St. Barnabas Elliot Parish
The Oblate Fathers bought a piece of land on 25 October 1909 in Elliot town. The white farmers and traders built a little church which was blessed by Bishop Fleischer on 8 May 1927. Fr. Rudloff erected a simple church in the town location for the black Catholics in 1962. Elliot was always treated as an Outstation of Cala Parish and cared for by the priests of Cala.
The new Parish of Elliot was established in 1996 when Fr. Jacob Thatathil was appointed Parish priest. But he did not stay at Elliot but resided at Engcobo. From that time until today the priest of Engcobo is also in charge of Elliot.
Bishop Oswald Hirmer established three DAT teams for the Diocese. One was stationed in Mariazell and cared for the Maluti Deanery. The other was staying in Mthatha, responsible for Central and Eastern Deanery. The third one should be working in the Western Deanery. Bishop Hirmer negotiated with the Holy Cross sisters of the Lesotho Province. He built a new convent in the town Location where the sisters stayed when they arrived in 1999. But after 16 years they left the Diocese again. The new Church was blessed in February 2002. A new hall was built in 2019.
For More information on this parish please refer to:
1. Chronicle of Mthatha Diocese by Fr. Winfried Egler of 2020
- Fr. Jacob Thadathil: 1996 – 2000
- Fr. Michael Riedener C.M.M.: 2000 – 2008
- Fr. Thomas Wao C.M.M.: 2008 – 2011
- Fr. Francis Ojok C.M.M.: 2011 – 2012
- Fr. Jean Claude Tshitenge: August 2012 – June 2016
- Fr. Jean Paul Kabasele: June 2016 – October 2017
- Fr. Jean Claude Tshitenge: October 2017 –
Priest Incharge: Fr. Jean Claude Tshitenge
CellPhone: 083 518 7767
Email: tshitengejeanclaude@yahoo.fr
Address
9 Masson Street
Elliot
5460
Postal Address
P.O. Box 101
Elliot
5460