The Catholic Diocese of Gweru is in the Ecclesiastical Province of the Archdiocese of Bulawayo as the Metropolitan under Zimbabwe Episcopal Conference in the IMBISA region. The Diocese is made up of the following areas: Gweru, Kwekwe, Chirumhanzu, Zvishavane, Mberengwa, Serima, Silobela, Shurugwi and Zhombe. The Gweru Diocese is part of the country which was named Rhodesia before it changed to Zimbabwe upon attaining of independence in 1980. It was administered by the Jesuit Fathers who arrived from South Africa through Fort Victoria in 1890 with members of the Pioneer Column. This missionary attempt did not last long as it only was for five years.

The first step towards the creation of a Diocese seriously started in 1938 with the arrival of the Bethlehem Fathers from Switzerland. The Bethlehem Fathers worked in various places with the Jesuits. In 1940, Gokomere and Silveira were formally handed to the care of the Bethlehem Fathers. The territory of the Bethlehem fathers increased steadily with the founding of Driefontein mission in 1906, St Joseph’s Hama 1913, Holy Cross 1914, Mukaro in 1945 and Serima in 1948. Monsignor A. Haene started a Minor Seminary at St Joseph’s Hama in 1948 and put Fr. J. Reich in charge.

On 14 November 1949, a Prefecture Apostolic of Fort Victoria (Arcis Victoriae) was erected under the Bethlehem Missionary Society. A Reformatory school for boys at Muvonde in Driefontein was established in 1950. Fr. Aloysius Haene was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Fort Victoria from the Apostolic Vicariate of Zimbabwe. A Novitiate for African Sisters (Sisters of the infant Jesus SJI) at Silveira Mission was started in 1950. The Novitiate was under the direction of Sr. Theresina, a Dominican.

On 24 June 1950, by the Apostolic Constitution in Arcis Victoriae Praefectura, Mgr. Haene was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Fort Victoria. The 1950s witnessed an enormous expansion of secondary schools at most missions. In 1950, a Nursing Training School was founded under the Dominican Sisters at Silveria Mission. The following year saw the establishment of Bondolfi.

In 1953, the boundaries under the Bethlehem fathers significantly changed. The years that came thereafter saw the consolidation in missionary work in the Vicariate of Fort Victoria. Institutions and structures meant to help in evangelization such as schools and hospitals were now in place.

The Apostolic Vicariate of Fort Victoria, operating from Gokomere was now elevated to the Diocese of Gwelo (Guelensis). Monsignor Alois Haene became the first Bishop. On 1 January 1955 Bishop A. Haene took up his seat as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Gwelo. From its creation to date the diocese has founded 36 missions and these can be seen on the diocesan map.

Since its erection as a Diocese, Gweru has had six Bishops. Bishop Haene was the first and he retired after twenty-seven years of service. He retired and took residence at the Sisters of the Infant Jesus Mother House in Driefontein, a congregation he had founded. Bishop Haene was succeeded by Bishop Tobias Wunganai Chiginya in 1977. Bishop Chiginya founded the Local Brotherhood at Serima in 1977. In 1984, Bishop Chiginya moved to Kopje Road 77 and the Brothers of St Paul moved to the Bishop’s House at the farm located at the present St Severino. Bishop Chiginya did not inherit a poor church financially and materially. All he did was to maintain what was already there. Lay people became very active in many parishes within the diocese.

On 25 June 1982 the Gwelo Diocese was renamed Gweru Diocese, a name it has used up to the present day. After the death of Bishop Chiginya, he was succeeded by Bishop Francis Mugadzi on 14 January 1989. Among so many achievements by Bishop Mugadzi was the division of the Diocese of Gweru on 24 April 1999. One part remained as the Diocese of Gweru and the other one on the southern part named the diocese of Masvingo. Bishop Mugadzi died in 2004 and on 11 May 2006 Bishop Martin Munyanyi was consecrated Bishop of the Diocese of Gweru. Due to illness in 2011, Bishop Munyanyi resigned. On 14 September 2013, Bishop Xavier Munyongani succeeded him as the Bishop of the Diocese of Gweru. On 15 October 2017, Bishop Munyongani died and the Roman Pontiff appointed Bishop Michael Dixson Bhasera, the then Bishop of the Diocese of Masvingo to be the Apostolic Administrator of Gweru. On the 11th of September 2020, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Gweru and was installed on the 24th of October 2020.

As other Dioceses, Gweru is headed by a local bishop who operates with the help of the Diocesan Curia, Board of Consultors, Priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters. Among the Religious Sisters are the Sisters of the Child Jesus (SJI), Dominican Sisters (OP) and Maryward Sisters (CJ). Among the religious male congregations, the Diocese is served by the Brothers of the St Paul and Sacred Heart Brothers.

The Diocese has embarked on the projects of Shrine (Driefontein Mission) and Pastoral Centre (Bulawayo Road) constructions. Also, under the banner of becoming a self-reliant church the Diocese of Gweru embarked on a major project, THE CATHEDRAL SERVICE STATION AND FOOD COURT.

Right Rev. Bishop Aloysius Haene

First Bishop of Gweru Diocese (1955- 1977)

Right Rev. Bishop Tobias Wunganai Chiginya

Second Bishop of Gweru Diocese (1977- 1987)

Right Rev. Bishop Francis Xavier Mugadzi

Third Bishop of Gweru Diocese (1988- 2004)

Very Rev. Fr. Alphonse Mapfumo

Diocesan Administrator (2004-2006)

Right Rev. Bishop Martin Munyanyi

Fourth Bishop of Gweru Diocese (2006- 2012)

Right Rev. Bishop Michael D. Bhasera

Apostolic Administrator (2012-2013 & 2017-2020)

Right Rev. Bishop Xavier Munyongani

Fifth Bishop of Gweru Diocese (2013- 2017)

Right Rev. Bishop Rudolf Nyandoro

Sixth Bishop of Gweru Diocese (2020- to date)