By Quegas Mutale in Hwange
Bishop Raphael Ncube of Hwange has announced to people in his diocese that the year 2024 has been promulgated as the liturgical year of the Eucharistic. He made the announcement at the diocesan Marian Shrine during the celebration of the solemnity of the Immaculate conception of the blessed virgin Mary on 6 December 2023.
During mass Bishop Ncube said: “We have decided to celebrate the solemnity of Immaculate Conception of Mary today because Mary immaculate is the Patroness Saint of Hwange diocese.”
Addressing the clergy during the priests’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the shrine, which ran from 4- 6 December 2023, and was concluded with the celebration of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception mass, Bishop Ncube advised that “those who do not receive the sacrament of Eucharist due to various hindrances were encouraged to work on those issues and start receiving holy communion.”
During the AGM, the Hwange Diocesan Catholic Pastoral Council decided to continue into 2024 with this year’s theme: “Christ our hope: A synodal journey towards a self-reliant church”. Mr. Brian Nyathi, the Acting Secretary of Hwange Diocesan Pastoral Council said the theme was suggested again for 2024 because as it remains relevant in the context in which the church is operating since there are pending projects and the talk of self-reliance should continue into 2024.
Bishop Ncube said the Church emulates the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary who responded to God not only by the word of mouth but her wholeness, that is mind, heart, soul and body.
The bishop said it the theme aimed at boosting the spiritual and pastoral aspects of people’s faith within the diocese.
“There is need for the diocesan pastoral council to make central resolutions focused on the pastoral dimension of the theme”, the Bishop said. He added that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic faith and should be expressed in the theme.
Bishop Ncube tasked the Hwange Catholic Diocesan Pastoral Council to popularize the theme to people in the diocese.
“Go out there and sell your theme and make value out of it to make people aware”, he stressed.
Bishop Ncube also challenged the priests of Hwange Diocese to support one another in their ministry. He said the AGM reflected on the priestly ministry. In His homily, Bishop Ncube called on priests to influence people in the right direction of faith following the theme of the Eucharistic year.
The bishop advised that self-reliance should not only end in material things but should be expressed in spiritually terms as well. He called on all people to prayer unceasingly and asked willing and suitable men and women to be catechists and communion givers who minister in different parts of the diocese.