F R A N S A L I A N S

A Brief History of the Parish

 

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 1926, with the arrival of Rev. Fr. Josef Grünbeck OSFS, Fr. Hetzenecker went on holidays to Germany.  The pastoral care was extended upto the Diamond area, like Kolmanskop with a German School, Charlottental also with a German School. From 1927 Fr. Grünbeck started serving at Elizabethbay and Pomona.  Religious instruction was also offered to the Catholic children of the German School in Lüderitz and Kolmanskop.  The English-speaking Catholic children received their religious instruction at the mission.

 

The construction of the Convent started on 10 April 1929. Later a chapel and a school were built for the brown and black people, who lived in a specified area, known as Location.  Bro. Hugo Honzak OSFS was the architect and contractor of these buildings. On the feast of Christ the King, on 27 October 1929, Mgr. Eder OSFS blessed these buildings and consecrated the chapel. 

 

The Sisters of the Missionaries of Sacred Heart (MSC) arrived in Lüderitz on 12 October 1929.  On 25 December, 1929, Rev. Fr. L. Kremer OSFS, took over the pastoral activities among the brown and black people, from Fr. Grünbeck. A wooden and zinc building from Charlottental was bought in 1934, and set up as a school building and hall at the Location.  On 20 March 1936, Fr. Grünbeck obtained a permit from the CDM (Consolidated Diamond Mines), to go on a Mission Tour to Oranjemund for the first time.

 

Bro. Josef Kreil OSFS arrived in Lüderitz on 05 April 1936 to give instructions in Carpentry. After the death of Fr. Kremer in 1932, Fr. Grünbeck was all alone, until September 1938, when Rev. Fr. M. Pusch OSFS came to help him, until 1940, and later Rev. Fr. Johannes Thalhouser OSFS until 01 April 1941. 

 

In 1949 Fr. Grünbeck supervised the construction of a big church at Benguela, i.e., Christ the King Church, which was solemnly consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Esser on Easter in 1950.

 

On 17 March 1950, Fr. J.J.E. Bokern OSFS arrived in Lüderitz.  Rev. Fr. W.J. Devenney OSFS arrived in Lüderitz on 24 December 1953 to assist Fr. Grünbeck, as Fr. Bokern was transferred to Rehoboth. Rev. Fr. John Minder OSFS took over from Fr. Grünbeck on 06 January 1955, when Fr. Grünbeck was transferred to Gibeon.  Fr. Grünbeck rendered his services to the Catholic Community at Lüderitz for 20 years with fervour and dedication.

 

On 06 February 1957 Rev. Fr. John Zettl took over the administration of the church from Fr. Minder.  Later on 12 March 1958 Rev. Fr. A. Habock OSFS came to replace Fr. Zettl.

 

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 Portugese community, hailing from Madeira, on the increase such a move was indispensable.  Fr. Habock was the architect of the church building and did the supervision of the construction himself.  He did the painting of the Way of the Cross as well as the other paintings in the church.  On 16 December 1958 the church was consecrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop E.J. Schlotterback OSFS.

 

Immediately as one enters the church, one is impressed by the life-size crucifix behind the main altar, which was sculptured by Fr. Habock.  The three bells in the belfry in harmoniously arranged to match the sound of the three bells at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Felsenkirche.

 

Fr. J.J.E. Bokern came back to Lüderitz on 29 August 1959.  Since the Catholic community at Oranjemund had grown very much, Fr. W.J. Devenney was transferred to Oranjemund as the Parish Priest in 1960.

 

On 15 October 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.

 

After 47 years of dedicated service in Lüderitz, Fr. J.J.E. Bokern retired on 08 September 2002.  Lüderitz is Fr. Bokern’s home, and he continues to stay here.

 

MSFS

 

On 22 September 2002, Rev. Fr. Joseph Kunjaparambil msfs took over from Fr. Bokern as the Parish Priest of both the churches at Lüderitz, viz., Christ the King Church and Ss. Peter and Paul Church.  On 07 December 2002, Rev. Fr. Salu Thattaparambil msfs joined in the pastoral activities.  The catholic community of Oranjemund is looked after by the Fathers from Lüderitz.  Fr. Salu worked in Lüderitz till 23 January 2004, until he was transferred to Keetmanshoop.

 

Fr. Joseph Kunjaparambil was transferred to St. Augustine's Church, Soweto, on 12 September 2007. Fr. Augustine Parampuzha msfs took over as the parish priest.

 

In 2011 December Fr. Augustine Parampuzhayil was sent on studies, Fr. Joseph Illikkal msfs took over as the parish priest.

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In 2015 March Fr. Jijesh Paul Palatty was transferred to Luderitz as the Parish Priest when Fr. Joseph Illikkal was sent for studies. Fr. Noble Nakathingal joined Fr. Jijesh in 2015 September. When Fr. Noble was transferred to Cape Town, Fr. Bibin Martin joined Fr. Jijesh.

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Fr. Jijesh was transferred to Academia in 2019 May, and Fr. Libin Jacob Chiraparambil took over as the parish priest. Fr. Bibin was transferred to Cape Town in 2022. Fr. Fabian Wasonga Wawi joined Fr. Libin as the associate pastor in August 2022.