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“A great source of renewal”: Catholic Priest on Charismatic Groups in Zimbabwe

A synodal Church has to be a listening and a discerning Church. Credit: Catholic Church News Zimbabwe

Charismatic groups can be “a great source of renewal” among the people of God, the National Spiritual Director of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) in Zimbabwe has said.

In his reflection published Tuesday, May 9, Fr.  Tryvis Moyo says that such renewal requires that members of the Clergy seek to understand the background of the groups and accompany the charismatic members. 

“If CCR groups are well nurtured and accompanied by pastors who have taken time to understand the group’s history, they can be a great source of renewal within the Church,” says Fr. Moyo.

He highlighted the four pillars of CCR, namely, prayer groups, the centrality of the Scriptures, testimonies, and exercising of charisms, and said that these "can easily contribute to the emergence of a synodal Church."

The CCR Spiritual Director in Zimbabwe who doubles as the Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) said he found it regrettable that some charismatic members have been discriminated against despite the group’s foundation on the four pillars. 

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“People within the CCR tell of their different treatments in parishes across the country. Some are forced to make a choice between being in the CCR and in the Church,” he says about the Catholic movement that stresses the availability of the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit to every believer.

There is no contradiction between being a Catholic and a member of the CCR, the member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C.Ss.R) says in his reflection, adding, "One can be fully Catholic and fully charismatic."

Fr. Moyo goes on to underscore the need for members of the Clergy to accompany members of the charismatic groups, saying, “As pastors we are shepherds. We have a duty to tend the flock. A good shepherd knows his sheep, he smells the smell of the Sheep.”

“We can be good shepherds to the flock of God, not only the charismatics but all groups within the Church,” he further says in his reflection published May 9.

Fr. Moyo calls for collaboration between CCR members and their respective Parish Priests and to be rooted in the Catholic faith.

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“Before we can even speak of the extraordinary charisms, we ought to be living the three theological virtues namely, Faith, Hope, and Charity,” he says, and adds, “These and moral virtues precede the charisms.”

The Spiritual Director of CCR Zimbabwe says that “a rooting in the Scriptures and the Catechism and the Magisterium of the Church is necessary” for members of the charismatic groups.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.