Gokwe mourns Catholic bishop

Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent

THE Catholic community has been plunged into mourning following the death of one of its longest serving missionaries, Bishop Emeritus Angelo Floro Martinez of Gokwe Diocese.

Bishop Emeritus Martinez died in Gweru after a short illness. He was 83. Confirming the death, on behalf of the Zimbabwe Catholic Council for the Laity (ZCCL), Mr Stewart Gwatirinda said the late clergy died at a time when everyone needed him.

“The ZCCL mourns with the Martinez family, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference and the Lay Faithful in Gokwe and Zimbabwe as a whole following the untimely death of our departed Bishop Emeritus Martinez,” he said.

Mr Gwatirinda who is also Gokwe North Assistant District Development Co-ordinator (DDC) described the late clergyman as a humble man who impacted the spread of the Catholic Faith across the dioceses let alone the development of the church in the area.

“He was a committed and dedicated missionary, Catholic priest and bishop who served Gokwe Diocese with distinction. He served the faithful and clergy in Gokwe, spiritually and materially,” he said.

The late clergyman was popular for his philanthropic work as he took care of orphans and the elderly in the community. He also played a huge role in the construction work and development of the church in Gokwe.

Born on 24 February 1940 Bishop Martinez was confirmed in 1950 before being ordained in 1965.

He arrived in Zimbabwe from Spain that same year and was stationed at St Ignatius in Hwange up until 1966. He went for further studies in 1967 and returned in 1971 and moved from one station to the other across the country until 1980.

In 1980 he moved to Gokwe where he was stationed at Uganda Martyrs and Shingai Pastoral Centre until 1988.
He briefly went to Spain before returning in 1992. He was stationed in Gokwe and was now the Gokwe Diocese Vicar General before becoming Gokwe Diocese Diocesan Administrator from 1999 to 2000.

In 200 he was ordained Bishop of Gokwe, a post which he held from that year until 2016. He was ordained Bishop Emeritus in 2017 until the time of his death. Bishop Emeritus Martinez is set to be buried at Uganda Martyrs in Gokwe today.