At present, there are sixteen Capuchins in South Africa.

The youngest of these - Fr Dominic Griego from Bridgetown, Cape Town - was ordained to the priesthood in February 2006. Our oldest friar is Fr Didacus McGrath who has just celebrated fifty years as priest. Ordained in Ireland, Fr Didacus has spent the whole of his priestly ministry in South Africa.

The Capuchins are present in four provinces in South Africa:

Cape Town

We still have our Cape Town foundational parishes in Athlone (St Mary of the Angels) and Parow (Immaculate Conception) and have been in Welcome Estate (St Theresa’s) for many years.

Port Elizabeth

You will find us in Malabar (Our Mother of Perpetual Help) and Charlo (San Francesco).

Pietermaritzburg

Once we ran three parishes in this town. We no longer have parochial responsibility, but own a house which we will reoccupy when we again have students to attend the nearby St Joseph’s Theological Institute at Cedara.

Pretoria (Tshwane)

Under the jurisdiction of the South African superior, is a Capuchin house named Padre Pio and concerned with the education of new Capuchin friars. It caters for students from all over Africa. Also at this house is the Damietta Initiative, which is a Franciscan peace-making project founded by one of our friars.

Ministries

Of necessity we have worked chiefly as parish priests. The needs of the Church have made that obvious. Nevertheless, this has not altogether precluded friars from other ministries. These are examples:

• Formation (training) of new young friars
• Ministry to convents, including confessors
• Marriage Encounter
• Prison ministry
• Retreats
• Seminary teaching

CAPUCHIN  VICE PROVINCIALATE

P.O. Box 118, Howard's Place 7450

Cape Province, South Africa

Tel. 0027-21-6370026  :  Fax 0027-21-6370014

e-mail: capsa@iafrica.com