Of all these missions, Lourdes, founded in 1888, was the largest and most elaborate. The mission comprised 20 243 hectares, and was part of the land belonging to Donald Strachan, one of the earliest traders in the region and a friend of Adam Kok. About 4 000 hectares was for the monastery and the remainder for the use of Christian and other Black tenants.
It was at Lourdes that the brothers revived the medieval system of marsh or bog drainage to produce excellent wheat lands. In addition to crops, horse and cattle breeding was also introduced. A waterfall on the property was harnessed to provide power for the turbine engines and the monastery buildings were built on the hillside overlooking the farm lands.
In its heyday it boasted a fabulous Church (the Cathedral of Umzimkulu Diocese) and a sprawling complex of schools, hostels and convent. Tragically, with the passage of time and a devastating fire, the whole complex, except the Church, fell into rack and ruin. Only recently has work begun on restoring its former glory as an Institution of note for the spiritual and social upliftment of the local population.
It was to this magnificent Mission that Abbot Pfanner retired on his suspension from Mariannhill and where he spent the first year of his enforced exile.
This mission is named after Lourdes in France where Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception appeared to Saint Bernadette in 1858 in a grotto. A replica of Our Lady of Lourdes grotto can be seen at all the missions established by Abbot Pfanner and attests to the great devotion he had to Our Lady under this title.
