CUZ ePublications (Catholic University of Zimbabwe)
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Sacred Liturgy:: a ’Place’ of Encounter with God
No full textSacred liturgy is the pillar of the Christian faith because it unites the church from the past, present, and future. Liturgy is embraced with three main forms that are essential in the catholic faith namely Eucharistic celebrations, a celebration of other sacraments, and divine worship. In all these forms, liturgy becomes an important aspect of the church, especially as an encounter with God and the people who are involved. This essay shall discuss the sacred liturgy and further give an analysis of how is it important as an encounter with God
The Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople I: a Response to Arianism
No full textAs ages passed by after the death of Christ Jesus, various questions started to be raised with regards to the nature of Jesus Christ. One of the major questions that emerged about the nature of Jesus Christ was whether he was human or divine. In a quest to answer such questions there are some who strayed from the teachings of the apostles and the orthodox teaching. It is out of such questions and controversies that the early Church Fathers had to define the faith of the Church through a formulated creeds. Such questions also included the unity of Christ and God the Father. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity began to be developed due to arising questions on theperson of Jesus Christ and due to rise of unorthodox teachings which were termed heretical positions. Thus, it is plausible to state that the doctrine of the Trinity evolved out of Christology. One of the earliest heresies is Arianism which was suggested by Arius who questioned the divinity of Jesus Christ. Hence the purpose of the following piece of work is to expose the Arian heresy and to respond to it focusing on the responses that weregiven by the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople I. To achieve this, the paper will first define what a heresy is, secondly the paper will expose the Arian heresy and lastly the paper will respond to it considering theCouncils of Nicaea of 325 AD and Constantinople I of 381 AD
Historical Facts of the Diocese of Masvingo
No full textThe Catholic Church in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) has its commencement in the Zambezi Mission which was assigned to the Society of Jesus affectionately known as the Jesuits by Rome on 7 February 1879 (The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe). Among their first establishments of missions was Driefontein Mission called Guta by the local people. Guta is Afrikaans meaning three fountains named after the initial site prior to its move in 1908 to where the mission is presently located (Driefontein Mission). The Bethlehem Mission Society (SMB) from Switzerland also known as the Bethlehem fathers were the second after the Jesuits to evangelise in Fort Victoria (now Masvingo). The First Swiss Bethlehem fathers arrived in Southern Rhodesia in October 1938 after an invitation by Bishop Aston Chichester, SJ who was in charge of the Vicariate of Salisbury (now Harare). They were entrusted to the area which was separated from the Apostolic Vicariate of Salisbury to become the Apostolic Prefecture of Fort Victoria from which Gwelo (now Gweru) diocese was formed in 1955 after the establishment of the hierarchy in Zimbabwe on the 1st of January (SMB Zimbabwe). A part of it was then separated to erect the Diocese of Masvingo in 1999. Hence, the historical facts of the two dioceses of Gweru and Masvingo are intertwined 
Mandela a Modern Christian Father
No full textMartyrdom is one of the oldest ways that the church used as a measuring stick for one to be considered a saint. This was done inresponse to the ongoing persecutions that happened in the Early Church. However, with the development of the Church, Martyrdom was redefined to go beyond the shedding of blood as the single criterion of identifying martyrs in the Church. The purpose of this essay is to discuss in detail the figure of Nelson Mandela and how his deeds can qualify him to be called a modern Christian Father while defying the criteria that the Church used. Nelson Mandela shall therefore be the character because of the various reasons that will be discussed in this essay but generally choosing him was because of how he suffered politically for the freedom of SouthAfrica. The details in this essay will therefore provide justification as to why Nelson Mandela can be considered a modern Christian martyr
COVID -19 and the Vulnerability of Children (0-5 years): A Question to Medical Practitioners?
No full textWhat future generation will be there since the outbreak of COVID-19? Will those growing today be physically fit as nature without COVID-19 had intended it? How are we nurturing the young ones to make sure that as they silently fight the Coronavirus disease no damage is done to their development? Will their cognitive development and memory be built up as they should without COVID-19? What measures has there been to look at this
The Parable of the Ten Virgins:: Matthew 25:1-13
No full textThe parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 is one of the interesting ones which Jesus uses in speaking about the Kingdom of God in the Gospel according to Matthew. In the parable Jesus presented the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins to portray his message about the coming of the kingdom of heaven or the Parousia. The five wise bridesmaids are wise enough to carry extra oil for their lamps in anticipation of the delayed bridegroom and this worked for them. The foolish bridesmaids are foolish enough to the point of failing to recognise that their lamps might run out of oils before the arrival of the bridegroo
Mutare Diocese's History of Evangelization
No full textThe nineteenth century and twentieth centuries have witnessed a tremendous exodus of Christian missionaries from the western world into Zimbabwe. Christianity particularly the Catholic Church has been presented to the African in foreign garbs such that Africans have perceived their own culture as archaic or primitive. However, many and varied religious missionary groups came to Zimbabwe to “indigenize the Church hence there has been an ongoing ecclesial development in spheres of self-sustaining, self-ministering and self-propagating among the Manyika Catholic Church”.1 This essay seeks to give a brief history of the evangelization of the now known suffrigan of Mutare under the reign of his Lordship Rt. Rev Bishop Paul Horan O.Carm. The scope of this history of evangelization commence from the first German Marianhill missionaries who worked from 1908-1930 and established the first mission in Mutare at Triashill mission. Mutare was then erected as a Prefecture Apostolic and confided to the Irish Carmelites on the 2nd of February 1953. Donald Lamont was appointed as Vicariate Prefecture on 6 February 1953 and later became a bishop of the Diocese in 1957. In 1957, the known Prefecture Apostolic of Mutare became a diocese. Bishop Lamont worked in Mutare since it was a prefecture and resigned in 1981. He was succeeded by Alexio Muchabaiwa from 5 November 1981 who reigned until the resignation of 28 May 2016. It is worth noting that it is with the same effect that Bishop Paul Horan resumed office and was appointed the successor as the Bishop of Mutare
Principles of Interreligious Dialogue: Bridging a Relations Gap Between the Roman Catholic Church and the Zimbabwean State
No full textConflict is a reality of life. It seems to characterize the daily order of the world today. Africa and Zimbabwe in particular are no exceptions. Almost every facet of social life is caught up in conflict and violence in religious, social, and political spheres, among other aspects of daily living.1 This article aims to demonstrate how the principles of interreligious dialogue (IRD) may assist in bridging the relations gap between the Roman Catholic Church and the Zimbabwean state. To achieve this aim, the writer will begin by defining key terms followed by a brief discussion on dialogue. Thereafter, the author will show how the ten principles of IRD according to Leonardo Swidler may assist in resolving the conflict between the aforementioned parties. Eventually, the writer will give a critique and draw a conclusion that through the pedagogical, informative, and personal aspects of the principles of IRD the relational gap betweenthe Catholic Church and the state would be narrowed down
Information and Communication Technology (ICT): An Exploration of Online Child Abuse During Covid-19 Pandemic
No full textCovid-19 has prompted widespread school closures and physical distancing measures and made online platforms and communitiesessential to maintaining a sense of normalcy.1 Children are turning to digital solutions more than ever for learning purposes, socialization and play.2 While online platforms provide huge opportunities for children to learn different things and to entertain themselves, these same platforms increase children’s exposure to online abuse.3 Digital media contain a high potential for addiction. Covid-19 has prompted widespread school closures and physical distancing measures and made online platforms and communitiesessential to maintaining a sense of normalcy.1 Children are turning to digital solutions more than ever for learning purposes, socialisation and play.2 While online platforms provide huge opportunities for children to learn different things and to entertain themselves, these same platforms increase children’s exposure to online abuse.3 Digital media contain a high potential for addiction. Children and youth are more at risk compared to adults because it is more difficult for them to differentiate between the real and virtual worlds. When a smartphone vibrates [rings] one has to react as quickly as possible, no matter where one is.4 For many it is difficult to endure not looking at their cell phone for the length of 10 minutes. One reason for such addiction is the desire of children and youth for recognition. Such recognition is noticeable through the number of “ followers” and “likes” one gets which translates into the measure of one’s popularity. To win the competition, they spend a lot of time in the search for something new.5 Often unusual, such as sharing naked images which fall in the hands of some hackers/ offenders who then misuse them and exploit the young people. and youth are more at risk compared to adults because it is more difficult for them to differentiate between the real and virtual worlds. When a smartphone vibrates [rings] one has to react as quickly as possible, no matter where one is.4 Formany it is difficult to endure not looking at their cell phone for length of 10 minutes. One reason for such addiction is the desire of children and youth for recognition. Such recognition is noticeable through the number of “ followers” and “likes” one gets which translates into the measure of one’s popularity. To win the competition, they spend a lot of time in search for something new.5Often unusual, such as sharing naked images which fall into the hands of some hackers/ offenders who then misuse themand exploit the young people
Homosexuality in the Light of Image and Likeness: A Christian Anthropological Approach
No full textThe article discusses the Theology of the Body’s concept of Man as created in the Image of God which can be traced from antiquity since it has a rich and long tradition. This is evident in the works of Patristics and doctors of the Church like Augustine and Aquinas, who devotedly wrote about “the body and its relation to the soul, created by God in his image and destined for bodily resurrection” (Pope Pius XI) although some promulgated doctrines are now understood as erroneous in some way. Furthermore, the article examines the relevance of the pedagogy of this concept, that man was created in the image of God in light of the challenge of homosexuality which can be traced from the Old Testament excerpts for example, Leviticus 18 and 20. To begin, it is worth familiarizing me with the Theology of the Body to help me understand the scope of this project. John Paul II describes Theology of the Body as “a specific, evangelical, Christian pedagogy that unfolds and explains the revelation of the body by reflecting on the human experience”.1 “Pedagogy seeks to educate man by setting the requirements before him, giving reasons for them, and indicating the ways that lead to their fulfillment”.2 Given that, this article scope, will investigate in an in-depth manner the concept of Man-not in the literary sense as some have mistakenly interpreted created in the imago Dei and examine the significance of that teaching to the modern-day challenge of homosexuality as understood by varied disciplines