Keeping the light on HIV at St. George's Cathedral

This year AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day took place during the season of Easter. Easter is the season when we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a time to focus on the fact that there is life after death and therefore we can be thankful for life and celebrate it to the fullest. It is also during this season of celebrating life that we are also called to stop and “keep the light on HIV”.

Our Cathedral joined the rest of the world in marking AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day on 18 May. Our young people read special readings and prayers and lit candles to remember all people across the world, in our country and in our Cathedral, who have died of HIV and AIDS. We remembered the many people who are still dying as a result of stigma, late diagnosis and the failure of our health system from time to time.

Approximately 6.1 million South Africans currently live with HIV (UNAIDS, 2012). At our Cathedral, we have people living with HIV amongst our family. CHATT remains committed to supporting people living with and affected by HIV in our Cathedral and to tackling stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with HIV.