St. John Paul II Mission, located 17 kilometres from Beitbridge town at Lutumba Business Centre along the Harare-Beitbridge Road, was officially opened on 14 July 2022. The mission was established as a new centre of faith and development, born out of St. Joseph’s Mission in Beitbridge, to cater to the growing Catholic community in the area. It comprises a vocational training centre that was founded in 1988 and seven outstations: Jacha, Matshiloni, Dete, Madhaula, Chesvingo, Nuli, and Chitulipasi. Among these, five have solid church buildings, while two still conduct services under trees due to the prohibition of worship in school facilities.

Despite its promising beginnings, St. John Paul II Mission faces challenges due to a low Catholic population, which makes it difficult to raise sufficient funds for the upkeep and maintenance of church infrastructure. Many of the existing church buildings are now in need of renovation and support to restore them to proper condition. The mission continues to strive to strengthen its presence and serve the faithful through spiritual formation and community development.

A key feature of St. John Paul II Mission is its vocational training centre, which plays an important role in empowering young people with practical skills. The centre offers courses in building, garment construction, carpentry, and other short programs. These training initiatives are implemented in partnership with the Government of Zimbabwe under the Ministry of Youth Development, helping to promote self-reliance and employment among local youths while supporting the mission’s broader goal of holistic community development.