User:Matabele72

Rev Fr Odilo (Otto) Weeger, CMM (0 Month 1912 – 8 June 2006) was a German Roman Catholic pioneer missionary with the Missionaries of Marianhill in Matabeleland, Southern Africa. He arrived in Africa in April 1938 and was based at Mariannhill in Natal, South Africa. He was later transferred to Rhodesia where he worked at St. Patrick's in Bulawayo before moving to Lukosi, near Hwange in 1939.

Missionary work in Matabeleland
In the North of Matebeleland, equipped with little more than a prayer book and a bicycle, he travelled around from St. Mary's Lukosi to Hwange, Victoria Falls, Matetsi and Gwayi River. He built and established many schools, including those in Gwayi, Binga, Dete and Lupane and later went to Fatima where he opened a mission hospital and school.

With the help and support of friends in Germany, who were doctors, he opened St. Luke's Hospital in Lupane. In 1958, he returned to Bulawayo, where he was the parish priest at St. Mary's Cathedral. He was appointed Provincial Superior of Mariannhill Missionaries, a post he held from 1970 to 1982. He was Parish priest for many years of the Hillside parish of Christ the King.

He was a pioneer in many ways. He leaves behind a considerable legacy of missionary work. He was also a regular broadcaster, on national radio and television.

He had passion for helping the local people and he served the people of Zimbabwe and his adopted country with love and zeal. He was a man of great faith in God, and was a source of inspiration to many who knew him.

Archives
The archives of Fr Odilo Weeger are maintained in Bulawayo.