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Harare, capital de Zimbabwe Harare, capital of Zimbabwe Harare, Hauptstadt von Zimbabwe |
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Edificios en el centro Building in the center Bürogebäude im Zentrum |
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Noche Africana African Night Abendstimmung |
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Victoria Falls, cerca de Harare Victoria Falls, near Harare Victoria-Fälle bei Harare Fotos: Archiv © 2005 |
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Zimbabwe, Marlene Peter/mkf. Harare remains in chaos after a violent week of police and army raids during which nearly 23,000 people have been arrested and thousands of homes destroyed in what the government has called a clean-up operation. Thousands more residents of Zimbabwe's capital have been made homeless and are said to be fleeing to the countryside to escape the bulldozers that have razed their shantytown homes and shops. - Zimbabwe yesterday, June 2, said it did not need any international food aid, despite predictions of a humanitarian crisis with up to four million people at risk of famine. It was during this week of violence, suffering and injustice, on May 31st,. that the Schoenstatt family of Zimbabwe crowned Mary Queen of Africa, Queen of Zimbabwe,’ during a mass in St Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Braeside Harare.
This is the church where the Schoenstatt family first crowned Mary in 1981 and have continued to do so every year. This re–crowning was a promise they made as a birthday gift for Fr. Kentenich’s 100th birthday in 1985. They always begin preparation for the crowning with a nine week ‘Queen of Africa’ novena.
Down the road to Emmaus, down the road to hope and joy
The mass was concelebrated by four priests, Fr. Michael Hagan, who flew in especially from Cape Town, Fr. Meiring SJ, Fr. H. Mueller SJ and Fr. L McKenna SJ who has always been there to actually place the crown on the Blessed Mother’s picture. Although it was a cool evening the atmosphere inside the church was warm, like a family gathering (which in effect it was). It was the feast of the Visitation and the first reading was from the day. The Gospel was from St. John, The Road to Emmaus. Fr. Michael gave the homily which focussed on the Eucharist and its importance in our lives. Father Michael said we turn to Our Lady and her Son seeking peace, stability and justice in Africa as we re- crown her in this Eucharistic year. Pope John Paul’s encyclical gives solutions. He referred to chapter 13 of St. John’s gospel as the core of this year: The Last Supper, where Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and gives them a new commandment ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ He quoted Henry Nouwen saying that if we wanted to be renewed we had to renew gratitude and amazement in the Eucharist. Are we still able to stand in wonder and awe at this gift in the midst of the difficulties we face? The story of the Road to Emmaus speaks of loss, presence, invitation and communion. It tells us of a movement from resentment to gratitude. We need to affirm this every moment of our daily lives The story ends with joy. We want to be hopeful.
Queen of Zimbabwe, give us peace…
Fr. Michael reminded them that Our Blessed Mother was with tehm in every circumstance of their lives, in all their needs and suffering. They lit their candles and prayed for each country in Africa proclaiming Her their Queen. Queen of Burundi – give Burundi peace… Queen of Ivory Coast – give peace to the victims of the massacre in Duekoue… Queen of Senegal, work the miracle and let one of the young Schoenstatt people participate in World Youth Day… Queen of Congo, let Schoenstatt grow… Queen of Angola, let the seeds of Schoenstatt sown from Portugal bear abundant fruit…
‘Queen of Zimbabwe, Accept our homage and love.’ Then they sang their crowning hymn which was composed in Zimbabwe by Fr. George Carry SJ in 1980 especially for the first Queen of Africa coronation which took place in South Africa.