The congregation of the Missionary Daughters of Calvary was founded in Spain with a missionary character by explicit wish of Archbishop Benlloch, with whom our mother Foundress Maria Larrainzar had spoken and had suggested that the sisters cooperated with the newly founded Institute of Foreign Missions for priests (S.M.I) Archbishop Benlloch aftyer dialoguing with the Nuncio of His Holiness in Madrid, authorized the foundation of missionary Daughters of Calvary in Burgos.
Having oriented promotion missionary vocation in this line, the first group of Spanish sisters reached the country then called Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).
PROVINCE OF ZIMBABWE:
Zimbabwe is a country located in Southern Africa part, bordered to the north by Zambia, east by Mozambique, on the south by South Africa and west by Botswana.
It is a landlocked country with very rich soil, an area of 390,580 square kilometers and with the population of 12. 619,600 people approximately.
This country was previously known as Rhodesia. In the year 1950 some sisters arrived from Spain to found the first mission "Ad Gentes". They suffered during the war for independence struggle that got the liberty in 1980 and changed its name to Zimbabwe.
The Province of Zimbabwe was a delegation of Spain for 45. As the number of young people who entered the Congregation increased it became a Province in 1995. The Province has 18 communities. It is still young and is on the process of growth that still needs a major process in the formation of the sisters. We invite those men and women of generous hearts to assist us with funds to support us in the formation of our young sisters.
The sisters work in two Dioceses which are Hwange and Gokwe. They are 14 communities in Hwange and 4 in Gokwe.
Some years ago Gokwe Diocese was under Hwange Diocese. There are about seven tribes in the Diocese, which means in order to work in the town of Hwange Diocese one had to learn those dialects to know the culture of the place and to communicate efficiently. The official language is English so the sisters needed to learn at least two languages. The sisters engaged in the activities seen in the light of missionary work which the church carried out in the country at that time. The first missionaries opened schools, hospitals and clinics, therefore the sisters were directly under the Missions.
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens refer to themselves as "Batswana". Before the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent on 30 September 1966.
Bethany House
This house was opened to the need to attend elderly people; poor and lonely, most of them were foreigners who had come to work in the mines.
Tongwe
Its overall objective is to promote the education of young people, Christian, moral and social values
Three sisters live in this community.
House of Formation
The residence of the sisters in Dete was found as a result of the liberation war, when Chezhou, the mother house was closed by guerrillas
Bishop's House
It aim is to respond the needs of the Bishop´s house and the Episcopal Diocese witnessing life according to the Gospel values. The sisters serve in the office on part of secretariat,
Provincial House
It is located in a rural area Chezhou which is 7 km from town center Dete. Just close to the convent there is a boarding school run by the Marist Brothers where some sisters work.
St. Johns
The main goal is evangelization and empowering people to be self-sufficient. The community is being assisted to develop academically, psychologically and spiritually.
Sacred Heart House
The mission is located in a rural area about 100 km. north of Hwange. It is a Nambya speaking area. It was opened on January 15, 1963 and in 1978 the
Nembudzia
It is located 80 km north of Gokwe. It is an area occupied by people who were forced from their area of origin; therefore these people come from different parts of the country.
Kariyangwe
It is located between the people belonging to the district of Binga and Hwange Diocese with distance of 200km from Hwange town. The local language is Tonga.
Gokwe
Gokwe District is a center and the Cathedral is situated within the city center. It is a rural community which is developing into semi-urban because it almost having all the necessary services.
Jotsholo Convent
Jotsholo mission was opened after Zimbabwe's independence, to replace Tshongokwe mission where the sisters had been since 29-09 -1957 until 1977, when it was destroyed.
Binga SunriseCenter
Its aim is to promote people in various aspects; spiritual, social, educational, and human.
One sister works at a primary school and two work in the Pastoral center.
St. Ignatius
This community is closer to Holy Family in the same town and it is declared as the Cathedral of the Diocese the reason being that it can accommodate more people than the one which was built before to serve the purpose
Kamativi
is a small Tin mine town which is about 36 km from Hwange. The people around this area speak Tonga and Chewa and Ndebele. The city is composed of
Holy Family
Hwange is located in the northern part of Zimbabwe. The city is inter-cultural, people who belong to Zimbabwe and more foreigners, especially those who come from Zambia and Malawi who came to work in the coal mine.
Novitiate
Its aim is to help the novices to understand the fundamental demands of Religious and Missionary life according to our Charism. The house has an environment conducive to deepen their encounter with God and other realities that the novices live to discover their Religious aptitudes.
St.Mary´s in Lukhosi
It is located in a rural area, 15 km. south of the Hwange district in the center of the capital city. This mission had been run by Germany missionary sisters till this day of 4 November 1950 when the Missionary Daughters of Calvary took over.
