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Profile

Loreto Mission

The Mission was establised 1944

Mission Profile

To be a Catholic Church living in communion and participating in the Mission of Christ for the salvation of all.

THE HISTORY OF LORETO MISSION AND SCHOOLS

The Dominican Sisters opened Loreto Mission in 1944 it was the first Mission in Rhodesia founded by a women's Religious order. Father Boechnhoff 1944-1948 the first chaplain of the sisters did a great deal of work he started the roots of faith although he was not really a Parish Priest. He was replaced by fr Whiteside in 1948 up to 1953. This is the time father Winterhalder came in as relief Priest and he ended up relieving for 25 years. Fr White told Fr Winterhalder "Some go to Hell and others go to Loreto". This somehow echoes how hard it was to work at Loreto Mission it needed both faith and courage and Fr Winter had both.

Listed below is Priest Movement in summary

• 1944-1948 ; Fr Boechknoff

• 1948-1953; Fr Whiteside

  • 1978-1995

• Fr Machikicho

• Fr Nyatsanza

• Fr Hugo

• Fr Baetig

• Fr Stoffel

  • 1996-2022

• Fr Inaheu 1996-1998

• Fr Mafoko 1999-2001

• Fr J Ngun'u 2001-2003

• Fr Mabhachi 2003-2005

• Fr Muguti 2005-2007

• Fr Muvhuro 2008-2010

• Fr Musoni

• Fr Maramwidze

• Fr Masuna 2014-2015

• Fr Saga 2015 -current

The entire above Priest did a splendid job they were very devoted in shaping Loreto Mission. It goes without say if Brother Anthony is not mentioned; he was a Brother of religious order. He was not a Monk .He was called by Christ to be a Missionary that means he was called by Christ to leave his home country Switzerland to come to the people of this country. He contributed a lot to the Loreto Mission.

Loreto Mission Schools

As far as 1947, when fr Boeckenhoff was replaced by fr Whiteside there was already a vision to start a school for the deaf and dumb. The background of this school was the desire to do something for the poor such was the desire of the Dominican sisters who initiated the opening of the school; Sister Auxilia 1947. Sister Eusebia an experienced teacher of the deaf and dumb children arrived at Loreto during this time of need.

In 1948, a new classroom block was built with much blackboard space The children learnt art and craft ; girls did sewing while the boys learnt to make fibre bags.By 1959, the number of deaf and dumb had risen to 48 and there were 5 teachers running the programme.The Dominican Sisters were of tremendous devotedness to the development of Loreto Mission education.It should be mentioned that it was not only the sisters but also men lie Mr Dunu,Mr Mahlangu ,Mesina and Mr Ndlovu who made life at the Mission possible.

Loreto Primary opened its doors for learning in 1945 by 1950; Loreto Primary had reached a very high standard, sister Cora was in charge. In 1955 a domestic Science room for the Primary was built and other structures like Sisters' Convents and father house were built. At this point there were 400 children in the Mission school. Currently the Head of Loreto Primary is Sr Konzai an SJI sister the SJI. The SJI have contributed immensely in the Pastoral work sister Rukasha recently at Loreto Mission just to mention a few.

When Loreto School was closed during the war of Liberation, it never dawned to anyone’s mind that it would be re-opened. In the middle of 1979 a ceasefire was agreed upon between the colonial forces and the forces of liberation. Many Zimbabwean refugees returned home. Loreto became a refugee centre for Zimbabwean refugees from Mozambique. Practically all the buildings including classrooms were used as living accommodations.

However, in 1981 there was a twist of events. Loreto High School was re-opened as a co-educational school under the headship of Mr I. Maposa. Credit must be given to him who through personal sacrifice and dedication was courageous enough to start from scratch. Very few of us would have done the same thing. There was nothing in terms of equipment, no beds for the pupils to sleep on, no desks or chairs, no teacher’s tables or chairs. Indeed, it was a rough time for Mr Maposa. In terms of the students, they were massively collected from all corners. Quality was not very much put into consideration. Most of the students were products of the war. Some of them had been out of school for many years. The students themselves were therefore problematic. Discipline was very difficult to maintain. Besides this, qualified teachers were difficult to come by. It goes without saying therefore, that 1981 was a trying moment in the history of Loreto High School.

1982 saw the arrival of three Zimbabwean Religious Brothers of the Sacred Heart (Bro. S. F. Mpondi, Bro. A. Zvaiwa and J. Chisamba) and an ex-patriate parish priest namely Father Stoffel. Their arrival was boost to the school. As they assumed different responsibilities the tone of the school changed drastically. Brother S. F. Mpondi and A. Zvaiwa assumed the roles of Deputy Headmaster and Librarian respectively. Brother Chisamba was still a university student at the University College of Rhodesia.

In 1982 also saw the influx of lay qualified staff into Loreto. There were at the same time some physical developments at the school. Desks and chairs were acquired for the students. The school library began to function. Thanks to the generous people of America and the United Kingdom who donated countless books to the school. In 1983 a couple of projects were embarked upon. The school block was repainted; teachers’ tables and students’ beds were bought. The school also bought itself a new vehicle.

Other giant, developmental strides were made between 1984 and 1986. School hostels were repainted and renovated. During the same period our boys acquired new dining hall tables. In 1985 it was no longer necessary for the students to bring their own cutlery. The school provided for them. A new boiler was installed. The old outside kitchen had to be abandoned. Now it is used in case of emergency. The old cool-room was also renovated and a new system installed. 1985 saw the depature of our headmaster Mr I. Maposa who had reached retirement age. He was replaced by Bro. Mpondi as Acting Head.

Loreto School Heads

  • 1981-2022

• Mr Maphosa

• Mr Makamure

• Bro Mpondi

• Mr Taguta

• Mrs Maphosa

• Bro Mapiravana (current)

Loreto High School has made significant strides in the past two decades towards infrastructural development and improving living conditions. The new administration block is a dream that came true between 1999 and 2001.

The year 2005 saw the following improvements:

-purchase of a school bus from Chikozho Bus Services. This was complemented by the purchase of a 22 seater mini bus in 2013.

-Construction of flash toilets to replace blair toilets to improve hygiene

-building of three teachers houses

2016 recorded remarkable developments around the school as durawalls were built around the girls and boys hostels. Ancillary staff houses adjacent to the kitchen were renovated and extended. The flash toilets and form 3 classes got tiled to further improve standards at the institution.

Remarkable miles were achieved in the year 2017 as a variety of projects undertaken came to fruition. The school in the early part of 2017 installed white boards in all classes and an e-learning centre in line with the new curriculum. The tarring and paving of the main road and school pathways respectively followed to cement the resolve for development. In what can be regarded as the greatest leaf undertaken by the school, there was with the help of BancABC the construction of the great school hall.

  • Further developments have been achieved to date and they include:

• Installation of drip irrigation in all gardens

• Paving using quarry to limit dust

• Construction of a green house

• Purchase of dairy cows

• Fencing of the 40 hectare field for maximum production

• Building of fish ponds

• Renovation of the poultry section to accommodate 10 000 birds

• Banana plantation

  • Loreto mission Orphanage

Loreto Mission Orphanage is run by Dominican sister Julia Lenze OP which was started in 1995 by then it had more than 40 children. Sr Julia is passionate in taking care of the less privileged children and the poor. She looks after them with love and care. She provides their basic needs such as education, food, clothing and a peaceful home.

Sr Fadzai a health professional retired from Silobela Hospital in 2021, she is a devoted sister who also has a tender heart for the needy.

Sr Mary Jasi a teacher recently joined Loreto Community.

Generally from 1985 up to 2022 so many Dominican sisters have been coming to serve Loreto Mission in different Apostolates.