F R A N S A L I A N S

The Beginnings...

 

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.

 

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