Cala mission station and convent date from the year 1894. Fathers Meyer, Le Bras and Monginoux  were energetic pastors up to the year 1917. In 1922 the first marianhill Father arrived; Fr Ruthing was a natural founder; on behalf of Bishop Fleischer he started the outstation St. Gabriel’s and worked among the people of Elliot. Between 1952 and 1954 Fr Rudloff embarked upon a programme of alterations and improvements; the sanctuary was made higher, the naves enlarged, a new marble altar was put into the sanctuary and a large wooden crucifix from Oberammergau was fixed on the wall behind the altar. On the 10^th of October 1954 Bishop Grueter blessed the enlarged and embellished church.

After his home leave in 1955/56 Fr Rudloff renovated the presbytery, installed a pipe organ in the church and built a slender and high campanile, a belfry for three bells, next to the church – the hallmark of Cala. Since 1885 the Holy Cross Sisters were conducting their convent school with great success. In 1922 white orphaned and committed children were admitted, especially girls, with some pupils from the surrounding farms.

The Cala Hospital, opened in 1931 and run by the Dominican Sisters of Oakford, made good progress in the next few years. In 1976 all Transkei Missionary Hospitals were taken over by the Government.

In September 1974, 3 Foccolari priests from Germany arrived in Cala. They were:  Fr. Heribert Hirmer, the brother of Bishop Oswald Hirmer, Fr. Gerhard Stigler and Fr. Bruno Pfleghard. They were in charge of Cala Parish, Engcobo Parish and Elliot Outstation. It was a time of revival of the Parish. They engaged in some necessary building activities. First, they built an extension to the Presbytery with some rooms for visitors. Then they built a big Parish Centre with sleeping facilities which was needed for the training of lay ministers and the gatherings of the Foccolari movement which grew rapidly in the Parish. In Engcobo Parish they built a new Presbytery.

It was the time when in the Diocese the Parish Councils were established and great emphasis was put on training lay leaders like Sunday Service Leaders, Funeral Leaders, sowers, Small Christian Communities with Bible sharing groups. The Foccolari priests were especially concerned about the daily living of the faith. They established groups which came together regularly to pray together and give reports about how they lived the Word of God, which was chosen by the movement for each month. In all this work they were especially supported by Catechist. Mr. Thomas Ncanisa.

As in other Parishes the political changes had an influence on the life of the Parish. The Dominican Sisters who ran a hospital since 1931 moved away because the Transkei Government took over.

The same happened to the Convent school of the Holy Cross which closed down in 1984. But soon afterwards the Sisters started a Children’s Home but which was closed in 2005/2006 when the Holy Cross sisters left Cala.

There were a number of places which were visited by the priest like Seplan, Qiba, Mgwalana, Upper Indwana, Taleni, Mbenge. But all these places were discontinued. The Parish has 4 Outstations. In addition to them there are 4 places where the community gathers in private homes. They are Nyalasa, Mceula, Cala Reserve and Upper Langanci. Elliot town and Elliot location were always ministered by the priests of Cala until in 1996 it became a Parish with a resident Parish priest.

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 Nicholas Meyer O.M.I: December 1893 – September 1894
2. Fr David Bryant (Trappist): October 1894 – September 1896
3. Fr Casimir Le Bras O.M.I: October 1896 – October 1901
4. Fr Odilon Monginoux O.M.I: June 1901 – November 1917
5. Fr Peter Vernhet: November 1917 – January 1920
6. Fr Crenton Le Lout O.M.I: April 1920 – November 1922
7. Fr Chrysostomus Ruthing C.M.M.: November 1922 – September 1924
8. Fr Johannes Jacob C.M.M.: October 1924 – February 1926
9. Fr Jerome Lyssy: June 1925 – February 1928
10. Fr Charles Käufer: March 1928 – January 1931
11. Fr Ildephonse Wohlgenannt C.M.M.: February 1931 – August 1941
12. Fr Herbert Michel Fritz C.M.M.: August 1941 – January 1942
13. Fr Amandus Rogenmoser C.M.M.: February 1942 – February 1948
14. Fr Lucas Lehmannn C.M.M.: March 1948 – September 1949
15. Fr Pius Rudloff C.M.M.: September 1949 – July 1967
16. Fr Marcel Dischl C.M.M.: February 1968 – October 1968
17. Fr Joseph Biberauer: November 1968 – April 1971
18. Fr Francis Jank C.M.M.: April 1971 – August 1975
19. Foccolari Fathers: Hirmer Heribert, Stigler Gerhard, and Pfleghardt Bruno: September 1974 – 1986
20. Fr Francis Jank C.M.M.: March 1986 – June 1989
21. Fr Michael Riedener C.M.M.: 1990 – 1990
22. Fr Richard Menantsi: November 1990 – December 1992
23. Fr Joseph Nogonothi: 1993 – 1994
24. Fr Siriac (Carmelite): 1994 – June 1995
25. Fr Mboneleli Peter Gqobo: June 1995 – July 1996
26. Fr Jacob Thandathil: June 1996 – December 2000
27. Fr Michael Riedener C.M.M.: December 2000 – 2002
28. Fr Patrick Mbongwe: April 2003 – 2003
29. Fr Vincent Kiggundu: December 2003 – 2004
30. Fr Tsepo Tsalong: 2004 – 2004
31. Fr Monwabisi Majingolo: 2005 – 2005
32. Fr Potlako Sello: June 2012 – June 2016
33. Fr Jean Paul Kabasele: 2016 –

Priest Incharge: Fr. Jean Paul Kabasele
CellPhone: 060 694 6063
Email: kabaseletshialumu64@gmail.com

Address
474 Bo Street
Cala
5455

Postal Address
P.O. Box 34
Cala
5455