Vredendal

R.C Mission, Vergenoeg, Vredendal

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Vredendal. R.C. Mission, a newly-founded outstation of Van Rhynsdorp was spiritually served from 1926, by Fr M Archambaud osts of Van Rhynsdorp. On 19 September 1935, a farm, Vergenoeg was bought from Mr P.J.De Villiers. A little school, existing of two rooms was immediately established and a school was opened. Later a third room was added which also had to serve as an apartment for church assemblies.

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In 15 January 1939, Rev.Fr. Herman Klein, osfs was installed and on 2 February 1939 he was appointed as Parish priest. The first two sisters, Sr Louise-Charlotte Stellenberger osfs and Sr Marie Anne Cloete osfs came to Vergenoeg to assist Fr Klein in the Mission. In 1942 a third one, Sr Jeanne-Therese Salzmanne osfs replaced Sr Louis Charlotte as Superior.

In the long run the apartment which served as a church hall, became too small. In 1953 the construction of the existing church was started. The building making provision for 740 seats was finished and consecrated in 1958.

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In 1939 when Fr Klein was installed, the farm was still uncultivated. Br Thomas Toll osfs was specially sent by his Superiors to cultivate the farm. Very soon it was transformed and build up into a productive unit to the great benefit of the Mission as well as for the hostel which existed until 1979 and was provided with vegetables, fruit, milk and meat. Afterwards a large part of the farm was put under vinery. Br Thomas has operated as Mission farmer at Vergenoeg until his death on 23 May 1990.
After Brother’s death the farm was leased. Soon after the purchase of the farm and the establishment of a Mission Station, a suburb for coloureds has come into existence on the farm. In the beginning the inhabitants stayed in primitive hous es erected by themselves. Afterwards these houses were replaced by permanent brick buildings. Water and other services were supplied by the Mission at low fee to about 42 families. With the establishment of Vredendal North the inhabitants of Vergenoeg had to move to the new residential area.

In 1986 the history of Vergenoeg has reached cliax when Fr Klein celebrated his Golden Jubilee as a priest as well as the jubilee of the local school. During the years as Parish Priest, Fr Klein was also responsible for the neighbouring parishes where he erected churches or church halls in Doornbaai, Klawer, Trawal, Lutzville, Koekenaap and Vredendal North. The membership of Vredendal North has increased from a modest 180 in 1939 to almost 5000 in 1994.

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After Fr Klein’s death on 25 Feb 1996,Fr Rene Bientz retired and came to stay in Vergenoeg as chaplain for the residing oblate sisters and after his death on 1 October 2011, Fr.J. Ovis osfs replaced him. Twelve years after the death of Fr Klein the R.C. Vergenoeg School was closed down and a new state school with all the necessary facilities was built in Vredendal North by the Department of Education. On 30 June 2007 the school at Vergenoeg was officially closed.