Thousands of Catholics from Zimbabwe and abroad converged at Runyowa village in Gutu to celebrate Bishop Rudolph Nyandoro’s priestly silver Jubilee at his rural home. The thanksgiving celebration was held on Saturday 27 April 2024. Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa, priests, religious, the laity, pastors from other Christian denominations, chiefs and Government officials attended this joyful celebration.
Bishop Nyandoro was ordained a priest on the 19th of December 1999 in Kwekwe at St. Edwards parish. Remembering his roots, Bishop Nyandoro took the celebrations and thanksgiving to his rural home under Masvingo Diocese. He presided over the Holy Mass and invited congregants to join him in thanking God for calling him and guiding him this far. He pledged all gifts that he would receive on this day to be channelled towards the support of seminarians and Children’s Homes in the diocese of Gweru. He said, “Today l am much more delighted to see children and seminarians joining me in the thanksgiving for my jubilee. These young people remain in my heart as l desire that we all put a hand in shaping them to be the future Church.”
Bishop Mupandasekwa thanked Bishop Nyandoro for the noble and humble gesture of coming back to his home in Runyowa to celebrate such a special occasion with his people. “May the diocese of Gweru which you shepherd,” he said, “be blessed with the development which we profoundly know you of, so that the people of God and the whole church can benefit”.
General Engelbert Rugeje attended the celebrations standing in for the Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Dr. Constantino Chiwenga who could not attend because of official duty elsewhere. In the speech he gave on behalf of the Vice President, General Rugeje said, “State and Church relations go far back in time”. He referred to the inauguration of the first Prime Minister and President in Zimbabwe in 1980 where the ceremony was led in prayer by the late Archbishop of Harare, Archbishop Patrick Chakaipa, and went on to say, “Government invites the Church to come to dialogue whenever it sees the need.”
Bishop Nyandoro thanked all who graced the occasion and all who stretched their hands to see through the success of the celebrations and all who support him in his vocation and ministry.