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

On the 22 nd July 1946, the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith granted permission
to the Carmelites to work in the Vicariate of Salisbury, Rhodesia.
The Coming of the Irish Carmelites.
From 1890 the entire area of Rhodesia was entrusted to the Jesuits. It was the policy of the Jesuits to parcel out
their vast area to any Missionary Congregation which showed an interest. Bulawayo and Wankie were given to
the Mariannhill Fathers. The Fort Victoria area was given to the Bethlehem Fathers from Switzerland while the
Jesuits retained the Salisbury and Umtali areas. The Eastern highlands or Eastern districts, a most scenic part of
the country was posing problems for Bishop Chichester, the Bishop of Salisbury. He had very few priests and on
the termination of World War 2, he offered this area to any interested group of Missionaries. The Irish
Carmelites showed an interest and they were invited to Rhodesia by Bishop Chichester. During 1946 the first
group of Carmelites namely, D. Lamont, A. Corbett and L. Flynn arrived in the country. Father A. Corbett
wrote the following amusing story of how they were ‘welcomed’ to Salisbury!! “It was all so new to members of a
religious Order that had no missionary tradition, yet it was a great adventure. It was seven o’clock on a
November morning in 1946 when our train pulled into Salisbury station. Our heads were at the windows looking
out for someone to meet us. The train jerked to a halt at a platform that was almost deserted except for a lone
clergyman who was dressed in crumpled khaki and wore a wide soft hat with a floppy brim. We climbed down
but he did not move until we walked up to him. Then without shaking hands he gave up a crisp ‘good morning’
and looking at a big silver watch which he wore in his breast pocket said sharply ‘you’re late’. Not exactly a red
carpet welcome but that was the way with Father Seed, S.J. whom in years to come we got to know and like so
much.
The coming of the Australian Carmelites.
About 1952 Brother Aloysius Farnsworth came from Australia. Aloysius was an extraordinary genius!! He
actually pulled the wool over the eyes of Sean Dunne and that was not an easy task!! He was stationed with Sean
Dunne and he was a genius at impersonating others and somehow got a considerable amount of money out of
Sean by pretending he was a friend of Sean, the whole transaction was done over the phone!!
Aloysius became interested in forestry and land husbandry and later in Credit Union activities. Early in 1955
three other Australian Carmelites came and were first stationed at Triashill Mission. Gerard Monganti, Berthold
Dowd and Augustine Parsons were three very big and tough men in every sense of the word. Father Morganti was
asked to work in the new Carpentry school at Triashill, Father Dowd was transferred to Saint Benedict’s. Father
Morganti and Augustine Parsons soon followed Father Dowd to St. Benedict’s.
Father Morganti became the priest in charge, Father Dowd ministered in the outschools and Brother Augustine
managed the farm. It was difficult for the brothers from Australia as they were only in the country for a short
time and they lacked the mission experience. While priest in charge, Father Morganti constructed many school
classrooms, built the dining room and kitchen for the Brothers and Sisters. He also constructed the Novitiate
buildings for the Carmelite Sisters which was situated near the central mission. It was a great shock to many
people when Father Monganti died suddenly from heart failure at the age of 47 at Saint Benedict’s during 1961.
Father was buried at Saint Benedict’s cemetery.
Father John Lamont, brother of the Bishop came to the Umtali Diocese during 1957. Father Lamont was a
member of the British Province.
The coming of the American Carmelites.
Fathers Paul Feeley and Charles Hegarty from the New York Province of Saint Elias arrived in the Umtali
Diocese during 1959. Both stayed at Saint ThÑrÖse Mission in Chiduku where they studied the Shona language.
Paul Feeley was then transferred to Saint Andrew’s Mission in Marange. Father Paul in time built a very fine
Church at St. Andrew’s, funded by the St. Elias Province. Charlie Hegarty was first assigned to St. Andrew’s and
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