Sodalities & Other Groups

St Anne’s Sodality

The St Anne sodality is an association of Catholic married women.

Its Patroness is Saint Anne, a model for every Catholic wife and mother; a model of love, loyalty, care, and concern.

YOUTH

We as the youth of St Mary’s Catholic Church (“Intsha Enenjongo” – “Youth with Vision”) are the future of the church and of the nation. Therefore, it is essential that as the young Catholic people, we get trained to know our faith and to deepen our spiritual and prayer life, familiarize ourselves with the liturgy of the church, partake in growing the music of the church to the highest level and to evangelize others.

Our vocation as Christians lies in being holy (united with God and keeping his commandments) and in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that people may convert and be saved and live with God forever. we aim to assist young people at St Mary’s Catholic church in Pietermaritzburg to live their Christian life properly and to not deviate from the liturgy and teachings of the Catholic church.

As we face the problem of HIV/AIDS, drug/substance abuse, Gender Based Violence (GBV); we aim to form strong cells of youth that will protect our youth bodily and spiritually and grow to be better adults that our country needs in order to be the better and safest place in the near future. We also aim to develop effective leadership and share skills among our members for the good of the society and church. We also aim to create an understanding of non-sexism, non-racism as well as any other form of non-discrimination and democracy in all areas of our lives. We also aim to build youth that will become great leaders in the near future and change the perspective that nowadays youth is seen as “troublesome” beings.
Through our faith in God and with the help from our St John Bosco we believe this will be achieved.
Our Motto is inspired by the verse in 1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me”

Leadership:
Chairperson: Nelisiwe Ndlovu
Deputy chairperson: Sethabile Bukhosini
Secretary: Nobuhle Zulu
Media and publicity officer: Bongumusa Khuzwayo
Treasurer: Andile Mthimkhulu
Liturgy officer: Angel Sithole

Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVDP)

Society of St Vincent de Paul

In 1911 the Society of St Vincent de Paul attracted apostolic commitments from all types, namely, Legal Practitioners, Health Professionals and business men to freely mingle with the untutored labouring man in relieving the wants of the poor.

It is the same today, and it will be the same in future.
The members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul are showing their works today as ever in the past. They are just not advertising the fact, or barely so, which is characteristic.

The Society is doing today what it pledges to do forever, which is multiply the hands of charity on behalf of the poor and downtrodden.

Sacred Heart Sodality

The beginnings of the Sacred Heart Sodality in Southern Africa date back to 1895 in Centocow Mission in the Marianhill Diocese where it was founded by missionary, Fr. Gerard Walpert.

Catholic Women's League (CWL)

A group of caring and concerned women who work together to make the lives of those less fortunate a little better. The women abide by the CONSTITUTION of the organisation, which is followed by CWL Groups throughout the Country.

Margaret Fletcher, the founder of the British Catholic Women’s League met Margaret Mahoney on a ship returning to Cape Town, she was so fired up by Margarets enthusiasm that in 1930 the first branch of the League was formed in SA.
In 1953 Fr McKinnon, St Mary’s parish priest at the time encouraged and persuaded the ladies to open a branch, and so the first meeting took place in the parish hall.

In 2023 we celebrate 70 years of serving our Lord by living our motto of Charity, work and loyalty.

We are a spiritual group of ladies who endeavour to serve our parish, our priests, and community to the best of our ability.

We have been involved in many visits to children’s homes and homes for the aged where we spoil the residents. We have supported the sick priests fund, Cleland Novitiate, the students at St Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara KwaZulu-Natal South Africa, the Napier Centre and many other institutions and charities.

This year our project is to help people on the streets, by assisting with the soup kitchen and looking into the Life Boat programme which assists those in need with a meal or clothing or assistance. Our monthly jumble sales provide us, together with donations, to finance our projects.

At the moment we have 30 loyal, active members who meet on the 2nd Saturday of every month after 9am Mass.
Visitors and new members are always welcome.

Leadership:
President: Leigh Wooldridge
Cell: 0834346259
Secretary: Joyce Naude
Cell: 0828106362

The Catholic Order of the Knights of Da Gama

The Knights of Da Gama Order was established in Durban South Africa almost 80 years ago by a handful of men who saw the need for a national body of men within the Church in South Africa, and who modelled the Order on similar Orders operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America, Australia and New Zealand.

The traditions of the Order come from the ancient times when chivalry was the mark of a Knight or Nobleman.

Chivalry had its origins within the Church of old, so what could be more appropriate than a band of men within the Church, to paly their part in the affairs and apostleship of the Church in today’s world.

The objects of the Order are to:
• Promote the lay apostolate;
• Unite Catholic men for promote lay apostolate;
• Encourage personal sanctification;
• Assist one another spiritually and materially;
• Legally strive for the betterment of all in our country;
• Conduct charitable work; and
• Cooperate with other Catholic organisations.

Membership of the Order is open to all practising Catholic men and is well spread throughout South Africa in Councils and Guilds.

Secular Franciscan Order

(Latin: Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis)

The Secular Franciscan Order OFS) is the third branch of the Franciscan Family formed by Catholic men and women who seek to observe the Gospel of Jesus by following the example of Francis of Assisi. The order was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1221.
Although we make a public profession, we are not bound by public vows as are religious. As the Order belongs to the spiritual family of the Franciscans, the Holy See has entrusted its pastoral care and spiritual assistance to the Priests and Brothers of the Franciscan First Order. The Second Order is the Poor Clare Sisters.

Secular Franciscans can be recognised by the Tau Cross they wear as a symbol of union with the crucified Christ. We live the secular aspect of our charism by paying attention to three things:
• The rich experience of Franciscan figures of the past;
• By participating in evangelization; and
• By cultivating a deep knowledge of Francis as an example of how to live in the world without being encumbered by it.

Members of the Order gather in ecclesiastical communities called fraternities. In one’s initial formation, participation in the meetings of the local fraternity is indispensable for initiation into community of prayer and fraternal life.
Conditions for admission are:
• Baptised Catholic;
• Living in communion with the Church; and
• Good moral standing and clear signs of a vocation.

Membership in the Order is attained through a time of initiation, a time of formation and finally, the Profession into the Order, and commitment to live the Rule in a solemn ecclesial Mass.

Those who interested in the Order are most welcome to attend fraternity meetings which are held once a month or contact

Legion of Mary

The Legion of Mary is a lay catholic organisation whose members are giving service to the Church on a voluntary basis.

On 07 September 1921, the eve of Our Lady’s birthday, the Legion of Mary was founded by a layman by the name of Frank Duff in Dublin Ireland. Its object is the sanctification of its members by prayer and active cooperation in the work of Mary and the Church. We achieve this object by regular attendance at weekly meetings, daily recitation of the Magnificat and carrying out weekly duties.

At the meetings the Rosary is recited, spiritual readings from the Legion handbook are discussed and reports given. The meetings end on a social note.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Legion of Mary, you can join us in our meetings or contact us.