ORA
ET LABORA
Mariannhill
Church
The Mariannhill Monastery was founded in December
1882 by Abbot Francis Pfanner and his band of Trappist Monks. They came in
South Africa in response to a call from Bishop Ricards of Port Elizabeth.
However, failing to get established in the Eastern Cape, they eventually
founded the great Monastery and the Mission center in Mariannhill. At one
time it was the largest Monastery in the world.
The ancient motto Ora Et Labora " work and pray"
with it constant rhythm of prayer and work, was not only suited for life
in the Monastery. It was instrumental for bringing Christianity and
civilization to the Africans.Initially education was mainly for boys only
but when the time went on girls were admitted as well. In 1885 women were
educated whereby the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the
Precious Blood of Jesus was founded. The strict Trappists rule of silence
precluded the preaching of gospel amongst the people, it was decided in
1909 that the Abbey of Mariannhill should be changed into an active
missionary institute and it was called the Congregation of Mariannhill
Missionaries.
Mariannhill's work among the African people in
the religious, cultural, social and educational fields had had far
reaching influence throughout South Africa. It consists of St. Francis
College, St. Marys Hospital, industrial school, orphanage and many other
facilities such as printing press i.e UmAfrica.
They are thousands of men and women in South
Africa who were/ are the products Mariannhill. Others were/ are the
prominent figures. To name but the few Steve Biko known as the father of
Black Consciousness Movement, the late Zulu poet Dr. B. W Vilakazi, Dr. F.
Mdlalose former premier of KwaZulu Natal, Ellen Khuzwayo and many
others.
"This page was prepared and typed by Philip Kramer and
Ntombizanele Mzotho (961064572)"
