Background Summary

Although Jesuits were present in Mount Darwin, Sipolilo, and Lomagundi Districts, there was nobody in the Urungwe District. Already in 1949, Fr. Kotzki had started Karereshi in the Urungwe Reserve from Kutama. “Urungwe out-school, 125 miles away, opened in January, was closed by the inspectors in December for the reason of distance… (1951) Urungwe was reopened, 123 miles away from the Mission,” (Kutama, p.16, 17). Fr. Caraman acquired a plot of 1% acres in Karoi (Surveyed in Dec.1950, title deeds granted 26.11.1951; cf Bos 206/1) and built a church hall, St. Christopher, which was blessed on 25.6.1950 by Bishop Chichester (MM V: Jan.195f, p.191) priest’s house was purchased in 1961 and Karoi got a resident priest in 31.5.1963, when Fr. Zinkann moved there. On 5.10.1969 St. Boniface (started in 1967) became independent of Karoi and the Urungwe Reserve was cut off from Karoi. From 1970 to 1976 Fr. Brosig helped in the parish. Fr. Zinkann built a hall in Chikangwe Township, which served as a church (opened on 9.1.1972) until Fr. Thamm built St. Paul’s Church, which was blessed on 31.8.1975. Fr. Thamm replaced Fr. Zinkann in January 1972. Fr. Huwe came on October 12 to help him. On 27.06.1975 Fr. Von Walter arrived in Karoi, and Fr. Huwe left the same month. 

During 1975 churches were also blessed at St. Gertrude’s Chibara and St. Ignatius Tengwe. St. Christopher’s church was replaced by the Holy Trinity church which Fr. Thamm built together with the Anglicans. It was blessed on 13.6.1976 by Msgr. Reckter and Bishop P. Burrough Fr. Brosig left Karoi on 24.02.1976. From 18.02 to 25.6.1976 Fr. Martin Chawira was in the Perish. In 1978, there were 35 out-stations (9 brick churches)
In 1980, the convent was blessed Fr. Abeler helped Fr. Weichsel from 1989 till Dec 1991. He was succeeded by Frederick Mabiri.