New Bishop for Gokwe Diocese in Zimbabwe Ordained

New Bishop for Gokwe Diocese in Zimbabwe Ordained

CANAA || By Br. Alfonce Kugwa, Zimbabwe || 04 May 2017

Thousands of people from Zimbabwe’s eight dioceses thronged St. Paul primary school grounds in Gokwe, Saturday, April 29, to witness the Episcopal ordination of the diocese’s new shepherd Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro.

The day was memorable for the country’s Catholics who came in droves to show solidarity with Gokwe Diocese and the entire church in celebrating Bishop Nyandoro’s ascend to the college of bishops.

Song and dance characterized the event as the President of Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC), Bishop Michael Bhasera consecrated the new shepherd in the company of the Papal representative to Zimbabwe, Archbishop Marek Zalewski and fellow bishops.

Bishop Nyandoro succeeds Bishop Emeritus Angel Floro who has been at the helm of the diocese for seventeen years.

Bishop Nyandoro who hails from Masvingo Diocese in the southern part of the country was appointed to lead the diocese by Pope Francis on 28 January 2017.

The message on his banner, “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”, confirmed his willingness to serve as a bishop.

In his sermon, Fr. Mupandasekwa said the role of a bishop is to lead and guide the people of God. He encouraged Bishop Nyandoro to draw his strength and inspiration from God who set him apart for this special mission.

“It is important for you Bishop Nyandoro to listen to the will of God and he will provide for the needs of the diocese. The fact that Gokwe diocese is rural does not matter for God has blessed it with human and natural resources good enough to sustain its needs,” Said Fr. Mupandasekwa.

Fr. Mupandasekwa also encouraged Bishop Nyandoro to sanctify, to govern and to love the people of God.

“By this you will be able to accommodate different personalities and characters. Episcopate is the name for service and as a bishop, you should have the attitude of love like Christ who washed the feet of his disciples. You should give sight to the blind and set prisoners free,” Fr. Mupandasekwa said.

Bishop Emeritus, Angel Floro said he was happy to hand over the administration of the diocese to new blood emphasizing that it was time to write a new chapter for the diocese of Gokwe that has grown in faith and infrastructure with thirty diocesan priests, different religious congregations and a blossoming number of practicing Catholics.

Bishop Nyandoro encouraged the diocese to unite in prayer and to work together for the success of the mission of Christ.

He said like fish, he will draw his strength from his service to God and humanity.

The 49-year-old Bishop Nyandoro becomes the third Bishop to lead Gokwe Diocese after Bishop Michael Dixon Bhasera who is now the Bishop of Masvingo and Bishop Emeritus Angel Floro.