A Car for a Remote Parish in Rural Zimbabwe 

There is great rejoicing in Don Bosco’s mission in Mutuzukwe, Zimbabwe. Thanks to your generous support, the faithful in the remote outlying villages will no longer have to wait in vain for the arrival of their parish priest.  

With the help of your kind donations, ACN was able to provide $37,854 for the purchase of a robust all-terrain vehicle for the parish.  

The vehicle was urgently needed, for without it, pastoral outreach was nearly impossible. Until now, Father Isaac Chirwa could only rarely visit the Catholic faithful in the 13 outstations of his parish area, since some of them lie as many as 35 miles from the parish center, on roads scarcely worthy of the name. Modern tarred roads do not even exist here. So without a vehicle, their priest could not reach some of the villages, where the faithful were so patiently waiting. He told us, “These souls need the spiritual consolation that only the Eucharist can provide.” 

Of course, the parish itself is far too poor to afford such a vehicle. The people still live in simple, traditional, thatch-roofed mud huts. Moreover, the grave ongoing economic crisis in the country and the continuing drought already make life very difficult for most families. While still willing to support the Church to the best of their ability, they could at best scratch together a few cents – the traditional “widow‘s mite.” Their average Sunday collection, for example, yields no more than 10 to 15 dollars a month. A touching sign of their love, but never enough to fund this urgently needed vehicle.  

All of which explains why Father Isaac turned to ACN and to our kind friends and benefactors. Now, he has written to thank us: “I am particularly delighted and uplifted by the joy and gratitude our parishioners have shown for this gift. They continue to loudly celebrate, with the traditional high-pitched African ululation, and I pray and hope that they will always continue to pray for the success of the mission. As a priest, I have learned and seen for myself that the people are truly hungry for the Word of God. This vehicle will make it possible for them to hear this Word of God and receive Holy Communion. Faith and trust are one of the most important lessons I have learned from our partnership with ACN. And so, on behalf of the Catholic mission of Saint Don Bosco, I would like to express again my heartfelt thanks to you and to all who have contributed to the success of this project. May God richly bless and reward you!” 

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