La Salette Ministry in Namibia

Details: Written by Fr. Jack Nuelle, M.S.

Untitled-1 Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia, is situated on a plateau in the geographic center of a country half the size of Alaska. In 2002, acquiescing to the request of the Archbishop of Windhoek, La Salette Missionaries from Angola came to minister in Opuwo – a city of some 11,000 inhabitants in the northwestern region of Namibia called Koakoland. It neighbors on Angola.

The majority of Namibians live in pronounced poverty because of widespread unemployment and striking inequality of production distribution. With an elevated unemployment rate in the whole country – and nearing 50% in Opuwo – families live from hand-to-mouth off the land.

Windhoek, the capital
city of Namibia

The basic food staple is mealie-meal – a type of corn meal. Most food is produced during the summer months – temperatures soar to around 110º during the day from November to May – when rain, albeit sparse and erratic, provides some moisture. In winter months – which span from the beginning of June to the end of August – temperatures can fall into the 30’s at night. With no rain from May to October, the country is plagued with dust storms. Is it any wonder that the country as a whole produces only about half the basic food it needs?

This mealie porridge is made
from mealie meal (maise)

Revenue to buy food from other countries comes mostly from exploitation of non-fuel minerals – like diamonds, lead, silver and zinc. However most of the foreign revenue – including the exportation of uranium – does not filter down to relieve the needs of the people. The gap between rich and poor is very pronounced. Since there are few paved roads, each season brings special challenges to travel and the distribution of food.

The town of Opuwo has only one Catholic parish: “Jesus Omurisc Omuua” – or Jesus the Good Shepherd. Joined to it are eight outstations, the farthest of which is about 80 miles away. Ministry accepted by the La Salette Missionaries here encompasses service to approximately 1,500 Catholics. Today three of these Catholic outstations have church buildings in which to worship. Two others are sufficiently structured to sustain churches as soon as funds become available for construction.

Our pre-school in the Parish of
Jesus the Good Shepherd

This total parish complex was formerly served by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). When it was returned to the Archdiocese, the Archbishop wanted the parish to keep its “missionary spirit” alive so the Archbishop sought another Religious Missionary Congregation to minister there. How he came to ask the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette ministering in Angola, I have no clue. The area of Opuwo borders on Angola and has quite a few Angolan refugees among its people. Could this have been a factor in seeking a Missionary Congregation already well established in Angola?

A former German colony with strong ties to South Africa, the official language of Namibia since its independence in 1990 is, nevertheless, English although only about 7% speak it as a first language. Most people – 60% – still speak Afrikaans and a certain portion – 33% mostly made up of the white population – still speaks German. This presented a challenge to the La Salettes from Angola whose native languages are Umbundu and Portuguese. The first La Salettes to arrive there in April 2002 were Fr. Domingos Kasoma Tchipindu, MS, and – then Deacon Brother and now Father – Vitorino Undongo, MS. Fr. Avelino Sangameya, M.S., followed in September.

Frs. Avelino Sangameya, M.S.
(left) and Vitorino Undongo, M.S.

There are three public grade schools in Opuwo and two public high schools, with a total student population of about 2,500. Attached to the Parish of Jesus the Good Shepherd is a Pre-School or Kindergarten. It is one of three in the town, all of them sponsored by church groups. Jesus the Good Shepherd Kindergarten is just as important as the public grade schools and high schools.

With so many families barely eking out a living – some employed but most unemployed and working the land – it is essential not to leave the young children alone and unsupervised. Being a Catholic establishment, it depends financially on the indigent local parish. It was about to close from lack of funds when the project begun by little Arpita Joyce in the USA – PenniesForAfrica.com – stepped in to help keep it going. What a beautiful gift of children to children. Together, with hearts touching from half way around the world, this project is working to keep the kindergarten open.