They waited 13 years for the first Mass in their Church

As far back as 1998, Father Albert Sithole led the drive to provide a church for the Catholics at Ezimangweni, a community where people were too poor to afford the transport to Matikwe Mission.

A legal purchase of some land was concluded, and the building went up. But on the day of the blessing before it could be used as a church, a confrontational group of people prevented the Catholics from taking possession of the church.

The claim was that the sale of the land had been illegal.

With all the correct documentation as evidence, the matter went to Court, but the hearing was intermittently postponed over several years. During this time, prayer drives were launched asking Our Lady of Fatima for her intercession.

Then on 25 April last year, the opposition withdrew and an interdict was granted in the Church’s favour – close to the 100th anniversary of the first apparition at Fatima.

Now named Our Lady of the Rosary in thanksgiving to Mary, you can imagine the joy of the first Mass for the Ezimangweni community.