F R A N S A L I A N S

St. Thomas Church, Vredendal, South Africa

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

A Brief History of the Parish

 

The Catholic Mission of Vredendal North with its spacious and beautiful St. Thomas Church is in the diocese of Keimoes-Upington. This is the first parish in which the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales began their mission in South Africa. Vredendal which literally means ‘valley of peace’ in Afrikaans is situated about 300 kilometres north of Cape Town, towards the north-west of South Africa. The area is known for vineyards and sand mines. As most people in the area speak Afrikaans the liturgy is conducted mostly in Afrikaans though English is used by some.

Prior to the Apartheid era, the Catholics in the area were under Vergenoeg mission but during the Apartheid, the coloureds were assigned to occupy the northern part of Vredendal and were ministered there. After the Apartheid Vredendal was made into a parish and Vergenoeg remains an out-station of the present parish. At the request of the Provincial Fr. Babychan moved to Vredendal on the 19th October 1999 and joined Fr. Sonntag OSFS who generously renovated the presbytery for the arrival of the MSFS. On 2nd January 2000, the MSFS was entrusted with the parish of Vredendal . Fr. Varghese Chettupuzhakaren was appointed parish priest and Fr. Babychan Arackathara as the Assistant.

On 1st March 2004, a new parish was carved out of Vredendal centred around Lutzville and it was entrusted to the care of a diocesan priest while the MSFS continued at the mother parish. On 5th January 2002, Fr. Alex Varickamanthottiyil arrived in Vredendal and was appointed and the assistant parish priest. When Fr. Varghese Chettupuzhakaren returned to the mother province, Fr. Alex was made parish priest and Fr. Augustine Parampuzhayil appointed as the assistant. Later when Fr. Augustine was transferred to Luderitiz, Namibia, Fr. Anil Francis Topno was appointed as the new assistant. A beautiful new church was built for the parish under the guidance of Fr. Alex. The church was blessed and consecrated on 8th November 2008 and it has the capacity to seat over 600 faithful. In June 2009 Fr. Philip Mangattu took over as parish priest and after the accident of Fr. Anil in which he left for his eternal reward Fr. James Madappallil came to Vredendal as assistant priest.

 

In 2013 when Fr. James Madappallil was transferred to Dundee, Fr. Benjamin Nakho Ngade joined as the assistant pastor at Vredendal.