St Joseph’s Cathedral parish, is located at the heart of Mariannhill and provides Spiritual and Social service to various surrounding communities, namely Mariannhill, Mpola, Tshelimnyama, Nazareth, Mariannhill Park, Nkoseleni - to mention a few. The church has been in existence for many decades and has contributed immensely in laying Christian values. Built in 1908, St Joseph’s Cathedral is the main seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of Mariannhill.
From its inception, the cathedral has primarily focused on spiritual and educational services on vernacular basis. In pre democratic South Africa, and similar to other diocesan churches, the cathedral provided much needed civil support services ranging from health advisory, birth, deceased and residential validation letters. Its successful catholic ethos saw these communities generally peaceful and thriving throughout the tumultuous apartheid period. Apart from the services to the local community, the cathedral hosts local schools and establishments from time to time.
Bishop Pius Mlungisi Dlungwane is the second African Bishop to be in charge of the Cathedral following his ascent to the post in 2000. He took over from Bishop Paul Mngoma who was the first African Bishop to be assigned to this cathedral in 1983. On the 8th January 2021, Fr Lungelo B. Mhlongo was assigned as the administrator of the Cathedral, and a Priest-In-Charge. He is assistant by Rev. Fr. Nkosinathi M. Vezi in the Pastoral Care of the People of God. The Parish Priest is supported by a Parish Council, and other Representatives of various Sodalities and Formations of the church.
Bishop Pius Mlungisi Dlungwane is the second African Bishop to be in charge of the Cathedral following his ascent to the post in 2000. He took over from Bishop Paul Mngoma who was the first African Bishop to be assigned to this cathedral in 1983. On the 8th January 2021, Fr Lungelo B. Mhlongo was assigned as the administrator of the Cathedral, and a Priest-In-Charge. He is assistant by Rev. Fr. Nkosinathi M. Vezi in the Pastoral Care of the People of God. The Parish Priest is supported by a Parish Council, and other Representatives of various Sodalities and Formations of the church.
Our main facilities
Services are conducted from the main cathedral structure located at Abbot Pfanner street. The church is surrounded by a lower and higher primary school as well as the St Francis College. All these facilities are owned by the Diocese of Mariannhill.
The cathedral also maintains a cemetery facility dedicated to its members and this is located south of Vilakazi street. Next to the cemetery locates an old parish house which is now used as a boarding facility. Various smaller buildings are also found within the cathedral precinct and owned by the Diocese.
The cathedral also maintains a cemetery facility dedicated to its members and this is located south of Vilakazi street. Next to the cemetery locates an old parish house which is now used as a boarding facility. Various smaller buildings are also found within the cathedral precinct and owned by the Diocese.
Our Programmes
The work of the church is underpinned by spiritual services that are offered mainly on Sundays but also often extended to local areas on special arrangement basis. This is intended to support the elderly, frail, disabled and many members who are unable to come to the cathedral itself. Whilst traditionally the cathedral is reliant on physical visibility it seeks to play a much more active societal role through modern media mechanisms. In this way it will continue with its programmes of youth development. Church services and new programmes will in future be streamlined through this web.