That was the unspoken question on everyone’s mind as the members of the Pretoria Archdiocese Catholic Health and Welfare Association (PACHWA) gathered for their Annual General Meeting on Saturday, 8 November 2025. Dressed in their bright pink t-shirts, these volunteers — mostly women — filled the room with warmth, laughter, and a shared purpose: bringing healing, comfort, and compassion to communities where medical aid is out of reach and health-care services are scarce.
PACHWA’s work is rooted in faith and love. Week after week, its members quietly visit the sick, support parish health days, and accompany families struggling with both physical and emotional pain. In parishes on the outskirts of Pretoria — places like Mamelodi and Soshanguve — where clinics are far and transport is costly, their presence has become a gentle source of comfort and care.
Volunteers often accompany those who have lost hope — such as the elderly or those struggling with chronic conditions — reminding us through simple acts of compassion that healing begins with being seen, heard, and supported.
At the AGM, the group celebrated progress in several key areas—nutrition, household visits, and an emerging mental-health ministry that is gently making a difference in people’s lives. With quiet determination, they discussed the way forward: expanding health support across more parishes, training new volunteers, including men and youth, and deepening partnerships with local health professionals.
Each pink t-shirt at the gathering symbolised something greater than a uniform—it represented courage, service, and solidarity. As a proud member of CATHCA (Catholic Health Care Association of Southern Africa), PACHWA forms part of a wider network of faith-driven health and welfare organisations working to reach the most vulnerable. Through their compassion, PACHWA members remind us that health ministry is not only about medicine, but about dignity, hope, and human connection.
As the meeting drew to a close, one could not help but feel inspired by these everyday heroes who continue to serve where it is most needed. Their work is a reminder that even with limited resources, full hearts and willing hands can bring healing and hope to those who need it most.
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