Unveiling the Inspiring Legacy of Prior Francis Pfanner. Emaus Heritage Centre in Umzimkulu Diocese, South Africa.

 By Sr. Caroline Mjomba CPS

Abbot Francis Pfanner statue

If no one goes, I will go

Prior Francis Pfanner made the terse announcement, “if no one goes, I will go” on 12 September 1879 during the General Chapter of the Trappists in Sept Fons, France.  It was at the request of Bishop Ricards of Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, who needed missionaries for Dunbrody in his Vicariate. Prior Francis had no idea that his brave statement would later be instrumental in founding the Mariannhill Monastery in 1882 and the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood in 1885. He became the first Abbot of Mariannhill and its many mission stations that he established within a short span of time. One of the stations that Abbot Francis founded was a mission he named Lourdes in East Griqualand in 1888. He and his famous companion and architect, Bro. Nivard Streicher set out to explore and buy a 50,000 acre land that belonged to a certain Donald Strachan. The farm was a block of 15 farms with one of them known as Shimper’s Nek. The productive farm offered the means for the work of evangelization which progressed steadily.

 The very rapid expansion and missionary engagement was not in accord with life as a Trappist. In October 1892, the general chapter of his Order suspended Abbot Francis for one year and after his resignation while in Lourdes, he was formally deposed as Abbot on 22 April 1893. Abbot Francis’ missionary zeal, however, earned him the name, Apostle of the Zulus.

Now the question of his final domicile had to be addressed. He chose Shimper’s Nek situated on the furthest boundary of the Lourdes farm where he arrived on 24 April 1894 on an ox wagon from Lourdes Mission. He found nothing except stones and grass and the low moaning of the wind to welcome him. He named the place, EMAUS. He was going to turn 69 years on 21 September.

 The Emmaus episode told by the Evangelist Luke (24:13-35) inspired him and so asked the Lord to stay with him as the evening of his life drew near. However, contrary to the Biblical tradition, he spelt Emaus with one m because he wanted to be like e mouse (in South German dialect: eMaus “Like a mouse, poor and lowly”), leaving all in God’s loving hands.

 His first accommodation was a tent of four poles rammed into the ground and the tarpaulin that had covered his belongings on the wagon stretched across to make a shelter. This was his first home where he lived and said Mass before moving into a little wooden hut. Two brothers accompanied him from Lourdes. One of them he sent back with the ox-wagon, the other, Br. Xavier Moll, he kept with him. Today it is difficult to imagine that first experience at Shimper’s Nek, alone with the Alone!

 Four weeks after his arrival at Emaus, Abbot Francis completed work on The Way of the Cross, leading to the top of a 130m high rocky crag he called Calvary.

Way of the cross made by Prior Pfanner and prayed daily.

Abbot Francis blessed the Stations on 20 August 1894, the Feast of St. Bernard.

 He prayed the Stations of the Cross every early morning, meditating on the sufferings of his Divine Master and finding consolation in his own deposition. Towards the end of his life, when he struggled with frailty, the Sisters helped him up the way.

Note that the idea for a Way of the Cross was not conceived on the spur of the moment but had matured in him over the years as he walked with the Lord and realized that only Christ’s Cross and his Resurrection offered salvation, and only the meditation of the Cross would give him the strength and peace of mind he needed. The Cross would be his constant challenge to grow in the likeness of his Savior. Thus towards the end of his life he ended his meditation of every Station with the words: Like Jesus, so also I, for Christ had said to the Emmaus disciples that the Messiah had to suffer everything he did in order to enter into his glory.

Today many Pilgrims find solace in climbing Calvary, praying the Way of the Cross.

 Sr. Angela Michel CPS and Sr. Edmunda Fraundrorfer CPS arrived at Emaus on 25 June 1894, two months after the arrival of  our Founder, Abbot Francis. Both were going to stay with him, taking care of him when he turned frail, until he died on 24 May 1909.

 Until the required bricks were made for a chapel, Abbot Francis said Mass in the original tent. Soon the newly built chapel proved too small for the growing number of local people attending Mass on Sundays. He decided to build a bigger church. Building began at the end of June 1904. Br. Melchior laid a stone foundation and the Sisters (a few more had arrived) erected the walls with bricks they had made themselves. They actually built higher than Abbot Francis intended, by raising the screws for the roof every time they completed a course. Discovering this trick, he praised them for their astuteness. On 9 December 1904, he blessed the new church assisted by four priests. He dedicated it to St. Francis Xavier.

The house in which Abbot Francis lived for the next five years was also completed in 1904. It is the current Memorial House where he died at the age of 84.

 When Abbot Francis was still in good health, he set about building the new mission with unbounded energy. Though part of the farm was hilly and another swampy, he made best use of it and became a productive field for cereals and a herd of cattle. Soon Emaus was self- sustaining and supported other missions too. Interested in cheese-making, Abbot Francis asked his sister in Europe to send him some books on the subject. The cheese factory at Emaus made good progress and even continued for some decades after the Founder’s death.

The house where Abbot Francis lived and died.

 While Abbot Francis was living at Emaus, the Red Sisters experienced turbulent and very difficult years. Through his prayers, suffering and the many letters he wrote, he worked tirelessly and with great courage and determination for the recognition, the approval and the independence of his beloved ‘Red Sisters’. Father Founder, a very practical man, admonished his Sisters in many of his letters. On the Feast of the Precious Blood at Emaus in 1907, he wrote:

A proper Missionary Sister wants to attract people who do not yet know God and therefore she must show a smiling face much more often than a serious one.

She must take to heart the word ‘sputla’, which means ‘hurry’, be in a hurry for the Word of God. She turns around three times before a penitential monk turns around once.

And in the same letter he wrote, I know that when I draw my last breath, I will have but one wish for my Red Sisters: to cry with a loud voice for all to hear: ‘Lon’t nit lug’ and ‘aqua alle corde’, which means: never give up but pour water on the ropes (water of grace).

 Mother Paula, our first canonical superior and very much trusted co-worker of Father Founder, Abbot Francis, was able, though with difficulty, to visit him at Emaus in 1908 after her election in 1907. During her stay of about six weeks she discussed with him many important issues concerning the future of our then newly approved Congregation, The Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood. She also received a deeper understanding of the essential aspects of the Spirituality of the Congregation.

 Emaus is not only the place where Abbot Francis spent the last 15 years of his life after he was deposed, discredited and misunderstood, but also a place where God molded and purified him until he became the man we so much love and honour.

 We dare say, therefore, that Emaus is a fitting place to deepen our understanding of our Missionary Vocation and to renew our commitment and dedication to our Spirituality and Missionary Service; the readiness to be available to God and to God’s family, for God’s Kingdom has no boundaries. Abbot Francis’ total surrender to God’s will which he prayed for every day, was accomplished in Emaus, his last abode on earth.

The Original chapel inside where
Abbot Francis prayed.

 Genesis of the Emaus Heritage Centre

 The idea to construct an Emaus Heritage Centre was conceived in 2006, as a joint endeavour for both CMM and CPS.

 Its original purpose was to preserve our heritage at Emaus for both CMM and CPS, rediscover its spiritual meaning as we allow Abbot Francis’ spirit – dreams and visions to touch and inspire us, and to be pastorally involved with the people. The Centre would also provide an opportunity just to BE with the Lord – for retreat, preparation for final vows, jubilees and any other renewal program. It is open to CMM and CPS, Associates, other Religious Congregations and denominations, individual groups, etc.

 Construction work began in 2007 and on 01 March 2008 the Heritage Centre was officially blessed by the then CMM Superior General Rev. Fr. Damian Weber in the presence of Sr. Ingeborg Műller CPS, the then CPS Superior General.

The Original chapel outside where
Abbot Francis prayed.

 The Heritage Centre is built on a very serene site. The fifteen self-contained room is a one-story, square, monastic style structure, with an inner courtyard. Nine of the fifteen rooms have three beds each and one room with two beds. The rest five have single beds. A conference room offers the opportunity for workshops/meetings for about thirty four people and a lounge for recreation.

The Centre offers excellent accommodation and hospitality. CPS who run the Centre, also on behalf of CMM, offer catering services in their guest dining hall. Guests appreciate the cleanliness of the facility especially the bedrooms and the wholesome meals. The quiet, serene atmosphere adds to the joy of spending quality time at Emaus, while marvelling at the great work that was done by the Servant of God, Abbot Francis Pfanner; a confirmation of his Motto: Currite ut comprehendatis – Run so as to win the race ( 1 Cor 9:24). 

 Organised groups of young and senior people near and far, as far as from Johannesburg and beyond and Queenstown in Eastern Cape, spend a weekend or just a day of prayer at Emaus. Diocesan Mentorship Programs also take advantage of the Centre facility. The climax of the visits are the Lenten Pilgrimage (Imvuselelo) and the May Abbot Francis Pilgrimage where thousands of people come from far and near. The latter is also an occasion that brings the CMM and CPS together to celebrate the life of our Founder.

 Other denominations are not outdone: a group of Methodists and Anglicans have been regular visitors. The Abbot Francis Trail known for their visits to the different mission stations founded by Abbot Francis have left a mark at Emaus.

 Individuals, even without a religious affiliation, but fascinated by Abbot Francis and his mission in S. Africa, visit Emaus to appreciate where and how this great Man of God spent the last years of his life. All visitors get the opportunity to climb the Stations of the Cross to Calvary where the gigantic Crucifix stands still as erected by Abbot Francis. On their descent, they visit the grotto that is below the crucifix and the famous huge rock that came rolling down from Calvary three weeks before the death of Abbot Francis and halted near the church, beside the bench where he used to sit. On the rock is a replica of the statue of Abbot Francis at his grave in Mariannhill.

 The Memorial Room where Abbot Francis breathed his last on 24 May, 1909 offers a certain aura to visitors as they spend some quiet time in there. Last but not least, visitors are guided to the grave of the Servant of God, Abbot Francis, our Founder where only half of his heart is buried. The rest of his body with the other half of the heart is buried in Mariannhill.

 Interesting and touching are the testimonies that pilgrims share, giving us even more reason to promote the cause for the beatification of our Father Founder.

 As we celebrate 130 years of the foundation of Emaus and 120 years of the Parish, St. Francis Xavier, Emaus, may God rekindle the faith of the Emaus Christians.

 May we, sons and daughters of Abbot Francis, renew our missionary calling in the spirit of our Founder.