A Short History of the Province:
The Orange River Vicariate was detached from the Natal Vicariate on March 15, 1886. Mgr. Anthony Gaughren, OMI. became the Apostolic Vicar as well as the Vicar of Missions. Fr. Josepf Gerard, OMI, was a member of the Province in those days. Griqualand West was added to the Vicariate in 1890 and the southern part of present day Botswana in 1892. Basotholand was detached from the Orange River Vicariate in 1894. When Bishop Anthony Gaughren, OMI. died on January 15, 1901 he was replaced by his brother Matthew Gaughren, OMI. both as Apostolic Vicar and Vicar of Missions in 1902. The name of the Orange River Vicariate was changed in 1903 into Vicariate of Kimberley. Fr. Frederick Porte, OMI. Was appointed Vicar of Missions (religious Superior) for the Kimberley and the Transvaal Vicariate in 1907. After his death Of Matthew Gaughren on June 1, 1914, the Vicariate was placed under the administration of Johannesburg. In 1923 the southern part of the Vicariate was added to Gariep and the north-eastern part (Kroonstad) established as a separate entity. Fr. Yves Saccadas, OMI. followed Fr. F Porte, OMI as religious Superior in 1926.
The Kimberley Vicariate was entrusted to the German Oblates on October 25, 1924 and Mgr. Meysing appointed as Administrator of the Vicariate. From 1927-1935 he served also as Vicar of Missions. The Rustenburg and Marico District were added first to the Vicariate in 1930 and finally to Pretoria in 1948. The office of Apostolic Vicar was separated from that of Vicar of Missions on January 25, 1935 and Fr. Janssen, OMI. (1935-1947) appointed as the Provincial for the Oblates working in the Vicariate. His successors in the office was Fr. Victor Kress, OMI. (1947-1951).
The establishment of the hierarchy in Southern Africa in 1951 brought the division of the Kimberley Vicariate into two parts, the Archdiocese of Bloemfontein and the Diocese of Kimberley. The Jagersfontein area fell again under Kimberley. The OMI Province was renamed the Vice Province Kimberley-Bloemfontein on February 2, 1952. The Provincials were: A. Hartjes, OMI. (1951-1960), L. Bausche, OMI.1960-1966, J. Russ, OMI.(1966-1971), E. Hecht, OMI (1971), J. Anthofer, OMI. (1972-1978), J. Hubbart, OMI (1978-1981), A. Kreuz, OMI (1981- 1987), L. Ademmer, OMI. (1987-1993), R. Mothe, OMI. (1993-1999), M. Morrissey, OMI. (1999-2005).
The area of the Vicariate situated in Botswana was transferred to the Passionists in 1959. The Western Transvaal Delegation was attached to the Kimberley-Bloemfontein Province in 1990. The amalgamation of the two entities in 1998 resulted in the new name for the new unit: OMI Central Province of SA.
The Central Province is divided into three Districts. The Southern District (Superior Fr. B. Ievers, OMI.) consisting of the Oblates working in the Archdiocese of Bloemfontein; the Western District ( Superior Fr. L. Ademmer, OMI.) for the Oblates of the Kimberley Diocese and the Eastern District (Superior Fr. W. Joye, OMI) for those in the Diocese of Klerksdorp.
|
