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Carmeletter 2001, Number 2
Contents:
Heaven’s Above!
On June 21st,
2001, right here in Avila Mission, a most spectacular cosmic event of the
universe took place high above us in the sky. A total eclipse of the sun
occurred when the moon’s orbit took it directly between the earth and the
sun casting a period of total darkness in the middle of the afternoon.
Visitors from
Mutare, Rusape, Nyanga and even as far away as Harare, came to experience it
and they also saw Avila Mission for the first time. Cloudless skies made it
clearly visible along this north eastern part of Zimbabwe. The phenomenon
had brought mixed feelings to many especially those who had heard about it
and had long awaited for it to happen.
It was an
extraordinary spectacle as the day gradually became hazy and misty at about
1.50 pm. The visitors, locals and our Primary and Secondary School pupils
witnessed this most unusual occurrence. They talked of the people who were
unfortunate not be here to experience it. The excited children shouted with
joy which echoed through the nearby hills at the sight of the shadow
creeping across the face of the sun. They had been advised by us teachers
not to look directly at the sun but to use protective dark paper to avoid
damage to the eyes. In their excitement most of them didn’t follow this
advice.
What amazed most
people was the twinkling of the stars when the eclipse became total leaving
our world in darkness. Many thought that stars occur only at night but now
they were convinced that they are always there but cannot be seen because of
the brightness of the sun itself. It was funny to see how confused were the
cocks and hens which ran cackling in fear trying to find their way to the
chicken-run. They had been caught unawares by the eclipse whilst roaming as
usual looking for food. Even goats too started to run here and there not
knowing what to do or where to go.
Stories from the
surrounding area came to us later. Some people who had not heard of the
pending eclipse were afraid of the darkness which occurred during the
daylight. They thought it was the end of the world so they closed themselves
indoors to lie down and die there. One elderly lady was herding cattle,
directing them to a drinking pool. Made fearful by the unexpected darkness
she quickly abandoned the cattle and raced at high speed to her home. She
didn’t look for the cattle till the following day.
Yes, it was a
great day to remember, cherish and recall Daniel’s canticle in the Bible:
‘And you sun and
moon, O bless the Lord. And you stars in the heavens, O bless the Lord. To
Him be highest glory and praise forever’.
—
Sr. Leocarda Bwititi, HLMC
Bonjour Mes Amis!
Mount Carmel, Harare
Theophil, Erasmus
and I returned from our two-month stay in Abidjan, Cote d’lvoire, where we
had gone for immersion in the French language. I can testify that we had
very good experiences. West Africa is very hot. We had to endure the rising
temperatures. We attended lectures at the University of Cocody and these too
were fantastic. Generally the people were very friendly and helpful. We
stayed in the same community as our Jesuit classmates. We visited many
places including a visit to the basilica in Yamussoukro, the commercial
capital. Now, the three of us are able to hold a meaningful discussion in
French and we continue with French classes at Arrupe in Harare. We extend
our thanks to the Commissariate for sending us to West Africa - merci
beaucoup, une derniere fois!
Tour d’Arrupe
This academic year
started on a very good note with four of our brothers, David, Philemon,
Peter and Dominic, joining the Major Seminary for their studies in theology.
The cyclists to Arrupe College got three new participants in the ‘Tour
d’Arrupe’ when Michael, Chris and Munyaradzi joined them for studies in
philosophy. The untiring Fr. Conrad Mutizamhepo joined the Arrupe College
staff and he offers an elective in liberation theology. From the look of
things, the students seem to be very busy concentrating on their essays for
correction at the college. It is ever a weird experience to bump into
somebody in the corridors at midnight coming from either the library or
computer room. Are these men sleeping at all? Like the weather, it is not
surprising when one asks any of the students how they are and one responds,
‘Partly cloudy with afternoon thunderstorms, but hopefully I will become
mild later!’ I hope the results of this semester will not be cloudy as well!
Fr. Doyle is still
in Ireland and has had his hip op. We continue to pray for him. We wish him
a speedy recovery. We will be glad to have you back very soon, Jim. In his
absence, Conrad is everything in the house: director of students, prior,
bursar, lecturer in two institutions and most importantly acting Commissary
Provincial for a while. We anticipated in joyful hope the coming of Fr. Bob
Kelly as a member of this community. We knew that his coming would be a
welcome relief for Conrad. Now it is a ‘fait accompli’. He has arrived. Our
prayers are answered. Le Seigneur soit toujours loué.
—
Br. Faral Gabriel Mandaza, O.Carm.
Priory, Mutare
Jubilee Special
Just imagine - 50
faithful years as a professed religious! That is the track record of our
Frs. Louis Bouthillette, Gerry Galvin, Norbert Heaslip, Pio Kiernan and
Peter Toner. And of course the runaway marathon winner is our Fr. Barty
McGivern with 60 devoted years in the same profession.
Celebrations began
with Mass at 5.30 at the hall here on May 14th. Our Robbie MacCabe of Kenya
and two priests of Mozambique joined us along with our Bishops and our many
other friends. A very enjoyable evening was had by all.
July 16th
On this our annual
special celebration day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we congregated for
evening Mass in our hall. Our Bishops, many Priests, Sisters and lay
friends were present. The soft light of the setting sun filtered through to
the assembly as the liturgy was about to begin. Bishop Alexio Muchabaiwa
began with the sign of the cross. As he did so, as if on cue, the sonorous
tones coming from the summit of the nearby Mosque filled our ears. This was
very poignant and appropriate, I think, since our earliest Carmelite roots
belong to the Middle East. Our religious ancestors must have often heard the
special call to prayer of the Islamic faith when they were living on Mount
Carmel. Could this spontaneous five-minute fusion of liturgies be a hint
that maybe Carmelites could engage in the role of helping to bring about
greater harmony between the two faiths. It is said that our Carmelites in
New York were actively engaged in assisting victims after the Twin Towers
disaster on 11th September.
— pp
Fr. Paul McChrystal, O.Carm
Makorokoto - Congratulations - Amphiope
Two of the last
students to study at the former Minor Seminary at St. Charles Lwanga Mission
in Chimanimani were Ordained priests for Mutare Diocese this year:
1) Phillip Kembo
on 18th August at St. Columba’s Mission, Honde Valley where Fr. John Dunphy
(Kiltegan) and Fr. Nigel Charles (Ardagh & Clonmacnois) are stationed.
2) John Makoni on
20th October at St. Benedict’s Mission, Chiendambuya where the resident
priests are Fr. Seamus O’Reilly (Kiltegan) & Fr. Pat Lennon (Ardagh &
Clonmacnois).
On both occasions
before a large outdoor multitude which included their proud mothers and
other relatives, the Ordaining Bishop was Alexio Muchabaiwa assisted by
Bishop Mutume and in the presence of over 40 priests, as well as many
Sisters and seminarians. The liturgy included excellent singing, dancing,
drumming and the highly impressive tones of a kudu horn. Fr. Conrad
Mutizamhepo preached at Phillip Kembo’s and Fr. Sylvester lgboanyika at John
Makoni's. We wish them many long years of happy service in the Lord’s
ministry.
Congratulations
also to three new Deacons who will be ordained Priests for the Diocese of
Mutare: Arnold Maringe and Isidore Madzirashe both of St. Andrew’s Mission,
Maranke, and Canisius Mwandayi of St. Barbara’s Mission.
St. Kilian’s
Fr. Joe Vernon
Neville, O.Carm. died on June 25th 2000. Our Fr. Norbert Fokisa, on loan
from Regina Coeli Mission, then took charge of St. Kilian’s assisted by
Deacon Vitalis Benza. I took over from Fr. Fokisa and am helped greatly by
our newly-ordained Fr. Vitalis, O.Carm. Fr. Fokisa is now in charge of
Triashill Mission.
The anniversary
Mass for Fr. Neville was celebrated on June 30th, 2001 with
Bishop Mutume as main celebrant. Fr. John McGrath and many other clergy were
present including our Fr. P.J. Cunningham who was on a holiday visit and
related very well with the students and local people. Over 5000 people were
fed. Much sadza, two cattle and many vegetables were consumed on this
occasion. We offer Fr. Benza our deepest sympathy on the unexpected death in
July of his dear Mother. May she rest in peace. He returned in October from
a spiritual break in Uganda.
Athletics is still
rated as important here except we don’t bring back the trophies. However we
had success this year in CASA winning the Joseph Neville Memorial Trophy.
That was great and the best one to win.
In January of this
year we launched out with preparations for setting up ‘A’ Level education
here in the future. Each pupil now pays a levy to help defray expenses for
its establishment. So progress is being made.
A congress was
held here for the youth of our Deanery in August. It was well organised by
Fr. V. Benza and Carmelite Sisters including Sr. Roseline Vushe who is
diocesan co-ordinator for youth. Our singers went to Masvingo for a week to
learn new hymns accompanied by Fr. Benza, O.Carm. Vast improvements in the
Liturgy since then! Seventy parishioners from here went to St. Benedict’s
Mission for the Ordination of Fr. John Makoni. Our beautifully-draped
dancers can do the ‘Sweep the floor’ dance very well or the grandmother’s
‘Oh my back’ routine.
Early cure
An interesting
historical note from our Mission Diary: “1962 - Fr. B. McGivern took ill
last night. Fr. James Dunne and a Sister brought him from St. Kilian’s to
St. Anne’s hospital in Harare. Before leaving the Mission, Fr. Dunne
anointed him which in 1962 would have been bad news. The said Barty had his
sense of humour and said to James, ‘Do you know how to do it?”’ Through most
of the year 2000 Barty ran the Cathedral parish single handed — ‘Did James
know how to do it?!’ Our visitors were many and very welcome including Fr.
Leo and recently-arrived Fr. Paul Horan. Also the re-visit this year of
former teacher Myra Godwin of Limerick. After her years at St. Kilian’s she
taught in Lesotho.
Hopefully the New
Year will see the Carmelite Sisters coming to stay at St. Kilian’s. This has
created a great air of expectation on the part of the School, the Parish
Council and ourselves.
On June 19th
the foundation for the new presbytery at the Mission was begun - four
ensuite accommodation, etc. Its completion is expected in December 2000.
We’ll take bookings for holiday visitors in the New Year (joke!).
—
Fr. Norbert Heaslip, O.Carm.
St. Barbara’s
Only a few months
old in this Mission, I have not much to say. I would like to emphasise that
our Home Based Care programme for victims of AIDS is full of life, judging
by a number of meetings they hold per week. It seems that its Mutare office
is taking St. Barbara’s as an example for all other programmes in various
Missions. The support groups (i.e. those living with the H.I.V. virus) here
at the Mission and at Bethania which is one of our outstations, are working
hand in hand with their local co-ordinator, Sister Celestine Mafuta. I would
like to thank Sr. Michael Nyamutswa for the good work she is doing. In my
short apostolate here I have already buried a number of people due to the
Aids pandemic. This way of dying is gripping the nation as a whole.
Our hospital has
been operating without a Sister-in-charge for some time but now we are glad
to say that we have Sister Agnella Chipatiso, HLMC, in that post. With her
vast experience and hardworking spirit, our local people are going to
benefit a lot. In the school department work is in progress on the
construction of a much-needed teacher’s house.
If things go
according to plan, by the end of the year our Mission will have electricity
from the national grid (Zesa) and that will be a nice farewell to Cherima
(darkness).
—
Fr. Matthias Chikwara, PP.
Triashill Mission
One evening in
late January our local MP, Dr. Simba Makoni, came to visit us. He announced
that he was going to donate 20 beds to our hospital here. As the months
passed by we thought the matter had been forgotten but in September the
beds arrived. What a welcome gift! We hope he comes to visit us again so
that we can thank him personally.
New toilets are
being constructed at the hospital and the local people have helped to gather
the material for this important work. Mai Tichiwangana, coordinator for the
Home Based Care service mentioned that aroma therapy, as practised in
Uganda, is going to be tried for the treatment of certain illnesses. Youth
awareness sessions re HIV were held for the benefit of our top classes in
the Primary School.
Our Primary School
won book vouchers to the value of Zim.$20,000 at an international Book Fair
held in Harare. They hope to benefit also at a Book Fair to be held soon in
Mutare.
A multitude of
people was here for the funeral of Sister Andrew Derah, HLMC. Our two
Bishops and many Carmelite Fathers and Sisters were present for it.
Representatives of the Derah family spoke some final words at the grave
about her. She knew the importance of prayer and would encourage people to
pray together in their families and communities and also to ‘be good’. May
she enjoy the fullness of life in the presence of the living God. Fr.
Norbert Fokisa, superior here, returned after attending a Justice and Peace
meeting in England and the General Chapter in Rome. He took the opportunity
to visit some of our communities in Ireland and England and to meet his
Zimbabwean Carmelite colleagues over there Frs Constantine Masarira,
Simplisio Manyika and Thomas Munengwa. Fr. Matthias Chikwara resides with us
and is always busy doing his work as parish priest of St. Barbara’s Mission.
—
Fr. Ambrose Costello, O.Carm.
St. Alois, Chitungwiza.
This is one of
four Catholic churches located in the largest high-density suburb of the
capital Harare. It is served by a Carmelite priest from Hatfield - Fr. Pio
Kiernan. It has 3,500 parishioners, with 12 Sections each led by a Section
leader and her/his committee. The Parish Council Executive helps the priest
to run the parish. Guilds for men, women and youth help to nourish and
spread the Faith and engage in activities to help the troubled and needy. A
catechetical committee works closely with the priest and parish council.
Workshops, held at Rockwood Spiritual Centre in Hatfield, supply guide-lines
for implementing the catechetical syllabus of the Archdiocese. Fr. Pio
frequently visits the large hospital nearby, to be with the sick and dying.
Golden Jubilee: On
October 6th, 2001 the parishioners of St. Alois gathered together
to thank God and celebrate Fr. Pio’s 50 years as a Carmelite. Other parishes
were invited to this event which began with Mass at 9am. A long enjoyable
day lay ahead of us! About 600 people arrived including Mr. Camillo Mandeya
of Hatfield, a past-pupil of Fr. Pio. Camillo spoke of Fr. Pio’s long
fruitful ministry since his arrival in Zimbabwe in 1 960, his labour through
thick and thin in Manicaland and through the tough liberation war period. He
was always supported by the love and devotion of his parishioners.
Fr. Pio enjoyed
the occasion with his well-wishers who showered him with gifts while members
of the youth groups entertained us with good traditional dance, drama and
music.
—
Parish Secretary
Regina Coeli
Fr. E. Ward,
superior of the Mission writes: “Knocklyon Parish, Dublin, is twinned with
this Mission. While I was on leave in Ireland this year I had an opportunity
to meet the Knocklyon Parish Committee who had held a successful concert in
March to raise funds for the building of our ‘A’ Level classrooms,
dormitories and teachers’ houses. They have just finished building an
extension to their own school for which they contributed generously. That
they then also agreed to raise funds for the building project here says a
lot about their generosity and their zeal for improving the lot of God’s
children in this part of the world. I would also like to thank other donors
who have contributed generously to our appeals for financial assistance
including the Koch Foundation in Florida, USA; The Beit Trust;
Kindermissionswerk of Germany who are organised by Fr. Josef Kemper of the
Carmelite Province of Lower Germany. To date we have completed three
classrooms and at present we are constructing dormitories. We hope to start
educating students at ‘A Level' in January 2003.”
Fr. Paul
McChrystal, his first time in Zimbabwe and fresh from Ireland took on the
task of looking after this big Mission from May to August when Fr. E. Ward
was on leave. All agree that he did a mighty good job. His farewell party
took place at the Dominican Convent. The main course of the meal was his
very own brand of specially cooked spaghetti Bolognese. We also tasted other
items of consumption of a semi-Italian nature.
Her Highness
The Governor of
this Province of Manicaland, the Hon. Oppah Muchinguri was the centre of
attention here at Regina on October 26th. She was accompanied by the
Province’s top Government officials of the Ministries of Health, Education
and Development. The open meeting which began with a prayer by Fr Ward,
O.Carm., was concerned mainly with the problems of Aids, orphans and
structures of assistance. She supervised the immediate distribution of
bursaries for the education of children and over 40 bicycles for village
health workers. She praised the well-established Catholic relief agencies
which function efficiently throughout the Province especially the Home Based
Care Programmes re Aids and CADEC re projects for local development. These
Diocesan initiatives are directed by Carmelite Sisters Michael Nyamutswa
and Puline Chapoterera. Personal detail: This was the second time I met
Oppah. The first time was in 1971 when she was in Form One at our St.
Joseph’s School in Mutare. I am a bit slack when it comes to cultivating
acquaintances!
His Holiness SJ
Since August I am
frequently visiting the site of a new church called St. Ignatius which is
being erected beside a school of the same name, about 15 km east of here. A
large stone slab has 1921 carved on it - the year when this school at
Sanyamaropa was begun by Catholic missionaries of that time, over 30 years
before the creation of Regina Coeli Mission. The new church is only 300
metres from the Gairezi river which in this area marks the border of
Zimbabwe with Mozambique. The new Jesuit Superior, Fr. Fidelis Mukonori,
visited us here recently. He was surprised about the church’s Jesuit title
and expressed a wish to be present on the day of its Blessing by our Bishop.
His Fitness
Since keeping
fairly fit is part of my life-style, I am happy that I had the energy to
erect a tennis court beside the Secondary school here. It is as busy as the
hand-ball courts used to be during my days at Terenure College, Dublin. It
means of course that I do less cycling and it gives me a credible excuse for
not always making it to Mutare for golf! Pastoral visits on foot around the
hills and valleys here also help to tone up one’s physique.
—
Fr. Michael Hender, O.Carm.
Courage
Bishop Mutume,
president of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, at its workshop
in Chinhoyi, demanded a stop to political violence. There should be respect
for all the citizens of Zimbabwe. He said, “Speaking up for justice needs
courage. But then we must not fear those ‘who can kill the body but not the
soul’. If they can occupy the house of a journalist who was deported, they
can also come and occupy your house. So you had better stand up for your
rights before it is too late. The Church must denounce injustice but that
does not mean that we take sides and allow party people to speak in the
church. Politicians can address people in the community hall but not in the
church. Remember, on election day you are alone in that polling booth where
nobody can see you - you are free to vote for the person you want”.
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