It seemed to be an experienced trekboer with a young boy, a cat, a dog and a few pieces of rough furniture who, in May 1913, was penetrating deeper into the drought-stricken wilderness dominated by strange koppies.
It was Father Cornelius van’t Westeinde who was coming to establish a Mission at Rietpoort. Already fifteen years he had worked and sweat, prayed and suffered, side by side, with the great pioneer, Bishop Simon, in the notorious desolation of Namaqualand. Now he arrived at Rietpoort, a coloured reserve donated to the missionaries by Queen Victoria in acknowledgement of services rendered during the Boer war. This was Rietpoort: a few tattered huts in the shelter of the koppies. Father Cornelius called a halt near a shallow pool, which seemed loathed to part with its scanty water. He put up his tent which was to do for church, dwelling and school, while he tried to build something more elegant. The staunch pioneer had his trouble, of which poverty and loneliness were the least. He met with such severe opposition that he almost despaired of ever fulfilling the task confided to him. But when he thought of the rich harvest he would gather, if he persevered, he set teeth and stood firm. ”Here I am and here I stay”.
This was again his answer to a group of delegates when he was at Kamieskroon to plan a foundation there. They arrived on 1st February, 1932, and handed him an ultimatum, complete with twenty-five signatures. Father Cornelius was not perturbed. They left him to Rietpoort, Molsvlei, lepelsfontein.
In 1913 Father Fages went to France on leave. He deserved a rest after 21 years of labour in Africa. Father Baude replaced him at Keimoes, a mission which has developed rapidly under the care of its first pastor. At just about this time the magistrate of Springbok came personally to ask us to open a mission at Rietpoort, Molsvlei and Lepelsfontein. Three hundred people there desire to have a minister of religion. Their superintendent, Mr. Probard, accompanied the magistrate. Though both are Protestants, these two men agreed on the choice to be made. Only the Catholics succeed with these people, they said. We accepted with pleasure, and a few months later the Vicar Apostolic accompanied Father Cornelius van ‘t Westeinde to this new station to which the latter had been appointed.
Kamieskroon remained an out-station, served byRietpoort till 1940 and by Garies till 1946. Then Father Chevalier became the priest in charge. Under his guidance, and with the help of three brave Daughters of St. Francis de Sales, worked happily together for the welfare of the souls.
In 1926 the ever-active Father Cornelius started another foundation at Van Rhynsdorp, 110km from Rietpoort, where our regetted Father Meyer labored in utter solitude and contribute his large share to the Propagation of the Faith, till his premature death in 1972. Not in vain did Father Cornelius” hold on and did not let go” according to the motto of the Oblate Fathers of St.Francis de Sales: Tenui nec Dimittam.
The rich harvest which he had foreseen was being gathered.
At Rietpoort today, Father G. van den Berg is assisted by Father A. Chevalier and four Oblate Sister who, all, are at their posts in school, in the hospital, in the mill and the shop before the koppies are aglow at sunrise. In the centre stands the stately church building. From the tabernacle within its walls grace and strength flow out to the labourers in the field, that they may reap a hundredfold.
Beginning at Van Rhynsdorp:
23rd January: I left Pella on my visitation of the missions in the western part of the vicariate. On the 26th I presided at the ceremony of Sister Marie Gertrude’s perpetual vows at Matjieskloof. On the 29th I left for Port Nolloth, where I confirmed 25 persons on the following day. On the 2nd February there was another ceremony of perpetual vows, this time for Sister Jeanne Lucie, and on the 3rd I returned to Okiep.
Fr v.d. Berg osfs
On the 9th I left for Garies where I met Father Cornelius, and that same evening we were in Rietpoort. We departed for Van Rhynsdorp on the 15th. There we looked for a piece of ground to buy in order to found a new mission. On the 18th we decided on a property belonging to Mr. Rood. It comprised 31 hectares of ground, a small house of four rooms, a reservoir into which water is pumped by three windmills, and a garden of fruit trees and vegetables. The owner wanted £1 200 for the property. He accepted our offer of £900 and on the 18th we concluded the sale.