06/08/2024, Author: Clodagh Gallagher

For the Catholic Church, Africa is a continent of hope. While religious practice declines across Europe, fervent, lived Christian faith is increasing in African countries; it’s not only the lay faithful growing in number, but priests too. Today, one in every five Catholic priests come from Africa.

Statistically, about half of these priests are financially supported in their mission by Aid To The Church In Need - often through Mass stipends. Mass stipends are available to priests through ACN because of the pious devotion of our benefactors to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, with intimate understanding of the power of one Mass celebrated for their intentions. These Masses are celebrated by priests in impoverished parishes around the world, some of whom are completely sustained financially - along with their parish church and community - by offering Masses for your intentions.

Many of these priests live their vocation with joy and commitment, although the conditions are often difficult. This is also how things are in the diocese of Masvingo, in south-east Zimbabwe, where there are just 65 priests caring for around a quarter of a million Catholic faithful in a region of over 27,000 square miles (70,000 km²). The distances are enormous and the greater part of the diocese is rural in nature.

The size of parishes and the distances between them, as well as the type of terrain the priests have to traverse in order to reach different churches, can make it very difficult for priests to serve their people. Aid To The Church In Need is able to provide vehicles for priests to cross these long and rough distances, but this is just one part of a complex situation for hard-working priests in Zimbabwe. In addition, the drought that hit large parts of southern Africa earlier this year has resulted in a harvest only half of what is usually expected. The people, who were already living in poverty beforehand, are now poorer than ever. And of course the Church is similarly affected as a result.

Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa has only been in charge of the diocese since December 2023 and faces significant challenges. Just like his predecessor, he is particularly concerned for the support of his priests. It worries him to see that most of the parishes are extremely poor and can barely contribute to support of their priests. And he too is empty-handed, although he would gladly help if he could.

Many of his priests are working in remote and inaccessible regions. Some of them attempt to grow their own crops in order to help support themselves, but this takes up time and their pastoral work suffers as a result. For all of the priests have to serve a number parishes at the same time, many of which are separated by long distances. They spend hours travelling in order to administer the sacraments, visit the sick, give religious instruction and keep up with their many other responsibilities. They cannot simultaneously work the land and minister intensively to the faithful.

Bishop Mupandasekwa has turned to ACN, requesting Mass stipends. In the past, these have proved a decisive mitigating factor for the priests in Masvingo diocese, enabling them to serve their parishioners and not go hungry. This year we will again pass on your Mass offerings to the bishop himself, his 65 priests and the bishop emeritus of the diocese. Your precious contribution to their priestly ministry will enable them to fulfil it as well as possible and be there for the faithful.