Fourways · Johannesburg
We need a Catholic church in Fourways.
Catholics in Fourways drive to Bryanston, Northriding or Rivonia for Mass. The Archdiocese has asked for real numbers, so please join the count. Everyone counts, practising or not, family or on your own.
25 areas around Fourways have no Catholic church within a reasonable distance in any direction. A parish here would fill that gap rather than divide an existing congregation.
The story so far
On behalf of Catholic families in Fourways: a church or chapel, and a priest to serve the community here.
Our letter was tabled with the Archdiocesan Consultors, who agreed that more investigation should be done. The Cardinal asked us: how many families, what ages, where do they worship now, is the area growing, and could the community support a parish and a priest?
Every family counted is part of the answer. This is the whole purpose of this page.
The areas a Fourways parish would serve
One site we have seen
Open in Maps →A property in Chartwell with open land, an existing building and large covered outdoor areas. It sits very close to the main road running from Broadacres to Chartwell, a route taxis run along, so it is reachable without a car as well as with one. We mention it as an example that suitable and accessible sites exist in the area. Any decision about a site rests with the Archdiocese, subject to its own assessment, zoning and due diligence.
Families of Fourways
“It can be up to thirty minutes each way, depending on which parish and what time you go. A church in Fourways would change our week.”
“My biggest struggle is my kids' catechism classes. They are mid-week evenings, so we rush from work through rush-hour traffic, and it affects attendance heavily.”
“If you work, daily Mass is not an option. Northriding is 6:15am and Bryanston is 8am. One is impossible if your school run goes the other way, and by the other you are already at work.”
News & updates
Questions
Is this an official Archdiocesan project?
No. This is a lay initiative of Catholic families in Fourways, within the Archdiocese of Johannesburg. The decision about a church and a priest rests entirely with the Archdiocese. Our part is to answer the questions we were asked, accurately.
Does this take anything away from Bryanston, Northriding or Rivonia?
No. Those parishes sit south and east of Fourways. The families this would serve are the ones to the north and west, toward Broadacres, Chartwell, Diepsloot, Cosmo City and Lanseria, who at present have no Catholic church near them in any direction.
Are you collecting money?
No. Nothing is collected and there is nothing to pay. The Cardinal asked whether this community could support a parish and a priest, so we ask what families could commit if a parish were established. It is an indication, not a payment, and it is not binding.
What happens to our information?
It is used to prepare the submission to the Archdiocese and nothing else. We publish totals only, never individual details, and we never ask for children's names or dates of birth, only how many. See the privacy notice.
Do I have to be Catholic to be counted?
No. Count yourself in if you are Catholic, if you were raised Catholic and have drifted, if one person in your home is Catholic and the rest are not, or if you are simply drawn to the Catholic faith and would like to know more. We record where each household stands separately, so the figure we give the Archdiocese stays accurate, and so we can show that a parish here would grow rather than only move people from one church to another.
Why does the number of households matter so much?
It is the first thing we were asked. The Archdiocese once owned a site in this area and sold it, since a church here was not thought viable at the time. Fourways has changed a great deal since then, and the count is how we show that.