Archbishop Robert Ndlovu blesses the oils during the Chrism Mass.
By Fr. Johnston Mlambo
From Palm Sunday processions to Chrism Mass celebrations across all dioceses, the Church in Zimbabwe has entered the sacred drama of Holy Week, where the blessing of the Holy Oils and the celebration of the Easter Triduum draw the faithful into the very heart of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection—the source of the Church’s life and mission.
From the bustling urban centres to the quiet rural missions, the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe has once again entered the solemn and sacred season of Holy Week, marked by vibrant liturgies, deep spiritual reflection, and a visible expression of faith across all dioceses.
Holy Week, central to the Christian faith, reveals the identity of the Church as a pilgrim people journeying towards their eternal homeland, celebrating the mystery of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection through some of the most profound liturgies of the Church year.
Palm Sunday: A Unified Beginning
On 29 March 2026, dioceses across Zimbabwe marked Palm Sunday, commemorating the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem.
In the Diocese of Masvingo, the liturgy at St Mary’s Cathedral was presided over by Rt Rev Bishop Raymond T. Mupandasekwa, while in Hwange, celebrations at St Ignatius Cathedral were led by Rt Rev Bishop Raphael Ncube. In the Diocese of Gokwe, Rt Rev Bishop Eusebius Nyathi presided over the Palm Sunday liturgy at St John’s Cathedral.
Across parishes nationwide, the faithful took part in processions and liturgical celebrations, publicly witnessing their faith and setting the tone for the sacred days ahead.
Chrism Mass: The Heart of Diocesan Unity
In the days that followed, dioceses across the country gathered for the Chrism Mass—one of the most significant liturgical celebrations of Holy Week, highlighting the unity of the Church around the bishop and the centrality of the sacraments.
In the Diocese of Mutare, the Chrism Mass was celebrated on 31 March 2026 at Holy Trinity Cathedral, where Rt Rev Bishop Paul Horan called for prayers for peace amid global conflicts and urged the faithful to embrace servant leadership in the spirit of Christ.
He also encouraged active participation in national processes, including the ongoing public hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, while calling the faithful to fully engage in the Easter Triduum.
The Theology of the Holy Oils
At the heart of the Chrism Mass across Zimbabwe lies the blessing and consecration of the Holy Oils—the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and the Sacred Chrism—each carrying profound theological meaning in the life of the Church.
These oils are not merely symbolic; they are sacramental signs through which Christ continues to act in His Church. Through them, the grace of the Holy Spirit touches the human person in concrete and transformative ways.
The Oil of Catechumens signifies strength and preparation. It is used to anoint those preparing for Baptism, marking the beginning of a spiritual struggle against sin and evil, and the readiness to enter new life in Christ.
The Oil of the Sick expresses Christ’s compassion for human suffering. Rooted in apostolic tradition, it is a sign of healing, consolation, and spiritual strength, reminding the faithful that Christ draws near in moments of pain and weakness.
The most solemn of all is the Sacred Chrism, consecrated by the bishop. This perfumed oil signifies the fullness of the Holy Spirit and participation in Christ Himself, the “Anointed One.”
Through Chrism, the faithful share in Christ’s priestly, prophetic, and kingly mission, called not to passive belonging, but to active participation in the Church’s life and mission.
Thus, the Holy Oils reveal a profound truth:
the Christian life is an anointed life—called, healed, strengthened, and sent.
A Growing Church in Harare
In the Archdiocese of Harare, thousands of faithful, alongside hundreds of priests and religious, gathered at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe for the Chrism Mass, presided over by Robert Christopher Ndlovu.
The large turnout once again necessitated the use of the university venue, as the Cathedral has for several years been unable to accommodate the growing number of participants.
“This is something deeply consoling. It tells us something very important: the Church is alive,” Archbishop Ndlovu said.
At the centre of the liturgy was the blessing and consecration of the Holy Oils, through which, he emphasised, “the grace of Christ touches countless lives.”
A Call to Service in Bulawayo
In the Archdiocese of Bulawayo, the Chrism Mass, presided over by Alex Thomas, brought together priests, religious, and lay faithful in a powerful expression of unity and mission.
Reflecting on Christ as the Anointed One, Archbishop Thomas reminded the faithful that this anointing is shared by all the baptised and is directed towards service.
He called on priests to renew their commitment with humility and dedication, while urging the laity to actively live out their faith by promoting peace, reconciliation, and hope.
Masvingo: A call to peace and faithfulness and walking the way of the Cross
In Masvingo, the Chrism Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral was marked by a solemn and prayerful atmosphere, with large numbers of clergy, religious, and faithful in attendance.
Rt Rev Bishop Raymond T. Mupandasekwa called for peace in a world marked by conflict:
“We are surrounded by what the Holy Father has called a ‘crucified humanity.’ To those engaged in war, Christ the King of Peace cries out to you from His Cross: God is love and mercy. Lay down your weapons and remember—you are brothers and sisters.”
The liturgy also included the renewal of priestly promises and a moment of remembrance for deceased clergy and faithful.
The faithful of the Diocese also entered deeply into the mystery of Christ’s Passion through a solemn Good Friday observance marked by prayer, reflection, and visible unity.
In a profound expression of faith, Rt Rev Bishop Raymond T. Mupandasekwa led priests, religious sisters and brothers, and the laity in the Way of the Cross (Nzira yeChipiyaniso) procession from Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral to the new St Mary’s Cathedral.
The faithful walked together in prayer, song, and meditation, reflecting on the suffering of Christ, with congregants taking turns to carry the Cross in a moving reenactment of Christ’s journey to Calvary.
This was followed by the Good Friday liturgy of the Passion of the Lord, structured in three parts: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the reception of Holy Communion.
Chinhoyi: A Church Sent to the Margins
In the Diocese of Chinhoyi, the Chrism Mass was presided over by Janusz Stanislaw Urbanczyk, who emphasised the missionary nature of the Church.
He called on priests to reach out to the most marginalised, while encouraging the laity to support their clergy through prayer, reinforcing the shared mission of the Church.
Hwange: reliving the first encounter with Christ
In the Diocese of Hwange, His Lordship Bishop Raphael Mabuza Ncube celebrated the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, at St Ignatius of Loyola Cathedral. The liturgy was a vibrant display of diocesan life, featuring the presentation of gifts from Holy Week pilgrims who traveled from all parishes and missions. During his homily, Bishop Ncube outlined three guiding pillars for a fulfilled ministerial life:
- Revelation: Reliving the first encounter with Christ to rekindle the priestly vocation.
- Revolution: Noting that revelation without an internal revolution remains incomplete.
- Resolution: The public reaffirmation where priests respond “I am” to serve the people of God.
The Easter Triduum: The Heart of the Mystery
Flowing from the Chrism Mass, the Church now enters the Easter Triduum—the most sacred time in the Christian calendar.
The Easter Triduum is the Church’s celebration of the Paschal Mystery—Christ’s Passion, Death, Burial, and Resurrection—and stands at the very centre of the liturgical year.
It is not three separate feasts, but one single mystery celebrated in stages.
It begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, continues through Good Friday, where the Church contemplates the Passion, and reaches its climax in the Easter Vigil, when the Resurrection is proclaimed.
Theologically, the Triduum makes present the saving events of Christ. What happened in history becomes a living reality in the life of the Church today.
It is a movement:
- from darkness to light,
- from death to life,
- from sin to grace.
The faithful are invited not merely to observe these mysteries, but to enter into them, allowing their lives to be transformed by the Risen Christ.
A Church on Mission
As Zimbabwean Catholics journey through Holy Week—from Palm Sunday to the Easter Vigil—the celebrations across dioceses reflect a Church alive in faith, united in worship, and committed to mission.
The liturgies not only commemorate the central mysteries of the Christian faith but also call the faithful to live out their identity as a people anointed in Christ—called to serve, to heal, and to proclaim the Good News.
In this sacred time, the Church in Zimbabwe stands as one, walking together in faith, hope, and love.