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Bishop in Zimbabwe Calls for Prayers for Vocations amid “a decline” in Seminary Enrolment

Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro. Credit: Courtesy Photo

By Magdalene Kahiu

Gokwe, 12 July, 2022 / 9:11 pm (ACI Africa).

A Catholic Bishops in Zimbabwe has called upon the people of God under his pastoral care to pray for vocations in the Southern African nation that he says is “experiencing a decline” in those enrolling in houses of formation to become Priests. 

In a letter published Tuesday, July 11, Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro makes particular reference to the decreased enrolments at Mazowe Regional Seminary of Spiritual Formation and Saints John Fisher and Thomas More National Seminary (Chishawasha).

“We are experiencing a decline in the numbers of those in the houses of formation such as in Mazowe and Chishawasha Seminaries,” Bishop Nyandoro says. 

The Local Ordinary of Zimbabwe’s Gweru Diocese says that his Episcopal See “is opening up more missions to serve the people of God and giving one another the opportunity to be agents of evangelization.”

The new missions “need Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters to minister”, the Zimbabwean Bishop who started his Episcopal Ministry in Gokwe Diocese in April 2017 and has been at the helm of Gweru Diocese since October 2020 further says.

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“My humble request and exhortation for every family; let us dedicate time to pray for vocations and to support those who aspire to join Priestly and Religious Life,” Bishop Nyandoro says in his one-page letter dated July 8.

The Catholic Bishop emphasizes the need to pray for vocations saying, “Our Lord commanded us, pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest.”

He adds in reference to Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s Word, Evangelii Gaudium, “In our prayer for the Lord to send laborers let us remember that all the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization.”

Bishop Nyandoro calls on the people of God to “encourage and inspire young men and women who want to join Priestly formation and Religious Life as brothers and sisters.”

In his letter, the 53-year-old Bishop also expresses gratitude to members of the Society of Bethlehem Mission Immensee (SMB) for their service since the inception of the Zimbabwean Diocese. 

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The Diocese of Gweru was founded in November 1946 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Fort Victoria. Pope Pius XII entrusted the Apostolic Prefecture to the SMB.

“As we pray for more vocations, we continue to thank the SMB priests for the immense work of evangelization they have done and the support they have rendered to all our mission,” says Bishop Nyandoro. 

He adds, “As we are aware two SMB Priests are still with us. Their joy will be complete if young men and women embrace the call to further the mission of the redeemer.”

Magdalene Kahiu

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.

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