The origins of community's work in Africa dates back to 2002, when the first priests came to Rome from different corners of African continent to participate in the School of New Evangelization.
As a fruit of that experience we've done some course in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Botswana.
In September 2004 the consecrated community came to Zimbabwe and started the pastoral work.
They began to live in Bulawayo, where for two months they ran different courses of the School of Evangelization in connection with St. Philip’s center.
In 2010, Bishop Stanisław Dziuba invited the community to settle in the Mission dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, located in the diocese of Umzimkulu where began pastoral and rebuilding work.
Lourdes Mission is a charming place situated outside the city, surrounded by beautiful hills, settlements and villages.
"Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.
(Haggai 1,13-15)
Fr. Michael Wojciechowski
Pastor
The Diocese of Umzimkulu was established in 1954 by the excision from the Diocese of Mariannhill, of the civil districts of Umzimkulu, Harding and portions of the districts of Port Shepstone, Bulwer and Himeville, south of the Umzimkulu River.
Area: 15 275 sq. km Total Pop: 509 830 Cathlic Pop: 82 761.
Diocese of Umzimkulu comprises of 15 parishes that each have from 5 to 14 outstations - chapels to serve by the missionary work.
Bishop and priest of the diocese
Right Reverend
BISHOP STANISLAW JAN DZIUBA, O.S.P.P.E.
Appointed bishop of Umzimkulu on 31 December 2008.
Consacrated as bishop on the 14 March 2009 at Umzimkulu.
Coat of Arms and Motto
The Mother of Jesus presented as in the Miraculous Picture of our Lady of Czestochowa in the centre transfers us to Poland, the Homeland where I was born.
At her Shrine in Czestochowa, my life and vocation was developing.
The picture of Mary also brings us to Centocow Mission here in the diocese of Umzimkulu where it was installed when the Trappists started the Mission in 1888, and where I have worked since 1991.
Lower part: It is the Coat of Arms of the Order of St Paul the First Hermit which I joined in 1979. It symbolises the spiritual roots of the Order.
On the left: The rondavels and the family represent the mostly rural communities of our Diocese where as the Bishop I encourage all families to be domestic Churches where the faith should be transferred from one generation to the next.
On the right: the Christian Community in its diversity, responding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, worships together the Saviour Jesus Christ who died on the cross for all the peoples to unite them in one Church.
The Motto: "In Servitio Populi Dei" - "In Service to the People of God" - "Ukusebenzela Abantu bakaNkulunkulu" - "W sluzbie Ludowi Bozemu" - expresses my programme of pastoral work in the diocese.
Predecessors:
The first bishop of Umzimkulu was Rt Rev Pius Bonaventure Dlamini FFJ (Click here to get more info) ordained on 26 April 1954. On his resignation, Rt Rev Mgr. Peter J Butelezi, OMI was appointed Apostolic Administrator on 8 January 1968.
When he was transferred to Johannesburg as Auxiliary Bishop, the Most Rev Denis E Hurley OMI, Archbishop of Durban was appointed Apostolic Administrator on 11 September 1972.
On 22 December 1986 the Rt Rev Sithunywa G Ndlovu was appointed second Bishop of Umzimkulu. He was ordained and canonically installed on 25 April 1987. He resigned in August 1994.
From 1994 to 2008, His Eminence Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier OFM was the Apostolic Administrator.