Fr. Andres Jones Maqueda SVD

2022: Arrival in Botswana

2024: Assistant Parish Priest at St. Joseph-Gumare

2025: Parish Priest at St. Joseph- Gumare.

My story with Botswana SVD province begins in 2019 when I came for my “Oversee Training Program”. At that time, it was a ‘come and see’ feeling, but with time, this spiritual journey is becoming HOME. My prayer is that, may God continue to accompany every step I make in my faith and bless the people I work with.

The St. Joseph’s parish is in the North-West of Botswana. It was an outstation of St. Augustin parish – Maun. However, in 2001 the church was erected as a parish under the name of St. Joseph. The parish is composed by the main station, Gumare and two other outstations Mohembo and Kauxwi. It is in these two communities where the attendance of parishioners is more active and assiduous in the pastoral activities. The Divine Word Missionaries have been in charge since St. Joseph was established as a parish with its first parish priest Fr. Frederic Lauricio and the following priests left their evangelizing footprints in this desertic place; Fr. Ajit Kumar, Fr. Elfridus Ujan, Fr. Anselmus, Fr. Octo, Fr. Hubertus Watu and Fr. Andres Jones, the current parish priest. Pastoral: our mission consists of the first evangelization, the effort of all our missionaries from the very beginning. The instruction in the catholic faith is carry out with catechesis for children and youth and adult. As part of the SVD charac- teristic dimension, Bible ministry takes life with workshops and other pastoral instances. Our mission is very much alive, even though the many challenges we face, and this is be- cause our trust is in the Lord who is guiding our missionary tasks.