About Us
- Home
- About Us
About Us
OUR CHURCH HISTORY
The parish began in 1852 by Father Sabon, the first parish priest of Durban. He built the first Catholic church placed under the protection of St.Joseph on the corner Grey street. As the years went by the town’s population increased and he began to make plans for a bigger church and it was not until 1881 that work could be started. It was situated on the thoroughfare of West Street, and the tower could be seen from all parts of the town.
Father Sabon, worn out by hard work, died in 1883. In November 1902 arrangements were made for the removal of the entire building, which has to be rebuilt in Stamford Hill Road, Greyville in 1903 was out of the “country”. The foundation of this St. Joseph’s parish was laid on New Year’s Day 1903, and on the 12th of June 1904, St. Joseph’s was opened for Divine Worship.
As the years passed, Greyville became industrialised and residents moved away. New major road developments were taking place in Durban and a new site for St. Joseph’s was required. It was then the site on Florida Road was purchased and in 1975, the parish moved to the new St. Joseph’s in Morningside. On the 26th of January 1976, the present St. Joseph’s was officially blessed by Archbishop Denis Hurley, OMI. The present church was consecrated by Archbishop (now Cardinal Napier, OFM) on the 3rd of October 1993.
OUR VISION STATEMENT
To be a welcoming, Spirit-filled community united as one in Jesus at the service of others.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
To be a people of faith through ths Eucharist, Prayer and the Word in sharing Christ's mission to serve humanity.
OUR PARISH PRIEST
Currently our Parish Priest is Rev.Fr. Brett Williams. He was born on the 24th December in Pietermaritzburg and raised in Hillcrest. Attended the University of Natal and obtained a BSc. And MSc. In Animal Science, he then lectured and became Head of the Department of Agriculture at Mangosuthu Technikon.
He entered the seminary in 1999 and was ordained Deacon in 16 June 2005 and priest on the 16th of December 2005. Later, he was appointed to Hammersdale as Assistant Priest and in Elandskop as Acting Parish Priest in 2006. He was the Ecclesiastical Assistant to the Apostolic Nuncio in Pretoria from the year 2009 to 2012.
Fr. Brett was previously the parish priest in Redhill (2012). From the year 2015, he has been Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Morningside, Durban. He is also the Chancellor of the Archdiocese from 2014.
OUR ASSISTANT PARISH PRIEST
Our Assistant Parish Priest is Rev.Fr. Mndeni Hadebe. Born on the 22nd of August in Estcourt and grew up with two sisters. He entered the seminary at St Kizito Orientation Seminary in 2002, and studied Philosophy at St Peter’s Seminary (Gaarfontein – Pretoria) . Later, he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology at St John Vianney Seminary in 2011.
He was ordained in 22 February 2012 as Deacon by Bishop Barry Wood and as Priest by Archbishop Wilfrid Cardinal Napier. Fr. Mndeni was appointed in Our Lady of Lauders Parish, Westville as Deacon in 2014 and later as Assistant Parish Priest.
In 2013, Fr. Mndeni was the Acting Parish Priest of St Clement’s – Clermont then at Good Shepherd Parish – Kranskop. From the year 2015, he has been the Assistant Parish Priest of St.Joseph’s Morningside, Durban.
His favourite scripture verse is “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.