The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre and Blessed Gérard’s Church in Mandeni with a solemn thanksgiving Mass and a major commemorative celebration on Sunday, 6 September 2026.
By Father Gérard T. Lagleder OSB – Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre and the adjoining church were officially blessed and opened on 3 September 1996. The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the death of Blessed Gérard, founder of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, which later became known as the Order of Malta.
The solemn anniversary Mass will begin at 10:00 on Sunday, 6 September, in Blessed Gérard’s Church. It will be presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier O.F.M. Distinguished guests will include the Grand Hospitaller of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Major General Dr Josef D. Blotz.
During the Mass, new members will be received into the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard. Dr Douglas P. Ross, Managing Director of Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre, will also be invested as a Knight of Magistral Grace of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
The Eucharistic celebration will be followed at 12:00 by the official anniversary function at Blessed Gérard’s Community Centre. Long-service certificates and special distinctions will be presented in recognition of exceptional commitment to the mission of the Brotherhood. These will include the President’s Award, Medals of Merit of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard and honours of the Order Pro Merito Melitensi.
Traditional Zulu songs and dances will form part of the afternoon programme, expressing the deep connection between the Centre, the Catholic faith and the people and culture of KwaZulu-Natal.
Thirty years of service to people in need
Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre was established by the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard to provide professional, compassionate and holistic care to vulnerable people in and around Mandeni.
From its beginnings, the Centre developed into a comprehensive charitable institution serving people regardless of their race, religion or social background. Its work has included hospice and palliative care, HIV/AIDS treatment, care for abandoned and vulnerable children, home-based care, assistance for poor patients, emergency relief and other forms of social and medical support.
Over the past three decades, thousands of people have received care, treatment, shelter, dignity and hope through the Centre’s programmes.
The Children’s Home, founded in 2000, currently provides a loving and secure home for 65 children. The Centre’s HIV/AIDS programme, which began treating its first patient in September 2004, continues to care for hundreds of patients. Its hospice and palliative-care services accompany seriously and terminally ill patients with professional care, compassion and respect for their human dignity.
The Centre’s charitable mission is rooted in the command of Jesus Christ to love and serve those who are sick, poor, abandoned or in distress.
A church at the heart of the mission
Blessed Gérard’s Church has been the spiritual heart of the Care Centre since its dedication in 1996. It is a place of prayer and worship for the Centre’s residents, children, staff, volunteers, members of the Brotherhood and the wider community.
For 30 years, the church and the Care Centre have stood side by side as visible signs that Christian faith and practical charity belong together.
“Today we give thanks to God for all the people who have made this work possible during the past 30 years,” said Father Gérard T. Lagleder O.S.B., founder and President of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard.
“We remember the patients and residents who entrusted themselves to our care, the children who found a home with us, and all those who served them with love and dedication. This anniversary is not only a celebration of the past. It is also a renewed commitment to continue serving people in need with faith, professionalism and compassion.”
The anniversary celebration will honour the founders, members, employees, volunteers, benefactors and friends whose dedication has sustained the Centre throughout its history. It will also look towards the future and the continuing need for compassionate healthcare, child protection and social support in the Mandeni community.
About the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard
The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard was founded in Mandeni on 28 October 1992. It is a Catholic charitable association, a registered South African non-profit organisation and the relief organisation of the Order of Malta in South Africa.
Inspired by Blessed Gérard, founder of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, the Brotherhood serves people in need through healthcare, child and youth care, education, emergency relief and pastoral support.
Its guiding principle is the ancient mission of the Order of Malta: the defence of the faith and service to the poor and the sick.
Anniversary celebration
Date: Sunday, 6 September 2026
Solemn Holy Mass: 10:00
Official anniversary function: 12:00
Cultural programme: 14:00
Venue: Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre and Blessed Gérard’s Church, Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal
Media enquiries
Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard
Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre, Mandeni, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Website: www.bbg.org.za
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