Chishawasha Seminary is 70 years old
Tony Bex SJ explains what this important institution means to Zimbabwe - and to Africa
On May 20th and 21st 2006 the Regional Seminary at Chishawasha in Zimbabwe, celebrated its 70th Jubilee. It first began with a minor seminarian on 1st January 1936 and now accommodates over 118 theological students. Down south in Bulawayo, a new campus has been beautifully built to accommodate over 120 philosophy students. They used to be at Chishawasha until October 2000, but the place was overcrowded. Before going to St Augustine’s, Bulawayo, the young men go to Mazowe near Harare for a year of pre-seminary training where our dear friend, Fr Raymond Kapito, taught so devotedly till his recent death.
In the early days only a few young men came to study humanities, in order to help them cope with a philosophy course. Not long after, a theology course was introduced - by 1947 Fr Isidore Chikore and Fr Simon Tsuro were the first indigenous priests from Zimbabwe to be ordained, together with another new priest from Zambia. In those days, many of the guests were European, as well as some Africans, and their children were amazed to see their parents kneeling before the new priests and kissing their anointed, priestly hands. They also attended their first Masses, receiving the Eucharist from their hands. A first, and invaluable lesson, in inculturation.
As the seminary developed, the founding Jesuits began to look into the possibility of an association with the University. A diploma course was offered, followed soon after by a religious education degree which, over the years, many of our students have succeeded in obtaining. Another step forward was for the diocesan clergy to teach in the seminary. By 1975, the Jesuits handed over the whole venture, its administration and the fine library, to the then Rhodesian (now Zimbabwe) Bishops’ Conference - the ZCBC. However, a number of Jesuit priests and brothers were left to help teach and run the enterprise. At present we have three Jesuits on the staff - a German teaching moral theology, an American teaching Greek and grass roots liturgy, and a British Jesuit.
To finance the seminary we are helped by, what used to be called Propaganda Fidei, now the Roman Commission for the Missions. Nominal fees are also paid by each diocese for each of their students. In recent years we have experienced great financial difficulties, as the country’s economy has declined. In a strange way, this has accelerated something which is dear to Archbishop Pius Ncube’s heart, as chairman of the seminary commission for ZCBC, namely, the need to become self-supporting. He preaches this message of ‘self reliance’ at every opportunity. Parishes have responded and have risen magnificently to the occasion. A variety of different projects bring in cash - as well as gifts - to the seminary. We hope that this spirit will continue to be an example to the whole nation. We are still grateful for donations from overseas in foreign currency - the exchange rate being what it is means that we benefit greatly.
Nine members of the teaching/formation staff live on site, four religious and five diocesan priests. Other lecturers come from outside. Some of our staff also teach at Arrupe College, the Jesuit college of philosophy and humanities, and at Trinity College - which is near our own Silveira House - and is run by the Redemptorists for Religious.
Sisters help with the administration, practical work and motherly care of both the students and the staff. They are assisted by a team of young men and women from the neighbourhood, who care for the garden, kitchen, laundry, cleaning and maintenance. We also have two secretaries and a library assistant. All these wonderful people ensure that our campus is beautiful, filled with trees and flowers, a delight to all who visit. The campus backs onto a hillside, which makes it cool in the hot weather, but can be very cold in the dry season from May to September. It is a place of meditation and reflection.
The young men's formation programme includes philosophy and theology studies. Canon law, moral theology, pastoral studies, and training in how to preach, are all part of this rigorous, yet enjoyable, regime. During term-time, not a great deal of time is spent on pastoral work; however, during the holidays students are assigned to the various parishes.
Archishop Markall and Cardinal Montini (later Pope Paul VI) visit the seminary in the 1960s
This work and responsibility can help them to mature very quickly. Here they meet the people with whom they will be working after ordination and face the various challenges that they will meet in the future.
Since the seminary opened over a third of the students have completed the course and become priests in the many dioceses we serve - Zimbabwe, Botswana and the Marianhill Diocese in South Africa.
We are grateful for Archbishop Chichester’s vision, way back in the 1930s - grateful for seventy years of growth. In closing, perhaps some of his words would be fitting:
‘A serious formation counts far more in the priestly body than the numerical expansion of the students.’
He also wrote:
‘The Seminary is the most important, and the most expensive, work in the (then) Vicariate.’
May the years to come fulfil all his dreams
Archbishop Chichester (on right)
On May 20th and 21st 2006 the Regional Seminary at Chishawasha in Zimbabwe, celebrated its 70th Jubilee. It first began with a minor seminarian on 1st January 1936 and now accommodates over 118 theological students. Down south in Bulawayo, a new campus has been beautifully built to accommodate over 120 philosophy students. They used to be at Chishawasha until October 2000, but the place was overcrowded. Before going to St Augustine’s, Bulawayo, the young men go to Mazowe near Harare for a year of pre-seminary training where our dear friend, Fr Raymond Kapito, taught so devotedly till his recent death.
In the early days only a few young men came to study humanities, in order to help them cope with a philosophy course. Not long after, a theology course was introduced - by 1947 Fr Isidore Chikore and Fr Simon Tsuro were the first indigenous priests from Zimbabwe to be ordained, together with another new priest from Zambia. In those days, many of the guests were European, as well as some Africans, and their children were amazed to see their parents kneeling before the new priests and kissing their anointed, priestly hands. They also attended their first Masses, receiving the Eucharist from their hands. A first, and invaluable lesson, in inculturation.
As the seminary developed, the founding Jesuits began to look into the possibility of an association with the University. A diploma course was offered, followed soon after by a religious education degree which, over the years, many of our students have succeeded in obtaining. Another step forward was for the diocesan clergy to teach in the seminary. By 1975, the Jesuits handed over the whole venture, its administration and the fine library, to the then Rhodesian (now Zimbabwe) Bishops’ Conference - the ZCBC. However, a number of Jesuit priests and brothers were left to help teach and run the enterprise. At present we have three Jesuits on the staff - a German teaching moral theology, an American teaching Greek and grass roots liturgy, and a British Jesuit.
To finance the seminary we are helped by, what used to be called Propaganda Fidei, now the Roman Commission for the Missions. Nominal fees are also paid by each diocese for each of their students. In recent years we have experienced great financial difficulties, as the country’s economy has declined. In a strange way, this has accelerated something which is dear to Archbishop Pius Ncube’s heart, as chairman of the seminary commission for ZCBC, namely, the need to become self-supporting. He preaches this message of ‘self reliance’ at every opportunity. Parishes have responded and have risen magnificently to the occasion. A variety of different projects bring in cash - as well as gifts - to the seminary. We hope that this spirit will continue to be an example to the whole nation. We are still grateful for donations from overseas in foreign currency - the exchange rate being what it is means that we benefit greatly.
Nine members of the teaching/formation staff live on site, four religious and five diocesan priests. Other lecturers come from outside. Some of our staff also teach at Arrupe College, the Jesuit college of philosophy and humanities, and at Trinity College - which is near our own Silveira House - and is run by the Redemptorists for Religious.
Sisters help with the administration, practical work and motherly care of both the students and the staff. They are assisted by a team of young men and women from the neighbourhood, who care for the garden, kitchen, laundry, cleaning and maintenance. We also have two secretaries and a library assistant. All these wonderful people ensure that our campus is beautiful, filled with trees and flowers, a delight to all who visit. The campus backs onto a hillside, which makes it cool in the hot weather, but can be very cold in the dry season from May to September. It is a place of meditation and reflection.
The young men's formation programme includes philosophy and theology studies. Canon law, moral theology, pastoral studies, and training in how to preach, are all part of this rigorous, yet enjoyable, regime. During term-time, not a great deal of time is spent on pastoral work; however, during the holidays students are assigned to the various parishes.
Archishop Markall and Cardinal Montini (later Pope Paul VI) visit the seminary in the 1960s
This work and responsibility can help them to mature very quickly. Here they meet the people with whom they will be working after ordination and face the various challenges that they will meet in the future.
Since the seminary opened over a third of the students have completed the course and become priests in the many dioceses we serve - Zimbabwe, Botswana and the Marianhill Diocese in South Africa.
We are grateful for Archbishop Chichester’s vision, way back in the 1930s - grateful for seventy years of growth. In closing, perhaps some of his words would be fitting:
‘A serious formation counts far more in the priestly body than the numerical expansion of the students.’
He also wrote:
‘The Seminary is the most important, and the most expensive, work in the (then) Vicariate.’
May the years to come fulfil all his dreams
Archbishop Chichester (on right)