Chinhoyi: In a vibrant national workshop held over the weekend, temporarily professed religious sisters, brothers, and priests across Zimbabwe were called to embrace hope and embody the charism of their congregations in their daily lives. Organized by the Conference of Major Religious Superiors (CMRS) in Zimbabwe, the gathering focused on nurturing vocations, fostering accountability, and encouraging young religious to become pillars of renewal within their communities.
The three-day workshop, held from September 12 to 14, 2025, at the Chinhoyi Pastoral Centre, attracted over 100 young religious participants from a wide range of congregations. The event was designed to deepen understanding of the Evangelical Counsels and to inspire participants to live lives marked by moral integrity, transparency, and accountability, while actively contributing to the Church’s mission during the Jubilee Year of Hope.
During a solemn Mass celebrating the participants’ vocations, Father Talent Narugwe, a Franciscan Capuchin formator, urged the young religious not to be anxious but to build a firm foundation in Christ. Speaking to Zimbabwe’s online publication Newspack, Fr. Narugwe explained that such national gatherings for temporarily professed religious are typically held every two years. They serve as platforms for networking, interaction, and solidarity among different congregations, strengthening the bonds within Zimbabwe’s Church community.
The workshop’s central theme, “Young Religious, Arise and Be Pilgrims of Hope,” resonated as a call for young religious to act as active agents of hope and renewal. Sr. Theresa Mafuta of the Holy Cross Sisters, who served as the main facilitator, encouraged participants to ignite hope within their communities, reminding them of the Jubilee Year’s message of optimism and spiritual renewal. “During this workshop, we explored religious life and the hope it embodies, as emphasised by Pope Francis when he announced the Jubilee Year. We discussed what this means for young people today,” Sr. Mafuta said.
Participants were challenged to live lives worthy of their calling, grounded in accountability, transparency, and moral integrity. Through interactive sessions, group reflections, and shared experiences, the workshop sought to reinforce the commitment of temporarily professed religious to their congregations while empowering them to respond positively to the needs of their communities.
The CMRS hopes that such initiatives will not only strengthen the personal growth of young religious but also inspire them to become catalysts of hope, service, and renewal within Zimbabwe and beyond. As the Jubilee Year of Hope continues, workshops like this aim to cultivate a generation of religious leaders who are spiritually grounded, socially responsible, and unwavering in their dedication to the Church’s mission.