Before Shepherd’s Hope was established by an independent parish it was pastorised by Marialinden and Mariazell. On the 20^th of March 1925 Marialinden Mission had obtained a school in Sikethlane location, Mount Fletcher district, calling it Nazareth. As the number of Catholics increased in the following years, the need was felt for a proper mission station.

Fr Bertram Sirch, responsible for that Outstation Sikethlane, negotiated for a land with lawyers which led to Shepherd’s Hope farm being obtained on the 1^st of April 1958. Fr Zeggers settled at Shepherd’s Hope on the 1^st of September 1959. He soon started with the building of a large solid church which was blessed by the Bishop on the 11^th of May 1961. Another church of sandstone was erected at Paballong and blessed on the 30^th of August 1964. Looking around for more places of instruction, Fr Zeggers was able to acquire church sites at Pitseng (St. Paul’s) in June 1959, St Francis’ at Qoboshoang on the same date; another site at Sikethlane in October 1960 and also at Paballong.

In February 1969 Fr Zegers was transferred to Mariazell and was replaced at Shepherd’s Hope by Fr Clemens Truttmann. During his term of office a new presbytery was built by Br. Alarich in 1976, while the old priest house which Fr Zegers had put up in 1963 became the convent of the Precious Blood Sister who arrived on 3 February 1971. A further change of staff occurred in 1972 when Fr Leonard Seaoholimo took over; as he fell ill and had to undergo hospital treatment, the “founder” of Shepherd’s Hope, Fr Theodore Zegers returned in February 1975. His ambition was to have a parish hall for his Christians; on the 2^nd December 1978 this St. Francis Parish Hall was officially opened in the presence of the chieftainess Mamothibisi Constance Lebenya.

In the 80’s a clinic was built at the Mission but was closed in 1990. A new clinic was built outside the church premises and is under the administration of the Government. The Parish was blessed with the presence of the CPS sisters who were working in the Parish for many years until they were withdrawn in 1996.

In the 1990s Fr. Florian Mkoro did some farming on the Mission fields. During the time of Bishop Hirmer some renovations took place inside the Parish church and in the presbytery.

In 1993 the Parish also suffered under the circumcision problem which affected the whole Maluti deanery. In 1995 Bishop Hirmer ordained Fr. Patrick Mbongwe who was the son of the local catechist. In 2010 the Outstation Potseng was renovated, Bishop Oswald helped with funds from overseas.Fr. S. Mandl built the bell tower.

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 Theodore Zegers C.M.M.: September 1959 – February 1969
2. Fr Clemens Truttmann C.M.M.: February 1969 – November 1972
3. Fr Leonard Seaoholimo: November 1972 – February 1975
4. Fr Theodore Zegers C.M.M.: February 1975 – July 1982
5. Dieter Gahlen C.M.M.: October 1982 – January 1983
6. Stefan Mandl C.M.M.: January 1983 – January 1988
7. Florian Makoro: April 1988 – July 1991
8. Florian Makoro: October 1993 – April 1996
9. Thembisile Mdinwa: April 1996 – December 1999
10. Rellstab: December 1999 – April 2000
11. Vincent Kayiira: April 2000 – April 2012
12. Tsepo Tsalong: April 2012 – June 2015
13. Mafu Ponya C.M.M.: June 2015 –

Priest Incharge: Fr. Mafu Ponya C.M.M.
CellPhone: …
Email: frmafuponya@gmail.com

Address
Mehlolwaneng Village
Matatiele
4730

Postal Address
P.O. Box 243
Matatiele
4730