This page was last updated on Sunday, 08 June 2003 19:41:53
The history of the parishes in the Diocese of Eshowe
In 1951, Bishop Bilgeri bought a 0,5-hectare property in the village of Mtunzini, a popular holiday resort which is situated thirty-five kilometres south of Empangeni on a hill overlooking the Indian Ocean. Several houses were then built on the property to accommodate priests, brothers and sisters who wished to spend a holiday by the sea. In April 1988, the Diocese of Eshowe decided to purchase the adjoining stand, thus extending the property of the Catholic Church in Mtunzini to about one hectare. In 1955, one of the buildings was turned into a chapel. This was done in such a way that "Europeans and Non-Europeans have separate places which has generally been welcomed," according to the chronicle of Mtunzini (year 1955, pg. 263). The chapel was enlarged in 1969 so that it could accommodate about sixty to seventy people. The parish had only about a hundred members in 1990. Further alterations and extensions to the chapel were undertaken in 1994.
Church attendance at Mtunzini rises regularly over the Christmas season and in July when the village experiences an influx of holiday-makers. The holiday cottage of the Diocese of Eshowe is occupied all year round by priests, brothers and sisters who spend a relaxing week or two at Mtunzini.
Bishop Aurelian Bilgeri ordered a cottage to be built for himself on the property. When it was completed in March 1969, he transferred his residence from Eshowe to Mtunzini and stayed there until he died in July 1973. The cottage is now used as a presbytery. In September 1991, Fr. Felix Baumeister resigned as parish priest of Mtunzini. Since then the parish is looked after by Franciscan priests from Emoyeni.
Superiors at Mtunzini
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