Joseph Gotthardt
Encyclopedia
Joseph Gotthardt was a Catholic missionary and later Bishop
and Archbishop
in South-West Africa (today Namibia
). He was the first to set up missions in the Kavango Region and in Ovamboland
, became the first Vicar Apostolic of Windhoek
.
Westerwald
. He attended the Oblate Congregation in the Limburg Province
in Holland from 1900 to 1905 and graduated as priest. He worked as Junior Lecturer directly after being ordained until 1907 and was then sent to Grootfontein
in German South-West Africa
.
Soon after his arrival he in Namibia he led the sixth and seventh mission journeys to the Kavango region—a difficult assignment considering that the leader of the indigenous population, Hompa (King) Nyangana of the VaGciriku
was a fierce critic of all European influence, and particularly that of missionaries. The previous five mission journeys into the Kavango had been unsuccessful but the seventh led to the establishment of a mission station at Nyangana in 1910 and at Andara
in 1913.
Gotthardt also developed the first mission station in former Ovamboland
, at Oshikuku
, in 1924.
in 1921, replacing the retired Eugenio Klaeyle. When the prefecture became the Windhoek Vicariate
soon thereafter, he became Vicar and was ordained as Bishop at Hünfeld
in Germany in 1924, becoming the leader of the Catholic Church in South-West Africa.
In 1923, he published a widely received paper The awakening of Africa and the duties of the Catholic church in which he portrayed the "unhappy entanglement" of colonisation and mission, one of the first pieces of criticism of colonisation in Namibia.
After serving 25 years in the position of Vicar, Pope Pius XII
appointed him as Archbishop in 1951. After more than 50 years of service, Gotthardt resigned at the age of 80 in May 1961. He died in Swakopmund
on 3 August 1963.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
in South-West Africa (today Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
). He was the first to set up missions in the Kavango Region and in Ovamboland
Ovamboland
Ovamboland was the name given by English-speaking visitors to the land occupied by the Ovambo people in what is now northern Namibia and southern Angola...
, became the first Vicar Apostolic of Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
.
Early life and missionary work
Gotthardt was born in Thalheim in the GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Westerwald
Westerwald
The Westerwald is a low mountain range on the right bank of the River Rhine in the German federal states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia. It is a part of the Rhine Massif...
. He attended the Oblate Congregation in the Limburg Province
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
in Holland from 1900 to 1905 and graduated as priest. He worked as Junior Lecturer directly after being ordained until 1907 and was then sent to Grootfontein
Grootfontein
Grootfontein is a city of 14,200 inhabitants in the Otjozondjupa Region of central Namibia. It is one of the three towns in the Otavi Triangle, situated on the B8 national road that leads from Windhoek to the Caprivi Strip...
in German South-West Africa
German South-West Africa
German South West Africa was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990...
.
Soon after his arrival he in Namibia he led the sixth and seventh mission journeys to the Kavango region—a difficult assignment considering that the leader of the indigenous population, Hompa (King) Nyangana of the VaGciriku
Gciriku
Gciriku is a traditional Kavango kingdom in what is today Namibia. Its people speak the Gciriku language.The Gciriku are one of the many ethnic groups in Namibia with an estimated population of 20 000. The Gciriku mainly live in the Kavango region, Ndiyona Constituency. A small number of Gciriku...
was a fierce critic of all European influence, and particularly that of missionaries. The previous five mission journeys into the Kavango had been unsuccessful but the seventh led to the establishment of a mission station at Nyangana in 1910 and at Andara
Andara
Andara is a village in Mukwe Constituency, Kavango Region, Namibia. Located 200km east of Rundu, it is inhabited primarily by the Hambukushu people. It is the home of the Holy Family Parish, a Roman Catholic mission...
in 1913.
Gotthardt also developed the first mission station in former Ovamboland
Ovamboland
Ovamboland was the name given by English-speaking visitors to the land occupied by the Ovambo people in what is now northern Namibia and southern Angola...
, at Oshikuku
Oshikuku
Oshikuku is a village in Omusati Region in the north of Namibia. It is the district capital of Oshikuku Constituency and scheduled to be upgraded to "town" status before November 2010....
, in 1924.
Church career
Gotthardt was appointed Prefect Apostolic of CimbebasiaCimbebasia
-Missionary history:Originally Cimbebasia was included in the immense vicariate apostolic made up of Senegambia, French Guinea and Portuguese Guinea, which had been erected in 1842 and of which Bishop Barron was appointed first vicar Apostolic....
in 1921, replacing the retired Eugenio Klaeyle. When the prefecture became the Windhoek Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...
soon thereafter, he became Vicar and was ordained as Bishop at Hünfeld
Hünfeld
Hünfeld is a town in the district of Fulda, in Hesse, Germany. It is situated 16 km northeast of Fulda.-Notable people:* Wilm Hosenfeld *Johann Leonhard Pfaff , bishop of Fulda* Konrad Zuse -Transport:...
in Germany in 1924, becoming the leader of the Catholic Church in South-West Africa.
In 1923, he published a widely received paper The awakening of Africa and the duties of the Catholic church in which he portrayed the "unhappy entanglement" of colonisation and mission, one of the first pieces of criticism of colonisation in Namibia.
After serving 25 years in the position of Vicar, Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII
The Venerable Pope Pius XII , born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli , reigned as Pope, head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City State, from 2 March 1939 until his death in 1958....
appointed him as Archbishop in 1951. After more than 50 years of service, Gotthardt resigned at the age of 80 in May 1961. He died in Swakopmund
Swakopmund
Swakopmund is a city on the coast of northwestern Namibia, west of Windhoek, Namibia's capital. It is the capital of the Erongo administrative district. As a seaside resort, the weather is cooler here in December to January so the territorial administration moves to Swakopmund for these months...
on 3 August 1963.