adminAlvin Zhakata Religion Correspondent —
Business grand to a halt in Gokwe last Saturday as thousands of Catholics turned up for celebrations to mark the Diocese’s 25th anniversary.
The Diocese of Gokwe, erected in 1991, was separated from the Diocese of Hwange so as to decentralise and improve the spiritual needs of the ever expanding Catholic population.
The Papal Nuncio to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Marek Zalweski concelebrated Mass with the host Bishop Angel Floro and three other Bishops, namely Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu (Harare), Bishop Alberto Serrano (Hwange diocese) and Gweru diocese’s Bishop Xavier Muungani who was the first secretary for priests when the diocese was born.
Tens of priests, nuns and seminarians also partook in the proceedings. In his homily, Bishop Muungani chronicled the journey travelled by the diocese thus far and congratulated the entire membership of the diocese for their dedication and faith based service for Christ.
The diocese, which covers the area between Lake Kariba in the north and Kwekwe in the south has seen the number of Catholics increase from 52 000 in 1999 to over 70 000 in 2015. Bishop Munyongani attributed the growth to the collective toils of both the laity and the clergy in winning souls for Christ.
The lively choir belted celebratory and thanksgiving songs as congregants flocked to the church alter with gifts as tokens of appreciation to the clergy. Different missions brought gifts and Nembudziya got the loudest cheers after bringing birds.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter