Since the start of St. Patrick Mission in 1928 the CPS sisters were actively involved in Mission work in the Parish. 50 years later the people still spoke of Sr Hyacinth and other sisters who went on horseback or on foot to Outstations as far as Mahlatini, visiting the sick. For many years there were also paid catechists working in the Parish. But then came the big pastoral change in the Diocese: the phasing out of paid catechists. In 1979 Sr. Generose Maduna, CPS was employed as a Parish sister. With her the priest visited systematically all Catholic families in all 11 Outstations plus the Main Station. It took them 2 full years. During these visits Family Cards were compiled from the Baptismal Registers and checked who was still alive and a Catholic. The official number of Catholics for the Parish dropped from 4.000 to 2.226.

The Pastoral Centre was built and completed in 1978 and was blessed by Bishop Peter Buthelezi on 30^th July 1978. Many sources were approached for financial assistance in the building of the Parish Centre. The parishioners were employed as labour. During the time of 1977 until 1989 7 new Outstation churches were built. The original old mud buildings at Corana was replaced by a new building. The new church was blessed by Bishop Sipuka.

The small church at Mchonco built with tar poles and branches filled with soil was replaced by a new church and blessed by Bishop Brook on 21 February 1981. The small community at Buntingville tried for 17 years to get a church site. It seemed that the opposition came from the Methodist church. But the faithful, especially Mr. Mtintsilana did not give up. Finally, on 9 June 1982 the new site was demarcated. The new church was blessed on 14 July 1984 by Bishop Brook.

On 7 September 1982, after 3 years of applying and re-applying because the papers got lost, Ncambedlane and Moyeni each got a church site. The people of Ncambedlane and Moyeni originally worshipped together in a beautiful church built by Fr. Paulus Baumeler half way between the two locations. But the Government relocated the people around the church. All the people went up to Moyeni where they got new sites. For years the church stood alone in the middle of nowhere. It was often vandalized and the church was used as a shelter for sheep. The two communities of Moyeni and Ncambedlane also did not harmonise too well. There were always frictions. This was the welcome opportunity to separate the people and each community have a church of its own. The new church at Ncambedlane was blessed on 21 February 1984 and the church at Moyeni a few months later on 12 May 1984 by Bishop Brook.

In 1980 the church at St. Patrick saw some new changes inside. The altar was moved nearer to the people to follow new liturgical rules. The tabernacle was put underneath the painting of Christ the King into the centre and the ambo was replaced with a new one. A year later there were big renovations necessary outside. The plaster came off the mud bricks on the East and South side. Dampness went through the wall and damaged the painting inside. 5 years later the church was painted inside and outside again. In 1986 a public address system was also installed. In November 2017 the old public system was replaced with a new one.

In 1987 the sisters extended their convent. In 1998 Maqanyeni ‘s new church was built by Fr. Roman Zurbriggen. Over the years the school in St. Patrick grew in number and in fame. New class rooms were added in 1984. And again 6 class rooms were built during the time of Sr. Benet in 2000. She was teacher and Principal at St. Patrick School for 36 years until she retired. The hostel facilities were also enlarged. In 1984 there were 400 boarders and 250 day-scholars.

The farm buildings, run successfully by Sr. Ignatia were demolished. What was once a cow stable, became a bright and spacious dining room. On 3 September 1982 Bishop Brook blessed the new hostels for the boys and the girls. A new farm was built. Sr. Ignatia was transferred to Glen Avent and a new sister took over the farm. And this was the beginning of the end of the farm. Soon it was given up all together. Burglars from the surrounding location killed the remaining little hope for the farm. The forest on the other side of the hill across the little stream was systematically plundered. When the sisters erected a no-nonsense concrete fence around the Mission, they excluded the farm building. And in no time, anything removable like doors, windows, door frames, corrugated iron sheets disappeared.

Electricity arrived in April 1986.The old Presbytery behind the present new one towards the CPS farm was in a bad state, no electricity, no running water. A new presbytery was built in 1981. In 1986 and 1987 two clinics were built by the priest of St. Patrick. One is next to the tar road to Mthatha, called Malusi clinic. Blessed on 18 July 1986. The other one is at Ndanya Location where the Mchonco Outstation is.

In January 1986 a directive was issued by President Matanzima that St. Patrick Private School must introduce Standard 8 and move on to matric in the following years. The sisters protested but in vain stating that they have not enough class rooms. In the same year a new High School was built outside the mission ground behind the forest through the initiative of Funda Trust.

In 2005 the last Outstation church was built at Zixholosini. For many years holy Mass was held in the home of Mr. Mdodana, a former catechist.

In 2012 a grotto was built by the Children of Mary assisted by Mrs. Mavis Mary Simayile, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima and blessed by Fr S. Jwara.

For More information on this parish please refer to:
1. Transkei For Christ by Fr Marcel Dischl CMM, copyright 1982
2. Chronicle of Mthatha Diocese by Fr. Winfried Egler of 2020

1. Fr Eligius Mϋller C.M.M.: August 1928 – February 1931
2. Fr Joseph Vogel C.M.M.: July – October 1931
3. Fr Marus Kalus C.M.M.: March – September 1932
4. Fr Lucas Lehmann C.M.M.: November 1932 – March 1948
5. Fr Remigius Stirnimann C.M.M, assisted by Fr Alois Hliso: April 1958 – September 1953
6. Fr Roman Martin C.M.M.: September 1952 – January 1953
7. Fr James Ermekeil C.M.M.: January 1953 – April 1954
8. Fr Alberic Reinhard C.M.M. assisted by Frs Andrew Roesli, Paul Baumeler, and Thomas Yekiwe: April 1954 – 1963
9. Fr Thomas Yekiwe: 1963 – October 1976
10. Fr Paul Baumeler C.M.M.: October 1976 March 1977
11. Fr Winfried Egler C.M.M.: March 1977 – November 1989
12. Fr Roman Zurbriggen C.M.M.: November 1989 – May 1990
13. Fr Alphonse Lechamochamo: October 1990 – December 1992
14. Fr Thomas Yekiwe: December 1992 – 1995
15. Fr Phillip Voorn C.M.M.: December 1995 – June 1996
16. Fr Vincent Kiggundu: September 1996 – October 1998
17. Fr Winfried Egler C.M.M.: October 1998 – January 2010
18. Fr Siegfried Mandla Jwara C.M.M.: January 2010 – May 2016
19. Fr Potlako Sello: June 2016 – May 2023
20. Fr Minenhle Mthembu: June 2023 –

Priest Incharge: Fr. Minenhle Mthembu
CellPhone: 067 711 3301
Email: thingomthembu@gmail.com

Address
No. 11 Zithethele Location
Mthatha
5099

Postal Address
P.O. Box 572
Mthatha
5099