From Knocklyon to Zimbabwe
It may be just daybreak in Zimbabwe but you don't need an
alarm clock to wake up! Every household seems to have poultry
and the local cock with his "cock-a-doodle-doos” calls
the world from its slumber.
It's still a beautiful country! The magic of the landscape
carpeted in green, at the end of ‘the rainy season’,
gives it an air of peace and opulence. The sky is blue and
the colours of the Flamboyant, Frangipani, Jacaranda, Hibiscus
and a host of other flowering trees come between you and the
horizon.
Regina Coeli Mission, which is twinned with Knocklyon, is in
a very remote valley set in the beautiful landscape of the
Nyanga hills. It's so hot and humid there! To my cost, I found
it to be a mosquito busy place! It is about two hours from
the main road though earlier missionaries would tell you it
took three times as long to get there in earlier days. Rivers
I had known and that had to be crossed without a bridge now
either have a bridge or a cement base at the point of crossing.
There are three missionaries there, Fr Ned Ward, Fr Andrew
Thokozane and Fr Michael Hender. Fr Andrew is one of the three
newly ordained Zimbabwean priests. He brings new life to the
mission. A large second level school with teachers’ houses
greets you as you enter the mission. You are surprised to find
class sizes of 50-55. Despite their size, discipline isn’t
a problem. The pupils really appreciate the opportunity to
get an education. Like the cock they too break into song early
in the morning! Two new dormitories are near completion. Indeed
they were badly needed.
The mission has many outstations and a beautiful
new church in one of them was recently opened. There is a fine
church
on the mission itself. It needs a new coat of paint and the
work on it is to commence soon. The house where the community
resides hasn’t changed over the years and could do with
a facelift. A hospital on the grounds is run by the three Zimbabwean
sisters who are qualified nurses. People come from long distances
for treatment and some even travel from over the border from
Mozambique.
The people of Knocklyon should be rightly proud of their
contribution to Regina Coeli. Your recent donation of over €6,000
was much appreciated. The community there send their sincere
thanks.
It means so much to them. They are in good spirits although
the strain of the situation can be seen on their faces. Inflation
is officially at 622% at the moment. Some would say it is
much higher. Your contribution would come to over 30,000,000
Zimbabwean
Dollars. A new Reserve Bank Governor has been appointed and
they are hoping he can do something about the situation.
The country is suffering from a deteriorating political and
economic situation. The opposition is finding it difficult
and dangerous to voice its view. There is also a tendency
to treat the judiciary as a form of opposition. The media
toe
the party line. It is a difficult time for all as people
seek to make ends meet. There is electricity and running
water although
the latter is not drinkable. Food is in the shops but few
can afford it. The postal service and phone system are
not dependable.
Those who live in the cities and larger towns are the worst
off. Many are unemployed and this in turn is a catalyst for
crime, violence and regress as a direct result of poverty.
Barbed wire and razor wire surround the residences of those
who can afford houses.
Each mission has a number of outstations. Some have as many
as twenty six. Attending mass there is a moving experience.
It is really a celebration with song and dance to the rhythm
of the drum. Time doesn’t matter and so they go on
for hours. There are over twenty students preparing for ordination
and a number of novices. So there is lots of hope for the
Church.
On behalf of the Regina Coeli mission and its people may
I thank you again for your kindness.
- Fr Jimmy Murray
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