** SALESIAN SPIRITUALITY** An Invitation to Holiness

SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION OF THE MSFS





History of the Region | Regional Council | Mission Centres


"Go into the whole world, and make disciples of all people..." (Mt. 28:20)

Southern African Region





The beginning of the work of the MSFS in Southern Africa (Namibia and South Africa) started at the invitation of Bishop Antonio Chiminello OSFS, the Bishop of Keetmanshoop diocese in Namibia, and Bishop John Minder OSFS, the Bishop of Keimoes-Upington diocese in South Africa. In 1994, they requested Fr. Emile Mayoraz, the then Superior General of the MSFS, to send some missionaries to work in their dioceses as they were in great need of priests.

The Superior General requested Fr. Augustine Mangatt, one of the General Councilors, then working in Tanzania, to visit these dioceses and to see to the possibility of beginning our work there. He gave a very positive report of his visit. In 1996, with the approval of the General Council that was held in Nagpur, in India, this venture in the Southern Africa was entrusted to the North-east India Province.

The first batch of the MSFS missionaries landed in Namibia on the 22nd of July, 1998. The initial arrangement was that the Fathers would stay together in a parish to learn the common language of the area, Afrikaans. But as the diocese had need of priests at that time, the Bishop suggested that the three Fathers be sent to three different parishes which had no priests then (since they were on home-leave), and have someone to teach them the language. The Fathers gladly accepted it, and hence, the three of them went to the parishes allotted to them. Fr. Philip Mangatt stayed at Keetmanshoop (Parish of OLPH), Fr. Joseph Kunjaparambil went to Luderitz, and Fr. Babychen Arackathara to Mariental. On the 8th of December the MSFS officially took over the parish of Bethanie.

The Pioneers

Fr. Philip Mangatt
Fr. Joseph Kunjaparambil
Fr. Babychen Arackathara

Southern Africa
(Namibia and South Africa)

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Regional Council

Fr. KUNJAPARAMBIL Joseph, Regional Superior

Fr. KARIKKAMPALLY Job, Councillor

Fr. ARACKATHARA Babychan, Councillor

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Mission Centres

South Africa

Grassy Park (Archdiocese of Cape Town)

v       Queen of Peace Catholic Church

Matroosfontein (Archdiocese of Cape Town)

v       Holy Trinity Catholic Church

Steenberg (Archdiocese of Cape Town)

v       St. Anne's Catholic Church

Vredendal (Diocese of Keimoes-Upington)

v       Catholic Church

Namibia

Anamulenge (ArchDiocese of Windhoek)

v       St. Peter Canisius Parish, Ombalantu

Keetmanshoop (Diocese of Keetmanshoop)

v       Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

v       Blouwes

v       Koës

Luderitz (Diocese of Keetmanshoop)

v       Christ the King Church

v       St. Peter & Paul Church

v       St. Anne's Church, Oranjemund

Okahandja (ArchDiocese of Windhoek)

v       St. Peter Claver Church

Ongha (ArchDiocese of Windhoek)

v       St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church

Soweto (ArchDiocese of Windhoek)

v       St. Augustine's Church

Tses (Diocese of Keetmanshoop)

v       St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church

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SOUTHERN AFRICAN REGION OF THE MSFS





History of the Region | Regional Council | Mission Centres