Soweto AIDS Mass

The Catholic Church is at the forefront of the Faith based sectors response to AIDS. Yhe Church has a Network of more than 140 programmes throughout South Africa, Swaziland and Botswana.At the end of 2003, the SACBC AIDS office entered into its largest endevour to date: In partnership with Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Medical Mission Board, it accessed PEPFAR funding from the US Government enabeling it to provide ARV treatment in 22 approved Church Sites. By the end of 2004, 20 of these sites were fully operational. The Mass was celebrated on the 30th of January 2005, to celebrate this accomplishment, and the theme represents the Church's response to AIDS in Southern Africa; "The Church Confronts the Stigma of HIV, Celbrating Communities of Care"