On 15 August 1878, three young men, a girl and a woman were baptised as believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The baptisms were at St Monica's Mission. Many new believers from Roma attended the celebration. Two of the sisters and twenty school girls also came. The weather was radiant. A benefactor provided the food for the feast. Bishop Jolivet celebrated the Mass. Father Gerard carefully explained all the ceremonies and many people started thinking about seeking baptism for themselves. Two years later, eleven more catechumens were received and many children were baptised.
The Holy Family Sisters started a school at St Monica's Mission. With their help, Joseph began a dispensary and a small residential hospital. In his letters and diaries he mentions the ministry of healing the sick through medical services. Never once did he write of his healing power. Joseph had a great devotion to St Monica, the patroness of his parish. She was the mother of St Augustine. To mothers sorrowing about their sons' behaviour, he would always hold up St Monica as an example.
In 1897 Father Gerard was transferred back to Roma. He left St Monica's, where 759 people had sought and received baptism during his time there. Back in Roma, he took up his duties with the zeal and cheer the old-timers remembered.
In 1912 King Moshoeshoe's grandson, Chief Griffith Lerotholi, became a Christian. He told Joseph that his ancestors had appeared to him in a dream, and as a result he was baptised.
Joseph's life was ebbing towards its end. Two years after Chieft Griffith was baptised, Joseph was sixty years a priest and celebrated the day. On 14 May 1914 - some say on 22 May - he celebrated Holy Mass and took to bed. He ran a high fever. During his last days he took water into which a little mealie-meal had been stirred. On the evening of 29 May 1914 he passed away as he said the words, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
*Photograph taken by Catherine Nicolette
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