Bishop of Mthatha from 28 June 1997 until 8 February 2008.

Bishop Oswald Hirmer was born on 28 February 1930 in Amberg, Germany. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1955 in Regensburg, Germany. He came to Aliwal North Diocese as Fidei donum priest and worked in the Parish of Indwe from 1958 until 1968. He was employed in the Diocesan Pastoral Institute at Lady Frere for some years. He was the first rector of Zingisa Minor Seminary in Mthatha from 1971 until 1976. Then he worked in the Pastoral Institute in Lumko, Germiston from 1977 until 1993. He also worked in Singapore with the FABC = Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences.

Fr. Oswald Hirmer was a practical and pastorally minded priest. His great interest and gift was in Catechetical issues. 

Catechetical material for teaching and introducing Catechumens into the faith of the Catholic Church was scarce. Oswald alone wrote “Indlela Yobom” during his time as Parish priest in Indwe.

Besides being a Parish priest with all its daily duties he, like his friend and neighbour Fr. Lobinger, furthered his theological knowledge by studies, which were crowned with a doctorate. 

He wrote a book on Communism and capitalism. Another helpful tool for the spreading of faith was the “VITA Series”, also made and produced by both when they were in Indwe/Tafile. They made use of the technical means of that time. The lessons consisted of slides and tapes and covered important topics of the faith. 

Before Fr. Oswald Hirmer became Bishop of Mthatha he already knew the Diocese very well. During this time, he was commissioned by the Bishops of the Xhosa Region to compile a new Xhosa hymnbook, called “Bongan’ iNkosi”. Published in 1978. He also wrote the book “Our journey together”, while employed by the Bishops Conference in Lumko, Germiston. It is a guide for the Christian Community to accompany adult catechumens on their journey of faith. Published in January 1987. 

Bishop Hirmer was preceded by his life-long friend Bishop Fritz Lobinger, who was Bishop of Aliwal North and administered the Diocese of Mthatha for 2 years. 

On 28 June 1997 Bishop Oswald Hirmer was ordained in the Ikhwezi Lokusa sports grounds in the presence of many faithful of the Diocese. 

During his 11 years as Bishop, he was guided by “3 stars”. They mean:  Put Christ in the centre. Build community. Spread the faith. 

Bishop Oswald was an ardent propagator of Small Christian Communities. He travelled widely in Africa, Asia, Australia and especially in Singapore where he lived and was working for FABC = Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences from 1987 until 1997. There he was mainly engaged in promoting and establishing Small Christian Communities. 

His first engagement in the Diocese was the establishment of 4 Deaneries, Central, Western, Eastern and Maluti Deanery. Priests should be able to meet more often and build a community spirit among themselves, share common pastoral problems and above all encourage and support each in their priestly work. This can be done better if they meet in smaller groups where the pastoral situation and problems are very similar like in town or in Xhosa or Sesotho speaking areas.

To implement the 3 Stars, he established DAT Teams, Diocesan Animation Teams. One was stationed   in Mthatha and cared for the Central and Eastern Deaneries. Another one was staying in Elliot. This team was made up of Hl. Cross sisters from Lesotho for whom he built a convent in the Old location of Elliot. The third team was staying in Mariazell and cared for the Maluti Parishes. These teams replaced the former Diocesan Sowers Team. 

Bishop Hirmer was a good mediator and had a gift of bringing opposing groups together. In Maluti Deanery there was the problem of Circumcision. Bishop Hirmer had meetings with both groups and initiated a way to solve this problem in a Christian way. 

Bishop Hirmer was above all a pastor who loved people and his Diocese. He showed this through his Parish visitations. To encourage his small “flock” and instil a sense of self-esteem and pride he wrote the book called: “Our joy in being Catholic”, published in 2007. It should help the Catholic minority, surrounded by many other churches and sects to understand and value their Catholic customs and beliefs. 

2007 a new Sesotho Hymnbook was published through the initiative of Fr. Clemens Truttmann. Bishop Oswald supported it. 

Bishop Oswald could mobilize his friends in Germany to get funds for several buildings in the Diocese like the presbytery in Farview, the convents in Elliot and Marialinden, the Outstation church in Kweqana, Mariazell and the priests’ residence in Mthatha. 

Bishop Hirmer ordained 10 priests in the Diocese.

Bishop Hirmer at the age of 75 handed in his resignation. But his country man Pope Benedict XVI asked him to still carry on until a successor was found. 

Bishop Hirmer, after entrusting the Diocese to his successor Bishop Sipuka retired to Mater Dolorosa Home in Mariannhill where his two friends and country men and fellow Bishops were already waiting for him in retirement. Bishop Hubert Bucher, former Bishop of Bethlehem and Bishop Fritz Lobinger, former Bishop of Aliwal North.

Bishop Hirmer died in Mariannhill on 5 April 2011 and was buried in the crypt of the Mthatha Cathedral.