Zimbabwe and Fr Denis McBride...

Fr Denis McBride, after a visit to Zimbabwe made this reflection which was published on his website, denismcbride.com - thank you Fr Denis for sharing!

They are a formidable group of men, the Redemptorists in Zimbabwe, and I had the privilege of offering a retreat to all the professed of the Region. They were warm, welcoming and really good company. We have 7 priests, 5 brothers, 2 deacons, 6 professed students, 2 novices, 4 unprofessed students, and 6 postulants – making 32 in all, the average age being around thirty.

They are a young vibrant group, bringing enormous talent and commitment to their varied work. They are led by Fr William Guri, CSsR, the Regional superior, Bro Benjamin Posvo, CSsR, the rector of the formation community, and Fr Raymond Mupandasekwa, CSsR, in overall charge of formation. These three, together with Fr Ronnie McAinsh, CSsR, our provincial, were the pioneers of today’s Region, although the Redemptorists from the London Province have served there for some fifty years.

Formation: Alphonsus House, Tafara The houses of formation are set in a large compound in Tafara, on the outskirts of the capital city, Harare. Fr Raymond is assisted by Fr Joseph Musendami, CSsR, who is in charge of the six postulants. The original chapel was burnt down and is now replaced by a new building, which is simple and elegant, decorated by stunning paintings by the Jesuit artist, Fr Tony Berridge, who has now sadly died. You can catch something of the chapel’s beauty from the pictures, and see some of the formation community smiling bravely!

Parishes The Redemptorists looks after two flourishing parishes in Tafara and Mabvuku, townships on the outskirts of Zimbabwe. The parishes are divided up into small Christian communities, with their own section leaders, who would liaise with the parish priests about the pastoral needs of their sections. The sections would meet regularly and have their own Masses. Lay participation is high, and the singing and the drums and the movement at Mass are wonderful to witness.

We also run St Gerard’s parish in Borrowdale and St Augustine’s in Hatcliffe, with Nazareth House as an outstation. St Gerard’s is probably the most influential parish in Harare, attended by many government ministers and their families – so the content of the homilies are particularly noted by men with ear-pieces rather than earrings.

The Mavambo Trust

The name Mavambo means Genesis, standing for a new start. Brother Benjamin CSsR is the director of the Mavambo Trust, originally founded to educate children 8-11 who have missed out on school, usually because they have no birth certificate and who cannot, therefore, register at government schools, or because they are too poor to pay the fees. The kids are often single or double orphans because of the HIV/AIDS crisis and are raised by their grandparents. About 70% of them are accepted into the regular schools after only one year with the Trust, which is a measure of the quality of the teaching. Bro Benji has the help of two sisters, Kathi and Mike; Danny is his assistant director; Lamech is in charge of social services and outreach, and there are over a hundred volunteers. The trust also feeds over 300 children a day during the school terms. If anyone reading this would like to make a donation, please e-mail Bro Benji – 

Caritas Harare

Brother Francis Marimbe CSsR is the development coordinator for Caritas Harare, the social development arm of the archdiocese of Harare. 83% of the population live on less than $2 a day, so there are many pressing needs to meet. Caritas in emergency relief with regular projects in vulnerable group feeding, including hospitals and prisons and schools; developing skills for unemployed young people; HIV support; gender issues; water and sanitation; seed and fertiliser support; reaching out to squatter communities. Br Francis is supported by a committed staff of over thirty people, including experts in conservation farming techniques, nursing, and social workers.

Mashambanzou

The name means “the time the elephant goes to wash”, signalling a new dawn, a fresh beginning. Two Redemptorist brothers work in this project, Tendai and Tendayi, which includes child protection, child counselling, HIV awareness, and unemployment issues. 85% of the people are in “informal employment”, since the opportunities for full-time employment is very low. With HIV still a destructive issue in family life, the two brothers devote themselves to promoting HIV awareness, which they do not only in public places like churches but also in beer halls.

Redemptorist Book Shop We used to run the bookshop at the Cathedral, but the bishops’ conference wanted the space, so we had to find an alternative place. Fr Mark Chandavengerwa, C.Ss.R. runs the bookshop with two lay assistants and he can be seen in the photograph with Br David Nyammuronda, C.Ss.R. who very patiently took me on a walk around Harare. Br David will be starting soon at the Mavambo Trust, probably to teach the children there.

The Redemptorist Region has an impressive variety of works carried out by an impressive group of men, I thank them for their warm hospitality and good humour, and wish them every success in all their living and study and work.

Fr. Denis McBride C.Ss.R.

Regional Council Reappointed in Zimbabwe...

Fr McAinsh C.Ss.R., our Provincial Superior, reappointed the Regional Council in Zimbabwe.

We send our congratulations and assure them of our prayers.

Fr William Guri C.Ss.R., is the Regional Superior.

Fr Raymond Mupandasekwa C.Ss.R., is the Vicar Regional Superior.

Br Benjamin Posvo C.Ss.R., is the Consultor.

Congratulations!

Fr Guri C.Ss.R., writes to us all from Zimbabwe...

St Gerard’s House

25 February 2011

Dear Confreres,

Last week we had the visitation of the Region by our Provincial Superior, Fr Ronald McAinsh. This was a very important visit that came at the end of the final triennium and at the beginning of the first quadrennium. You will recall that at the last General Chapter the quadrennium was introduced to replace the triennium. This means that all terms of office, except that of the Superior General, will now run for four years. The assumption of office in the entire congregation has been synchronized to begin at the same time in the first quadrennium and afterwards. Previously the units of the congregation began the triennium at various times in the year.

Read more: Regional Letter from Zimbabwe

Brother Elias Gweme and Brother Mark Chandavengerwa CSsR

Early in the year 2008 the Redemptorist community in Zimbabwe had the great joy of recieving the Final Vows of Brother Elias Gweme CSsR. The confreres also welcomed His Grace Archbishop Robert Ndlovu, and the Provincial of the London Province, Fr. Ronnie McAinsh CSsR, to officiate at Elias' Diaconate Ordination.

The Redemptorists are blessed with many young men, like Elias, who are willing to give their lives to the service of the Gospel. In October 2008 Fr. Elias Gweme CSsR was ordained to the Priesthood, while Br. Mark Chadavengerwa CSsR was ordained to the Diaconate., a ministry of service.

Could you give your life for plentiful Redemption?

If so Contact;

Fr. Vocations Director, Alphonsus House, P.O. Box 30, Tafara, Harare

Tel; 00 263 (4) 491544

Have you ever known you were truly at home? You are invited to share the beginnings of a vocation story by Fr. Elias Gweme CSsR

Photos just in from Zimbabwe...

The brothers and concelebrants.

The Archbishop greeting the crowds

Fr Anthony Pathe giving a few words from bygone years

- he was the first Redemptorist to go to Zimbabwe

The Region presenting Fr Pathe with a gift

Fr Guri and Archbishop Ndlovu cut the Golden Cake!

50 Years in Zimbabwe!

Wonderful celebrations have taken place in Zimbabwe to mark our Golden Jubilee there! 

As ever the brothers worked exceptionally hard to make sure the celebrations went off without any problems!

Congratulations to all the brothers celebrating these 50 Years!

ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION

OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER IN ZIMBABWE

To all Redemptorists

The celebration of fifty years of the presence and work of the Redemptorists in Zimbabwe is an occasion of great joy, for us, and for Redemptorists elsewhere. The coming of age of our mission here is the achievement and commitment of generations of confreres from the London Province, the South African Province, the General Government and of many other units of our congregation all over the world, who have shown great solicitude and rendered much needed help.

It is also an achievement of the local Church in Zimbabwe; the bishops, clergy, religious orders and congregations, and indeed the faithful, who have all welcomed, supported and worked alongside our fathers and brothers from the very beginning.

It is the achievement of the Zimbabwean young men, who have joined our formation programme over the past half century, who were subsequently called elsewhere, and those who have persevered and remained. This jubilee is a celebration of how, the Redemptorists together with the many people of this country have given their lives for plentiful redemption.

Read more: Zimbabwe's Golden Jubilee!