Bulawayo Catholic News

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18/08/2023

AOB August Circular

26/07/2023

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15/07/2023

11/03/2022

*Young People’s Theme Launching Mass 2022*

_by Bukiwe Sibanda_

On 5 March at our St Mary's Cathedral Basilicamore than 300 youths across Bulawayo communed together, participating and partaking in their Theme Launching Mass celebrated by our Archbishop Alex Thomas.

The theme "My journey in revitalizing my life in Christ" was in line with the current synod that calls for Communion, Participation and Mission.

Father James Batsirai, our Youth Spiritual Director, gave the introductions and the welcome remarks. The young people were the lead choir of the day.
Remarkable was the presence of a youth sign language interpreter, assisting those with hearing impairments to be fully chartered for, during the entire activity.

Archbishop Alex Thomas in his sermon challenged the youth to know the tools they need in order to be revitalized with Christ, especially the Bible. He blessed a newly elected _Archdiocese of Bulawayo Youth Executive Committee._ Our new youth ministry coordinators, sister Yeyani FMDM and Miss Debra Gova, were also officially presented.

The youths were also given the platform to interact with all the priests that had graced the event, for socializing and counselling. Father Limukani unpacked what the Synod is all about, laying a foundation for a synodal session that the youths engaged in.

06/03/2022

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR LENT 2022

_“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all”_
(Gal 6:9-10)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Lent is a favourable time for personal and community renewal, as it leads us to the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For our Lenten journey in 2022, we will do well to reflect on Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity (kairós), let us do good to all” (Gal 6:9-10).

1. Sowing and reaping

In these words, the Apostle evokes the image of sowing and reaping, so dear to Jesus (cf. Mt 13). Saint Paul speaks to us of a kairós: an opportune time for sowing goodness in view of a future harvest. What is this “opportune time” for us? Lent is certainly such an opportune time, but so is our entire existence, of which Lent is in some way an image. All too often in our lives, greed, pride and the desire to possess, accumulate and consume have the upper hand, as we see from the story of the foolish man in the Gospel parable, who thought his life was safe and secure because of the abundant grain and goods he had stored in his barns (cf. Lk 12:16-21). Lent invites us to conversion, to a change in mindset, so that life’s truth and beauty may be found not so much in possessing as in giving, not so much in accumulating as in sowing and sharing goodness.

The first to sow is God himself, who with great generosity “continues to sow abundant seeds of goodness in our human family” (Fratelli Tutti, 54). During Lent we are called to respond to God’s gift by accepting his word, which is “living and active” (Heb 4:12). Regular listening to the word of God makes us open and docile to his working (cf. Jas 1:21) and bears fruit in our lives. This brings us great joy,

28/02/2022

The Catholic Youth Ministry is inviting all young People between the ages 14yrs - 25yrs to come celebrate with us the launching of this year’s theme My Journey in Revitalizing My Life In Christ. At this gathering we will begin with the Eucharistic celebration which will be followed by the synodal consultations.

We encourage all the Catholic Youth to take this first step towards Communion, Participation
and Mission a call from Pope Francis for our Church at this time.

20/02/2022

*New Perpetual Adoration Chapel in Khumalo*

On 13 February 2022 there was a great celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Khumalo Parish.
On this special day the St Joseph Garden of Mercy, the grotto and the holy water fountain was blessed. A new chapel of perpetual adoration was opened where the faithful can adore the Eucharist at any time of day.

22/06/2020

bulawayoarchdiocese.org broadcast

*Newsletter - June 2020*
AoB/Cir/04 2020

*Spiritual and Pastoral Life after Covid 19 in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo*

Dear Priests, Deacons, Religious and Lay Faithful of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo,

_"We come through all these things triumphantly victorious by the power of Him who loved us."_
- Romans 8:37 -

We all went through this dry spiritual and pastoral life for over past two months due to Covid-19 which came in unexpected and unprepared. It has been a very tough time for a good number of people. This was a time in 'wilderness'. Many serious questions came to the forefront of our thinking which had no clear answers. We need to come out of this crisis more powerfully and effectively. Probably this is the right time to "prepare the future of the Church" as Pope Francis would put it. Most of us tried various ways to keep up our personal and family spiritual life although it was not that easy in many ways. Now at least we are allowed to have limited gatherings in our churches and we need a strategic way forward. Having faced this unexpected situation we need to prepare now the future course of the Church keeping in mind that such situations might happen again. Now we need to catch up on lost opportunities for our spiritual and pastoral plans and activities. Following are my proposals:

1. Priests, Deacons, Religious and laity need new energy, enthusiasm and pastoral creativity for the Gospel and for the Church.

2. Need to encourage, motivate and strengthen the faithful to love the Word of God, Sacraments and the Church.

3. Instruct the faithful firmly on the correct teachings and doctrines of the church.

4. Need serious Pastoral care of families which are going through tough times.

5. Revival of SCCs. Need to have more interactions on catechism and Church teachings in SCCs.

6. Revival of youth and children ministries.

7. Renewed catechesis in preparing for sacraments and ongoing lessons for all the faithful.

8. We need

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