FR ABBOT visited the Monastery of Christ the Word from about 28 January to 4 February 2008.

On 22 April 2008, Christian leaders in Zimbabwe issued a statement which read: If nothing is done to help the people of Zimbabwe from their predicament, we shall soon be witnessing genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hotspots in Africa and elsewhere"

Miscellaneous

Home

THE MONASTERY OF CHRIST THE WORD in Zimbabwe is a monastic  foundation of Ampleforth; it is a dependent monastic house under the Abbot of Ampleforth. This monastic house in Zimbabwe is the third overseas foundation made from Ampleforth since the community arrived at Ampleforth Lodge in December 1802: first, in 1912 a monastic community was founded in Calgary, Canada, but this venture lasted only a few months; second, in 1955 a foundation was made at St Louis in Missouri, and this became an independent monastery in 1973; and now, thirdly, in 1996, the monastic foundation in Zimbabwe of Christ the Word.  

The monastic foundation in 1996 of Christ the Word in Zimbabwe was made in response to a request and invitation from the Bishop's Conference of Zimbabwe to the Abbot of Ampleforth, and after discussion in the Ampleforth monastic community, Abbot Patrick Barry founded this community. The purpose of this foundation was to establish a monastery to live the monastic life of prayer and community in an African context. The monastery would not be involved either in parish work or in education, but would be a witness to the monastic vocation. Retreats, especially retreats for the clergy, would be undertaken - the community give retreats both in the monastic house and elsewhere in southern Africa. The monastery receives visitors who come to live temporarily and as guests the monastic life. In a letter on the charitable work on the monastery quoted at more length below, Fr Robert writes; “Our primary task is to root monastic life and tradition in the soil of Zimbabwe and to foster young vocations. Our life of prayer must never be allowed to be seen as anything less than an authentic reaching out to the poor. Our fidelity to monastic life is our first and most abiding gift to the needs of Zimbabwe.” The monastery is situated about 70 miles South-East of Harare, near the small town of Macheke, on a site called Monte Casino - this is also the site of the convent of the Precious Blood Sisters and a girls school run by the Sisters of the Precious Blood. 

Over 11 years, ten Ampleforth monks have been resident at the monastery of Christ the Word and atleast another 14 have visited the community. Currently there are four professed monks, one novice and one postulant. The Prior of the Monastery is FR ROBERT IGO. Other professed monks are FR ALBAN CROSSLEY, FR RICHARD ffIELD (A59) and FR BARNABAS PHAM.  When visiting the monastery in 2008, Fr Abbot clothed On 31 January 2008, Abbot Cuthbert Madden clothed as a novice Denis Dinala from Gweru in Zimbabwe with the monastic name BR JOSEPH DINALA.  In addition there is one postulant [ie. a person living in the pre-novice time in the community].

Conventual life began in the Autumn of 1996- two groups arrived from Ampleforth: first, in October 1996, Fr Robert Igo, Fr Barnabas Pham [Fr Bede Leach came also and temporarily to help in the opening weeks] and secondly, in November 1996, Fr Alexander McCabe and Fr Colin Battell [now Fr Prior at Ampleforth). Thus the original founding community in 1996 consisted of Fr Robert Igo as Prior, Fr Alexander McCabe, Fr Barnabas Pham and Fr Colin Battell. Other monks who have lived at the monastery of Christ the Word are FR CHRISTOPHER GORST (O65) [1999-2004] [Prior] and BR BRUNO TA

Abbot Patrick Barry (W35), Abbot Timothy Wright (T62) and Abbot Cuthbert Madden, the three Abbots involved in the founding and early years of this community, have all visited in turn the monastery regularly, normally once a year. Other Ampleforth monks who have visited the Monastery of Christ the Word are Bishop Ambrose Griffiths (A46), Fr Bede Leach, Fr Benet Perceval (W34), Fr Henry Wansbrough (W35), Fr Benedict Webb (A38), Fr Mark Butlin (O49), Fr Dunstan Adams, Fr Bonaventure Knollys (C53), Fr Gabriel Everitt, Fr Luke Beckett, Fr Chad Boulton, Fr Edwin Cook, Fr Rainer Verbourg and probably a few others.

FR ROBERT IGO, the Prior of the Monastery of Christ the Word, wrote in 2007 to Face-Faw at Ampleforth [exact date not on the letter] about the charitable work of the monastery.

An edited version of his letter is printed below:

Fr Robert begins by expressing “our deep gratitude” to those who “support us and our different works”.  “In his encyclical 'Deus Caritas Est' the Holy Father made clear: ‘Love of neighbour, grounded in the love of God, is first and foremost a responsibility for each individual member of the faithful..' (n20).

On the question on the policy of charity by Christ the Word, Fr Robert writes: “The community has discussed has discussed this topic thoroughly so as to be clear how we should best minister to those in need and be accountable for the gifts that others have placed in our care.  St Benedict in the Rule makes clear that we should welcome the poor (Rule of St Benedict 53.15) and treat all guests as standing in the place of Christ (RB 53.1). Once again the Holy Father alluded to the spirit of monastic hospitality when he wrote: 'In his encounter face to face with God who is love, the monk senses the impelling need to transform his whole life into service of neighbour, in addition to service of God' (n40). There is however great need for discretion and prudence”.

Fr Robert explains the role of Christ the Word ion Zimbabwe: “The community, while recognising our need to reach out in compassion to those most in need, are conscious that we have not been invited to Zimbabwe to yet one more 'Aid Agency'.  Christian charity, as Pope Benedict writes: 'is first of all the simple response to the immediate need and specific situations (31). This proper way of serving others also leads to humility... In the end we are only instruments in the Lord's hands: and this knowledge frees us from the presumption of thinking that we alone are personally responsible for building a better world. In all humility we will do what we can, and in all humility we will entrust the rest to the Lord (35)'. With this in mind we have sought advice from the country representative of CAFOD and the Archdiocesan Director of Development.

Our primary task is to root monastic life and tradition in the soil of Zimbabwe and to foster young vocations. Our life of prayer must never be allowed to be seen as anything less than an authentic reaching out to the poor. Our fidelity to monastic life is our first and most abiding gift to the needs of Zimbabwe. That being said we need to find a balance between administering the generous gifts that you provide and watching work does not become a major and time consuming enterprise.  In the spirit of 'Deus Caritas Est' we respond to 'immediate need' and this we can do by seeking to serve local needs in five specific areas: agricultural projects, hunger relief, school fees, medical assistance, retreats for those living with HIV and AIDS, and other specific needs”

Fr Robert then outlines in detail these five specific areas.  First, on agricultural projects, he writes that most aid is spent on seed and fertilizer, and that over 100 families were helped in a year. Secondly, on hunger relief, Christ the Word makes a monthly distribution of basic foodstuffs to ten families in the local parish – and in winter, it provides blankets. Thirdly, on school fees, Christ the Word helps ninety young people with their education, from primary school to university. As with some many goods and services the cost of fees continues to rise – “at the end of each term we ask to see the academic report, so there is indication that the money is used productively (We withdrew funding for one term for one pupil doing A levels who had been absent but he has redeemed himself)”.  Fourthly, on medical assistance, Fr Robert writes that increasingly young people, perhaps five a day, come for medical help, either medication or a visit to a hospital – “the vast majority of those who come are of course HIV positive”.  Fifthly, Christ the Word helps to fund retreats, especially for those with HIV or their carers – these are valued by providing a break with routine for a few days, by providing a time when “fears can be shared and discussed openly”, and by putting their difficulties in a spiritual context

This letter as summarised above was sent in 2007 from Fr Robert Igo to Face-Faw at Ampleforth