By Fletcher Ndlovu (Bulawayo Eastern Deanery Pastoral Council Secretary)
The continuous decrease in numbers of the active Catholic faithful in the eastern Deanery of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo has prompted the Church leadership to organise a symposium to reflect on the causes of this reverse attitude. A gathering of the clergy and the laity converged sought to identify the reasons why many people were backtracking in their faith. The weight of dwindling numbers of active members in the Eastern Deanery parishes led the Pastoral Council leaders together with their pastors and the Archbishop Alex Thomas to convene a pastoral symposium so as to reflect together on the pastoral challenges and listen to the Spirit’s voice on the way forward.
The meeting was held on 3 December 2023 at Emthonjeni Pastoral Centre where one of the Catholic Young Adult Association members Ms G. Makhulumo facilitated the discernment process whose questions prompted a frank and introspective dialogue among smaller groups and during the main session.
The leaders interrogated the reasons why people are leaving the Church and why they claim that Catholic faith is no longer attractive and also focused attention on what needs to be done.
“We must confront the realities that drive the people away from the Church, which include interdenominational marriages, taking children to schools that do not support the Catholic faith, job commitments and others,” said one member of the group.
Both the laity, the priests and the religious present voiced their concerns and their voices laced with both frustration, a yearning for a renewed sense of belonging and a strong desire to do things differently so as to make faith alive and meaningful again for those who have lost heart.
The parishioners expressed concern about the rigidity of the Church’s structure, the lack of inclusivity, clericalism, too much love for money, lack of openness to new ideas and poor preparation for liturgical celebrations as some of the reasons why people were living the church.
Archbishop Alex reiterated that the main challenge was of poor understanding and lack of appreciation of the Catholic faith from the onset. The priests listened attentively to the concerns raised by the laity. They acknowledged their shortcomings and at the same time committed themselves to serving the Church with earnestness.
Archbishop Alex further thanked Eastern deanery leadership for organising the meeting.
“This symposium is a beautiful start to make our Church great again particularly in the Eastern deanery of the Archdiocese and I propose that such programs be held more often as they help the Church leadership to reflect on best ways of growing the Church,” said Archbishop Alex.
The parishes were encouraged to revisit different Catholic spiritual practices which are in themselves rich and are capable of reviving the faith. The pastoral and spiritual meeting concluded with a renewed sense of purpose, a collective commitment to revitalize the Church’s spirit and restore its place as a cornerstone of the community. The clergy and the laity emerged united in their determination to bridge the gap, to rebuild the bridges of faith, understanding and practice.
The journey ahead would be challenging, but the clergy and the laity were united in their resolve. They would strive to make the church a welcoming place, where all people feel at home, embraced and valued. They would rekindle the spirit of compassion, service, and love that lay at the heart of their church in the past.
As the meeting concluded, a glimmer of hope flickered in the eyes of the gathered faithful. They knew that the road to renewal would not be easy, but they were determined to walk it together, guided by the light of their faith.