One Church, One Mission

August 27, 2026

Alaska Knights’ friendship with a priest from Zimbabwe leads to a lasting connection between their communities

By Megan Stibley

August 27, 2026

Father Welcome Chipiro, a priest of the Diocese of Mutare, Zimbabwe, joins Knights from other Alaska councils in repairing the pool at Regina Coeli Mission in Madioma, Zimbabwe. — Father Welcome Chipiro, a priest of the Diocese of Mutare, Zimbabwe, and a member of North Pole (Alaska) Council 8308, joins Knights from other Alaska councils in repairing the pool at Regina Coeli Mission in Madioma, Zimbabwe.

After a six-hour drive from Harare, Zimbabwe, Douglas Harvey, a member of Bishop Kaniecki Council 13566 in Fairbanks, Alaska, stepped out of a car at Regina Coeli Mission in the village of Madioma and was greeted by schoolchildren calling his name.

Regina Coeli’s students remembered Harvey from a 2025 visit, when he helped provide windows and doors for their school. They greeted him and his brother Knights with gratitude for what had already been done and excitement for what was to come.

“To them, I was the guy that saw something they needed and helped them,” Harvey said. “For people in need to see that others actually care enough about them to come out here and take care of their needs, it means everything to them.”

Harvey’s visits to Madioma stemmed from his friendship with Father Welcome Chipiro, a priest of the Diocese of Mutare, Zimbabwe, who served at St. Nicholas Parish in Fairbanks, Alaska, for nearly five years.

Of the 26 priests serving in the Diocese of Fairbanks, 14 are from abroad, coming from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Poland and other countries to help alleviate the diocese’s priest shortage.

Alaska Knights gather with students and staff at Regina Coeli Mission. — Alaska Knights gather with students and staff at Regina Coeli Mission in Madioma, Zimbabwe.

Over the years, Harvey has helped the visiting priests in the diocese adjust to life in Alaska. After seeing one Nigerian priest arrive for Mass in September wearing warm-weather clothing and flip-flops, he dug through extra clothing to find something for him to wear. He also gave the priests practical tips on adjusting to the cold weather.

During Father Chipiro’s time at St. Nicholas, he joined the Knights, becoming a member of North Pole Council 8308 in Fairbanks.

“I love being a spiritual guide for the Knights and immersing myself in the Order,” Father Chipiro said. “Making a commitment to journey alongside the Knights is a lifelong decision, marked by generosity towards those in need and a natural inclination towards missionary work.”

After Father Chipiro returned to Zimbabwe, he and Harvey kept in touch through WhatsApp. Months later, when Father Chipiro invited Harvey and his wife to visit him at Regina Coeli Mission, Harvey decided to undertake the journey as a thank-you to Father Chipiro and the diocese.

RETURNING THE FAVOR

Before traveling, Harvey donated $1,000 to the mission, which was matched by Council 13566. The $2,000 was used to install a solar power system in the mission’s rectory, church and parish hall.

“They were here for our needs, so we had to take care of theirs,” Harvey said.

A further donation funded glass in the windows and doors of the mission’s school buildings.

“Knights show unwavering commitment in their service, always ready to go wherever they are needed without a second thought,” Father Chipiro said. “Love flourishes within the united Church, inspired by the selfless deeds of the Knights.”

Past State Deputy Bill Chrisman of Archbishop Seghers Council 5011 in Fairbanks, Alaska, paints a wall of the pool. — Past State Deputy Bill Chrisman of Archbishop Seghers Council 5011 in Fairbanks, Alaska, paints a wall of the pool at Regina Caeli Mission in Madioma, Zimbabwe

Once in Madioma, Harvey discovered that the only nearby reservoir was a dilapidated swimming pool at the mission.

The pool had not been used for about 25 years and had fallen into disrepair. After inspecting it, Harvey became convinced the pool could be restored and spent the rest of the trip estimating costs and mapping out the materials needed for the job.

Father Chipiro explained how the pool would serve a greater purpose than recreation. It would support the school’s athletic program, provide a place for physical therapy at the nearby hospital, serve as a fire reservoir and supply water for surrounding agricultural fields.

“I don’t think of it as a swimming pool,” Harvey said. “It’s more of a reservoir that you can also swim in.”

INVITING BROTHERS TO JOIN THE MISSION

When Harvey returned to Alaska, he approached his council and several local councils about the pool, sharing his plans for the restoration.

Past State Deputy Bill Chrisman, a member of Archbishop Seghers Council 5011 in Fairbanks, also built a friendship with Father Chipiro during his time in the state and was eager for his council to be involved in the project.

“This was a moment of opportunity,” Chrisman said. “If we’re presented with a need, then we need to take every opportunity to do the best we can to make it happen. Our guys are all about duty, commitment and giving, so everybody was on board.”

Knights from Alaska help residents restore a pool at Regina Coeli Mission in the village of Madioma, Zimbabwe.

Four local councils contributed $8,500 toward the $8,890 needed to transport the supplies, with individual Knights donating the remainder.

Six volunteers, five of whom were Knights from three local councils, paid their own travel expenses and spent more than two weeks restoring the pool in Madioma.

“We didn’t feel that sending money was an adequate response. It needed a personal touch,” Harvey said. “There was work that needed to be done.”

‘GOD DOESN’T GIVE IMPOSSIBLE TASKS’

The team spent the first three days in Harare loading a truck with materials for the mission. Once everything was delivered, the team had their first look at the pool.

“We stood by the edge of the pool, and the guys said, ‘What have we gotten ourselves into? No way we can finish this,’” Harvey recalled. “We just did one thing at a time, whatever was in front of us, before moving on to the next. God doesn’t give you impossible tasks; you need faith that the Lord gave you the courage and resources needed to accomplish whatever it is he puts in front of you.”

Over the next 16 days, the team tiled the pool floor, painted the walls, installed new pipes, cleaned the filtration system and completed other tasks. The temperatures often reached 100 degrees, yet residents and high school students worked alongside them each day.

“We never had a meeting before, but we had a common purpose, so we were able to work well together to get it done,” Chrisman said. “So many people were happy about what we were doing and just wanted to be a part of it in any way they could.”

Students at Regina Coeli Mission swim in the newly renovated pool after it was blessed by Bishop Steven Maekawa of Fairbanks. — Students at Regina Coeli Mission in the village of in Madioma, Zimbabwe, swim in the newly renovated pool after it was blessed by Bishop Steven Maekawa of Fairbanks.

Water began flowing into the pool hours before the team headed back to Alaska. While they couldn’t stay long enough to see the pool in use, Father Chipiro sent videos of the students using it.

“The joy on the kids’ faces was really refreshing,” Chrisman said. “We tried to do as much as we could for them, and it was special seeing it come full circle.”

After returning home, the Knights video chatted with Father Chipiro and others to instruct them on how to operate the pool’s pumps and vacuum cleaning system. Many residents continued painting the walls and improving the surrounding area. Bishop Steven Maekawa of Fairbanks visited the mission in July and blessed the restored pool.

“The bond with the Knights goes beyond time itself, as our ultimate dedication is to God,” Father Chipiro said. “They always keep in touch with me to make sure everything is going well and to talk about any new projects at the mission. This reminds me that the Church truly is one, holy, Catholic and apostolic.”

*****

MEGAN STIBLEY is associate editor of Columbia.

Ukrainian widows and orphans of fallen soldiers stand outside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw during a one-day visit to the Polish capital.

One Church, One Mission

RETURNING THE FAVOR

INVITING BROTHERS TO JOIN THE MISSION

‘GOD DOESN’T GIVE IMPOSSIBLE TASKS’

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