February 2011, n. 16 - Society of St. Pius X

TINOTENDA
MWARI
«« Deo Deo gratias gratias ! ! » » (in (in shona) shona)
St Joseph Priory
9 Jean Lane
Strathaven, Harare
ZIMBABWE
Tel. (263) 4/339440
Email. sspxzim@gmail.com
LETTER TO FRIENDS AND BENEFACTORS OF ZIMBABWE
Dear Friends and benefactors,
Firstly, we would like to thank-you for your generous help that you gave to the
Priory towards buying a new car. Many among you responded to our appeals
made both in October and November. So we were able to replace our old pick-up,
which had over 200 000 kms on the clock and whose engine gave us non-stop
problems, with a new Toyota. Moreover, your contributions were so numerous
that we now have the possibility to replace the Priory’s second car. We were on
the point of buying one...when an unfortunate incident took place that prevented
us from buying it.
N° 16 - February 2011
This prevention came from the administration authorities of Zimbabwe who refused to give Father Picot and I work
permits. The faithful from the Priory managed to make appeals for these decisions, in the
meantime, both of us had to leave the Zimbabwean territory for a period of two or three
weeks. This gives Fr Picot the chance to visit the faithful in Zambia, and Fr Bely the
chance to visit some benefactors in Europe. But in Zimbabwe, the apostolate that began
so well at the beginning of 2011 found itself suddenly suspended. We are therefore sorry
that we cannot yet show you a photo of the two cars that you managed to fundraise for
us. But this is only material, and thus will be made up for in the next letter to our friends
and benefactors.
On the spiritual side, which remains by far the
most important, Fr Trauner fortunately was able to
come to Zimbabwe to celebrate the Holy Mass dur-
ing our absence. May he be thanked in this letter for
his devotion! So, by his presence the faithful of Zimbabwe
were still able to continue to sanctify themselves. And if the apostolate was
slowed down, at least it was not completely stopped due to a simple administrative
difficulty.
Sure enough, the year 2011 started with a lot of enthusiasm amongst both the faithful
and the Priests. The 8 th of January, was the occasion for the first catechism session
which will from now onwards be on the first Saturday of
every month throughout the year. These sessions will give the
catechists solid doctrinal formation, teaching skills and above
all a solid piety. About twelve people attended the two first
catechism sessions in January and February.
On the 16 th of January, catechism took place in Tafara, a little village east of Harare, once
again after a long interruption. The faithful from this area were happy
to see us among them again. They managed to make a good arrange-
The Baptism of a new born baby on Christmas Eve
ment with a school headmaster enabling them to use a classroom
every Sunday afternoon. Since then, the black table is covered with a
white veil and the desk with a napkin in order to honour the Crucifix and the statue of Our
Lady there. The faithful sing canticles in Shona, recite the Rosary and attend catechism lessons
according to their ages; adults, adolescents and children. Two or three catechists come
with the Priests to teach catechism in Shona.
Among them, we need to thank in particular our
Zimbabwean Seminarian, Mister Pius NAN-
THAMBWE who after three years of seminary in
Australia came to spend his leave break in Zimbabwe.
He leaves us soon in order to finish his
three last years of Seminary in Argentina. His perfect
understanding of the Shona language was a
Confessions at Tafara
The Priory in full bloom
Mister Pius Nanthambwe teaches adult catechism at Tafara
A wedding on the 27th of December at the Priory

precious help to us when we were starting to teach
catechism in Tafara.
In Kuwadzana, another village just west of Harare,
the faithful are still waiting for us to be able to teach
them Catechism. Unfortunately, it has not been possible
to find a place for them to reunite every week.
We have only had a negative response to our request.
But the faithful of this village, despite our absence
continue to search with perseverance for a
place to meet every week. Prayer helps, they will
soon succeed in finding a place...
Thus goes Zimbabwe, a country so beautiful, however,
where it is impossible to have long and medium
term projects because the future is so difficult
to predict. Anyway! Man proposes and
Catechists teach the children and adolescents at Tafara
God disposes: our plans of 2011 for the
apostolate were somewhat delayed by the circumstances. We are learning day by day to trust in Divine Providence:
“Seek ye therefore first the Kingdom of God and His justice: and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore
solicitous for tomorrow: for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil
thereof” (Matthew 6 v 34).
Thank-you once again, dear friends and benefactors for your donations and prayers that are so precious, both to our
perseverance and for the apostolate.
Father Nicolas Bély
During the month of December, forty
Altar boys from the Priory went to the
mountains of Nyanga for ten days, in
the east of Zimbabwe for a holiday
camp. Fr Picot taught then how to climb to
these physical mountaintops and also the
mountaintops of sanctity. They returned delighted
with their achievements!
On the 26 th of December, the Altar boys gathered
together again with Fr Pius Nanthambwe, their former
friend and the first server at Seminary, to celebrate the feast of
their Patron Saint, St Stephen.
At Mansa, in the north of Zambia, the Priests
wearing a black cassock and celebrating the Latin
Mass were continually considered to be
“SATANISTS” by the people from the village and by
the local religious authorities. The Chapewa family,
who have always received the Priests since 2005
were being inflicted with the same nickname, to the
extent that shopkeepers would not sell to the “satanist woman” and the teachers
would not teach the “satanist’s children.” The Providence in Her Goodness
wanted to clear these brave and courageous faithful of this injustice that they had to endure
daily. On the 14 th of February, Fr Picot celebrated the Latin Mass in a local diocese
church called St Francis of Assisi. From then on, it has been publically noted that the
Priests from the Society of saint Pius the Tenth are not “satanists” nor are the faithful who
follow them. This could bring many more to the Tradition Catholic Faith...
To make a donation for the priory of Zimbabwe, please make your cheques out to:
In £ GBP (English Pounds): “Society St Pius X” - please write on the back: “forZimbabwe”
St George’s House - 125 Arthur Road, Wimbledon Park - GB London SW19 7DR
In $ USD (US Dollars): “Society St Pius X” - please write on the back: “forZimbabwe”
New Regina Coeli House - 11 485 North Farley Rd. - USA Platte City, MO 64079
In $ AUD (Australian Dollars): “Society St Pius X” - please write on the back: “forZimbabwe”
PO Box 25 - Penshurt 2222 NSW Australia