Golden Jubilee For Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference FOREWORD Celebrating a golden jubilee is a significant milestone for every individual or organization as this chronicles a journey travelled with joys, trials and tribulations. Indeed, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. What started as a five men band in the then Rhodesia has grown to form a conference of Bishops in Zimbabwe. With Archbishop Francis Markall SJ of Harare, and Bishops Aloysius Haene SMB - Gweru, Adolph Schmitt CMM Bulawayo, Donal Lamont O.Carm - Mutare and Ignatius Prieto SMI - Hwange as the founding fathers, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC) now comprises of eight Bishops after the creation of the other Dioceses of Chinhoyi, Gokwe and Masvingo. The Conference of Bishops is responsible for shepherding the Catholic Church in Zimbabwe. Bishops in union with and in subordination to the Pope, serve the people of their own Dioceses with ordinary jurisdiction and authority and the Conference serves as the co-ordinating body meant to administer the work of the local Church. ZCBC was constituted by Roman Decree on Ist October 1969 and Bishop Alois Haene was the first President. ZCBC is a member of the Inter Regional Meeting of Bishops in Southern Africa (IMBISA). This regional body is in turn a member of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). Together we are all members of the Universal, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Over the years ZCBC has had many developments that witness to its evangelisation. Its establishment contributed to the common good especially the advancement of the dignity of humanity. Commissions such as the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Caritas, Education, Health, Social Communications, Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, Marriage Tribunal, Pontifical Mission Societies and the Pastoral Centre were formed to drive the mission of the Church under ZCBC. Their establishment makes sure that the Church contributes in defending human rights, provision of education, health delivery, humanitarian assistance, pastoral work, and enabling a ritual communication in society. ZCBC promotes integral human development, based on the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. iii