By Misheck Gondo
His life is worthy of
a celebration! The time he lived on
earth was capacious for every member of the church. He was known for having ample time to satisfy
the spiritual void of the faithful. Well known as Baba Zvararevashe of
the Society of Jesus; a religious order of the Catholic Church, whose priests and
members are called Jesuits. His given name Ignatius is not a spiritual
coincident; he was ordained as a priest within the order of the religion
founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
His life is worthy of
a celebration! The time he lived on
earth was capacious for every member of the church. He was known for having ample time to satisfy
the spiritual void of the faithful. Well known as Baba Zvararevashe of
the Society of Jesus; a religious order of the Catholic Church, whose priests and
members are called Jesuits. His given name Ignatius is not a spiritual
coincident; he was ordained as a priest within the order of the religion
founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Ignatius M. Zvarevashe
worked as a pastoral priest for 38 years in Chinhoyi and Harare dioceses in
Zimbabwe and as an Assistant Novice Director for two years in Zambia. In November 2019, he celebrated 50th anniversary as a Jesuit and 40 years as a priest. He will
also be remembered as a man of intellectual propriety and decorum, spiritual
stamina and teaching- proficiency and a perfectionist. He did his theological
studies at Heythrop College in London and at the Gregorian Pontifical
University in Rome. A member of the Marian Movement; one of his zeal was to
unpack the importance of Mary Mother of Jesus to Catholics and non-Catholics. In
one of his books, “Mariya Amai VaJesu Naamai Vedu”, he chronicled
the sanctity, the importance, the respect Mary deserves and the truth about her
and why Catholic Church gives Mary such an honor.
Born in Gutu on December 15, 1943, Fr.
Zvarevashe, a veteran and prolific author, a transformational teacher whose
realm of influence permeated beyond the jurisdiction of the catholic church. There
is an adage that says, ‘writing is not only a cup of knowledge to those with
wisdom, but a legacy for generations.’ Fr. Ignatius wrote several novels, and
spirituals books, some of them include:
Authentic Inculturation and Reconciliation: A Catholic Perspective, A
Short Investigation of The Catholic Church: From the Council of Jerusalem to
The Council of Trent, Marwadzo neMbiri YaJesu Kristu, Kurauone, Tsumo,
Chimbo naMadimikira, Tsumo, zvirevo
zvechimbo, namadimikira : (mangadza avaera shiri kuramba hungwe huku vachidya),
Museve wade nyama, Gonawapotera, Ngano dzinozipa dzapasichigare, Gwararenhamo,
and Dzinza ravagovera vaChirumhanzu Namutasa. He has also penned a number
of articles in English, published in Moto, Hekima Review, Afer, Catholic Chuch News, and
Mukai-Vukani.
His teachings were
based on spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction, he has been
known as man of thoughtful and constructive criticism, in one of his books: “A
short Investigation of the Catholic Church” he concurred with Pope John Paul on
this question, “Where have we deviated from the Gospel” as he
re-opens Catholicism heated debate after the Second Vatican Council, he laid
down the past faults of the church and how the church can be guided by Holy
Spirit to correct the wrongs.
His homilies called for the people to
repentance, conversion, humility, and growth in a spirit of trust in God's
Mercy. Through-out his teachings, he
made sure everyone, regardless of age or level of literacy could understand the
word of God. His famous style of calling the congregants to repeat after his
important words-for mastery, for example, “Kuzvidukupisa, Kuzvidukupisa,
Kuzvidukupisa”. He was a student of unfathomable Divine Mercy, he
allowed in his lifetime for the message of divine mercy to reach the ordinary
people.
The Author of this
Article had a double-leveled privilege to interface with Fr. Zvarevashe in the
two dioceses, Chinhoyi at St. Boniface Mission, where the deceased
served as a priest and his last pastoral
assignment at St Francis Xavier Parish Braeside-which sub-houses St. Martins.
He always unveiled himself to parishioners for personal, family or community
prayers, even the time he was in great agony, he could attend his daily
obligations, on his last days suffering from cancer, a resemblance of St.
Ignatius of Loyola.
His deep
understanding and great command of the Shona language was amazing! He loved traditional food
too. A week before his sad departure from mother-earth, at St. Martins Parish,
the famous Hosi Yedenga (Maria Guild) had prepared his loved
dish, a hamper full of copious-cuisines. In the consummation of time, only to receive
the sad news that the spiritual legend has left the troubled world, going to where the Christians describe as the
real or final home. His life is a life
of legacy, his knowledge of scripture shall be remembered, he left us with a positive challenge, a call to perfect our ways
through humility (Kuzvidukupisa), love (Rudo), Confession (Rupinduko)
and intricate love of God (Kuda Mwari zvakanyanya). As Fr. Ignatius Padya said through his obituary assertion, "You are now a saint of God in heaven"
May Your Soul Rest
in Eternal Peace.
(John 16:22:
"Therefore you too have grief now, but I will see you again, and your
heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you…”)
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