I was designated by Encarnacion del Pozo, our SFO General Minister, to preside at the elective Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order in Zimbabwe, together with Fr Johannes Mngwenge, TOR. I am extremely grateful for being given the opportunity to attend. I experienced the Franciscan charism and fraternal spirit with the complete Franciscan family. 

Once again the friars had opened their home and the mission for their secular brothers and sisters at Assisi mission. Together with the students, the hall was prepared for the Chapter and the many posters of St Francis and inspirational words were put up. Slowly we saw our brothers and sisters appearing. We were going to open the Chapter after dinner, but as more and more brothers and sisters were arriving, the numbers for supper were constantly having to be increased. Meals were cooked by the Secular Franciscans on log fires in pots. There is no electricity during the day; power seems to come on from 9.30pm until 6am in the morning.

New Leadership

I was astounded the next morning that a half an hour before the time to commence, most of the 150 brothers and sisters, aging from one year to over 80 years, were ready and had already had breakfast which had been cooked before dawn on the fires. The Chapter was formally opened in the chapel on Saturday morning with prayer. Then we processed singing, with the San Damiano Cross, down to the hall. The morning session was given over to input and discussion on the vision and practical realities of our Franciscan life. The election process began in the afternoon and was concluded at 5.30pm. There was an obvious joy with the newly-elected council, with our older members relieved to have young energetic blood offering their services.

The installation of the new council took place during Mass in the chapel, where we were now in darkness and the Word was read by candlelight. The sounds of the African drums and the beauty and the unity of the voices filled the chapel. After a brief homily Fr Johannes gave a very inspiring conclusion to the day by mentioning the life-giving union between the First and Third Order. Once again the joy of the day’s achievement and the role of the Holy Spirit was obvious with the singing, dancing and joyful celebration with everyone congratulating the new council. After dinner, the programme continued and fortunately the time had come for power to be restored, so there was light. Benjamin informed everyone of the sad condition of one of their brothers who was dying of cancer and who would appreciate a visit before people went home. It was agreed that all the food that was left over would be taken to him. The evening concluded with a jubilant gathering, with lively music provided by the students. Our young Franciscans took to the stage with dancing. After much talking we were able to get to bed by 1.00am.

Walking 60kms

Very early the next morning, as soon as I heard activity, I was outside to see Tapiwa Mazamai, our national treasurer, load a 1.5 ton truck with brothers and sisters for their departure. He had told me that they had to leave very early as the truck would be overloaded and they wanted to avoid the police. Eventually full, Tapiwa drove down and stopped outside the church, hooted the horn and then more and more of the brothers came and started climbing in; there was no space but somehow they squeezed in, sitting on the sides and on the roof. I was in tears as I saw them eventually leave, 34 squashed together to start a journey of about 200 kms on a sandy, potholed, strip road of nothingness. I prayed that their guardian angels would keep them on the truck and to keep the police away. There were babies, our old gentlemen and old ladies all together. Where do you experience such love and acceptance.

I became acquainted with Joanna who told me that she would be getting a lift with Fr Thomas to Chivru and then would walk home. I asked her how far, to which she responded 60 kms. She had a little baby on her back and a daughter, Clare, about ten years old. She told me that her husband had died and she had three children; the other child was back home. I asked her how was she going to travel those 60 kms. Walk, she said. I asked her how long it would take; she said a day and a half. She said they would just walk and, if possible, they would get to someone’s hut where they could stay overnight and then just carry on walking the next day. Joanna was a thin, frail, young woman, with a threadbare shirt on; she could not have been more than 25 years old. She told me that she was really battling to survive and was trying to do something to get an income, wanting to do pottery. She felt she was living her Franciscan charism by helping with all those around her dying with Aids and assisting all the parentless, young children who were looking after their brothers and sisters. She was a little child herself.

Hot and Jubilant

Fr Liam had been asked to celebrate the final Mass with the local community. Assisi mission has a high school with boys and girls, so together with those Secular Franciscans that were left, we crammed the church. The Youfra (Franciscan Youth) led the singing and Daniel Chidemo, the new national president, introduced all the visitors. Fr Liam allowed Daniel to talk after the Gospel and he came alive. Unfortunately we were not able to understand the Shona language ourselves, but he had everyone totally absorbed in what he said; they sang, they laughed and they all listened intently. The offertory procession was led by a liturgical dance by little girls, who must have been about five to seven years of age. All the left-over food and some soap was presented by the SFO. Before the final blessing all the Secular Franciscans came around the altar and together we all renewed our promise of commitment. Afterwards cameras were going non-stop trying to catch every special moment. The atmosphere was jubilant. Fr Liam gave Daniel Chidemo, his wife Bernadette and their baby son Francis a blessing.

Exhausted, hot but jubilant we travelled with a loaded pick-up truck back to Harare. We stopped at the Poor Clare Monastery to thank them for all their prayers. Frs Liam and Johannes had us all in fits of laughter; the beauty of these eight joyful faces of the sisters gave us a blessing. We set off to the airport where we sadly parted with Fr Liam. On the plane back home, Fr Johannes and I shared all the beautiful moments and really felt that “it was good to be there.”