Almighty and everlasting God, who didst enkindle the flame of thy love in the heart of thy holy martyr Bernard Mizeki: Grant to us, thy humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in his triumph may profit by his example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
A Prayer for the Feast Day of Bernard Mizeki
Posted in Uncategorized
I’m so glad that this still little-known feast day is gradually gaining more attention and being more widely kept. For Bernard Mizeki represents a kind of Christian worker that is almost unknown in the US, but is the backbone of African Anglicanism, the dedicated lay catechist. North American Anglicans often fail to realize how severe is the clergy shortage in Africa, but the vast majority of Anglicans in Africa are cared for faithfully most of the time by lay catechists like Mizeki, while the clergy (spread terribly thin) show up occasionally to supplement their pastoral work.
This year, it’s great that the celebration can be even happier since the long schism in the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe is finally over. Gratefully, the notorious crook and corrupt bishop Kunonga has finally been ousted. Thanks be to God for the life and faithful witness of his loyal servant Bernard Mizeki, and for the countless faithful lay Anglicans in Zimbabwe who continue to suffer gladly for the sake of the Savior they love.
David Handy+
Once again it is great to remember six consecutive pilgrimages with truckloads of our Banket Parish parishioners to the annual Feast Day of Bernard at the site of his mission and martyrdom near Marondera in the Diocese of Mashonaland/Harare. The crisp winter mornings with a thousand campfires on the hillsides with the all-night drumming, hymn singing and lay testimonies, yes and don’t forget the kudoo horn solos. Wow, it was a fine quality of fellowship for so very, very many. I loved the afternoon re-enactment of the catechist’s last days and the enthusiasm of the various secondary school drama teams who had the yearly privilege of staging the reproduction of the historic event.