The Zulu artist Joel Mbuyisa from Mame carved our Stations of the Cross from precious Thombothi wood. They line the corridor of our hospice—a place where people truly have a heavy cross to bear. They need a Simon of Cyrene to help them shoulder the burden of their fate.
In our depiction, Simon stands behind the Lord. He extends his right hand protectively, almost as if offering a blessing over the One who is Himself the source of all blessing. Simon does not look Christ in the face; he literally follows Him and lends a hand. Although he has been compelled to serve, his expression is serene. He stands by Christ, carries the most holy cross, and thus becomes the savior of the Savior. Christ Himself has knelt under the weight—a final act of kneeling before the Father’s will to save, who did not let the cup of suffering on the Mount of Olives pass him by, so that it might become for us the cup of salvation.
This scene came to mind as I reflected on the true meaning of fasting. Isaiah (58:6-7) reminds us: True fasting means loosening chains, setting the oppressed free, breaking bread to the hungry, and welcoming the homeless.
This is more than a program for Lent; it is a lifelong commitment. This is how we understand our ministry at Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre. Christ carrying the cross encounters us daily: in the sick of the hospice, in home care, in HIV patients, in the traumatized children of our home, and in all the young people who would have no future without help.
In all of them, the suffering Christ touches our hearts. All they need is a Simon of Cyrene who—as Blessed Gérard said—"works to lessen this suffering and make misery more bearable."
With this in mind, I wish you from the bottom of my heart:
A blessed Lent and a hope- and joyful Easter!
On 3 September 1996, Blessed Gérard’s Care Centre and Blessed Gérard’s Church were solemnly blessed and opened.
Therefore, on Sunday, 6 September 2026, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of our church and our house in Mandeni.
Our Activity Report 2025 is now online at: https://www.bsg.org.za/en/our-organisation/publications/newsletters-annual-reports.html
When I first speak to people about the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard, I always have to explain that it is not named after me, but after the blessed founder of the Order of Malta. My then Archabbot, Notker Wolf OSB, urged me, upon my admission to the novitiate, not only to bear the name of Blessed Gérard as my religious name, but also to follow him in my life. I took this to heart. It is also important to me to introduce other people to Blessed Gérard. Therefore, in time for our anniversary, I have written a book about Blessed Gérard and his "everlasting brotherhood," the Order of Malta. The publication can be downloaded free of charge online at: http://blessed-gerard.org
Of course, it is also very important that the work we have built in South Africa in the name of Blessed Gérard will be financially secured in the long term. You are not yet a member of the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard. Therefore, I cordially invite you to become a member of our organization. It's very easy. Just click the red button!
An application form will then open, which you can fill in online.
So I remain with warmest regards and best wishes,
Sincerely yours
Father Gérard T. Lagleder OSB