120 Years of Grace and Growth: Our Lady of Peace in Roodepoort Celebrates a Legacy of Faith.

By Daluxolo Moloantoa – This year, the parish of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Roodepoort stands at a remarkable crossroads of memory and mission—celebrating 120  years of Catholic faith since the first church was established in 1905,  and marking 60 years (1964–2024) of the current church building that has become a spiritual home to generations.

 From the Holy Cross to Our Lady of Peace
The roots of Catholic faith in Roodepoort stretch back to 1905, when  Bishop William Miller OMI, the Vicar Apostolic of the Transvaal,  consecrated the original church—then known as the Church of the Holy  Cross. The modest structure, standing on the very ground where the parish hall now stands, became the first centre of Catholic life and mission in this mining town west of Johannesburg.

Six decades later, in 1964, a new church was built and consecrated under a new title: Our Lady of Peace. The name reflected a world and a nation yearning for reconciliation—and a parish ready to renew its witness to peace and faith.

 A Weekend of Thanksgiving
The weekend of 26–28 September brought together clergy,  parishioners, seminarians, and friends of the parish for a joyful triduum of thanksgiving.  On Friday, the community gathered to prepare the church grounds—cleaning, decorating, and setting the scene for celebration. It  was a moment of simple unity, echoing the words of St Thérèse of  Lisieux: “Love proves itself by deeds.”  The following day, Saturday, 28 September, saw the solemn Thanksgiving  Mass for the Diamond Jubilee of the church building. The liturgy of the  Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church filled the sanctuary with song and reverence, presided over by Fr Lawrence Mduduzi Ndlovu, former parish priest and now Administrator of the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Fr Ndlovu was joined by a host of concelebrants whose presence  symbolised the enduring bonds of faith and fraternity:

Fr Tshepo Duik, current Parish Priest
Fr Emmanuel Wafula AJ, Dean of the Westrand Deanery
Fr Sibonelo Mbanjwa OMI, Novice Master of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Fr Frank McGreal OMI, from the Oblate Novitiate
Fr Thabiso Mohlalisi OMI, visiting from Lesotho’s Our Lady of Loreto  Parish, also celebrating its 120th anniversary this year
Fr James Thaki, from St Peter’s in Kagiso
Fr Stephen Koenane Molefi OMI, Manager of the Oblate Printing Press in  Lesotho

Rev. Deacon Sechaba Liphoko assisted at the altar, also leading a deeply moving Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration before the Mass, joined by the seminarians of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, whose presence brought youthful energy and hope.

In his homily, Fr Lawrence Ndlovu reflected on the sacred legacy of the parish and its mission in today’s world. He reminded parishioners that faith is never a relic to be preserved, but a living fire to be passed on. “The current parishioners,” he said, “have a duty to carry on the  mission of being God’s witnesses—to continue building a strong Christian  community and a lasting legacy for future generations.” His words stirred both gratitude and renewed purpose in the hearts of all who gathered.

After Mass, the parish hall was filled with laughter, conversation, and shared meals—a tangible sign of the fellowship that has sustained this community for generations.

On Sunday, 29 September, the second Thanksgiving Mass brought the celebration to a heartfelt close. The seminarians addressed the faithful  with a powerful message on vocations, urging the youth to listen for  God’s call to priesthood and religious life, and reminding families to  “pray that their own sons and daughters may become labourers in the  Lord’s vineyard.”

 Preparing the Heart: Pilgrimage, Mission, and Novena

This great celebration was preceded by a time of spiritual renewal.  Parishioners, led by Fr Tshepo Duik, undertook a pilgrimage to Lesotho in honour of Blessed Joseph Gérard and St Anne, renewing their commitment to missionary discipleship.

Upon their return, they entered into a four-day Parish Mission preached by Fr Thabo Mothiba OMI and Fr Sibonelo Mbanjwa OMI, inviting all to deepen their relationship with Christ. The mission culminated in a  nine-day Novena to Our Lady of Peace, prayed in homes throughout the parish—an intimate act of faith that connected past, present, and future generations in prayer.

 Remembering the Past, Renewing the Future

To mark this double jubilee, the parish hall—built on the original site of the 1905 Holy Cross Church—was blessed and renamed Holy Cross Hall,  preserving the memory of the parish’s beginnings.
Three catechesis classrooms were also blessed and dedicated to modern  witnesses of holiness:

-Blessed Benedict Daswa, patron of teachers and catechists
-Saint Carlo Acutis, patron of youth and the digital generation
-Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, patron of young adults and social justice

These dedications reflect the parish’s commitment to faith formation and evangelisation, especially among the young.

 A Gesture of Gratitude

In a moving moment at the close of Saturday’s Mass, Fr Duik presented tokens of appreciation to the clergy and deacon who had served the parish during this milestone. Each received a bottle of red wine bearing the Coat of Arms of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg and the parish logo,  along with a succulent plant—a beautiful symbol of the endurance and growth of the priestly vocation in a changing world.

 A Living Legacy

As Our Lady of Peace Parish celebrates 120 years of Catholic faith in  Roodepoort, it stands not merely as a monument to the past, but as a  living testimony to grace.
From a small chapel in the early 1900s to a thriving parish today, its story is one of faith handed down, love shared, and peace proclaimed. In  the words of Our Lady’s own Magnificat, the community of Our Lady of  Peace can truly say:
  “The Almighty has done great things for us,
 and holy is His Name.”