User:Ldiocotlhe/Döbra

Döbra
Döbra, A community settlement for people that work for the Roman Catholic Church of Namibia.It is situated 20 kilometers northeast of Windhoek and falls under the Windhoek rural constituency. In 1904 the Vicariate bought the farm Döbra. Under the management of the Oblates, they immediately started with a school mainly for Herero children orphaned in the Herero colonial war of 1904-06. Later in the sixties the Brothers of Tilburg took over and started a Teachers Training Section. Other activities were added in Döbra, apart from the school 1. Workshops providing for the needs of all the mission stations in the country. 2. A Printing Press, Angelus Printing for church newspapers and hymn books. 3. In 1964 the Provincial Administration was brought to Döbra. 4. A small Seminary was initiated, that provided vocational training. 5. And a Kindergarten was also started which was housed at the same location where the vocational training took place. Today, the Oblate Center Döbra has nothing to do with the school anymore - except for chaplaincy; most activities have been discontinued for various reasons, but it is in itself an Oblate unit with a new face in three sections:

l. Provincial Administration: A tiny community of three Oblates form the nucleus of the Center. 50 Oblates, of whom 32 are missionaries and 18 are local vocations - with 30 other young men in formation, constitute the province Namibia. The provincial house is also one of the possibilities for Oblates who want to retire in old age. 2. InterProvincial Novitiate: The subregion of Southern Africa sends half of their novices to Namibia; from Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and 3 Oblate provinces of South Africa. In 2004 there were 20 novices, 8 in 2005, and 15 in 2006.

3. Pastoral Center: Various church related workshops and conferences take place, next to retreats and ongoing formation groups three comfortable conference rooms are available for these occasions equipped with all the necessary facilities. Furthermore Oblates, priests and religious of many other congregations from all over the country - including neighbouring countries, come here for their needs - medical or other. Full board and lodging comprising of 40 single and double bedrooms are available for our guests. All this is situated in a quiet environment at the foot of the Döbra mountains. Visitors may regularly watch and are watched by the baboons; this is proof of the tranquility of the untouched nature in Döbra. The income from this center supports the pastoral activities of the Oblates working in Namibia. The SMIC(Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception) sisters are responsible for operating the Pastoral Center and they run the it with loving care and great dedication.