|
 
Founded by Papal Decree of 8 April 1935, the Kokstad District of the Mariannhill Vicariate was constituted the Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie. The Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie became the Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad on 11 July 1939, and was entrusted to the Franciscan Fathers (Order of Friars Minor, OFM).
With the establishment of the hierarchy in 1951, the diocese of Kokstad came into existence and comprises the magisterial districts of Bizana, Flagstaff, Lusikisiki, Port St John on the left bank of the Umzimvubu River, Mount Ayliff, Mount Frere, Tabankulu, Mount Currie and Matatiele south of the Kenegha River. Covering an area of 17 635sq.km, reaching a total population 1, 634 000.
The Diocese has 14 Parishes and serves a futher 137 outstations. Even though the Catholic Population is only 81,000, the work of the 23 priests and many organisations within the Diocese cater for many more people. The Holy Father Francis, has appointed on 6th of May 2013 Fr ZOLILE PETROS MPAMBANI SCJ as Bishop of Kokstad. Fr Zolile before his appointment was the parish priest of St Francis in Aliwal North, the provincial superior of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) and the member of the College of Consultors for the diocese of Aliwal.
Born on 20 February 1957 in Umlali, he made his profession on 28 January 1982 and was ordained a priest on 25 April 1987. He has worked in various parishes in the diocese of Aliwal and served in various positions of responsibility in his congregation especially in formation and leadership.
The Catholic Church of Kokstad Diocese with joyful hearts announces to all that we have celebrated the ORDINATION to EPISCOPATE of our new BISHOP on 3rd of August 2013 at 10:00 at Kokstad College Grounds.
He has had the INGRESS to Cathedral of St Patrick in Kokstad on 4th of August 2013.
The Holy Father Francis, appointed on 6th of May 2013 Fr ZOLILE PETROS MPAMBANI SCJ as Bishop of Kokstad. Fr Zolile before his appointment was the parish priest of St Francis in Aliwal North, the provincial superior of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) and the member of the College of Consultors for the diocese of Aliwal. Born on 20 February 1957 in Umlali, he made his profession on 28 January 1982 and was ordained a priest on 25 April 1987. He has worked in various parishes in the diocese of Aliwal and served in various positions of responsibility in his congregation especially in formation and leadership.
The Catholic Church of Kokstad Diocese with joyful hearts announces to all that they have celebrated the ORDINATION to EPISCOPATE of their new BISHOP on 3rd of August 2013 at 10:00 at Kokstad College Grounds.
He has had the INGRESS to Cathedral of St Patrick in Kokstad on 4th of August 2013.
“No more Fr. Zolile but Bp. Zolile”
These words we could hear during the Episcopal ordination of our SCJ, Zolile Petros Mpambani, on Saturday, August 3, 2013. Fr. Zolile was born on the 20th of February 1957. He took his first profession on January 28, 1982 and received priesthood ordination on April 25, 1987. Since then he was involved in pastoral work, novitiate, formation of scholastics, general administration and as well in local administration. Since February this year he became the Provincial of the South African Province. On May 6, the Vatican City announced Fr. Zolile to be the Bishop of Kokstad Diocese in South Africa.
The celebration of Bp. Zolile attended around 30 Bishops, over 100 priests (diocesan and religious), and the faithful of Kokstad Diocese. Fr. Zolile received Episcopal ordination from the hands of Archbishop of Pretoria, William Slattery OFM, and two witnessing Bishops were: Archbishop of Cape Town, Stephen Brislin and Bishop of Aliwal, Michael Wustenberg.
Among the SCJs were two Bishops from Mozambique and one Bishop from South Africa. Confreres from other Provinces were present too; from Cameroon, Congo, Mozambique, Indonesia, Germany, USA, Poland and General Administration (Rome).
The whole event was well organized and most of the attendees enjoyed it despite the length of the celebration (between 5-6 hours). The chorus entertained the whole assembly very well.
The new Bishop Zolile Petros Mpambani will take care of God’s people in the Diocese of Kokstad, the home place of the present Cardinal of South Africa, Wilfrid Napier, OFM. We wish Bp. Zolile many graces is spreading the love of the Sacred Heart among all around him, as his motto says, “As I have loved you.
Former Bishop, Right Reverend BISHOP WILLIAM SLATTERY, OFM, ran the Diocese until he was appointed Archbishop of Pretoria on December 23, 2010. His installation as the new Archbishop of Pretoria took place on January 30, 2011, at the Catholic Church of the Beatitudes at Zwavelpoort in the eastern side of Pretoria.
Bishop Slattery was responsible for bringing many organisations to the Diocese, in response to the needs of the people, Respond! Housing Association Ireland was one such organisation. He wanted Respond to providetraining facilities at Shayamoya and Hardenberg to help develop opportunitiesto the under-and unemployed, poorly skilled people, and manage the provision of essential health and welfare support services to destitute, chronically ill, orphaned and vulnerable people in the Greater Kokstad communities. Sivile completed this work in the construction of the ithembalabantu Centre, Shayamoya and Hardenberg Centre.
|