As the old saying goes, a person who does good for others leaves footprints that time can never erase. This was evident on the 27th of June at Nandi Schools in Chiredzi, where hundreds gathered to honour Rev. Fr. Andrew Lastborn Foto as he celebrated 25 years of faithful priestly ministry.
The impact of Fr. Foto’s ministry was clear as Rt. Rev. Bishop Raymond T. Mupa graced the event, alongside attendees from other Catholic dioceses in Zimbabwe, Masvingo Diocese commissions and deanery representatives, priests, religious brothers and sisters, family members, friends, and hundreds more who followed the celebration via livestream, all united in celebrating his dedicated service.
Currently serving at Good Shepherd Mission in Chiredzi, Fr. Foto was born in 1976 and was ordained to the priesthood in 2001. Over the years, his ministry has been characterised by faithful service and a deep commitment to the people he serves, justifying the large crowd that gathered to celebrate his silver jubilee.
The celebration was centered on Holy Mass, presided over by Rt. Rev. Bishop Raymond T. Mupa, with Rev. Fr. Gotami delivering a heartfelt homily enriched by personal testimony.
Reflecting on his own encounter with Fr. Foto, Fr. Gotami spoke of a priest whose ministry has been defined by selfless service to the people of God.
Drawing from the Gospel account of the healing of the paralytic carried by four friends, Fr. Gotami reminded the faithful that every journey in life is marked by obstacles. He challenged the congregation to emulate the act of faith demonstrated by the four men who carried the paralysed man to Jesus, encouraging believers to care for those burdened by life’s struggles. He went on to say, “When your faith leads you to care for the suffering of others, then your faith has matured and become visible. We must become the people who carry others to Christ, just as the four men carried the paralytic.”
He added, “There is no road in life without blockages; what matters is having the courage, with God’s grace, to overcome them. Today, we celebrate not only Father Foto’s years of priesthood but also the courage and grace God gave him to persevere through life’s difficult moments.”
During the Mass, Fr. Foto offered his prayer of thanksgiving and received the Papal Blessing from Pope Leo XIV, a special recognition of his faithful service to the Church.
While many know him as a devoted priest, the celebration also offered lighter moments through heartfelt tributes from those closest to him.
One of his classmates affectionately recalled Fr. Foto’s love for Zimbabwean sungura music, particularly the songs of Alick Macheso, as well as his enthusiasm on the football pitch, where his youthful energy never ceased to surprise his longtime friends.
These personal reflections painted the picture of a priest whose humility and love for life have inspired many to strive to do better.
The celebrations concluded with song and dance, as people took turns presenting congratulatory gifts, a memory that Rev. Fr. Foto will forever cherish.
