Our Lady of Montserrat is Rising from the Ashes

 

Report by Chris Cadman: The Catholic church of Our Lady of Montserrat in Bettys Bay with its adjoining priests’ flatlet was burned down in January 2019 and we are nonetheless pleased to say that the rebuilding of the church (phase 1) is nearing completion.

But, we still your help! The construction has been planned in two phases namely, phase 1 to rebuild the church, and phase 2 to rebuild the church’s attached flatlet. The flatlet provides essential overnight accommodation for our priest when celebrating Holy Mass in Bettys Bay.

Fr Brandon West (or his assistant) travels from the parish presbytery in Strand for the weekly celebration of Mass on Saturday evenings, a distance of 40km each way, along the twisting winding R44 coastal road of 102 bends in the darkness and often in poor weather conditions (see photo testifying to this).

Completion of the flatlet will allow our priests to more effectively administer to the congregation in the form of the sacrament of Reconciliation as well as engaging in private, social and parish community interventions.

It is pleasing to report that we have raised all the funds needed to rebuild the church (phase 1) as well as the funds for the foundations and slab of the priests’ flatlet (phase 2).

Unfortunately, now having exhausted all avenues in our vigorous funding drive to complete the flatlet (as well as ensuring the safety of our priests) we are facing a shortfall of R524 000 to finish the building project. (Please see our banking details below if you can help us)

The above picture shows the remains of the burnt-out flatlet and the foundations of the Phase 2 priests’ accommodation. On the right of the picture is the newly built church and in the middle left background is the bell tower which was built by recycling bricks from the ruins of the old church.

In June we saw how parishioners are creating the church’s special items such as the tabernacle, candle stands and stained glass, in a truly inspiring effort.

Historical Information

On New Year’s Eve 2019 the worst fire in the Overstrand for more than 30 years, was accidentally started and subsequently devastated the village. The fire was initially contained in the UNESCO declared Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, inland of the village, but on the 11th January the wind direction changed and gale force winds drove the fire over the Kogelberg mountains, across the R44 national road and through the village.  Terrified residents were evacuated, and the fire destroyed 40 homes and damaged 28 more, leaving two people fatally injured. Approximately 14 000 hectares of Biosphere Reserve was burnt out.

Read an account of the fire and the hopes of the parishioners for their Church to be rebuilt

Amongst the devastation was the destruction of the Our Lady of Monserrat Church which served both the Catholic and Anglican communities of Betty’s Bay. All that remained of the church, following the fire, were the outer walls.

Our Lady of Monserrat was originally built in the 1950’s as a home from which a resident, Fr Jack Swan, provided Mass for catholic families residing in the area. In the early 1980’s an extension was added to the house to serve as a sanctuary and later a nave was added to complete the church. Fr Swan died in 1993 and the property was bequeathed to the Archdiocese of Cape Town. Increasing numbers of regular parishioners and holiday visitors necessitated the addition of small wing in 2004. In the true spirit of a small village community, the Church was shared with the Anglican faith.

Since the devastating fire, in a unique display of ecumenical cooperation, the Dutch Reformed Church has been the temporary place of worship for the Catholic community.

Donations using EFT can be deposited as follows:
Banking details (authentication is available to view)

Strand Roman Catholic Church Fund
STANDARD BANK, Helderberg
Account 072457414
Code 033012
Ref. OLM (+ donor name / cell / email address, optional)

Ultimately our Lady of Montserrat church in Bettys Bay will be an ideal venue for weddings and other religious gatherings with unique opportunities for stunning photographs both in the grounds of the church and in the adjoining Harold Porter Botanical Garden.

For more information contact Chair, Our Lady of Montserrat church committee, Chris Cadman