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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

THE Catholic Church in Zimbabwe will later this month celebrate 140 years of existence in Matabeleland since the first group of missionaries settled in the region in 1879.

Archbishop Alex Thomas, who is the head of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo, said a thanksgiving Mass to mark the celebrations will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Pumula South suburb.

He said the highlight of the celebrations will be the launch of a book chronicling the church’s history in Zimbabwe, particularly in Matabeleland which has some of the oldest centres in the country. 

“The church is this year celebrating 140 years since the first missionaries arrived in Matabeleland in 1879. There will be a thanksgiving Mass at Our Lady which will also mark the Archdiocese of Bulawayo’s 25 years since it assumed the status in 1994,” said Archbishop Thomas at the Pentecost Day celebration Mass at Holy Spirit Parish in Nkulumane on Sunday.

In an interview later, he said the Catholic Church had shifted focus from growing numbers to improving the quality of its members.

“The church has grown big but our focus now is on quality of faith and service. This is an important thanksgiving day for all Catholics as we look back on the blessings we received in the last 140 years,” Archbishop Thomas said.

The Archdiocese of Bulawayo covers the whole of Bulawayo and parts of Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North.

In Zimbabwe there are eight dioceses namely Hwange, Gokwe, Gweru, Masvingo, Mutare, Chinhoyi, Bulawayo and Harare.

The Archdiocese of Bulawayo runs a combined 47 rural missions and urban parishes, nine early childhood development centres, 14 primary and 13 secondary schools, three vocational training centres and a combined five hospitals and clinics.

—@ncubeleon