Zimbabwe

100 5357 This section of our website is dedicated to telling the unfolding story of our congregation in Zimbabwe. We work throughout this beautiful country, and have a strong presence in Tafara & Mabvuku and Borrowdale. Our main pastoral outreach is through five churches in the Archdiocese of Harare. If you have just found this section, we ask your prayers for the work of our confreres, the people and the nation.

Tafara - This community is primarily a formation community with nearly forty young Zimbabweans studying to be priests and brothers. The community also help to feed and clothe the people of the township.

Borrowdale - A Redemptorist parish served by young Zimbabwean Redemptorist priests and brothers.

Blessing of our dear confrere Novices' Graves...

"With faith and gratitude, the Redemptorists invite for the unveiling of tombstones of our beloved brothers who dedicated their lives to serving God and His people."

The ceremony of blessing took place on the 11th April 2026.

Our Novices went to the Father's House on Christmas Day 2021 after a car accident.

Requiescant in pace.

zimbabwe novices rip

The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Fr Regional Superior and his Vicar, alongside many other Priests, Religious Sisters and Brother, and many of the Lay Faithful.

cssr zim graves

The Region of Zimbabwe...

The Redemptorist family celebrate the

Final Professions, Diaconate Ordinations, and a Thanksgiving Mass

The second week of November 2025 will long be remembered in the Redemptorist Region of Zimbabwe as a moment of abundant grace and renewed hope.

In a region still young in its growth, the Church witnessed a milestone that had not been seen in more than a decade, the first time since 2013 that such a large group of confreres made their final profession and were ordained to the diaconate. It was a week of celebration of Final Professions, Diaconate Ordinations, and a Thanksgiving Mass on 8^th, 9^th and 13^th of November 2025 in which vows were sealed, ministries begun, and the Redemptorist family celebrated God’s enduring faithfulness.

Saturday, 8 November – Final Profession of Vows (St Augustine Parish, Hatcliffe)

The celebrations opened on Saturday morning at St. Augustine Parish in Hatcliffe, where six Redemptorist Brothers made their Perpetual Profession of their lives to God, an unprecedented act in the history of the Zimbabwe Region.

Brothers Terrence Chigodora, Sylvester Kanjiwa, Elvis Tawanda Chirara, Noel Kudakwashe Makoni, Bothwell Chimhende, and Phillip Takudzwa Mandibaya professed vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience for life before Fr Richard Reid, CSsR., the Provincial Superior.

Their “yes” echoed far beyond the walls of the church. As each Brother knelt and spoke the words of profession, many were moved by the courage and freedom behind such a lifelong commitment. The celebration drew families, parishioners, and confreres together in a spirit of gratitude. The courtyard gathering that followed was filled with song, ululation, and heartfelt embraces, capturing the joy of a Region watching its mission grow before its eyes.

Sunday, 9 November – Diaconate Ordination (St Alphonsus Formation House, Harare)

The CSsR Confreres in Zimbabwe...

The confreres have put together a short video saying who they are what they do in Zimbabwe! This is a very good and informative presentation.

Click on the picture to see the short video...

MAKOROKOTO Confreres!

“A Joyful Visit, A Renewed Yes”...Canonical Visit...

zim cssr canonical visit 2025

From 13 to 20 July 2025, the Redemptorist Region of Zimbabwe was blessed with the Canonical Visit of Fr Nicolas Ayouba, C.Ss.R., General Consultor, and Fr Paul Vinh, C.Ss.R., Secretary for Formation in the General Government. Their presence brought not only the spirit of the global Congregation but also a deep fraternal closeness, a joyful expression of the unity that bonds Redemptorists worldwide in mission, prayer, and brotherhood.

The visit was part of the global canonical visitation currently being carried out by the General Government, offering accompaniment, encouragement, and oversight to each Redemptorist unit. For the Region of Zimbabwe, this was a moment of deep reflection, mutual sharing, and spiritual renewal.

Zimbabwe: “Return to the Heart of the Mission”...

– Redemptorists Reflect on Community Life During Annual Retreat...

cssr zim retreat 2025

August 9, 2025

From 27 July to 1 August 2025, the Redemptorists of the Region of Zimbabwe gathered at Alphonsus House, Harare, for their annual regional retreat, a week of prayerful silence, honest reflection, and community renewal. This year’s retreat was led by Fr. Michael Emerue, CSsR., Vice Provincial of the Vice Province of Nigeria, whose input offered both challenge and encouragement as the Region continues to grow in numbers, mission, and maturity.

The retreat was framed under the theme: “Return to the Heart of the Mission” — a phrase that called the confreres to revisit the core of Redemptorist life. Yet as the retreat unfolded, it became clear that the heart of the mission is the heart of the community. At the centre of this year’s retreat was a deep and urgent call: to renew community life and break down what Fr. Emerue described as “second communities”.

Breaking the Silence Around “Second Communities”

With clarity and courage, Fr Michael addressed a reality often left unspoken: the subtle divisions that sometimes grow within religious houses, small alliances, unspoken camps, and silent tensions. These “second communities,” though unofficial, can quietly erode fraternity, weaken apostolic energy, and damage trust.

Drawing from scripture, the Redemptorist Constitutions, and his own pastoral experience, Fr. Michael reminded the brothers:

“Our first mission is to love one another. If we cannot sit at the same table, if we cannot pray with one voice, how will we preach the Gospel of Plentiful Redemption to others?”

He challenged the Region to create spaces of truthful dialogue, intentional reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to shared life, insisting that our missionary vitality flows from the authenticity of our communion.

Our CSsR Region of Zimbabwe 2025...

cssr zim region 2025

The Zimbabwe CSsR Region of Zimbabwe 2025

with Fr Provincial, the Fr Vicar Provincial and Br Provincial Secretary,

with Fr Regional Superior and his Councils,

the Final Professed and Ordained members of the Region,

our two newly ordained Priests,

all our simply professed confreres,

those in formation, but not yet in vows,

and our dear seminarians from Chinhoyi.

All of us make up the Region of Zimbabwe

and at the same time there are 13 confreres missing

due to other important ministries, studies or living abroad for the mission.

God bless us all!

Please pray for us, that we will be strong in our Vocation

and that the good Lord, our most Holy Redeemer

will continue to expand our number!

cssr region zim 2025

Religious sisters are “the foot soldiers of Christ” in Zimbabwe, says Bishop Raymond CSsR

raymond and fr george cssr ii

Bishop Raymond CSsR and Fr Casper CSsR with the Little Sisters of the Poor in South London

Courtesy: ZENIT News / Königstein, 02.13.2025

During a visit to the international headquarters of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Bishop of Masvingo Raymond Tapiwa Mupandasekwa, CSsR. spoke of women religious as “foot soldiers of Christ”. The Bishop Raymond said the Church has been slow to recognize the contribution of sisters to the work of the Church, but fortunately in Zimbabwe this is beginning to change.

The Bishop Raymond says that the Church in his country, and in general, owes a debt of gratitude to the religious sisters who do pastoral work on the ground, sometimes in very difficult conditions.

“We should thank the female congregations; they have had to carry a lot of burdens in order to serve the Church in Africa. They are the ones on the ground, who serve the poor, the widow and the orphan, but they have very little recognition,” he said. “They do the catechesis of children, young people and adults, but when people talk about the Church, they say: ‘Father is doing a good job here, he is very good at organising.’ Father might be good at organising, but who implements all these things? Who makes it work? It is the women in the congregations. With very little gratitude. Historically we have had a challenge in the manner in which we have been expressing our gratitude.”

Redeemer's Times - News from Zimbabwe...

Read all about it!

Ground Breaking in Hatcliffe Zimbabwe...

ground breaking hatcliffe 2023i

Fr Kenneth CSsR, the Regional Superior, stands beside the Foundation Stone, it reads

Holy Redeemer Primary School and Church

The Foundation Stone was laid by

Hon Gen (Retd) Dr C G D N Chiwenga

Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe

in the Presence of

Fr Kenneth Macharaga CSsR

The Regional Superior of Zimbabwe

on the Solemnity of All Saints Day

05 November 2023

God bless this ministry and this work -

may it be a source of plentiful redemption for many!

ground breaking hatcliffe 2023ii

ground breaking hatcliffe 2023

ground breaking hatcliffe 2023iv

hatcliffe school

Our New CSsR Zimbabwean Deacons 2023...

new cssr deacons6

On the 11th of November 2023,

Rev'd Br Eric Makova CSsR.,

Rev'd Br Oscar Madzonganyika CSsR and

Rev'd Br Celestino Magwenzi CSsR.,

were ordained deacons by

His Grace Archbishop Robert C. Ndlovu

at St. Alphonsus Parish in Tafara,

Harare, Zimbabwe.

Makorokoto - Congratulations - Vivant in aeternum

Graduate of Catholic University Zimbabwe...

Fr Kudakwashe Kariviro CSsR

14 April 2023,

Day of Graduation

MBA (Global Entrepreurship)

Catholic University of Zimbabwe

and

Milan University, Italy

MAKOROKOTO!

fr kuda kariviro cssr graduate 2023

Zimbabwe: It was a week of celebrations...

August 9, 2023

The Redemptorist region of Zimbabwe had a relatively busy week from July 29 to August 6 2023.

The week began with a two-day convocation facilitated by the Provincial of the London Province, Fr Richard Reid CSsR., which was attended by all the brothers in the Region of Zimbabwe.

The convocation was followed by a retreat preached by Fr James O’Kane of the Diocese of Motherwell in Scotland. The retreat was a time for the brothers to reflect on their vocations and to pray for guidance and strength.

On August 3, the Region celebrated the first profession of six brothers: two from Zimbabwe and four from the Kenya mission. The first profession is a significant milestone in the life of the Congregation. They were a joyous occasion, and the brothers were welcomed into the community with open arms.

The following day, on August 4, four new candidates joined the formation program in Tafara, and one novice joined the novitiate program in Kubease, Ghana. The Region of Zimbabwe is excited to see these young men begin their journey towards religious life. The new candidates and novices are excited to start their journey toward religious life, and they are looking forward to learning and growing in the community.

To cap it off, the following Sunday, August 6, the Region, together with the local Church, celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first professions of Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa C.Ss.R. and Br Benjamin Posvo C.Ss.R. The Region of Zimbabwe is grateful to these two men for their many years of service to the Congregation and Church at large.

The Redemptorist Region of Zimbabwe is grateful to confreres, friends, and benefactors who made all this possible through prayers and their support. They look forward to continuing to grow and serve the Church in the years to come.

By Br Elvis T. Chirara C.Ss.R.

More photos below...

A New CSsR Regional Council in Zimbabwe...

A New CSsR Regional Council in Zimbabwe for the next Quadrennium.

zim council 2023

The Extraordinary Council with the

Provincial Fr Richard Reid CSsR and the Vicar Provincial Fr Elias Gweme CSsR

zim council 2023i

The Ordinary Regional Coucil.

L to R. Fr Mark Chikuni CSsR, the Vicar Regional Superior,

Fr Kenneth Macharaga CSsR, the Regional Superior,

Fr Francis Kunaka CSsR, 2nd Consultant.

zim council 2023ii

The Extraordinary Regional Council, Br Dr Tendai Lemeyu CSsR on the left,

and Br Tendai Tamai CSsR on the right.

zim council 2023iii

All prayers gratefully received!

CSsR Zimbabwe Community and Fr Provincial...

zimcssrcommunity

During a visit earlier this month, the CSsR Community in Harare

posed for a photo with Fr Provincial, Richard Reid CSsR.

Our confreres in Zimbabwe do wonderful work

with a great spirit of commitment and dedication.

God bless the CSsR Region of Zimbabwe!

Annual Regional retreat and a lecture on synodality in Zimbabwe...

cssr comm zim aug 2022

From 2nd to 6th August 2022, the Region of Zimbabwe had its annual retreat. All the confreres and the professed students of theology in the Region attended the retreat.

Zimbabwe Visit 2022

Fr Richard CSsR (Provincial) and Ms Frances Sibert are visiting the confreres in Zimbabwe at the moment. The following photos provide a flavour of their visit

Zimbabwe2022 1