Holy Family Association Superior Sister Ana Maria Alcade Visitation

by Admin · August 5, 2025

Top L-R: Ms Margaret Matetwa, Sr Ana Maria, Prudence Mme Ralube, Sr Breda, Ms Sandra Mkwanazi, Ms Talitha Ndlovu, Sr Pearl, Fr Mokesh, Sr Clementine, Ms Maria Khumalo, Ms Thandi Nhlapo and front Master Nkosivile Masuku. Bottom: Sr Anna Maria Alcade HF

By Fr Mokesh Morar –The South African Holy Family Association of Bordeaux received a visit from Superior General Sister Ana Maria Alcade from July 8-18.

History of the Holy Family Sisters in SA

The Holy Family Apostolic Sisters arrived in Lesotho via Durban with the support of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1865. And when George Harrison discovered the large deposits of gold on the Langlaagte farm on 24 July 1886, the Holy Family Sisters, as part of their ministry, moved to the Transvaal to establish schools such as Parktown Convent (Holy Family College), clinics including Kenridge Hospital (Donald Gordon Wits Hospital).

They opened a temporary veldt hospital in 1888, made of wood and iron, and later laid the foundation of a permanent building in Hillbrow, then known as Jo’burg General Hospital (now Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital) in Parktown. This tiny, dusty, rowdy town mushroomed with tents and shanties with people from all over the world searching for fortune in gold, hence the name Gauteng, the place of gold.

A family of diverse backgrounds

Sister Breda, Provincial leader, welcomed Sr Ana Maria to the gathering of Lay Associates, a Priest Associate and the Apostolic Religious Sisters and remarked how “this inclusive group reflects the nature of the founder’s dream.”

The farewell Eucharistic celebration happened to be on Mandela Day and Sr Ana shared: “Mandela had a dream to build a country that is united with diverse groups of people and, our founder, Pierre Bienvenu Noailles (1793 – 1861) also had a similar dream to build a Family of diverse backgrounds of life and vocations as one family. That dream of Fr Pierre Bienvenu Noailles is often portrayed as a tree with many different kinds of birds singing together in harmony. ”

27 countries on four continents

The Holy Family Association has spread around the globe to 27 countries on four continents with thousands of members, including for the first time in South Africa, two Priest Associates from the Diocese of Bethlehem, who joined the association with the blessing of their Bishop. As Diocesan priests, they complement their Diocesan Priest spirituality with that of the Holy Family spirituality.

Founder, Fr Pierre Noailles, wanted the branches plus the Contemplatives, Consecrated Seculars and the Youth to be on equal footing when he started the association in 1820 in Bordeaux, France.

The visit of Sr Ana Maria brought joy and hope to the groups of Lay, Consecrated Seculars, Contemplative, Priest Associates, Youth and Apostolic Religious. For the past few years, since Covid 19, the whole Holy Family Associate meet internationally on Zoom, be it from Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg, the DRC, Lesotho and other parts of the world. At the end of such Zoom meetings, there will be a chorus of goodbyes: “au revoir, adios, lumelang, kwa heri, palaam, pariyakai, slὰn leat, totsiens, namaste, vida and many different languages, mixing up their greetings!”

Surely then – Sarah, Hagar, Mariam, Fr Pierre Bienvenu Noailles, Mandela and Pope Francis must all be smiling with their intercessions of hope for the whole human family.