Parish of the
Blessed Sacrament
VIRGINIA, BLESSED SACRAMENT
.
The first priest to say Mass tor the handful of Catholic families living in Virginia at this time was Father Joseph L'Henoret who was parish priest of St Michael's, Redhill. He said Mass in private houses from 1956 until Virginia became a separate parish in 1960. The Catholics made up a close community, carrying out the various tasks, helping with the teaching of catechism, while Mrs Zenobe Millar made Father L'Henoret's vestments. He was a French priest of the old school who was very correct and very strict with latecomers, but he was respected and loved by his parishioners. The parish grew fast and soon a church was urgently needed. In 1959 the archdiocese bought a piece of land on the corner of Middlebrook and Newport Roads. It was at this time that Father L'Henoret was appointed parish priest of Virginia. Active fund raising took place and a team of architects, G.F.Mullins and Partners drew up plans for a multi-purpose building consisting of a church and hall. Building went ahead and the church of the Blessed Sacrament was opened on June 18,1960.
It was not long before Blessed Sacrament church needed to be extended sinceby this time there were 200 families attending Mass on Sundays. Extensions were completed by April 1968. In 1969 Father L'Henoret was transferred to St Peter's, Point and Father Theodore Carrington took over as parish priest, remaining until 1999. Father Carrington was succeeded by Father Rowland Faley TOR but he remained only nine months and Father Joe Money was then appointed parish priest.
In 2005 the long awaited new church at Virginia was begun and the blessing and opening was performed by Bishop Barry Wood on the feast of Corpus Christi, June 2006. The old church was converted into a parish hall and between the hall and the new church is a courtyard where the parishioners gather after Mass and a covered section joins the church hall and classroom block. The church is in a prominent position near the traffic circle in the midst of trees and private houses while the tower and cross are visible from south and west.
UMHLANGA, STAR OF THE SEA CHURCH
From 1967 Mass was celebrated in Umhlanga in a room in the old Umhlanga Rocks hotel until it was demolished to make room for a new and modern hotel. Father Carrington was given notice to vacate the venue and decided to build the catechetical centre in Park Drive; this was completed in September 1987. He then began to plan a church for the use of the residents of Umhlanga, La Lucia and the North Coast resorts and fund raising began. The church was to be called Star of the Sea Church and was built on the same site as the catechetical centre.
The Umhlanga area had begun to grow rapidly as the city spread towards the north coast, the Gateway shopping complex was being planned and Umhlanga Ridge was attracting factories and businesses. A hospital was built in 1998. The new church was blessed and opened by Archbishop Denis Hurley on December 8,1991. A stained glass window in the form of a cross was installed in 1998.
Both Blessed Sacrament and Star of the Sea have many societies and interest groups and together form a very active parish.
The Church of the Blessed Sacrament was built to the glory of God through the generous sacrifices and donations of the parishioners, past and present, and through the many efforts of parish committees and individuals who willingly donated their time, energy and resources.
In gratitude may God bless them all.
In our Mission Statement we are reminded that we have pledged ourselves to develop a closer relationship with God. As a nurturing, loving community, we shall through understanding his will for us and, using personal potential, create a home of God for all.
May God keep us strong in out resolve.
Fr Joseph Money omi
​
Parish History
1956: Catholic community of Virginia and surrounding areas including uMhlanga
Rocks have Fr. Joseph L’Henoret OMI, Parish Priest St Michael’s Red Hill,
celebrate Mass at home of Eugene and Ann Vogel in Kensington Drive.
1959: Under the direction of Archbishop Denis Hurley the Durban Archdiocese
purchases land in Newport Avenue, Virginia.
1960: Fr. L’Henoret with a parish committee organises the building of the Blessed
Sacrament Church which opens on 18 June. The building designed to serve
as both Church and hall. Fr. L’Henoret promises ‘one day a proper Church’
would be built.
1966: Parish Pastoral Council formed. Need for a Church in uMhlanga Rocks is
raised.
1967: Extensions to Blessed Sacrament building initiated.
1968: Official opening of the extensions.
1969: Fr. L’Henoret transferred to St Peter’s Parish, Point Road, Durban.
Fr. Theo Carrington OMI appointed Parish Priest. Fr. Carrington commences
Sunday Masses at Umhlanga Rock Hotel. Fundraising commences for
Church to be built in uMhlanga Rocks.
1987: Fr. Carrington informed by Umhlanga Rocks Hotel that Masses cannot
continue to be said at the hotel. Land in Park Drive, uMhlanga Rocks
purchased by Durban Archdiocese. Catechetical Centre built on the site.
Planning commences for Church to be built on the site
1988: Fr. Carrington 80th birthday.
1991: uMlhanga Rocks Church ‘Star of the Sea’ opened by Archbishop Hurley
8 December.
1992: Archbishop Hurley retires after 45 years of service. Archbishop WilFrid
Napier OFM appointed.
1995: Deacon Mike O'Neill ordained.
1996: Blessed Sacrament has over 950 parishioners.
1999: Fr. Carrington retires. American priest Fr. Rowland Roley TOR serves as
Parish Priest for 9 months.
2000: Fr. Joe Money OMI appointed Parish Priest.
2001: Pledge Giving commences.
2002: Fr. Joe appoints committee for building of new Church.
2004: Deacon Tony De Freitas ordained.
2005: Building of new Church begins.
Deacon Noel Pistorius appointed to the parish.
2006: New Church opened by Bishop Barry Wood 11 June.
2011: Fr. Donovan Wheatley OMI appointed Assistant Parish Priest.
Website launched.
2013: Blessed Sacrament Church consecrated by Archbishop Napier on 9 June.
Parish has over 2400 parishioners.
2016: Fr. Sylvester David OMI appointed Parish Priest and
Fr. Derrick Butt OMI appointed assistant parish priest.
2019: Fr. James Ralston OMI appointed Parish Priest.
2024: Fr. Derrick Butt OMI retired 1st July.