Zimbabwe's Gokwe Diocese Celebrates Silver Jubilee
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&view=post&articleid=147196&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
The Catholic Diocese of Gokwe in Zimbabwe recently celebrated its silver jubilee amid pomp and funfair with hundreds of people from all over the country joining the local Church to mark the historic event.Held at St. John Cathedral, the celebrations were meant to commemorate the diocese’s achievements in twenty-five years of its existence.The Papal Nuncio to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Marek Zalewski, in the company of Bishops and priests, celebrated Holy Mass to bless the diocese and to thank God for the realistic milestones the diocese has accomplished.“From two primary schools, the diocese now has 20 primary, secondary and high schools and the diocese runs some hospitals and clinics,” said the local ordinary of Gokwe, Bishop Angel Floro, during the occasion.Bishop Floro thanked Bishop Bhasera for laying the foundation of the diocese from humble beginnings.He narrated, “Apart from the four missions and two more created in 1991, there was nothing else except peop...
The Catholic Diocese of Gokwe in Zimbabwe recently celebrated its silver jubilee amid pomp and funfair with hundreds of people from all over the country joining the local Church to mark the historic event.
Held at St. John Cathedral, the celebrations were meant to commemorate the diocese’s achievements in twenty-five years of its existence.
The Papal Nuncio to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Marek Zalewski, in the company of Bishops and priests, celebrated Holy Mass to bless the diocese and to thank God for the realistic milestones the diocese has accomplished.
“From two primary schools, the diocese now has 20 primary, secondary and high schools and the diocese runs some hospitals and clinics,” said the local ordinary of Gokwe, Bishop Angel Floro, during the occasion.
Bishop Floro thanked Bishop Bhasera for laying the foundation of the diocese from humble beginnings.
He narrated, “Apart from the four missions and two more created in 1991, there was nothing else except people. He (Bishop Bashera) did not even have a house to live in. I was privileged to work with him since 1992. I accompanied him when I doubled as Vicar General and Financial Administrator during those years, so I know pretty well the hardships and challenges he encountered and his enthusiasm and commitment to developing the diocese, to open new missions and put up the infrastructure required for the diocese to operate properly.”
Bishop Floro went on to say, “It was not only about physical infrastructure but also to shape and strengthen the local community of Gokwe Diocese with the creation of the Presbyteral and Diocesan Pastoral Council, the Pastoral Plan and Annual Pastoral Priorities. To me, working with him was a marvellous school where I learned how to run the diocese.”
At the moment, Gokwe Diocese is home to a plethora of homegrown vocations with over 150 vocations to religious and priestly life.
The Diocese was created on 19 October 1991 by Pope St. John Paul II at the request of the late Bishop Ignatius Prieto. Bishop Michael Bhasera was the first bishop to govern the diocese before he was appointed to take charge of Masvingo Diocese in 1999.
The first mission in the diocese was Kana, which was opened in 1954. It was followed by Chireya Mission began in 1962. Nembudziya and Uganda Martyrs were inaugurated in 1966 and 1970 respectively.
Since 1970, Gokwe was one of Hwange Diocese’s deaneries with four missions run by eight priests, some brothers and a group of sisters as the bishop of Gokwe, Angel Floro, puts it. At the creation of the diocese ten priests, 15 sisters and three brothers were working in the then Gokwe deanery.
Gokwe diocese has tremendously grown since 1991 from six to seventeen missions in a period of 25 years, from ten to thirty-six priests and from two diocesan priests in 1991 to thirty. The diocese has immensely contributed to people’s right to education and health.
At its creation, Gokwe diocese was typically rural with little hope of growth, but now the place has become into probably the fastest growing diocese in the country, a growth that is pointing to a city with hopes of industrial expansion and economic boom.
(Br. Alfonce Kugwa in Zimbabwe, CANAA)
Email: engafrica@vatiradio.va
Full Article
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275622&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Swiss Guard cadets prepare their armor in the guards' barracks at the Vatican on April 30, 2024. / Credit: Matthew Santucci/CNAVatican City, May 5, 2024 / 17:00 pm (CNA).For the newest class of 34 Swiss Guards who will be sworn in on Monday, their service is based on faith and a love for the Church and the pope, as storied as the uniform itself. "For me it was something, first and foremost, to give something to the Church, because the Catholic Church gave us a lot when I was a child and with this service, I can give something back," explained Nicolas Hirt, one of the new guards who hails from the Swiss canton of Fribourg. The cadets, joined by their instructors, gathered for a media event on April 30 in the courtyard behind the barracks adjacent to the Sant'Anna entrance, which was adorned with the flags from each of the Swiss cantons. The Swiss Guard's annual swea...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275617&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, in Baltimore. / Credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesACI Prensa Staff, May 5, 2024 / 14:00 pm (CNA).Bishop Brendan Cahill of Victoria, Texas, is inviting Catholics throughout the United States to join the May 22 "National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for Sailors and People of the Sea," which this year will include a special prayer in memory of those affected by the catastrophic March 26 Baltimore bridge collapse. "Each year, we pray for those who work on the high seas and the ports. In a special way this year, we remember those who have been impacted by the collapse of the Key Bridge, particularly the six construction workers who perished in the bridge collapse, and for their families as they mourn the loss of their loved ones," Cahill said.On March 26, the container ship Dali suffered a power failure and collided with one of the bridge...
http://www.myspiritfm.com/apps/articles/default.asp?blogid=0&url=10&view=post&articleid=275611&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
The "Holy Fire" is passed from inside Christ's tomb to pilgrims gathered inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jersusalem on May 4, 2024, for the annual Orthodox Christian ceremony, held on the day before Easter, according to the Julian calendar. / Credit: Marinella Bandini/CNAJerusalem, May 5, 2024 / 09:00 am (CNA).Pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem on Saturday for the annual "Holy Fire" ceremony at the revered site of Jesus' burial and resurrection, an ancient custom considered by many believers to be a miraculous event that takes place the day before the Orthodox Christian celebration of Easter.For safety reasons, attendance at the May 4 event was capped at 4,200 people inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, though the crowds were more manageable and somewhat subdued this year because of a lack of pilgrims from the Palestinian territories and abroad due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.Israeli police man a checkpoint inside the Old City of Jerusalem duri...