Aid to the Church in Need: Zimbabwe: Training of 28 seminarians in the diocese of Hwange

Zimbabwe: Training of 28 seminarians in the diocese of Hwange

Posted by Project of the Week on 5/4/2009, 7:09 pm
Board Administrator

ZIMBABWE

Training of 28 seminarians in the diocese of Hwange

Zimbabwe is a country from which we have heard little good news in recent years. Last autumn inflation stood officially at an unimaginable 231,000,000% and was soaring daily higher. The shops are empty and there is no food, no petrol, no medicines. The hospitals can no longer care for all the patients and one child in every four is an orphan.

The Church too is suffering alongside the rest of the population and faces the same challenges as they do. In fact many priests and other Church personnel have been threatened and even tortured for having raised their voices against the regime. But despite this desperate situation the Church continues to bring hope to the people – the only hope they have left in this country.

The most beautiful fruit of this hope is those young men whom God has called to serve him. 28 of these young men from the diocese of Hwange are now major seminarians. However, the diocese of Hwange only has a minor seminary, so that these more advanced students have to continue their studies in other dioceses. This costs money of course, but these young men are determined to complete their studies so that they can proclaim the Good News, stand by their people and be a source of hope where all seems lost. However, without outside help they will be unable to continue their path to the priesthood.

Christopher, one of the seminarians who is shortly to be ordained to the priesthood, has written a letter of thanks to the benefactors of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) who supports the training of priests around the world,
"I owe you my immeasurable thanks. I am now approaching my ordination and I never cease to be astonished at the constancy of your help. You are so generous. May you experience new joy each day in your lives and may your joyful hearts praise and glorify such a good and glorious Creator, who has granted you such a generous heart! Many thanks! God bless you all!"

This year ACN is once again supporting the formation of the seminarians from Hwange, with a contribution of over $14,000.

To help this cause please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Web: www.aidtochurch.org

Priestly ordination in the diocese of Hwange

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Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org