It is a city built on rocks in a small enclave within the restricted Diamond Area (generally known as Sperrgebiet), in south western Namibia. It is the quaint harbour town with its curious array of historical German– style buildings built during the diamond rush a century ago.

Lüderitz is a quirky town lodged in one of the best harbours on the least hospitable coast in Africa. It was founded in 1883 when Adolf Lüderitz from Bremen, Germany took legal possession of that area. It began to exist as a trading post, fishing and guano-harvesting town, but when diamonds were discovered in 1909 in nearby Kolmanskop, Lüderitz enjoyed a sudden surge of prosperity. Now the diamonds are mostly found elsewhere and offshore, so Lüderitz has reverted to its former self. Its appeal as a town lies in the fact that little has changed since the early 20th century and in fact it has hardly grown at all.

The Roman Catholic Mission at Lüderitz was started by Rev. Fr. Johannes Hetzenecker OSFS in 1910.  During the 16 years of his service at Lüderitz, though living in difficult situation, he worked tirelessly to spread the Gospel message at Lüderitz, and consequently through his friendly approach and serviceable mentality, he commanded great respect in the community.

Until 1925 the Mission building consisted of one Chapel, two rooms, and a Sacristy, which also served as the dining room. In 1925, a portal and a room were added to extend the building. Fr. Hetzenecker was all-in-all: did the cooking, cleaning and laundry all by himself.

In the year 1926 with the arrival of   Rev. Fr. Josef Grünbeck OSFS and who was followed by over a dozen missionaries from the congregation of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales the Mission new  trust of expansion in area and dimension.    The pastoral care was extended up to the Diamond area, like Kolmanskop where they started a German school. It was a flourishing centre during the “diamond era”. Today it is a “Ghost town” – abandoned one - as there is no more habitation. We see the structures staying in isolation resisting the desert sandy wind. Some of the other centres were Charlottental, Elizabethbay and Pomona.   Benguela, Gibeon. In the year 1936, Fr. Grünbeck obtained a permit from the CDM (Consolidated Diamond Mines), to go on a Mission Tour to Oranjemund for the first time

The Sisters of the Missionaries of Sacred Heart (MSC) arrived in Lüderitz on 12 October 1929. In the year 1985 the MSC Sisters left Lüderitz for good, after 56 years of dedicated service to the community at Lüderitz through school education, nursing, and piano lessons.  

A new church was built in 1958 at the town, which replaced the small chapel at the mission, and was consecrated under the patronage of Ss. Peter and Paul.  With the Portuguese community, hailing from Madeira, on the increase such a move was indispensable. After 47 years of dedicated service in Lüderitz, Fr. J.J.E. Bokern retired on 8th September 2002.  Lüderitz is Fr. Bokern’s home, and he continues to stay here.

Oranjemund, yet another costal town towards the south falls under Lüderitz as its outstation. The catholic community of Oranjemund is looked after by the priests from Lüderitz. Being a mining town Oranjemund has a floating population, and the catholic community numbers to about 800.

Uniqueness of this mission is still vivid as its Pastor Fr. K. P Joseph takes flight on a regular basis to reach out to the distant   Oranjemund bordering South Africa. The Road distance is 410 kms. Driving this sandy-windy way along the Atlantic coast through the “Diamond field” is a Herculean task. One hardly meets any human beings on the way. Even a trip to Lüderitz by road is a unique experience for one travels to the sea through the desert!

Placing oneself at the presbytery which is well built on a hillock, when one throws a glance at the Lüderitz town, the gentle waves of serenity and solitude are sure to comfort as well as disturb one’s heart at the same time. On the one side is the unfathomable Atlantic Ocean with mystifying depths and ever cool waters. On the other side is the Namib Desert with extreme temperatures and constant sandy winds. There is hardly any big green tree to be seen in the whole of Lüderitz town. Again for a missionary it is daring to be different. To the one used to the palms and peaches, coconut trees and coffee plantations, rivers and natural wells, ponds and torrential rains what Lüderitz can offer is sea, sand and sunshine and that too in plenty. Life under such conditions is challenging but possible. All the more challenging and demanding is the missionary life. But that too we see as concrete possibility due to the grace of God and great dedication of our confreres.

God bless all our past, present and future missionaries in Lüderitz! In Namibia ! In Africa!