By Sr Mufaro Chakuinga LCBL
Over a thousand people congregated at St Michael Ushewokunze on 20 November 2022 to witness the mock ordination of six “child priests’’. Leon Msipa aka Archbishop Msipa was the main celebrant with the help of two other child bishops Tadiswa Matanga and Denzel Mafa who showcased their talents by leading the rite of ordination.
Thousands of Catholics and non-Catholics thronged St. Michael centre in the South West of City Deanery to experience this grand occasion and to participate in the fundraising towards the construction of the church. Among the guests were the missionary childhood from the Sacred Heart Cathedral and Malboureign who acted as priests, guild members and sisters from other Diocese.
In his homily to the six ordained child priests, young Fr. Brendon Mangundi encouraged them to be better priests and to do their work whole heartedly.
“Vanun’una vangu bhabhatidzai vanhu ne kuvachatisa, itirai vanhu misa nekuvayananisa, vigai vafi nekunyaradza vafirwa. Muchashanda nemaHoly vachengetedzei, muchashanda nemaYouth varatidzei hwaro chaihwo pamwe nekuremekedza vezvita zvavakuru’’ said Fr. Mangundi.
The mock ordination was a project to help generate funds for the construction of the new parish and the event managed to raise over 4000 USD in cash and a variety of gifts from invited guests. The parish continues to engage in fundraising initiatives to enable them to build a house of prayer.