i s s i o n s a r e e t e r n a l l y g r a t e f u l f o r a l l s u p p o r t & d o n a t i o n s t o w a r d s o u r m i s s i o n p r o j e c t s”