SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS (SOCCOM)

Structure of Social Communications:

The structure of the Commission flows from the Pontifical Mission for Social Communications, which is responsible for Catholic Church Communications in the world. The Social Communications Commission like all other Commissions fall under the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which is the controlling board of the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe. The Commission has the Bishop Chairman who advises its operations and makes sure that the Commission complies with the doctrine of the Church. The Bishop Chairman represents the Commission at the Bishops Conference and links the Commission to this supreme decision making board. In simple terms, the Bishop Chairman gives direction to the operations of the Commission and from time to time checks on the progress of the department. Currently, the Chairman of the Social Communications Commission is the Bishop of Mutare, Paul Horan who took over from Bishop Michael Bhasera in 2017. Bishop Bhasera has worked hard to enhance Communication within the Church and to ensure that communication efforts conform to the mission of evangelization by the Catholic Church. Over the years, Bishop Bhasera has encouraged all dioceses to establish Diocesan Offices for Social Communications so as to enable local churches to participate in the process of communication and to share information and issues that shape their life.

How Social Communications Work?

Social Communications Commission functions under the supervision of the Director who is appointed by the Bishops’ Conference to spearhead its operations. The Director oversees the day-to-day business of the Commission and directs how the Commission should perform in relation to the Church structures. He is also the editor of the Catholic Church News and executive producer of electronic media content. It is the Director’s duty to drive the Commission in line with its goals and objectives. The Commission supports the work of the Church and other ZCBC Commissions by offering a communication platform necessary for enhancing their role in society. Currently, the Commission is under the leadership of Br. Alfonce Kugwa spb who came in after the leadership of his four predecessors including Frs. Oskar Wemter, Kenneth Makamure, Berry Steven Muchemwa and Conrad Chibango. The Directors have put the Commission on the limelight that the Church in Zimbabwe has come to appreciate the role of communications in evangelization processes.

Dioceses

Social Communications Commission operates in eight Catholic Dioceses in Zimbabwe under the supervision of Diocesan Coordinators.

Diocesan Social Communications Coordinators are listed in the table below:

Caritas Zimbabwe as a Catholic agency

Vision

A Zimbabwe in which the dignity of the human being is paramount and in which exclusion, discrimination, violence and dehumanizing poverty is no more.

Mission

Caritas Zimbabwe strives to achieve lasting improvements in the quality of life of deprived and vulnerable communities in Zimbabwe through promoting, supporting and sustaining the development of the whole human being as part of the evangelism mission of the church.

a) Principles

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, points out in his first encyclical – Deus Caritas Est. – God is Love – is the one where those involved in works of charity need:

       • To have a personal encounter with Christ which gives rise within them the desire to respond by reaching out in love for their neighbour;

       • To have a heart that sees where love is needed and act accordingly;

       • To have the freedom that love offers to enable others to live out their calling in an atmosphere of respect for difference.

There is an inseparable relationship between love for God and love for one’s neighbour. The real test of our living this love is to discover the other in all other people, so that within the community of believers there can be no room for poverty that denies anyone what is needed for a dignified life

Who is Caritas Zimbabwe?

Catholic agency that does not discriminate on who we work with

Committed to delivering aid and development in a highly efficient manner

Member of Caritas Internationalis, one of the largest development agencies in the world

Focused on sustainability by always working with local partners

We recognise the structural nature of poverty and the need to challenge these structures

Caritas means compassion

Caritas Zimbabwe is the Catholic agency for international aid and development. The Latin word Caritas means love and compassion. Qualities that are central to our work.

Administration costs are kept low

We help people to help themselves, regardless of race, political beliefs, gender or religion. Caritas Zimbabwe works hard to make sure that as much aid as possible actually reaches those who need it. The administration/aid ratio of Caritas Zimbabwe is one of the best in the world. We keep our administration and fundraising costs at or below 10% of our income. 92% of all money raised by Caritas Zimbabwe during an emergency appeal is actually sent to that country.

International network

Caritas Zimbabwe belongs to an international network called Caritas Internationalis. Caritas Internationalis is one of the largest aid and development agencies in the world comprising a network of 162 Catholic relief aid, development and social service organisations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories.

Reflecting the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, Caritas Zimbabwe works with the local people of a particular country in all of its programs. We work in the field through our local partners. The partnership approach is central to our philosophy that international partners are best placed to identify their own community’s needs and problems. Working through local partners is central to ensuring sustainability as the local communities design and manage their own development programs in a manner, which is culturally appropriate and owned by the community. Caritas Zimbabwe does not need to spend money on building a new organisation every time a need arises because donations are more efficiently directed through these local partners.

Caritas Zimbabwe works with our international partners in addressing the causes of their poverty and bringing about long-term change. We support programs for human development and self-reliance. These include improving health, overcoming illiteracy, reducing environmental damage, conserving cultural identity and providing training for better agricultural practices.

Project Compassion

Caritas Zimbabwe invites guests from our partner countries to visit Zimbabwe each Lent to speak to us about Caritas development programs in their country. Project Compassion is the main way Caritas Zimbabwe raises money. Every Catholic school, every Catholic parish and all Zimbabwens are invited to be part of the Project Compassion campaign each Lent.

Creating change

Caritas Zimbabwe has education and advocacy programs within Zimbabwe, working to help Zimbabwens become aware of the causes of injustice and poverty and encouraging people to take action. We take up these issues in recognition of the structural impediments to people breaking free from the cycle of poverty.

Our Mission

Caritas Zimbabwe works towards the creation of a world that God desires to be just and compassionate. Caritas works for the freedom of those who are oppressed by injustice, bringing ‘sight’ to both those who are powerless and powerful and proclaiming to the poor the good news of their human dignity. This work is undertaken principally through the life-giving activities of aid and development.

As God created humanity to be in right relationship, so Caritas Zimbabwe will seek to work through right relationships or partnerships to bring freedom to the world’s poorest communities today. Caritas Zimbabwe works within Zimbabwe by inviting people into a just and compassionate partnership with people who are poor. In all of this, Caritas Zimbabwe, as the Catholic Church’s agency for aid and development, gives expression to the Gospel imperative to pursue justice and to help those suffering from poverty and disadvantage.

Our Vision

“Jesus stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, To let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4: 16-19, 21)

The international aid and development work of Caritas Zimbabwe is reflective of the life of Jesus Christ, and shaped by the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching principles:

Preferential Option for the Poor

Caritas Zimbabwe will work with communities who experience poverty, injustice, hunger and oppression regardless of their religious, political or cultural beliefs.

Human Dignity

Caritas Zimbabwe will work with communities in ways that respect, enhance and build their human dignity, empowering them to be authentic agents of change in their own lives, families, communities and societies.

Solidarity

Caritas Zimbabwe will work with international, Zimbabwean Indigenous and all other partners in a spirit of mutual respect, transparency and integrity so that walls of hatred and prejudice, division and oppression will be transformed, so that a better future is built for the world’s poorest people, and where the common good of all people is promoted.

Subsidiarity

Caritas Zimbabwe will work within the structures of the Catholic community and of the local community, both internationally and within Zimbabwe. This will enable swift and culturally appropriate responses to need. Caritas Zimbabwe’s decision-making processes will engage those affected by decisions and policies and reflect transparency and accountability.

Stewardship of the Earth’s Resources

Caritas Zimbabwe will work for the integrity of creation in ways which assist the world’s poorest communities to have access to a greater share of resources, encouraging sustainability and equity, and respect for the environment.

Vital Worldwide Networks

Caritas Zimbabwe is a member of Caritas Internationalis – one of the largest humanitiarian relief, development and social services networks in the world.

Caritas Zimbabwe works with other Caritas agencies to implement emergency and development programmes. The Caritas network is made up of 162 Catholic charities working in 200 countries and territories around the world

Caritas Zimbabwe is the Catholic agency for international aid and development in Zimbabwe.

Caritas Zimbabwe belongs to an international confederation called Caritas Internationalis, a network of 162 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations working to build a better world, especially for the poor and oppressed, in over 200 countries and territories. Caritas is one of the largest international humanitarian networks, working with people regardless of their religion, race, gender or ethnicity.

Caritas provides a beacon of hope for tens of millions of women, men and children in times of hardship and contributes to the development of social justice in times of peace. Caritas’ mandate includes integral development, emergency relief, advocacy, peace building, respect for human rights and support for proper stewardship of the planet’s environment and resources. Click here to watch an online movie on the work of the confederation. (5Mb WMV)

The Caritas approach is based on Catholic Social Teaching, which focuses on the dignity of the human person. Caritas believes that the weak and oppressed are not objects of pity, but agents of change leading the struggle to eradicate dehumanising poverty, unacceptable living and working conditions, and unjust social, political, economic and cultural structures.

What makes Caritas unique is its ongoing presence in communities, before, during and after crisis situations. Important, too, is that being part of civil society and incorporating the perspective of the poor, Caritas can continuously adapt its strategies to an ever changing environment.

Caritas fights poverty, exclusion, intolerance and discrimination. More importantly, it empowers people to participate fully in all matters affecting their lives, and it advocates on their behalf at national and international forums.

Caritas promotes partnership: local autonomy is paramount in ensuring effective teamwork for the good of all. By pooling expertise and resources, Caritas is able to identify issues at the grassroots, analyse them at national and international levels, and then take action locally, regionally and globally.

To find out more about the international Caritas network visit www.caritas.org

Caritas Zimbabwe Programming Strategic Directions

The Caritas Zimbabwe’s approach is based on the Social Teachings of the Church, which focuses on the dignity of the human person. Caritas Zimbabwe’s work with and on behalf of the poor manifests God’s love for all creation.

Caritas Zimbabwe believes that the weak and oppressed are not objects of pity, but agents of change leading the struggle to eradicate dehumanizing poverty, unacceptable living conditions ,and unjust social, economic and cultural structures .

What makes Caritas Zimbabwe unique is its wide count rywide network upto grass roots communities, ongoing presence in communities, before, during and after crisis situation It empowers people to participate more fully in all matters affecting their lives, and advocates on their behalf at national and international forums. Caritas Zimbabwe promotes partnerships. By pooling expertise and resources, Caritas Zimbabwe is able to identify issues at the grassroots level, analyse them at national and international levels and take action locally, regionally and globally.

In and for itself Caritas Zimbabwe is an appreciable sign in the world of a state of faith; Christ’s charity which exhorts the church to exercise God’s love. Caritas – without words – evangelizes.

Caritas fights poverty, exclusion, intolerance and discrimination. More importantly, it empowers people to participate more fully in all matters affecting their lives, and advocates on their behalf at national and international forums.

Caritas promotes partnerships: local autonomy is paramount in ensuring effective teamwork for the good of all. By pooling expertise and resources, Caritas is able to identify issues at the grassroots level, analyze them at national and international levels and take action locally, regionally and globally.

In and for itself Caritas is an appreciable sign in the world of a state of faith; Christ’s charity which exhorts the church to exercise God’s love. Caritas – without words – evangelizes.

Caritas’s global identity includes a central organizing thought “Social teachings of the Church are at the heart of everything we do”.

The mission of Caritas is to make God’s love visible in the world. Deus Caritas Est.

We work to build bridges of Hope.

We work with people to bring about positive changes in some of the poorest people in Zimbabwe’s provinces.

Our programmes are carried out with through our eight Diocese so local people are in control of the implementation process and, in turn, their own development.

We’re unlike any other development agency in Zimbabwe. Here’s why:

:

Our Development Work

Our programmes aim to:

      Respond to Emergencies and Disasters

      Tackle injustice and defend human rights

      Address the HIV and AIDS crisis

      Support gender equality

      Encourage self-reliance via development programs

Contact

Africa Synod House 29/31 Selous Avenue, Harare

Postal Address Box CY 738 Causeway, Harare

Telephone (04) 705368/9

Fax (04) 704001

HEALTH COMMISSION

The Pontifical Mission Societies  (P.M.S)

There are Four Pontifical Mission Societies

      The Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith

      The Pontifical Society of the St. Peter the Apostle.

      The Pontifical Society of the Missionary Childhood (Holy Childhood)

      The Pontifical Missionary Union

1. Pontifical Society for the Propagation of Faith

The society was founded by a lay French lady, Pauline Marie Jaricot (1799-1862) in Lyon, France in 1822. The society was decreed pontifical by Pope Pius XI on 3rd May 1922. Annual collections are taken on Mission Sunday, thus the last but one Sunday in October for the Universal Solidarity Fund for the redistribution to Churches in Mission territories for- the building of churches, rectories, convents, pastoral and retreat centres etc. – The formation of catechists etc.

2. The Society of St Peter the Apostle

The society was founded in 1889 in Caen, France by two French ladies Jeanne Bigard and her mother, Stephanie Bigard to promote the formation of the indigenous priests and religious. It was decreed pontifical on 3rd May 1922 by Pope Pius XI. The Universal Solidarity Fund is used in supporting bishops in Mission lands to form their seminarians and novices. Every year collections are taken on fourth Sunday of Easter and here in Zimbabwe on Vocations Sunday, first Sunday of July.

3. The society of Missionary Childhood (Holy Childhood)

The society was founded on the 9th of May 1843 in Paris, France by bishop of Nancy, Bishop Charles Auguste Marie de Fobin-Janson (1785-1844). He organized children to help the most needy children; children are imbued with the missionary spirit. On 3rd of March 1922, Pope Pius XI decreed that this society should be Pontifical. The society is for children between the ages of reason to fourteen. The Universal Solidarity Fund is used in building schools, orphanages etc. The annual celebration is on the Sunday nearest to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.

4. The Missionary Union

The Blessed Father Paolo Manna (1872-1952), an Italian missionary was the founder of the Missionary Union of clergy in Italy in 1916. It helps pastors to develop a profound missionary conscience, giving life and effectiveness to the other three P.M.S. It is therefore said to be the “Soul” of the other P.M.S. It was declared pontifical with the decree of Pope Pius XII on the 28th of October 1956.

The Structure of the P.M.S.

In Rome there is an international secretariat for each of the four P.M.S. with a Secretary General. All the secretariats operate under the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. The P.M.S. has a bishop President. The Supreme Council is presided over by the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples while all the National Directors are part of the Superior Council.

National Administration

Specific Nature of the National Administration of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

The National Administration is under the direction of the National Director who organizes, animates and develops the work of the four societies in faithfulness to their charisma. The National Director has a permanent Office the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conference – Africa Synod House. E-mail: pms@zcbc.co.zw

Tasks for this National Office staff, reflecting the vision of the National Director include:

         Directing and coordinating missionary formation and cooperation through formative programs aimed at information, celebrating and

         solidarity, aware that missionary activity is a matter for all Christians (Redemptoris Missio, 11)

         Establishing and maintaining personal contact and support of the network of Diocesan Directors. (Statute 11, Article 53b)

         Promoting the October celebration of World Mission Sunday through various media – print and audiovisual – and through materials

         specifically for parish use.

         Providing information and stories to FIDES NEWS SERVICE, as well as to the Catholic and secular media.

         Advertising/promoting the programs of the four Societies, including the call to support these through bequests.

         Publishing pamphlets – booklets on the history and current work of the four Societies, the current missionary wok of the Church, as well

         as on missionary spirituality; distributing these publications to educators, priests, religious and individuals, especially the young. The aim

         of all publications is to capture the interest of the readers, arouse a desire to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who have

         not yet heard it and to inspire others to accept an active share in the missionary work of the Church by arousing missionary vocations.

         Promoting the Mission Day of the Sick (February 11) which illustrates the redemptive value of human suffering and the effective

         participation of the sick in the missionary activity of the Church, as well as other significant mission-related celebrations.

         Setting up and maintaining a database of members – supporters of the four Societies for purposes of written appeals.

         Creating a permanent display/exhibition for use at national and diocesan gatherings.

Below are some of the projects being carried out by the Pontifical Mission Societies in Zimbabwe:

Introduction

The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) HIV and AIDS Desk is the arm of the Church responsible for AIDS Awareness Campaigns, that include Orphan Care in our Schools. It is located at the corner of Fourth Street and Selous Avenue in Africa Synod House in Harare, Zimbabwe. The ZCBC was constituted by the Roman Decree on 1st October 1969. The ZCBC forms the Coordinating body of the Zimbabwean Bishops. It is made of Commissions, one of them being the ZCBC HIV and AIDS Desk. The primary focus of the HIV and AIDS Desk is to promote values of life which prevent the spread of AIDS. We achieve this by running programmes on HIV and AIDS which focus on Prevention and Life Skills Promotion, AIDS Education, Basic Skills in Counselling, Education For Life Programmes, Behaviour Change, Peer Education and Care of the Infected and Affected in the schools for the past seven years.

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE AND SKILL’S PROGRAMMES: Zimbabwe Catholic Schools Combat HIV and AIDS

General Background

Zimbabwe is ranked among the countries with the highest incidence of HIV and AIDS in the world. About one in three people are HIV infected; with 50% of the sexually active age bracket being HIV+ Historically, Zimbabwe has been an independent country for twenty-nine years.

The government has developed an Educational Programme for all the schools regarding HIV and AIDS, which is not being fully implemented for various reasons: e.g. lack of training and conviction on the part of the teachers in respect of this programme. Publicity within the country seems to regard condoms as an answer to the HIV and AIDS crisis. Although there is the call for no sex before marriage and faithfulness in marriage, youth receive mixed messages. Statistics show that an increasingly alarming number of young people are being infected daily. Hence the reasons for a special focus on teachers, students and pupils’ HIV and AIDS Education Programme, with special emphasis on Behaviour Change Programme.

Project Background

The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) became involved in AIDS Education in the early 1990’s through its influence on the Ministry of Education’s AIDS Action Programme. In 1993 a general Catholic Education Staff Development team was approved by ZCBC. In addition to other ventures, in 1995 the staff development team started going around the country assisting teachers with methods, strategies and a Christian perspective to teaching the AIDS Action programme. In 1996 a supplement to the Government’s programme, “Christian Approach to Sexuality” was developed by ZCBC and promoted throughout the Catholic Schools of the country and 2 colleges.

Workshops were held at the local levels for teachers, administrators and interested mission personnel. The workshops continued throughout 1997 and 1998, with special focus on the administrators and the priests in charge of the local mission schools. It was noted that many schools did not fully implement the AIDS Action Programme, even with the assistance of workshops and teachers’ supplement. It was seen that direct monitoring was necessary. During 1998 each school identified an AIDS Coordinator at the local level to assist the school head with AIDS Education.

In 1999 special AIDS Counselling workshops were held in each of the dioceses for the AIDS Coordinator and another teacher from each school to assist them in meeting some of the unique problems faced at the school level due to illness, death, and care of HIV and AIDS as well as deal with child sexual abuses and support the victims.

Project Aim

The major goal in this programme is to assist the young people of Zimbabwe to grow up as an AIDS free generation.

Project Objectives:

           To train the Heads and school teachers in Behaviour Change techniques and strategies, in order to continue a version of the programme

            in their respective schools

           To provide Heads, AIDS Coordinators and teachers of each of the Catholic Schools with strategies, techniques and Participatory Methods

           to teach young people, in our schools to practice positive behaviours.

           To offer peer support for the teachers and the students with regards to Behaviour Change.

           To facilitate care and support of the orphans in the schools, by the teachers, all staff, the community, the students and the pupils.

           To promote Gender Balance in schools and communities.

           To equip teachers with counselling skills in order to support students especially the OVCs.

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN ZIMBABWE (CCJPZ)

Mr. Paul Muchena

National Coordinator

Catholic Commission for Justice

and Peace in Zimbabwe

CCJPZ ANNUAL REPORT 2019

ZCBC CHILD SAFEGUARDING OFFICE

Theresa Sanyatwe

ZCBC Child Safeguarding Officer

CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY & STANDARD PROCEDURES

 FAMILY AND MARRIAGE COMMISSION

Sr. Anuarite Manyahi HLMC

About us

The Family and Marriage Commission seeks to fulfil the mission of the Church for the family as an institution. It aims at accompanying the family on its journey through life, promoting pro-life and pro-family activities for the renewal and enrichment of family life in general and marriage in particular. It promotes the natural Christian family based on marriage as between one man and one woman, building and fostering stable marriage and healthy family life where culture of life and traditional family values are upheld and respected.

Vision

Integral growth of the Catholic family to become a domestic Church, Christ-centred, forgiving, loving, joyful, witnessing families and nurturing life.

Our mission

To uphold respect, promote and defend the lives of the unborn, the born, the sick, the elderly, the differently abled and also stand against all forces which seek to destroy the dignity and sanctity of human life, Christian marriage and family values.

Our Aim

To accompany the family on its journey through life, evangelizing and re-evangelizing its members to become agents of  the Gospel in the local Church.

Our Services

The apostolate of the ZCBC Family and Marriage Commission endeavours to address family related needs, and enable families to grow spiritually/in totality. We oversee, co-ordinate and animate  the family marriage ministries in all Dioceses in Zimbabwe.

• Family - A Domestic Church, which is the only way that the family can truly fulfil all of its obligations to each other, its neighbours and the Church. It should uplift the ordinary and significant status of family life into that world of petitions and thanksgivings that constitute divine adoration. Through such worship, there is a “trusting abandonment of the family into the hands of their common father in heaven” (Familiaris Consortio # 59).
• Family - A Temple - Family is a place of sacred relationship where God is present. It is the call of Christian families to turn into the temple of God. "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God’s field, God's building.” (1Corinthians 3:9)
• Family - A School - Family as the basic unit of society and church is responsible for the proper faith formation. “Parents are the principal and first educators of their children.” (CCC 1653)

Our core values

Respect

Love

Generosity

Patience

Forgiveness

Hope

Peace

Family Apostolate

“Family is on a journey, and the church should accompany the family on its journey through life” (FC # 65). Family Apostolate is the mission of the church for the family which aims at building and fostering a culture where the sanctity and dignity of every human life from conception to natural death is upheld and respected. It promotes the natural family based on marriage the fundamental human institution defined by a lifetime union between one man and one woman that is open to life.

Family pastoral services, therefore, should accompany the family according to their stages or ages throughout its journey and the Church’s pastoral action must be progressive (FC # 65).  Family Apostolate involves preparing the future and present families according to their stages of life at different levels of the Church ministry.

Family and Marriage Coordinators during a meeting in Kwekwe

Zimbabwe's delegation during the World Meeting of Families in Rome