The Province of Namibia

1. History:
NB.: A short, but rather precise summary can be found in - Zwischen Namib und Kalahari, 1971 and a more detailed history in Angelus, May 1996 entitled 100 years of OMI History 1896-2005.

The whole area north of Rehoboth of the German Colony of Deutsch-Sudwest-Afrika was entrusted to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1896 under the title of `jus commissionis'. The missionaries first had to pastorally care for the German Catholic soldiers. Only hesitantly the Catholic church was allowed to do missionary work amongst the local population:

1897: P. B. Hermann - ProPrefect in Windhoek
1899: Klein-Windhoek
1902: Aminuis
1903: Epukiro
1904-06: Herero war
1904: Usakos
1906 Omaruru
1908: Grootfontein
1910: Nyangana
1913: Andara
1921: P. J. Gotthardt - Apostolic Prefect of Small Cimbabesia
1926: Apostolic prefecture of Windhoek
1924: Otshikuku
1926: Tondoro, Walvisbay
1927: Anamulenge 1929: Bunya
1930: Shambyu
1932: Okatana
1936: Otjiwarongo
1939: Goas
1943: Waldfrieden
1957: P. Rudolf Koppmann - Bischof und Coadjutor
1960: Okahandja 1963: Dornfeld/Gobabis
1968: Rundu
1972: Khorixas
1979: B. Haushiku - Auxiliary Bishop
1982: B. Haushiku - Bishop
1994: B. Haushiku - Archbishop
1992: Opuwo
1994: Omega
1998: P. Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda - Auxiliary Bishop
2004: P. Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda - Archbishop
1954: Up to 1954 the Bishop was also Provincial. As from 1954 the following Fathers were provincials: A. v. Wahlde, A. Biesel, A. Volk, H. Hunke, H. Knuf, H. Steegmann, J. Shikongo, B. Wolf, Ph. Pollitzer

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2. Personnel:
Oblate Personnel list
Born-Namibian Oblates - 20
Missionaries - 30
Men in formation - 30

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3. Institutions:
Pre-Novitiate; P.O. Box 40262; Tel.: 061-242728
Novitiate; P.O. Box 2149; Tel.: 061-217420
Pastoral Center Dobra P.O. Box 2149; Tel./Fax: 061-264 394

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4. Activities:
Parishes: Cathedral, Pionierspark, Dobra, Gobabis, Aminuis, Epukiro, Otjiwarongo, Omega, Nyangana, Bunya, Tondoro, Okatana, Grootfontein, Tsumeb
Parish Missions
Retreats
Formation
Teaching in the National Seminary
Chaplaincy: Youth, Sisters congregations, Prison
Vocation promotion workshops
AIDS Orphans Apostolate
Street Women Apostolate

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5. Properties:
Oblate Center Dobra /Windhoek
PreNovitiate Pinonierspark /Windhoek
Shamalindi /Grootfontein
Alverna /Windhoek

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6. Overall Assessment: The Oblates can be seen as the founders of the greater part of the church in Namibia. The German Oblate Province has made and still makes an immense effort in personnel and finances to support the missionaries in their pastoral and social tasks. The missionary component of the personnel is overaged on the one hand, on the other hand the local vocations increase substantially. Because of old age of the missionaries many mission stations had to be entrusted to other congregations and to the diocesan clergy - for the benefit of the faithful. Oblate Mission accomplished! The financial burden for training the young Oblates is enormous. All in all: Immense Hope prevails