Catechists in Zimbabwe Urged to Indiscriminately Spread God’s Love, Mercy to All

Bulawayo, 30 September, 2023 / 11:20 AM

The Archbishop of Bulawayo Archdiocese in Zimbabwe has called upon catechists in the Southern African nation to spread God’s love and mercy among all the people without discrimination.

In his homily during the commissioning of 23 new catechists who graduated from Emthonjeni Pastoral Centre in his Metropolitan See, Archbishop Alex Thomas Kaliyanil underscored the importance of a catechist’s work in evangelization.

 “As catechists you are called to bring God’s love and mercy to all, without discrimination. You are sent as ones chosen by God and your respective communities,” Archbishop Kaliyanil is quoted as saying in a Friday, September 29 report following the event.

He urged Catechists to work hard in their service delivery cautioning them against the temptation to create discord among the people of God.

Archbishop Kaliyanil further urged the catechists to behave and walk in the manner that reflects their calling, adding that the nature of their work requires patience, humility, and the ability to foster teamwork.

 “As a messenger of Christ, a Catechist is a servant of Christ and the Church and needs to love the Church. A catechist is a sign of the kingdom of God… a companion on the way to heaven therefore, the need to plead with others to walk in the way of the Lord,” he said.

Making reference to the call of Levi as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, the member of the Society of Divine Word (SVD) urged the new Catechists to be committed to their service, adding that “God does not look at the appearance of a person but one’s dedication and commitment.”

The 62-year-old Indian-born Archbishop who has been at the helm of Bulawayo Archdiocese since 2009 further urged the new catechists to acknowledge their God-given gifts and use them to promote His Kingdom.