For proper pastoral work in a Parish and the training of lay ministers a Parish needs a Pastoral Centre with sleeping facilities where weekend courses can be held. Ngqeleni Parish was one of the last Parishes which built a Parish centre in 1987. The old church had already been renovated and converted into a hall for Parish functions. During the same year the small and old priest’s house was demolished and replaced with a spacious new house.

Sr. Magdalene, the new Provincial of the Ursuline Sisters also embarked on a big building programme. The old building which was bought in 1943 and served as a convent for many years was no more suitable for the future plans of the sisters. They needed a place to start a noviciate. True to the charism of the congregation they also needed rooms for teaching girls and young women the art of sewing and cooking. A double-story building was erected in 1987. A clinic was also built. As in the founding years of Ngqeleni Mission the sisters did no longer go to Outposts for the care of the sick and destitute but concentrated their work on the clinic. It functioned as a little hospital. Young mothers came for delivering their babies. Every day many people were attended to for their ills and chronic sicknesses. Another Samaritan work of the sisters was the support of needy families with cheese and milk powder and second-hand clothing which the sisters got from Switzerland.

On the other side of the road the Parish built three more flats in addition to the six existing flats for tenants in order to become financially more independent. The pastoral work in the Parish had its ups and downs. A new Outstation church was built and blessed at Mngamnye on 21 September 2003 after the old building collapsed. The Mqwangqweni community was shrinking more and more. Many Catholics who were living around the church joined other sects. Those faithful who remained were living a good distance away from the church. So, it was decided to sell the original Mqwangqweni Outstation church and build a new one nearer to their homes.

Mary Stella Outstation church near the sea at Ntshilini was literally blown away by the wind. It was a pre-fabricated building on top of a mountain. Unfortunately, not only the building was blown away by the wind, also many Catholics were scattered and blown away by different kinds of wind like the temptations and promises of other sects and also the weakness of their own faith. It is sad to see a community falling away in which the priests and sisters had dedicated so much energy, love and care for the spiritual and physical needs of the people.

In 2003 the whole Mission ground was fenced in with a solid high fence. On 28 December 2005 a great tragedy happened. Sr. Clementine, the nurse, was shot point blank by an intruder who demanded money. This traumatic experience influenced the sisters to withdraw from the clinic as well as the convent in September 2012.

The Blessing of a Grotto took place in 2016.

The Parish produced one priest and one sister:

• Luthando Xhamlayo, Diocesan. Ordained on 30 June 2012 by Bishop Sipuka
• Cecilia Mavuthela, Ursuline. Final Profession on 18 December 2010 and now teaching in Libode 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 Ulrich Eisenbarth C.M.M.: November 1945 – 1946
2. Fr Gerwald Janssen C.M.M.: 1946 – September 1947
3. Fr Liebwin Weber C.M.M.: October 1948 – January 1953; April 1954 – February 1955; December 1955 – November 1956; February – July 1968
4. Fr Francis Wojaczek C.M.M.: February 1953 – March 1954
5. Fr Paul Baumeler C.M.M.: February – November 1955
6. Fr Franz Xaver Wettstein C.M.M.: November 1956 – January 1958
7. Fr Joseph Vogel C.M.M.: February 1958 – June 1961
8. Fr Sigisbert Holenstein C.M.M.: April 1959 – February 1963
9. Fr Lucas Lehmann C.M.M.: October 1963 – September 1964
10. Fr Gregory Homan C.M.M.: November 1964 – January 1972
11. Fr George Brunner C.M.M.: February 1972 – 1982
12. Fr Nicholas Lamla: 1982 – 1986
13. Fr Bernhard Deier C.M.M.: 1986 – 1987
14. Fr Winfried Egler C.M.M.: 1987 – 1989
15. Fr Alphonse Lechamuchamu C.M.M.: 1989 – 1989
16. Fr Tsepo Tsalong: 1990 – 1994
17. Fr Clemens Truttman C.M.M.: 1994 – 1995
18. Fr Vincent Paniculum (Carmelite): 1995 – 1997
19. Fr Patrick Mbongwe: 2000 – 2003
20. Fr Winfried Egler C.M.M.: 2003 – 2005
21. Fr Octavius Khasoane: 2005 – 2006
22. Fr Mbulelo Qumntu: 2007 – 2009
23. Fr Gerald Ramotso: 2010 – 2011
24. Fr Hormisdas Kasule: January 2012 – August 2012
25. Fr Gerald Tafuma: 2012 – 2019
26. Fr Faustin Mapwar C.M.M.: November 2019 – 2020
27. Fr Tsepo Tsalong: 2020 –

Priest Incharge: Monsignor Tsepo Tsalong
CellPhone:  083 740 1918
Email: tctsalong@gmail.com

Address
58 Armstrong Street
Ngqeleni
5140

Postal Address
P.O. Box 11
Ngqeleni 
5140