MEET US

Members of the Province:

Bishop Everard Baaij, SCJ

Originally from Netherlands, he first served as a parish priest in various communities in the Diocese of De Aar. Later he was ordained and appointed as a bishop of the Dioceses of Aliwal North. After his retirement, he moved to Port Elizabeth where he lives in the Nazareth House and continues to do ministry to the sick and the elderly.

Profession date: 08 September 1942

Ordination date: 20 July 1947

Bishop ordination date: 23 May 1974

Bishop Joseph Potocnak, SCJ

Originally from the United States (Philadelphia), after arriving in South Africa, he ministered to numerous parishes in the Diocese of De Aar. Afterwards he became a bishop of the Diocese. Despite his various activities, he remains pastorally active being responsible for the Cathedral and the Philipstown Community. After his retirement, he came back to the United States.

Profession date: 08 September 1961

Ordination date: 21September 1966

Bishop ordination date: 01 May 1992

Bishop Adam Musialek, SCJ

Originally from Poland Fr. Adam became the first Provincial Superior of the South African Province. He worked in the formation house in Kwa-Zulu-Natal taking care of the preparation of our candidates to priesthood. He was involved in the pastoral ministry in De Aar, Aliwal North and Pietermaritzburg. Recently, he became a bishop of the De Aar Diocese.

Profession date: 11 September 1977

Ordination date: 09 June 1983

Bishop ordination date: 24 September 2009

Brother Heinrich Bonaventura Schmedes, SCJ

Originally from Germany Br. Bona helped with the construction of many churches in the Aliwal Diocese as well as the carpentry teaching in St. Joseph School. He is still active in his workshop.

Profession date: 10 August 1954

Father John Strittmatter, SCJ

Originally from the United States Fr. John has served as the parish priest in many parishes in the De Aar Diocese. He has been very active in the field of social development and the eradication of poverty.

Profession date: 08 September 1954

Ordination date: 23 December 1961

Father Benno Hansel, SCJ

Originally from Germany Fr. Benno served as the regional superior and the bursar for the SCJs. At present he works as the parish priest in Hilton, also he serves the Holy Cross Sister, and the Sacred Hear Sisters as well, all stationed in Aliwa North.

Profession date: 10 August 1956

Ordination date: 06 April 1962

Father Anthony Austin, SCJ

Fr. Anthony, a South African, with the talent for the local languages worked for many years as the parish priest in Dordrecht in the Aliwal Diocese. He retired in the Monastery, Aliwal North. At the moment he is the "superiore delegatus" in St. Teresa Mission.

Profession date: 08 September 1961

Ordination date: 10 October 1967

Father Karl-Heinz Ofenloch, SCJ

Originally from Germany Fr. Karl-Heinz worked as the parish priest in the Cathedral of Aliwal for 15 years. He also served as the provincial councilor and the provincial bursar. At present he is retiring in the Aliwal North Monastery.

Profession date: 15 May 1965

Ordination date: 20 November 1970

Father Marek Przybys, SCJ

Originally from Poland Fr. Marek (Mark) became the second Provincial Superior of the South African Province. Completing his two terms of that Office, at present he serves the faithful in Graaff-Reinet, De Aar Diocese.

Profession date: 27 September 1981

Ordination date: 11 June 1988

Father Zdzislaw Koscielny, SCJ

Originally from Poland Fr. Zdzislaw (Paul) has been working as the parish priest in both Aliwal and De Aar Dioceses. At present he serves the faithful in Colesberg, De Aar Diocese.

Profession date: 15 November 1981

Ordination date: 17 June 1987

Father Zolile Petros Mpambani, SCJ

Fr. Zolile, the South African member of our Province served in the formation as the novice master and has been the member of the General Administration for six years. At present he serves as the superior of Students House in Pietermaritzburg, K-Z-N.

Profession date: 28 January 1982

Ordination date: 25 April 1987

Father Piotr Surdel, SCJ

Originally from Poland Fr. Piotr (Peter) has worked in various parishes in both Aliwal and De Aar Dioceses. For several years he has served as the novice master in Bethulie. For short period of time he moved to formation house in K-Z-N, eventually becoming the third Provincial Superior of the South African Province.

Profession date: 28 September 1985

Ordination date: 28 April 1991

Father Krzysztof Grzelak, SCJ

Originally from Poland Fr. Krzysztof (Chris) worked in pastoral ministry in the Diocese of De Aar and Aliwal North. Since completing his Ph. D. Degree at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal he works at the St. Joseph's Institute in Cedara.

Profession date: 27 September 1986

Ordination date: 16 May 1992

Father Zbigniew Chwaja, SCJ

Originally from Poland Fr. Zbigniew (Ziggy) has been involved in the pastoral work in De Aar and Aliwal North Dioceses. He also worked in the vocation ministry for some time. At present he ministers at the St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Pietermaritzburg and as the Provincial Bursar.

Profession date: 24 September 1987

Ordination date: 22 May 1993

Father Adam Maslowski, SCJ

Originally from Poland Fr. Adam has been working both in Aliwal and De Aar Dioceses. After finishing his work as the parish priest and youth chaplain in the Diocese of De Aar, he continues his work as the vocation director.

Profession date: 22 September 1988

Ordination date: 11 May 1996

Father Bernard Tente Sompane, SCJ

Fr. Bernard, a South African member of the Province, after his ordination has been appointed as the parish priest in St. Teresa Mission in the Aliwal Diocese. At present he serves the faithful in Bethulie.

Profession date: 17 September 1992

Ordination date: 07 December 2002

Father Innocent Mabheka, SCJ

Originally from Zimbabwe, Fr. Innocent has been appointed as the parish priest in Bethulie right after his priestly ordination. Since completing his Master Degree in Theology at the University of KwaZulu-Nata he had been responsible for the formation of scholastics before he became the pre-novice master. Recently, he started his pastoral ministry in Petrusville, De Aar Diocese.

Profession date: 12 January 1996

Ordination date: 07 December 2002