Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Online Reporter
ROMAN Catholic Church men of St Joseph’s Association at Holy Spirit Parish in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane 12 suburb has initiated a philanthropic programme where they mobilise resources to buy goods for vulnerable members of the community especially the elderly.
St Joseph’ is a name given to the association of men in the Catholic Church.
On Sunday they brought smiles to 20 vulnerable elderly employees and women at Holy Spirit Parish with an assortment of groceries as an early Christmas present.
The gesture was meant to share smiles with vulnerable members of the community, make the Christmas season a cheerful one with sharing and giving as well as prevent stress related to vulnerability among members of the society.
The programme was tested last year with three beneficiaries and this year expanded to 20, with more resources set to be mobilised to grow the number and cover more next year.
St Joseph’s Association Holy Spirit Parish chairman Mr Kilian Sibanda said the gesture is guided by the Spirit of sharing.
“This is important to us as St Joseph’s men as we celebrate the eve of Christmas by walking the talk. The Christmas season is about giving and sharing and most importantly caring for others. We as St Joseph’s Association fully subscribe to the Catholic Church ethos of “Think of others before yourself.”
“In 2022 we resolved as Catholic men to take care of our golden boys and girls and vulnerable groups. We mobilised our resources together through ‘Pool Our Resources Together’ and last year we started with three people and today 20 beers of the identified groups benefitted from our co-responsibility,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said the men share the church’s Archdiocese of Bulawayo 2023 theme of “Solidarity and co-responsibility.’
Mr Sibanda commended all those who contributed to the cause and the mother church for allowing such an activity to take place.
“I would to thank all the St Joseph’s Association members for their sacrifice and selflessness (Mathew 25:57) (Sonke silomlandu ebandleni lethu),” he said.
The beneficiaries welcomed the gesture as a token of hope and knowing they are loved by the church and bigger community.
Online Reporter