Our Commemorative days
The founding of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard
On 28 October 1992, the German missionary and veteran Maltese Father Gerhard, together with the parish council chairmen from Mandeni and Sundumbili and their wives, founded the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard as an association of believers. On 5 November 1992, the Bishop of Eshowe signalled the green light and officially confirmed the foundation as an ecclesiastical association on 20 April 1993. On the same day, the Sovereign Council of the Order of Malta in Rome recognised the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard as an auxiliary organisation of the Order.
The motto of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard is that of the Knights of Malta: "tuitio fidei et obsequium pauperum" - "Defend the faith and help the needy."
The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard lives this motto through voluntary service to the poor, through charitable projects, regardless of the faith, colour or political affiliation of those in need.
The Brotherhood works in the greater Mandeni area, about 100 kilometres north of Durban.
The undersigned faithful hereby make this private agreement to form a Private Association of the faithful for the purpose of endeavouring in common to cultivate a life of higher perfection through charitable works.
This purpose is one of those mentioned in CIC Can. 298 § 1 and not one of the kind mentioned in CIC Can. 301 § 1. Pursuant to CIC, Can 304 § 1, we have established by-laws defining the purpose, seat, governance, terms of membership and procedure of the Association.
In accordance with CIC, Can. 304 § 2 we have for the association
the name "Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard".
Pursuant to CIC, Can. 305 § 1, we submit the Association to the supervision of the Bishop of Eshowe and request his guidance. We humbly request the Bishop of Eshowe to review the statutes we have drawn up for the Association (CIC, Can. 299 § 3); to agree that the Association should adopt the designation "Catholic" (CIC, Can. 300); to issue a formal decree to the Association, thereby granting it legal personality (CIC, Can. 322 § 1).
Mandini, 28 October 1992
The Founder:
gez. Fr. Gerhard Tonque Lagleder OSB
The founding members:
gez. Dr. med. Paul Zakhele Titus Thabethe & gez. Nokuthula Marigold Thabethe
counted. Geoffrey Kalkwarf & counted. Clare Ann Kalkwarf
Anniversaries and feast days
January
4 January:
Establishment of the Blessed Gérard's Emergency Relief Fund (1993).
26 January:
First deployment of Blessed Gérard's Disaster Relief Fund (1996).
February
3 February:
Establishment of Blessed Gérard's Scholarship Fund (1993).
March
15 March:
Blessed Gérard's clinic for malnourished infants and young children opens (1993)
30 March:
Launch of Blessed Gérard's First Aid and Emergency Service (1999).
April
1 April:
Establishment of Blessed Gérard's Hospice HAART programme (2004).
6 April:
Assassination of the Vice President of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard: Mrs. Clare Kalkwarf (2006)
20 April:
Recognition of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard as an auxiliary organisation of the Order of Malta (1993).
May
15 May:
Opening of Blessed Gérard's Senior Citizens' Club 1993).
23 May:
Launch of Blessed Gérard's HIV/AIDS awareness programme (1994)
June
1 June:
Opening of Blessed Gérard's Development Aid Centre (1993).
24 June:
Solemnity of St. John the Baptist (patron saint of the Maltese)
July
2 July:
State recognition of Blessed Gérard's Care Centre as a non-profit organisation. (2003)
9 July:
Official start of Blessed Gérard's Children's Home (2000).
August
September
1 September:
Opening of Blessed Gérard's Kindergarten (1994).
3 September:
Commemoration of the death of Blessed Gerard (1120)
3 September:
Opening of Blessed Gérard's Care Centre (1996).
October
13 October:
Feast of Blessed Gerard (patron saint of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard).
14 October:
State recognition of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard as a non-profit organisation. (2002)
16 October:
Investiture of Fr Gerhard as Honorary Conventual Chaplain of the Order of Malta. (2005)
24 October:
Admission of Fr Gerhard as Magisterial Chaplain to the Order of Malta. (1994)
28 October:
Foundation of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard (1992).
November
5 November:
Episcopal recognition of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard as a Catholic association (1992).
December
18 December:
Establishment of Blessed Gérard's Relief Fund for the Sick Poor (1992).