TOR Resource Manual
(page 36 -37)

The Vice-Province of St. Joseph
Republic of South Africa

On January 16, 1982 the Congregation of the Franciscan Familiars of St. Joseph was united to the Order in a ceremony presided over by the Minister General, Fr. Roland Faley, TOR.

The Former Congregation.

The Franciscan Familiars of St. Joseph were founded as a diocesan congregation of priests and brothers on December 20, 1923 by Bishop Albert Fleischer,CMM (1874-1963) the Vicar Apostolic of Marianhill from 1922-1950. The Bishop had founded the congregation for the purpose of providing for religious vocations to the priesthood and brotherhood from among Zulu men. The Holy See granted its approval for the canonical establishment on July 16, 1925.

In its beginnings the formation of its members and the direction of the Institute was confided to the Marianhill Missionaries. In 1928, the fraternity was affiliated spiritually with the Order of Friars Minor. The specific purpose of the Congregation was pastoral and missionary activity in the parishes and missions of the Marianhill Diocese. The apostolate of these friars is quite varied. At the time of the union there were 18 religious of whom 5 were priests, 11 brothers, 2 student friars and 3 novices.

The Union with the Third Order Regular

On January 16, 1979, Fr. Roland Faley,TOR then Minister General, wrote a circular letter to the whole Order announcing that the first steps had been taken towards a possible union. The Holy See approved the proposed union of the Franciscan Familiars of St. Joseph with the Third Order Regular in a decree dated September 26, 1981. The official ceremony of union took place on January 16, 1982 at the Monastery of St. Joseph, the central house in the Diocese of Marianhill, Republic of South Africa. The congregation became an Independent Commissariate or Vice-Province under the patronage of St. Joseph.

The first Commissary Provincial was Fr. Robert Dunstan Sisk of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Several friars of this province and Fr. Cyprian Mercieca of the Immaculate Conception Province (USA) have assisted the African fraternity in various capacities. On November 13, 1990, Fr. Cosmas Mdladla was elected Provincial of the Vice-Province.

They continue their ministry to people in two parishes in the mountains that overlook the east coast of South Africa where most roads are unpaved and many people are still without electrical power and running water. The Province has a house for students in Merrivale. The end of Apartheid in 1994 and an increase in vocations has enkindled new hope in these humble men of Kwa Zulu Natal.

For further information contact:

The Franciscan Friars
P.O. Box 263 - Merrivale KZN
Republic of South Africa