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

their varied ministries, teaching, nursing, ploughing, planting, cleaning, mending and visiting the people. It was
with great rejoicing when the first converts were received into the Church at Saint Peter’s Mission and they were
no other than Mr and Mrs Janke and their two children, also a local man who had been working on the Mission!!
Lots of water problems emerged as time went on because of pump problems, flooded rivers, pipes filling up with
sand, and so forth. With the assistance of Mr Janke, many of the difficult situations were solved.
Around 1967 Father Kennedy was transferred to Mount Melleray Mission. Father Phillip O’Dwyer replaced
Cyprian. Phillip stayed for a few years at Saint Peter’s Mission and was replaced by Father Kenny. Fathers
O’Sharkey, Bodkin and Tom Power all served at St. Peters. What Father Egan did for Avila Mission, Tom
Power did for Saint Peters, it was a case of the desert blooming all over again in the Sabi Valley!! Around 1973
the American Mission Helpers left St. Peters and the LCM Sisters came and served at the hospital. The LCM
Sisters owned and ran Saint Anne’s Hospital in Salisbury. It was also during this time that the Mission was
wired and the whole Mission availed of electricity. With the coming of the electricity, Tom Power availed of the
electric power and so began the irrigation of the fifty acres around the Mission. Tom went in for wheat and
cotton, involved the local people in the scheme, created employment for many people, made a modest profit and
the Mission for the first time in its existence was able to sustain itself. During the war years, Fathers Power and
Cyprian Kennedy (who had returned) stayed on the Mission and did what they could in difficult circumstances.
Saint Peter’s Mission became a Red Cross base for the area and arrangements were make for the Fathers to travel
by plane when they wanted to leave the area.
During 1980, after gaining Independence, Tom Power went to Ireland and to the USA for studies.
During the Provincial Chapter of 1982, Tom was confirmed as Commissary Provincial, Zimbabwe
and returned some weeks later. During his short term in Office as Commissary Provincial, Tom was
very anxious that young Zimbabweans share in the Brotherhood of the Carmelite Order, this wish
was fulfilled by the Lord within a short time. Our Formation Programme began in the Bvumba area
outside Mutare and later was transferred to Kriste Mambo during February 1985. Tom did not live to
see his dream fulfilled, he became quite ill and died during March 1984 in Harare having just arrived
back from Ireland.
The Diocesan Fathers in the Diocese of Mutare continue to minister at St. Peter’s Mission
Chisumbanje. Again major developments have continued at the Mission over the years. The Fathers
and Carmelite Sisters continue to serve the people in the Chisumbanje area.
Willow Grove Mission – The Seminary, St. Charles Lwanga (1959 – 1962)
The Seminary, Melsetter, was built on Willow Grove Farm in the district of Melsetter. Mrs Hilda Richards wrote
the following article many years ago; “Willow Grove Farm Melsetter was purchased by Bishop Haene in 1946
when the district of Melsetter came under the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Prefecture of Fort Victoria. On the
establishment of the Apostolic Prefecture of Umtali in 1953, Melsetter was one of the civil districts given to
Umtali and Willow Grove Farm has handed over to the Umtali Prefecture. On the 10 th of March 1959, Father
Clarke took occupation of the Willow Grove farm house and started the apostolate in all the districts south of
Umtali. As a result of his labours, Saint Andrew’s Mission, Saint Peter’s Mission, Saint Charles Lwanga
Seminary and Saint Patrick’s Mission were all established”.
The farm which Bishop Haene purchased amounted to 3 400 acres in hilly and mountainous terrain. His
intention was to have a holiday house in the mountains for the priests and brothers in his Prefecture. Father
Clarke made contact with many Catholics in the area, he also made contact with the Chiefs with a view to
opening up schools and Mass centres in the area. During 1961, Bishop Lamont began the process of building a
Junior Seminary some distance for the old farm house, the present St. Charles school. The old house was way
across on the other side of the valley. The location of the Seminary was and is about eighty miles from Umtali.
When the Seminary was completed and up and running, the priests were also able to minister to the Catholics in
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