Topic: " Healing the Wounds of History"

As part of the liberation struggle against apartheid he survived the letter bomb attack and went on to make a massive contribution to healing in the world. He founded theInstitute for Healing of Memories​ and today is the President of the Healing of Memories Global Network​. He is the recipient of the Niwano Peace Award.

Born in New Zealand, ordained to the priesthood in Australia he arrived in Durban in 1973 as an undergraduate student. Soon thereafter, during the height of apartheid, he became a chaplain to students at both black and white universities in Durban. In 1976, he began to speak out on behalf of schoolchildren who were being shot, detained and tortured. The Soweto uprising sparked protests across the country and Fr Michael, as he was known, took a stand as national chaplain to Anglican students.

In September 1976, he was expelled and exiled from the country and went to live in Lesotho, where he continued his studies and became a member of the ANC and a chaplain to the organisation in exile. During this period he traveled the world, mobilising faith communities, in particular, to oppose apartheid and support the liberation struggle.

After a police raid in Lesotho in 1982 in which 42 people were killed, he moved to Zimbabwe. It was here that in 1990, three months after Nelson Mandela's release from prison, Fr Lapsley was sent a letter bomb. He lost both hands and the sight in one eye in the blast, and was seriously burnt. On his return to South Africa in 1992 he helped to start Friends of Cuba, later became its first national president and was awarded the Cuban Friendship Medal.

In 1993, he became Chaplain of the Trauma Centre for Victims of Violence and Torture​in Cape Town​, which assisted the country's TRC​. This work led to the establishment of the Institute for Healing of Memories​ which allows people to tell their stories and work through their trauma with Fr Lapsley working in countries in Africa and across the world. The organisation now works with groups including those affected by political violence; HIV and Aids; refugees & asylum seekers; prisoners & war veterans. He belongs to the Society of the Sacred Mission (SSM), is a graduate of various universities and has 6 honorary doctorates from universities in SA, UK, USA, Australia. He has been awarded the New Zealand Queen's Service Medal​for service to Southern African communities and the WC Government awarded him the Order of the Disa​. He is also Honorary Consul for New Zealand in Cape Town.

For the 5th anniversary of the September 11 attacks​ he joined terror victims from all around the world and families of those killed to create the International Network for Peace​ to promote effective and nonviolent solutions to terrorism. He has many published articles, presentations and interviews, including the book "Priest and Partisan: A South African Journey" by Michael Worsnip​, with a foreword by Nelson Mandela who said of him, "Michael's life represents a compelling metaphor: We read about a foreigner who came to our country and was transformed by what he saw of the injustices of apartheid. His life is part of the tapestry of many long journeys and struggles of our people and "Michael Lapsley's life is part of the tapestry of the many long journeys and struggles of our people."

In 2012, he released his Memoir - Redeeming the Past "My Journey from Freedom Fighter to Healer​. This book will inspire anyone who has had to face hardship, brokenness and adversity. It celebrates the triumph of the human spirit and will encourage readers to face any obstacle with a heart full of courage and forgiveness.

Join us and be inspired by this remarkable man!