This page was last updated on Tuesday, 24 October 2006 17:51:42
The history of the parishes in the Diocese of Eshowe
Pathane is situated in a rural area just south of the Umfolozi river near Kwambonambi. The Catholics, who lived scattered in kraals and villages, were first looked after by the parish priest of Fatima and were later served from Kwambonambi. Because the whole region is relatively densely populated, Bishop Bilgeri decided in the early sixties, to establish a parish at Pathane. He called on Mark Hussey to design a church and a residence for a priest. The builders moved onto the site in June 1961 and completed the church and a little flat for the priest early in 1962. Bishop Bilgeri blessed the church on July 1, 1962.
The church at Pathane is relatively large and has a distinctly modern design. It was far beyond the means of the local Catholic community to build such a church. Their resources were not even sufficient to keep the building in good repair. Fifteen years after it had been opened, the Pathane church was in such poor condition that major repair works had to be done. The Diocese of Eshowe was able to secure the services of Bro. Jacob Riedmann and his building team to give the church a complete face-lift. They completed the task at the end of 1978.
On February 23, 1970, the Catholics of Pathane were able to welcome Fr. Gerard Khena (19401972) as their first resident priest. When Fr. Khena died in February 1972, the parish was looked after by the parish priest of Ngwelezana for a whole year. In March 1973 it became again part of the Kwambonambi parish. After Kwambonambi had been closed down in July 1979, the bishop entrusted Pathane to the care of the parish priest of Ngwelezana. Pathane had seven outstations and a total of 1875 Catholics in 1992.
Parish Priests of Pathane
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