Holy Family Parish in Andara, Namibia

Where we come from…
The village of Andara is situated 200km east of Rundu in the Kavango Region of Namibia. The area is inhabited by the Hambukushu people who live as farmers and herders along the banks of the Kavango River. In 1909 the first missionaries arrived to Andara Mission but their work was not successful so they went back to Nyangana where they established a Mission. Then in 1913, Alexander Ndara, chief of the Hambukushu tribe, accepted and welcomed the Catholic Missionary Oblates – OMI. By visiting Chief Ndara and gaining his favor, the first priests where able to easily spread the Good News of God to the people. When founded, the Roman Catholic Mission was named Ndara Mission after the Chief, but today it is known as Andara. On 5 July 1914, the Magdalena Jiwa was the first person recorded to be baptized by Father Josef Gotthard on the river island Tahwe. Fr. Gotthard worked with Junior Wüst from 1921 to 1931 and with Fr. Frolich who would serve the next 69 years in Andara. Fr. Thanissen also worked with Fr. Frolich until 1966 when he was replaced by Fr. L.V. Lulsdorff (1966-1974), Fr. L. Baver and Fr. Kapirika (1975-1982), Kapp – OMI (1983-1992), and Fr. Henryk Ostrowski – Fidei Donum (1992-2006). Aside from the Roman Catholic faith, the first priests brought great things to Andara and the Mbukushu area. The Andara Catholic Hospital was founded in the 1960’s by Sister Katharina and later improved by Sr. Krisanta and Dr. Fisch. The early priests also built a youth hostel on the Mission grounds. In 1966, the hostel accommodated 130 students with the hostel mother Sr. Bernadete, the first Catholic nun at the Andara Mission. Coming from Oshikuku, Sr. Bernadete is, hitherto, the only Namibian sister to serve at Andara. The Andara Mission is also proud of its family for further accomplishments. From Andara, Fr. Gotthard went on to become the Archbishop of Windhoek. Fr. B. Haushiku was also a priest at Andara who later became Archbishop of Windhoek. Fr. Joseph Shikongo served at Andara for a short period and later became the first Bishop of Rundu. These are wonderful accomplishments for us to remember.

Where we are...
Today the Andara Catholic Mission consists of 36 Roman Catholic centers spanning the district located in the following villages: Andara, Bagani, Biro, Dimwagha, Dina-Kapako, Dithimba, Divundu, Diyana, Diyogha, Kake, Kambimba, Kamutjonga, Kangongo, Kangundja, Kanorombwe, Kayanga, Mangamba, Mayara, Mbapuka, Mukongotji, Muthinduko, Shamaturu, Shadipwera, Shakashi, Shamara, Shamavinyo, Shamunaro, Shanondho, Shayirungu, Shutukavitji, Thikanduko, Thikukutu, Thipanana, and Tjova. Of these 37 centers, there are 15 permanent churches. Great progress is being made under the guiding hand of Father Andrew Cieszkowski, who came to Andara in 2006. In fact, 2007 saw the completion and blessing of churches in four communities: Biro, Kamutjonga, Mbapuka, and Thikanduko.
Father Andrew oversees operation of the student hostels, which now accommodate more than 300 learners each school term. Much needed renovations have been made to the boys’ and girls’ hostels including the painting of the girls’ hostel, restoration and building of new showers and toilets, and installation of a new boys’ septic tank.
The Andara Catholic Mission is hard at work translating Faith-based texts into the local language, Thimbukushu. Translators have finished the lectionary and catechism materials as well as the first five books of the Bible. However, a lot of work is still to come. In 2007 was printed Catechism in local language which is used by many people.
Recently, the Mission also reached out to assist Twayapa Shotuyowe, an Andara-based HIV/AIDS Support Group assisted by Peace Corps Volunteer Mary Atherton. The group is starting a meat-selling business whose profits will go to sustain a vegetable garden that will help to feed families affected by this pandemic. Father Andrew and laborers at the Mission constructed the building that will be used as the Twayapa Shotuyowe marketplace.

Where we hope to go…
In 2007, Father Andrew was joined by Fr. Zbigniew Trała, and together they hope to bring even more life into the Mission and community. They will look to finish translating and printing the first Catholic Bible in Thimbukushu. For this, though, they will need financial support to cover the costs of food and transport for translators and bible pages for printing.
There is always need for continuous renovations and upgrades at the student hostel. The Andara Catholic Mission would like to establish a computer lab that learners would access in the evenings and on weekends. Information Technology is more important than ever to the education of young people, and access to the Internet means access to information and knowledge that is currently untouchable for these students. Computer literacy will prepare them for work and higher education in this quickly developing country.