A short History of "Fatima House", Aliwal North
When the “Convent” in Aliwal North (now “Holy Cross Primary School”) was being built (1904 – 1907) a small house at the end of the garden with two rooms in it was used by the builders for the storage of tools and implements.
In 1905 this building was renovated and a row of additional rooms added on to make a “sanatorium” for very ill Sisters and for those who were growing old and unable to climb stairs. In 1927 “the Cottage”, as it was called, got its own Chapel. In 1936 the “Sancta Maria” annex was added.
However the idea of building a larger and more up-to-date house for the increasing number of aged Sisters was never far from the minds of “Convent” authorities.
At the “Provincial Chapter” in 1959 it was decided to build a suitable house for the aged and ill Sisters. When Mother M. Carmela Motta (Superior General, Menzingen, Switzerland) arrived in Aliwal on visitation in 1960, plans were immediately drawn up and submitted to Menzingen. The Mother General remarked: “These are the most beautiful plans ever sent to us from overseas.”
The new house, named “Fatima” has every comfort and convenience for the Sisters who have spent their lives in the service of God as Holy Cross Sisters. There are about fifty single rooms separated by wide corridors with ramps for wheel-chairs…
When the building was completed each Convent in the Province agreed to furnish one room… The marble altar, beautiful tabernacle and Oberammergau carved crucifix were gifts, as were the pews donated by the Windhoek Convent and the sanctuary lamp from the Parow College Students.
On 22 May 1963 the Fatima House was opened to the townspeople of Aliwal North who were delighted at this opportunity to see the building.
On 30 May 1963 the Sisters moved in to their new home, Sr Eustace Kopp being the first Superior and Sr Christina Wendl being still among the devoted nursing staff.
From 3 June 1973 there has been daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Fatima Chapel, the aged Sisters spending long hours adoring their Sacramental Lord. Here petitions for all the needs of the Sisters and the Congregation are sent to be prayed for.
A staff of about fifteen Religious nursing Sisters looked after this Home for the sick and aged.
“A Time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3)
At present (2013) there are only few sick and aged Sisters living in Fatima… At the end of 2013 the Holy Cross Provincial Administration has therefore decided to close Fatima…
Already in March 2014 some aged Sisters were moving to our “Holy Cross Home” in Lady Selborne, Pretoria. On 1st September 2014 the remaining 10 Sisters moved to “St Michael’s” across the road.On 8th September, Birthday of Our Blessed Lady, Bishop Michael Wüstenberg with several Priests of the Aliwal Diocese concelebrated Holy Mass for the last time in the Fatima Chapel. – Then we accompanied Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to our small Chapel in “St Michael’s” where the ceremony ended with the Eucharistic Blessing.
In 1905 this building was renovated and a row of additional rooms added on to make a “sanatorium” for very ill Sisters and for those who were growing old and unable to climb stairs. In 1927 “the Cottage”, as it was called, got its own Chapel. In 1936 the “Sancta Maria” annex was added.
However the idea of building a larger and more up-to-date house for the increasing number of aged Sisters was never far from the minds of “Convent” authorities.
At the “Provincial Chapter” in 1959 it was decided to build a suitable house for the aged and ill Sisters. When Mother M. Carmela Motta (Superior General, Menzingen, Switzerland) arrived in Aliwal on visitation in 1960, plans were immediately drawn up and submitted to Menzingen. The Mother General remarked: “These are the most beautiful plans ever sent to us from overseas.”
The new house, named “Fatima” has every comfort and convenience for the Sisters who have spent their lives in the service of God as Holy Cross Sisters. There are about fifty single rooms separated by wide corridors with ramps for wheel-chairs…
When the building was completed each Convent in the Province agreed to furnish one room… The marble altar, beautiful tabernacle and Oberammergau carved crucifix were gifts, as were the pews donated by the Windhoek Convent and the sanctuary lamp from the Parow College Students.
On 22 May 1963 the Fatima House was opened to the townspeople of Aliwal North who were delighted at this opportunity to see the building.
On 30 May 1963 the Sisters moved in to their new home, Sr Eustace Kopp being the first Superior and Sr Christina Wendl being still among the devoted nursing staff.
From 3 June 1973 there has been daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Fatima Chapel, the aged Sisters spending long hours adoring their Sacramental Lord. Here petitions for all the needs of the Sisters and the Congregation are sent to be prayed for.
A staff of about fifteen Religious nursing Sisters looked after this Home for the sick and aged.
“A Time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3)
At present (2013) there are only few sick and aged Sisters living in Fatima… At the end of 2013 the Holy Cross Provincial Administration has therefore decided to close Fatima…
Already in March 2014 some aged Sisters were moving to our “Holy Cross Home” in Lady Selborne, Pretoria. On 1st September 2014 the remaining 10 Sisters moved to “St Michael’s” across the road.On 8th September, Birthday of Our Blessed Lady, Bishop Michael Wüstenberg with several Priests of the Aliwal Diocese concelebrated Holy Mass for the last time in the Fatima Chapel. – Then we accompanied Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament to our small Chapel in “St Michael’s” where the ceremony ended with the Eucharistic Blessing.
“Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses”. (Ecclesiastes 3) |
"Fatima" - a "Home" for the Sisters in Aliwal North
For the increasing number of aged Sisters in the whole Province a Home, named "Fatima" was erected between 1961 - 1963.
For the increasing number of aged Sisters in the whole Province a Home, named "Fatima" was erected between 1961 - 1963.
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Since 3 June 1973 there has been daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Fatima chapel, the aged Sisters spending long hours adoring their Sacramental Lord.
To "this powerhouse of prayer and suffering" petitions for all the needs of the Sisters and the Congregation are sent to be prayed for. |
