Who was Denis Hurley
Early Life and Calling
Denis Hurley was a courageous opponent of South Africa’s apartheid regime for 50 years, dubbed by opponents ‘the scourge of Apartheid’ and ‘an ecclesiastical Che Guevara’; the writer Alan Paton (noting Hurley’s father’s profession as a lighthouse keeper) called him the ‘Guardian of the Light’. As well as being a significant figure in the Struggle in South Africa, he also had great international influence within the Catholic Church. He was an instigator and then a champion of the ecclesiastical and liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council which he attended in the 1960s and regarded as the highlight of his life.
Born in Cape Town on 9 November 1915 of Irish parents, he joined the Catholic male religious order, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and was ordained a priest at the age of 24 after studying in Ireland and Rome. In 1947, at the age of only 31, he became the youngest Catholic bishop in the world and was elevated to be Archbishop of Durban in 1951 (and was also the youngest Catholic archbishop at that time).
Standing Against Apartheid
His career as an outspoken opponent of apartheid began in 1951 when, as chair of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, he drafted the first of the ground-breaking pastoral letters in which the bishops denounced apartheid as ‘blasphemy’ and ‘intrinsically evil’.
Eventually along with four other South African religious leaders (including the Anglican Archbishop, Desmond Tutu), he was regarded as one of the South African state’s ‘most wanted’ political opponents. In 1984 he was charged with making false statements about the Koevoet counter-insurgency unit in Namibia. The prosecutor dropped the charges when it became clear that Hurley would be able to prove the truth of his statements.
Later Years and Legacy
He retired as archbishop in 1992, becoming Chancellor of the University of Natal from 1993 to 1998. He continued to work as parish priest of Emmanuel Cathedral well into his eighties and died on 14 February 2004 aged 88. His funeral, held at Kings Park stadium, was a major city event attended by national and international dignitaries and he is buried, following Catholic tradition, in the Cathedral (where he had worked as curate, bishop and administrator for 57 the previous 62 years), just to the right of the main altar.
Purpose of the DHC
Operating since January 2015, the Denis Hurley Centre has built on a century-long tradition of using this site for Care, Education and Community.
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Early Life and Calling
Denis Hurley was a courageous opponent of South Africa’s apartheid regime for 50 years, dubbed by opponents ‘the scourge of Apartheid’ and ‘an ecclesiastical Che Guevara’; the writer Alan Paton (noting Hurley’s father’s profession as a lighthouse keeper) called him the ‘Guardian of the Light’. As well as being a significant figure in the Struggle in South Africa, he also had great international influence within the Catholic Church. He was an instigator and then a champion of the ecclesiastical and liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council which he attended in the 1960s and regarded as the highlight of his life.
Born in Cape Town on 9 November 1915 of Irish parents, he joined the Catholic male religious order, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and was ordained a priest at the age of 24 after studying in Ireland and Rome. In 1947, at the age of only 31, he became the youngest Catholic bishop in the world and was elevated to be Archbishop of Durban in 1951 (and was also the youngest Catholic archbishop at that time).
Community
Community, because we are at the core of a vibrant and diverse group of people who live happily side by side.
Education
Education, because the Church in this part of the city has for over 100 years been a beacon of education.
We offer a free computer room and other job skills training; and we house a City Museum exhibition focusing on the life and witness of Archbishop Hurley.
Our award-winning Street Lit project promotes literacy by selling second-hand books at affordable prices thereby enabling homeless people to be economically self-sufficient.
We provide Service Learning opportunities for a wide range of students from local universities in areas as diverse as occupational therapy, music, law, chiropractice, social work, homeopathy and counselling.
We welcome groups from schools and churches who want to get to know the Durban inner-city, visit the mosque and cathedral and understand more about social issues in South Africa.
Refugee Pastoral Care run English and Zulu lessons for refugees and help them to get their children registered in local schools.
Our café on the 1st floor used to be run by deaf young adults being trained in catering and business skills. We are currently looking for new ways of using the café.
Projects
The outreach work of the DHC is currently focused on three areas.
All our services are free:
Nkosinathi Project
- Serving breakfast and lunch to 250-300 homeless people every Tues, Weds, Thurs, Saturday and Sunday
- Providing access to showers, ablutions, laundry and clothes
- Offering counselling, family reunification, and practical advice from a social worker
- Preparing people for drug rehabilitation programmes
- Supporting ex-drug users as they return from rehab to life in the city
Usizo Lwethu Clinic
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Providing primary healthcare for homeless people and refugees
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Providing primary healthcare on the streets via a mobile clinic
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Offering testing for HIV and TB and initiating people on life-saving medication
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Advocating for neglected patients in
Government facilities -
Connecting marginalised people with other health services offered by NGOs and universities
Empowerment
- Helping homeless people secure IDs and other documentation
- Accessing training and employment
opportunities where available - Enabling people to create a digital identity for accessing services
- Registering marginalised people as voters and empowering them in the election process
- Training and deploying homeless men and women as second-hand booksellers
Ethos and Values
The Denis Hurley Centre aims to continue the legacy of the life and work of the late Archbishop Denis Hurley in particular by:
- being engaged in the modern world and seeking to build God’s Kingdom here on earth and being, in Hurley’s words, a “community serving humanity”.
- reaching out to the poorest and most marginalised residents of this part of Durban.
- working equally with South Africans and with refugees and migrants from other parts of the Continent.
- honouring and co-operating with people of all faith traditions.
- demonstrating the role of faith-based groups in transforming the city.
- challenging injustice and being a voice for the voiceless.
- finding ways to work with universities and other NGO partners.
- working with Government institutions and corporates while also being willing to challenge them.
We hope that all who use the Centre will respect our vision and ethos.
- Equal respect for all regardless of nationality, race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation or any other respect in which a person might feel marginalised
- An especial concern to reach out and help those who might otherwise feel unwelcome or excluded.
- An active desire to work with people from different communities, racial, religious and national, and to model a way of working that brings people together.
- A professional approach to all that we do demonstrating that the poor deserve quality service no less than the wealthy.
- A collaborative approach to working with the others working at the Denis Hurley Centre (directly employed, outsourced and volunteers) and with the staff and volunteers at the Cathedral.
- Respect for the confidentiality and sensitivity of situations and individuals.
- A desire to challenge injustice, unfairness and corruption.
- The highest standards of propriety with regard to the treatment of funds and assets and transparency in reporting and accountability.
- A commitment to going the extra mile and, where possible, to work beyond the terms of his/her role even if that means an element of personal sacrifice.
Booking rooms at the DHC
Different parts of the Denis Hurley Centre are available for hire, principally:
- The Gandhi-Luthuli Peace Hall
A large airy double volume hall which can accommodate up to 320 people (cinema style), 170 people (banquet style) and can also be fitted out for conferences and weddings* - The Napier Halls
One large hall (capacity of up to 300 people) that can also be subdivided into 3 medium-size rooms (holding 140 or 100 or 60)* - Board Room
(up to 12 people) - Café and Kitchen
(up to 12 people for training) - Computer Room
(up to 8 people)* - Multi-faith prayer room
Capacity for up to 40 people
Advantages of hiring rooms at the Denis Hurley Centre:
- Sense of being part of an innovative community centre
- Exceptionally good access to public transport (bus, local train, taxi)
- Easy access to the motorway (2 mins from the end of the N3)
- Secure paid-for parking in Cathedral grounds and below the Victoria Street market opposite
- Highly visible city-centre location
- Light, airy and modern building
- Air-conditioning available in the halls marked *
- Hire fee that includes use of chairs, tables, PA equipment
- Moderately priced added options for WiFi access, catering and other equipment
- On-site caretaker ensures excellent service even in evenings and at weekends
Bookings
Bookings can be made by contacting Leanne Banks via Whatsapp (+27 84 408 2736) or email leanne@denishurleycentre.org.
Once we have discussed your requirements, checked availability and agreed a price, a 50% deposit is required to confirm your booking. The balance (plus a security against damages) must be paid 5 days before the event.
Monies must be paid directly into the Denis Hurley Centre account and the EFT confirmation e-mailed to admin@denishurleycentre.org. The account details are: Denis Hurley Centre Trust First National Bank Account Number: 62204261002 Branch code: 221426 (Durban Main branch)
Prayer in honour of Archbishop Hurley
Loving Father,
We thank you for the life, vocation and ministry of your servant Denis Hurley, our Bishop, Brother and Friend in Christ.
We pray that his work for justice and peace;
his loving care for the poor and marginalised;
and his vision for a reformed and renewed Church,
may continue to inspire us with increased vigour.
Grant that the gift of the Spirit may enable us to act in harmony
to establish your kingdom in our lives, our work and our world
as we strive to follow Denis Hurley’s motto:
“Where the Spirit is, there is freedom!”
Listen kindly to the intercession of your servant Denis on our behalf,
and grant us the favour of his patronage in your kingdom.
We pray that in Christ your Son, all may be sanctified, all may be one.
Amen.