The Parish of St. Francis Xavier, Maclear is one of the late comers to the Diocese. It was founded in 1967. At that time the district of Maclear was outside the Transkei Territory, in a white area. Before the Parish was established the priests from the neighbouring Parishes ministered to the few white and Coloured Catholics who were living in Maclear and Ugie. Bishop Hanisch acquired a plot in the Location of Maclear where a small chapel was built for the few black Catholics. In the year 1949 Bishop Grueter bought 3 erven in Ugie where a chapel was blessed by him on 9 July 1950. In order that the new Parish could live and develop and expand some Outstations from neighbouring Parishes were transferred to it, like Hopedale from Qumbu and Khohlopong from Mt. Fletcher.

The first Parish priest Fr. Hugo Kunz soon reached out to other areas and started a Mass place in Ncembu and Gqaqala in Tsolo District and in some Farms in the district of Maclear like Roundhills, Esperanto, Rosendale and Strathmore. But in these farms there were only a few black Catholics which were visited. They often changed their place of employment and so these places were given up. In the 80s Ncembu and Gqaqala were transferred to Tsolo during the time of Fr. Cas Paulsen. But they were given back again to Maclear during the time of Fr. Mafu Ponya.

Mdeni and Tsitsana were new Outstations and St. Mary, Hlankomo was under St. Martin Parish and was transferred to St. Francis Xavier Parish on the 22 December 1975. The church site was acquired by the late Fr Ramotso and received its title deed on the 10th November 2005.

Ncembu was started by the late Fr Hugo who used to visit the Graham family who had a shop there. Fr. Jank built the church which was opened on the 28^th August 1977 by Bishop Buthelezi. Gqaqala became an Outstation when a deacon from the Ethiopian Church converted to the Catholic Church. On the 7^th July 1982 Ncembu was handed over to Tsolo, the reasons being that it was convenient for them in many ways, no specific reasons mentioned in Bishop Brook’s letter. During the time of Fr. Mafu it was brought back to Maclear.

These frequent changes of Outstation communities from one parish to another and the 15 priests who worked in the Parish in its short history severely stifled the growth and development of the Maclear Parish. This can clearly be seen to date as no growth within the Parish was experienced. The church in Maclear was built during Fr. Jank’s time in 1979/80 and the new presbytery was built by Fr. Hugo Kunz in the early 90’s.

In September 1975 the Religious Congregation Handmaids of Christ the Priest came to Maclear through the mediation of Fr. Bennet Nofemela, who before joining the Diocese of Mthatha, was a member of this congregation. The convent for them was built by Fr. Clemens Truttmann in the early 80’s. They however left the Parish in 1997 due to lack of vocations.

The present Thembinkosi school at Hopedale was started as Peter Claver Private school and was given permission to exist on the 06 December 1960. Later it was changed to Themba Farm school and on 30^th December 1977 it was changed to Thembinkosi.

On the 22 September 2018 Bishop Sithembele Sipuka blessed the new Pope Francis Diocesan Pastoral Centre. The idea for building this big Centre in Maclear was born out of a desire and need to unite the two areas divided by the two languages of isiXhosa and seSotho. It also should become a centre of training, instruction and formation of the lay people of the Diocese.

Priests and Religious originating from Maclear:

• Fr Albert Falatsa, Diocesan: ordained 9 December 1995 who left priesthood.
• Fr Thembalethu Sandondo, Diocesan, ordained on 30 June 2012.
• Sister Sizeka Cynthia Booi joined the enclosed Order of the Poor Clares in 1982, religious name Sr. Maria Laurentia. She is at present at Swellendam in the Diocese of Oudtshoorn.
• Sr Thembeka Limekhaya joined the Handmaids of Christ the Priest and is working in Pretoria.
• Sr Anastasia Khoase joined Handmaids of Christ the Priest. She is also in Pretoria.
• For a struggling Parish pastorally, it is remarkable that Maclear succeeded so well in vocations.

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 Hugo Kunz C.M.M.: June 1967 – April 1971
2. Fr Winfried Egler C.M.M.: April 1971 – October 1971
3. Fr Theodore Zegers C.M.M.: February 1972 – January 1975
4. Fr Francis Jank C.M.M.: October 1975 – April 1981
5. Fr Clemens Truttmann C.M.M.: May 1981 – April 1985
6. Fr Hugo Kunz C.M.M.: September 1985 – April 1995
7. Fr Clemens Truttmann C.M.M.: April 1995 – October 1996
8. Fr Callistus Ngcobo C.M.M.: December 1996 – March 2001
9. Fr Gerard Ramotso: April 2001 – April 2006
10. Fr Teboho Makoro: August 2006 – August 2008
11. Fr Mbulelo Qumntu: August 2008 – April 2009
12. Fr Bernard Gathu C.M.M.: April 2009 – September 2009
13. Fr Mafu Ponya C.M.M.: September 2009 – April 2015
14. Fr Tsepo Tsalong: 2015 – September 2018
15. Fr Monwabisi Majingolo: September 2018 – June 2019
16. Fr Richard Menatsi: August 2019 – 2020
17. Fr Bernard Gathu C.M.M.: 2020 –

Priest Incharge: Fr. Bernard Gathu 
CellPhone: 083 690 9093
Email: bernardgathu@gmail.com

Address
1 Phambili Street
Maclear
5480

Postal Address
P.O. Box 106
Maclear
5480