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

Already mentioned:
The Catholic Church in Manicaland 1896 – 1996. Published September 1996.
The following is taken from the ‘Catholic Directory of Zimbabwe 2008 – 2010’. The Catholic
Church in Zimbabwe, Historical Note, Page 2.
“The first attempt to evangelise Zimbabwe was made in the sixteenth Century by a Jesuit
Father, Concalo da Silveira of Portugal. His mission was very short lived as he was martyred on
the 16 th of March, 1561, near the present border with Mocambique, not far from Tete. Next
came the Dominican Fathers who established themselves south of the Zambezi and remained
until 1775”.
“The Jesuits made a second attempt during 1607 and remained until 1759. After 1775 all
Catholic Missionary work ceased in Zimbabwe until 1879 when Catholic Priests and Sisters
once again entered Zimbabwe. The Jesuits and the Dominican Sisters came with the Pioneer
Column and established Chishawasha Mission in 1891 and the Dominican Convent School in
1892 in Harare. Prior to these institutions, the very first Catholic Mission in the Country was
established by Fr. Prestage, SJ, at Empandeni Mission near Plumtree in 1887”.
“The original Zambezi Mission of the Catholic Church which included part of Zambia was
entrusted to the Society of Jesus by Rome on the 7 th of February 1879. During 1930, the
Mission of Bulawayo was erected, followed by Gweru, 1946 and Mutare 1953. On the 1 st of
January 1955, by Papal Bull, the Ecclesiastical Province of Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe
was set up. Today there are eight Dioceses in Zimbabwe with a growing number of Local
Diocesan Clergy, Local and Missionary Religious Priests, Sisters and Brothers, Catechists and a
great number of lay leaders”.
With the ever increasing number of Local Clergy and Religious now present in Ministry in the
Church in Zimbabwe, all Missionary Personnel and Missionary Congregations can be proud of their
achievements made through the Spirit of God in the Church in Zimbabwe. All Missionaries rejoice
on the occasion of the Priestly Ordinations of the Local Clergy and on the occasion of the Religious
Profession of the Sisters and Brothers in Local and Missionary Congregations. The Diocese of Mutare
and all Missionary personnel in the Diocese are proud of the number of Diocesan Clergy, Religious
Clergy, Religious Brothers and Sisters who have made their commitment to the Priesthood and in the
Religious Life either in Local Congregations or in Missionary Congregations.
The following and the following page indicate the pages of brief ‘Profiles’ of Missionary groups as
contained in ‘The Catholic Church in Manicaland 1896 – 1996’. The pages indicating the ‘group’ are
in italics and all the information contained in a particular ‘profile’ is up to the year 1996.
The Mariannhill Fathers and Brothers. 1896 – 1929. Pages 7 to 13.
The Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood. 1910 – 1977. Page 69 to 71.
The Holy Trinity Sisters. 1923. The last Sister died at St. Barbara’s about 2003. Page 13.
Dominican Sisters. Mutare Diocese. 1926 – 1976 1990 – to the present day. Page 71 to 72.
The Jesuit Fathers and Brothers. 1929 – 1948. Page 14 to 16.
Sisters of the Little Children of Our Blessed Lady. (LCBL) 1932 – 1966. Page 72 to 73.
The Carmelite Friars. 1946 – to the present day. Page 17 onwards.
Presentation Sisters. 1947 – 1980 2000 – 2006. Page 73 to 74.
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary. 1956 – to the present day. Page 74 to 75.
Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy. 1957 – 1994. Page 75 to 78.
The Carmelite Sisters. 1959 – to the present day. Page 41 to 43.
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