AoB/Cir/02 2022
Dear Priests, Deacons, Religious and Lay Faithful of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo,
1. LENT 2022:
In this year of Synodality where we focus mainly on Communion, Participation and Mission of all the Catholics, let us use this season of lent to look seriously into our personal lives and life in our families. This is a serious time of personal self-evaluation to see how we are in the eyes of the Lord. This is a time of renewal, conversion, repentance and penance. Let us utilise this time to purify our hearts, minds and bodies with penance and traditional practices of the Catholic Church. Let us cleanse our families of things which are not in line with our Catholic faith.
"Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand"
(Mt. 3:2)
Pope Francis writing to us this year for lent says: "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."
During this season each parish/mission should have spiritual programmes such as penitential services, retreats, recollections, renewal seminars, outreach programmes to strengthen the faith of the people and to enable them to be truly committed to the Church.
May I encourage each and every Catholic of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo to implement all the Pastoral Resolutions of 2022. Learn more about the sacrament of Confession and make an honest and sincere confession of all your sins. There are many things in our personal lives that we need to put in order. There are many things in our society that we need to put right for the welfare of all people. The Lord who looks into our hearts can heal us in mind, body and soul.
2. Grade 7 Results 2022:
Amidst the many challenges of Covid 19 our schools have managed to do their best. We appreciate the efforts of heads, teachers, parents and pupils. Following are the results from our primary schools:
Brunapeg: 37.5%. Ekusileni: 72.2%. Embakwe: 48%. Empandeni: 41.7%. Magama: 71.4%. Minda: 94.7%. Regina Mundi: 50%. St. Bernard's: 95.8%. St. Joseph: 34.7%. St. Thomas Aquinas: 100%. Dominican Convent: 100%. AMR Lupane: 90.2%. Sacred Heart: 100%. St. Theresa, Fort Rixon: 75%.
3. Chrism Mass:
This will take place on 12th April starting at 17.00 hours at St. Mary's Basilica.
4. Catholic Youth:
We congratulate all our youth who have been elected to the Junior Chamber of Bulawayo City Council especially the Junior Mayor, Jewel Damunesa. We wish them many blessings in the execution of their duties. Let us do our best in our parishes/missions to encourage and support them and give them opportunities to exercise their responsibilities. The purpose of establishing Junior Pastoral Council in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo is to empower our youth to take up due responsibilities in the Church.
5. Appointments:
5.1. Fr. Noobile Nyathi, as assistant priest at Ekusileni Mission
5.2. Fr. Brian Kandlela, as Rector of St. Bernard's Minor Seminary
5.3. Fr. Edmund Chiyaka OMI, as assistant priest at St. Luke's Mission
5.4. Fr. Lovemore Makore CMM, as priest in charge, lnyathi Mission
5.5. Fr. George Vurayayi CMM, as assistant priest at Christ the King Parish, Hillside.
6. Voter Registration:
It is the duty of every citizen of a country to exercise his or her freedom to choose their civic leaders during the time of elections. This requires an adult person to be registered as a voter. There has been lot of apathy among many people to register for voting. I encourage every eligible adult to register as a voter and exercise your duties responsibly.
7. Tenth World Meeting of Families:
This was expected to take place in Rome from 22- 26 June 2022. Due to the Covid--19 this celebration will now take place in each Diocese. The theme for the tenth World Meeting of Families is Family Love: a vocation and a path to Holiness. In our Archdiocese this is being organised by the Family Apostolate Team and they will inform us of the detailed programme in due course. We need to do our best to make sure that our families are truly Catholic and they live their vocation fully.
May each of you receive many blessings of this holy season of Lent.
Sincerely
+ Alex Thomas
Archbishop of Bulawayo
