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

against termites would last for a good twenty years. Katerere was a hot area, with thatch, the houses would be
cool and comfortable!!
Father Egan designed and built a round Church capable of holding about 500 people. The Church was built in
imitation of an African hut and the completed structure was truly African. A great friend and benefactor of
Senan, Mr Con A. Smyth paid for the Church building. The Church looked like a huge round hut with a smaller
hut which served as an entrance. The entrance was decorated with local stone of every conceivable colour. The
sacristy was another round hut and two elephant husks acted as candle sticks on the main altar.
Unfortunately Con A. Smyth was killed in an air crash in London on the day of the opening of the Church at
Avila. He had been invited to attend the opening and blessing of the Church but due to commitments he was
unable to attend. There is a plaque inside the main entrance of the beautiful Church which tells of the death of
Mr Smyth. There is also s statue of Saint Gemma Galgani, as Gemma was the name of Mrs Smyth, the wife of
Con.
Father Egan completed re-building Avila Mission during 1975. During 1976 the freedom fighters visited Avila
Mission which resulted with the leaving of the mission of Father Egan and the Presentation Sisters. A Father
from the Diocese of Umtali and the Carmelite Sisters continued ministry at Avila after the departure of the
missionaries. During 1977 the Father and Sisters had to leave the mission because of the security situation in the
country.
The Priory Mutare (1954)
Father James O’Shea came to Rhodesia during 1954 sporting a large pair of dark spectacles, as he was told, prior
to his coming, that there were a number of dark bare-breasted women handing around Umtali. Andy Wright was
blamed for this indoctrination!! Father O’Shea was sent as the Regular Superior to Rhodesia to replace Father
Lamont who had been appointed Monsignor in the new Prefecture. Father Jimmy wasted little time before he got
down to the task of building the Priory which took place during 1954. It was incredible to believe that a man
with his experience, wisdom and mysticism would build a Priory in Rhodesia!! Jimmy, despite his astuteness,
allowed himself to be duped by Fathers Lamont and Meagher in the matter of the building of the Priory!! Father
O’Shea built a sizable house out of Carmelite funds but which in actual fact was a Presbytery for the Cathedral
Parish. As time moved on the building served many purposes, it was the Carmelite House for the Fathers and
Brothers when they came to town, the Parish Clergy also stayed there and visiting clergy were always welcome.
The Priory had eight sleeping rooms, an oratory, two parlours, recreation room, refectory, kitchen and laundry.
Jimmy was delighted with the outcome and observed that there would always be sufficient brothers around the
Priory to form a choir for office and live the Carmelite life!! He conducted a visitation of the brethren in the
Commissariat and immediately wrote to Ireland for a supply of martyrologies as their absence was very much in
evidence!! Jimmy fitted in well with the brothers with his shirt outside his trousers and his dark spectacles. Some of
the local cynics noted that Jimmy wore the dark glasses so that he would not be observed as he mused on the
beauty of the local ladies!! Father O’Shea did his best to learn the local language but without much success. He
returned to Ireland during 1955.
A Provincial Chapter was held in Dublin during 1955 and Father Mel Hill was elected Regular Superior of the
Carmelite Missions in Rhodesia. His election was a popular choice and a good one. Mel was a linguist, poet and
above all an excellent missionary. During this time, new missionaries coming from Ireland were not bothering to
learn the local language. The same was happening with the Jesuits in Salisbury. Father Hill wanted to rectify this
situation and began a Shona course for newly-arrived Carmelites and for those who wanted to learn the local
language. He taught the Shone language himself plus Shona customs and traditions with his own wit and
humour!! During 1955, Father George Fortune, S.J. published the first real Shona grammar which proved to be a
great help to all missionaries. All newly-arrived Carmelites had to study the language and customs for at least six
months. At the end of that time there was an examination, those who passed received faculties to hear confessions
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