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Vryheid

History

THE ARRIVAL OF THE GERMAN SISTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA
1955
January
Srs Alexia Fischer, Sola Schaumann, Callista Riederer and Amarantha Peschek arrived at the harbour of Durban. They were welcomed by Bishop Aurelian Bilgeri OSB who took them to Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal. There they would start to learn the new languages and become accustomed to the culture of the people before moving to their specific places of work.
1955
19 December
Sr Alexia (superior) and Sr Amarantha moved together with the new arrivals, Sisters Modoalda Stigler, Genetrudis Ober and Agathana Trinkl to Vryheid. Their new convent was formerly a maternity home, bought in July 1955 from a nurse, Sister Christensen.

The reaction of the residents of Vryheid to the sisters was one of scepticism. Most of the people belonged to the Reformed Churches and the presence of Catholic sisters in town upset them. This was a similar situation like the one at the time of our foundation in Pirmasens in 1855, when the town council was against Catholic sisters and the Protestant minister could not even imagine a Catholic sister nursing a Protestant patient.

1956
24 January
The nursery school began with two children, the number grew and by the end of February, there were eleven children enrolled. Sr Amarantha Peschek and her little class were accommodated in one of the rooms of the convent.
(For more information visit www.nardinicschool.org.za).
1957
January
The Nardini Convent School (Primary School) opened to five pupils who were taught by Sr Modoalda Stigler. Every year a class was added to the new school. The residents of Vryheid slowly began to trust the sisters and to enroll their children in the school. They stated that the sisters taught well and didn’t mind putting exemplary effort into the care of the children.

As more sisters joined the Vryheid community, space became a problem and so the decision to build a new convent was made. The new convent was built around the old house which was eventually demolished because it was undermined and eaten away by termites. In its place, a beautiful garden was established, cloistered by four walls of the convent and boarding facility. The new buildings were blessed and officially opened in 1969 by the Apostolic Delegate J. Gordon and Bishop A. Bilgeri OSB.

1978
17 January
The Nardini Convent School under the leadership of the fearless principal, Sr Isentraud Rauscher (principal from 1973 – 1998), who was supported by Archbishop Denis Hurley of Durban, opened for all races. As a result of this action we were ostracised from all interschool sports and other activities.

After Sr Isentraud, Sr Catherine Brucker took over as principal and since October 2013, Sr Mpume Nhleko is the principal of Nardini Convent School. In 2017 the school celebrated the 60 year jubilee. The school has today close to 400 learners.

1989
The first South African Sisters
The first South Africans, Sr Conradine Mpume Nhleko and Sr Immaculate Ndlovu joined the Vryheid Community in 1989. The pronouncing of their perpetual vows in 1994 marked the beginning of a new era for the Franciscan Nardini Sisters of the Holy Family in South Africa. They were also the cause of great excitement among the sisters in the Motherhouse in Germany when they visited there for the first time in 2002.

Outreach

The main outreach of the sisters is Nardini Convent School, which includes the Pre-Primary and Day Care (aftercare). The sisters work as teachers, bookkeepers, in the laundry and admin.

For more information on the school, visit https://www.nardinicschool.org.za

Pastoral Work

From the beginning, the sisters were involved in the parish:

  • Serving as sacristans and youth leaders
  • Teaching catechism, preparing children/youth for First Holy Communion and Confirmation
  • Directing and singing in the church choir
  • Proclaimers of the Word and Communion helpers
  • Visiting the aged and sick
  • Providing for the poor and needy
  • Animating the Secular Franciscans (Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis; OFS) and Small Christian Communities
  • Formation of young women who are interested in becoming Nardini SIsters.

As the German sisters are getting older, they are being replaced by young South African vocations who are given expert training in a specific field of work. The prospect of the continuation of Fr Nardini’s work in South Africa is alive and active.

Support The Nardini Sisters

The Nardini Sisters have been a pillar of faith, service, and compassion in their community. Your support, in any form, can make a meaningful difference in sustaining their vital work. Whether through donations, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, every effort helps them continue their mission.

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