Sunday Mass is at 8.30am at the Mission Church. Turn south at the Macheke crossroads robot 6km along a new tar road. The normal times for Divine Office on weekdays are: Vigils 5.00am, Lauds 6.40am, Mass 7.00m, Terce 10.15am, Sext 12.45pm, None 2.00pm, Vespers 5.00pm, Compline 8.00pm. Everyone is welcome, but note that these times are subject to change. Days of Reflections and Open Retreats 2023:
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March 4 Day of Reflection 1 Fr Barnabas St Benedict and Monastic Life
• March 24-26 Weekend 1 Preparing for Easter
• April 15 Day of Reflection 2 Br Placid Sacred Reading
• May 6 Day of Reflection 3 Fr Terence The Liturgy of the Hours
• June 3 Day of Reflection 4 Fr Cuthbert Community Life
• July 8 Day of Reflection 5 Fr Barnabas St Benedict and Work
• July 21-23 Weekend 2
• August 5 Day of Reflection 6 Br Placid St Benedict and Obedience
• September 2 Day of Reflection 7 Fr Terence St Benedict and Silence
• September 22-24 Weekend 3
• October 7 Day of Reflection 8 Fr Wulstan Poverty and Chastity
• November 4 Day of Reflection 9 Fr Wulstan Personal Prayer
• November 24-26 Weekend 4
• December 2 Day of Reflection 10 Fr Cuthbert Spiritual Accompaniment
All these days and weekends are open to all, but you must book in advance. There is no specific charge, but donations are welcome. Historical background: In 1992 a conference of Southern African Benedictines held at Chishawasha seminary outside Harare raised the possibility of having Benedictine monks in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean Bishops went on to invite the monastery of Ampleforth in the North of England to found a monastery in Zimbabwe. The neighbouring Precious Blood sisters offered a building in their grounds at Monte Cassino mission near Macheke as an initial location and thus the Monastery of Christ the Word was founded in 1996. The main work in any monastery is the Mass and the regular prayer services (the Divine Office). In addition to Mass we meet together seven times a day to pray in our Church. Each day we spend time reading the bible slowly and prayerfully (we call this lectio divina), and we have a good library. Like most Roman Catholic monasteries we follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. This Rule was written in the about 1500 years ago to share the wisdom that Saint Benedict had gained through many years of living the monastic life himself. It is a way of living the Gospel vocation to grow in the love of Christ so that we may share in his kingdom. Prayer, lectio divina, manual work and attending to the needs of our guests fill our days. We also go out to lead retreats for diocesan clergy, religious communities and other groups. At the Monastery we grow a lot of our own food, fruit and vegetables as well as raising our own livestock. We have goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. We also do our own cooking, cleaning, washing and general monastery maintenance. During the main meal of the day we listen quietly to a reading. In the spirit of Pope Francis’ letter Laudato Si‘ we have solar cells for electricity and solar geysers for hot water. Father Robert was the first Prior (superior). In 2021 he was elected Abbot of Ampleforth in England, but while he was at Christ the Word he wrote a book on the pastoral care of those who are HIV Positive and one on the Theology of AIDS. There are four monks in the community at the moment: Father Barnabas is the Prior, and the other monks are Brother Placid (the subprior), Father Cuthbert and Father Terence. We aim for deeper understanding about the care of those in need in Zimbabwe, and to welcome people who would like to come for the day, or to stay for a retreat. This invitation is open to everyone, including priests, lay people, young and old. You can come for just a couple of days, or a week, or more. All our guests are welcome to join us for the Divine Office and Mass. We ensure that retreatants are given an hour or so with a member of the Community each day, for the duration of their stay. Retreat accommodation consists of a room to yourself and meals are provided. People remark on the peace, quiet and spirituality experienced on retreats. Should you wish to join us please ring, email or write to us giving the dates you would like (with alternatives if possible). We suggest a $15 a night donation but you can give more or less as you are able. We try to serve God by our prayer and work in the monastery. Our vow of Stability means that a monk normally spends his entire life in the same monastic Community meaning we invite you to spend time understanding your calling and getting to know us should you be interested in trying a vocation. Although we have no set requirements, we look for an ability to read, write and speak in English, which is the language of this Community, and good intelligence rather than particular academic standards. You should also have an aptitude for reading and learning as well as work, both manual and intellectual. It is important to note that, although some monks become priests, most do not. The monastic vocation is complete in itself and ordination is not the normal goal of monastic life. If, when you have taken advice and prayed about it, you feel drawn to monastic life, you should write to the Director of Vocations, (at Monastery of Christ the Word, Monte Cassino Mission, P Bag 902, Macheke, Zimbabwe) or call 077 283 1827 or email Fr Barnabas at [email protected] asking to come and see us or stay with us for a time. Brother Placid Mavura, the first Zimbabwean to take his final vows, came to the monastery in January 2007 and made his solemn profession seven years later in 2014. We look forward to the time when, God willing, the Monastery of Christ the Word will be an entirely Zimbabwean community.
