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

The Carmelite Sisters came to Saint Joseph’s Mission during 1993 and have been very active in the
Parish activities, the Primary and High Schools, DOMCCP, Zororai Old People’s Home, Saint Mary’s
High School and other Church related activities. The Presentation Sisters also returned to the
Diocese of Mutare and to Saint Joseph’s Mission during 2000. The Presentation Sisters began
ministry at Mount Melleray Mission during 1950, Avila Mission during 1955 and later at Saint
ThÖrÜse Mission and Saint Benedict’s Mission. They left the Diocese of Mutare some years after the
war ending. The Presentation Sisters lived at Saint Joseph’s Mission from 2000 to 2006 where they
organized and started Saint Mary’s High School beside the present Pastoral Training Centre.
Ordinations from the Saint Joseph’s Pastoral Area include Bishop Patrick Mutume, Ordained 1972,
Fathers David Maganyo 1989, and Jimmy Nyangadi during 2003.
As already stated above, every Mission can boast of a good storm hitting it in a lifetime!! Every
Mission can also boast of the good and faithful persons who have lived and served at a Mission. Saint
Josephs has had many a good and faithful soul who has lived and served over its 50 years of existence.
We remember all the Sisters and Fathers, especially Sisters Camilla, Laurentina, Petronella, Adelaide
who ministered for many years at Saint Josephs and all the other Sisters of Charity, all the Dominican
Sisters and the Carmelite Sisters. Mr Nicholas Mukangairwa, Catechist, is fondly remembered for his
many years of service and all the other noble souls who supported and prayed at Saint Josephs.
Special mention has to be made of Mr Venanzio Ruguwa who began working as a Catechist at Saint
Roberts as early as 1940 and continues at Saint Joseph’s Mission to the present day!! Mr Ruguwa is a
man of senior years and a man who is greatly respected. One wonders where Mr Ruguwa gets his
energy from?
The publication ‘The Catholic Church in Manicaland 1896 – 1996’, page 46, includes a brief profile
on Mr Ruguwa.
The following Fathers have served at Saint Joseph’s Mission from 1958 to the present day. Fathers
Mel Hill and Sean Coughlan served during the early years of Saint Josephs (1958 – 1960). They were
followed by Conall Collier, Pio Kiernan and for some time, Edward Matara (between 1959 – 1982).
Tom Power from 1969 to 1970. Towards the end of the Liberation War, Bishop Patrick Mutume,
Michael Hender and Cyprian Kennedy came to Saint Josephs. The Bishop stayed until 1984, Michael
Hender up to 1980 and Cyprian Kennedy until 1982. Fred Lally and John McGrath followed late
1982 and remained until 1992. Martin O’Regan came early 1992 and remains to the present day.
Raymond Maunde came during 1992 and served until 1995. The Killaloe Fathers, Michael Hogan
and Michael Casey served from 1996 until 2004 together with Vitalis Benza until 2000. Enocent
Mazano, Owen Kudumba, Alexio Makokowe and Wiseman Musemwa served from 2004 to 2009.
Norbert Heaslip came to Saint Josephs during 2009 and Christopher Chifamba during 2010, both
continue to the present day. In recent years, Simplisio Manyika and John McGrath from the Priory
Mutare have continued to supply at Saint Joseph’s Mission on Sundays mornings.
Saint Joseph’s Parish is a very active Parish, the Parish Council Members, Fathers, Sisters, Catechist,
all Leaders, Faithful People both young and old are all very involved. The Hospital is now a General
Hospital since 2010, run by the Dominican Sisters. The Primary School goes back to 1959, the High
School goes back to 1968 and has offered Forms Five and Six since 2001. Both Schools are under the
direction of the Diocese of Mutare. The Office of the Education Secretary, Diocese of Mutare has
always been situated at Saint Joseph’s Mission. DOMCCP is situated at Saint Josephs since 1999 and
the Herbal Research Processing and Therapy Centre, which is part of DOMCCP began during 2009.
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