When Fr. Urs Fischer was still Parish priest at All Saints suggested to the Bishop to have a church near the new University. There were a good number of Catholic students and Sr. Theodula together with Dr. Theresa Chisanga gathered the students at the University for Sunday Mass. Bishop Brook accepted the idea of Fr. Urs. In 1994 a church site was bought from the Municipality. The following year the work on the new church started and Bishop Brook laid the corner stone on 29^th May 1995. Fr. Urs mobilized his friends and benefactors in Switzerland and in 1996 the beautiful church was blessed and the sisters occupied the new convent. The architecture of the church resembling a round hut should create a spirit of togetherness. But people should also feel at home in their church and appreciate African culture and art. Fr. Urs therefore engaged artists in Zimbabwe to carve live size sculptures of saints and biblical figures. He invited Sr. Gereon, CPS from Mariannhill to make a long tapestry depicting the salvation history.

Ascension Parish is situated in an economically better suburb and reflects not only a town situation with people of higher education but also mirrors the picture of a modern town. The community is composed of people of diverse cultural backgrounds coming from all countries of Southern Africa, from Europe and from many Asian countries. It is a true picture of the universality of the Catholic church. The community around the main church is made up of over 100 families.

When the new Parish was established there were already Catholic communities in the surrounding rural area. These communities were Kwa Payne, Sawutini, Qunu, Qweqwe and others. They were cared for by the priests of All Saints. The Parish has now 8 Outstations.

In May 1995 4 sisters from the Franciscan Clarist Congregation arrived in the Diocese. Some of the sisters were engaged in the newly established Khanyisa High School which was still accommodated in the church hall at Kwa Payne. Other sisters soon established an orphanage called “Khanyisa children’s Home” and a pre-school.

Until 1999/2000 Ascension parish was treated as an Outstation of All Saints and served by priests from there. Over 1.000 families from diverse back grounds constitute the Parish. The following eight Outstations make up the Parish of the Ascension: Ndibela, Qunu, Sawutini, Maqhinebeni, Qweqwe, Mazizini, Bongweni and Kwa Payne. Sr Eunan O’Donoghue, a member of the Holy Cross Congregation, was the first Parish Secretary. After some years she retired.

The Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) Sisters, from Kerala (India), were part of Ascension Parish from its inception. At present they are five, two residing at the Khanyisa Childrens’ Home, situated next to the N2 Ultra City and three residing within the Ascension church Southridge premises next to the Priest’s House.

The following institutions are within the Parish boundaries: A school (Khanyisa High School), an orphanage (Khanyisa Children’s Home) and one pre-school. The High School has over 1 000 children. It has produced some of the best Matric results in the Eastern Cape. A Men’s Group was established in 2009. Thus far they have provided “Buckets of Love” (canned and non-perishable groceries in a 20-litre bucket) to the poor in the Parish every Christmas. For Lent the Catechism children collect cans (baked beans, peas, tin fish, jam, fruit cocktail, etc) and non-perishable items (sugar and rice) in a ‘care and share campaign’. At times up to over a thousand items are collected and distributed to the poor in the sub-parishes at Easter of which over a half provided by the children from Khanyisa School.

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 Urs Fischer: 2000 – 2002
2. Fr Francis Jank: 2002 – 2008
3. Fr Moris Musau: 2009 – 2010
4. Fr Bonaventure Ssemaganda: 2010 – 2011
5. Fr Dijo Matsoso: 2011 – 2011
6. Fr Francis Ngadi: 2012 – 2014
7. Fr Dick Kletus: 2014 – 2015
8. Fr Richard Menatsi: 2016 – 2019
9. Fr Mandla Mchunu: 2019 –

1. Priest Incharge: Fr. Mandla Mchunu
   CellPhone: 063 073 1361
   Email: mindlosp@yahoo.com

   Address
   98 Chief Jojo Street
   Southridge Park
   Mthatha
   5099

   Postal Address
   P.O. Box 85
   Mthatha
   5099