In order to continue the work of Blessed Gérard, Father Lagleder arrived in Mandeni 33 years ago from Germany
The mission also runs a crèche which looks after orphans and vulnerable children with ongoing support given into adulthood.
Father Gérard Lagleder arrived as a missionary from Germany 33 years ago, and his consistent work has created the largest inpatient hospice in the country in Mandeni.
Sent on mission to Mahlabathini in 1987 the now 65-year-old Catholic priest has lived in South Africa ever since.
Following 3 years in Mahlabathini and 2 in Mangete, he established the Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard in Mandeni in 1992.
Father Gérard did not name the organisation after himself, but rather for Blessed Gérard, a Catholic saint from the 12th century who was rector of the hospice in Jerusalem.
“I wanted to work in the footsteps of Blessed Gérard, so I took his name and so did the care centre. People often think I named it after myself but that is not the case,” he laughed.
The organisation provides hospice care and crèche facilities at no charge for anyone who needs them.
“We are open to everyone and are non-denominational in the care we hand out,” said Father Gérard.
The inpatient hospice has space for 40 patients to receive palliative care.
The hospice primarily focuses on helping AIDS patients and provides free services from the testing stage to home care.
There are now 691 patients who receive care for life from the Brotherhood, which includes the distribution of highly active anti-retroviral treatments (HAARTs).
In practice, this means that consistent monitoring, treatment of opportunistic infections and psychosocial counselling are available for those who need it most.
The mission also runs a crèche which looks after orphans and vulnerable children with ongoing support given into adulthood.
The crèche provides a home, as well as an education for healthy and sick children alike who are in need of help.
This includes a malnutrition clinic for infants, and a bursary fund to aid children in receiving a quality education.
With Covid-19 leaving many residents desperate, the organisation has also distributed hundreds of food parcels throughout the community.
This does come at a cost however, and fundraising is a crucial tool for the brotherhood which is run completely on donated funds.
Father Gérard normally travels twice a year to his native Germany to hold fundraising events but that has been curtailed by the ban on international travel this year.
A large portion of the running costs are normally raised during these trips, and without them the organisation is becoming desperate.
“It is much more difficult to fund-raise electronically, so we are appealing to anyone who can help us to continue the work of this mission.”
The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard is associated with the Roman Catholic Church and the relief organisation of the Order of Malta in South Africa.
You can donate to the mission via the following pages: bsg.org.za/en/you-may-help/donations.html, facebook.com/BBG.ORG.ZA or paypal.me/SMOMRSA.
