Visiting St. Faustina Parish in Rebone
by Anne Marie Cox | January 20, 2025
As the music of church hymns floated out of open windows, Father Ray McHenry stepped out of a car and was greeted with warm hugs, handshakes, and many, many smiles before celebrating Mass at St. Faustina, a church in rural South Africa, on Sunday.
The retired Des Moines diocesan priest was on his 10th annual visit to witness and take part in sharing the Gospel with Blessman International in South Africa. It was his second time at this church, built and dedicated last year in his honor.
Leading a mission to South Africa the second week of January has become a calling.
“I feel pulled to come back,” he said. “I like the people. I like the country, and I like the experiences here. I want to keep coming back.”
It is missionary work.
“We’re doing the Corporal Works of Mercy,” he said
When friends wanted to honor his legacy of building bridges and relationships between St. Francis of Assisi Parish in West Des Moines, and South Africa, Blessman International’s founder, Dr Jim Blessman, looked for a project appropriate to honor Father McHenry. Polokwane Bishop Jeremiah Madimetja Masela suggested a new worship site for the growing community in the northwest South African town of Rebone. The parish’s church at the time was little more than a small, tin building. It’s in a grouping of 22 churches served by only two priests. They have Mass about once every six weeks but gather every Sunday to worship and praise God.
In what’s been called a miracle, funding was raised in three weeks and construction was completed in two months - something that could have taken years. The new worship site was built and dedicated this time last year.
Joyful music filled the room, with only a drum, and an homemade drum made from a bucket and bottle caps, for instruments. The choir praised God with gusto, arms raised, swaying to the music. The Church is alive and vibrant everywhere, Father McHenry said.
“There are people in need whom the Church is reaching out to and there are people in need who are happy and faithful,” he said.
As he visited the parish on Sunday, Father McHenry said, “I was so proud to be here last year for the dedication.”
Now, he said, it is important to remember “the building is not the church. You were St. Faustina parish before we put the building up. The church building is not the church. You are the church. You’ve been baptized and commissioned to spread the Gospel: Send me on mission! We’re on mission every day to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
