The Diocese of Mutare & The Carmelites in Zimbabwe - the Irish ...

passed their finals they were regarded as Junior Assistant Nurses and rendered invaluable service. They later
served on the mission and at out lying clinics.
During 1959 Father Egan started to build the Mission Church. He got the plan of the church from John Sisk
and Co Ltd, Salisbury and Ireland. The walls of the church were about eight to ten feet high with a massive
slanting roof. The roof was supported by iron girders, some feat for a place as remote as Nyamaropa!! Senan had
the gables filled in with off-cuts from local trees. Again Senan had made friends with a local white farmer , Robin
Waddacker, Robin supplied all the off-cuts for both gables of the church.
The completed church was a masterpiece and dominated the mission and surroundings. In a way it dwarfed the
other buildings but as one local man remarked – the house of God should just do that!! Robin Waddacker was so
impressed by Senan’s humble lifestyle, his selfless dedication and his many skills, that he converted and in due
time Robin was received into the Catholic Church. (Robin remained in the Troutbeck area up to recent years,
was a great friend of all the missionaries at Regina Coeli but due to the land reform in Zimbabwe, he had to
leave the Troutbeck area. He now lives in England)
Around 1962 Father Norton was transferred to St. ThÑrÖse Mission Chiduku and Father Charles Hegarty of the
St. Elias Province, USA came to minister at Regina Coeli. Around this time also, Doctor Von Furstenburg took
up an offer of a job in the Antelope Mines of Rhodesia and Father Robbie Luke MacCabe came to Regina Coeli.
Father MacCabe was a qualified doctor who became a Carmelite and after ordination he was assigned to
Rhodesia and appointed to Regina Coeli. Father Robbie was a great diagnostician, held a gold medal in tropical
medicine and was a tremendous asset to the nursing school. The hospital at Regina Coeli went from strength to
strength, nursing Sisters, doctor, nurse training, ambulance, its own lighting plant, library, classrooms and
theatres. Father Luke did not like to operate!! One of Egan’s workmen got a nail through his foot and was sent to
Luke, an hour passed and nothing happened, Senan lost his patience and descended on his workman with a pliers
and removed the nail, doused the wound with dettol, gave the ‘patient’ a shot of whiskey and the two returned to
the job of roofing the church!!!
Senan Egan left Regina Coeli during 1963 and Father Charles Hegarty took over from him. The building of the
mission was complete, a model for all missions and a proof that it is worth while to plan a mission station in
advance. The commitment to the hospital continued, the commitment to the out-stations continued, in general
mission life continued during Father Hegarty’s time. Father Hegarty returned to his Province in the USA during
1965 and was replaced by Father Patrick Staunton. It was around this time that a Secondary school for boys and
girls was opened at Regina Coeli and in a short time the school had pupils sitting for Cambridge examinations.
Regina Coeli became a very important place with a nursing school, secondary school, an orphanage and with
mission helpers from Holland, Germany, England and Ireland working in the hospital and school.
Father Martin O’Regan joined the community at Regina Coeli and catered for the out-schools in the area.
Brother Ignatius Moore also came at this time, a master builder but with a temper that sent many a person
scurrying for his or her life!! Paddy Staunton applied for a grant for a swimming pool and with two schools on the
mission the grant was soon forwarded. Martin in the meantime was instrumental in building a splendid church at
Crossdale. The Church was built by Ignatius and blended in well with the surrounding hills. Great credit was due
to Martin, Ignatius and the people of Crossdale who helped with their time and money.
When Paddy Staunton returned to Ireland during 1974, Martin O’Regan became the Priest in charge and was
joined by Father Dom Aloysius Carruth, O.S.B. a Benedictine monk from Scotland who joined the Diocese of
Umtali. The Dom taught at the Secondary school for many years. During 1975 the Sisters of Charity from The
Netherlands indicated that they were having difficulties with personnel and wished to withdraw from Regina
Coeli. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa were interested in Rhodesia and Bishop Lamont offered them
Regina Coeli. The Mother General of the Franciscan Sisters came to view the Mission and within a short time
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