Harare, 11 July, 2023 / 9:30 pm (ACI Africa).
Two Catholic Priests ministering in Zimbabwe’s Hwange and Binga Dioceses are among the recipients of honors by the government of Spain for rendering professional services with “exceptional selflessness”.
Fr. Ángel Arnaldo Conesa and Fr. Ildefonso Trujillo López were awarded the Cross of the Order of Saint Elizabeth, “a white enameled cross, representing on the obverse Saint Elizabeth dispensing charity to the poor, and on the reverse, the initials of the founder”, in an event that the Ambassador of Spain to Zimbabwe, Natividad Isabel Peña Bonilla, presided over.
“The civil recognition on granting these honors to Frs. Ángel Arnaldo Conesa, Ildefonso Trujillo López, Mr. Ephraim Darara, and Mr. Robert Ndawi, are based not only on the services rendered in carrying out their professional duties but also on their capacity to do it with exceptional selflessness,” Amb. Natividad has been quoted as saying in a Monday, July 10 report.
Amb. Natividad, who was speaking during the July 4 event added, “This is not only an event of recognition from the State but also the best occasion to publicly show our affection and gratitude to those honored today.”
Fr. Arnaldo has ministered in the Southern African nation for over 60 years. The founder of the Catholic Mission of Kariangwe in Binga District in the territory of Hwange Diocese facilitated the establishment of several primary schools, and health centers in the country’s Matabeleland North and Midlands Provinces.