Holy Trinity Catholic Church Braamfontein, Johannesburg

In 1897 the Trappist Monks from Mariannhill set up a mission to serve migrant mine workers in Stiemens Street. The first church was built and opened in 1899. Soon after this the Anglo-Boer war broke out and the Trappists returned to Natal. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate served the new parish. The current church was completed and opened in 1938. In 1966 the Paulist Fathers looked after the parish and university chaplaincy. In 1969 the parish was handed over to the diocese for a short period. In 1973 the Society of Jesus were given responsibility for the parish and have served the community ever since. The Jesuits oversaw the building of Trinity House, a residence for Catholic students studying at the University of the Witwatersrand. The residence was opened in 1991.
The present parish population is made up of approximately 800 families, drawn from all over Johannesburg as well as the universities. The parish priest is Father Russell Pollitt, SJ. He is assisted by Father Bruce Botha, SJ.