Silveira House founder, Father Dove dies: Founder of Silveira House, Father John Dove has died. He was 91. Father Dove who died early morning on Friday the 20th of June, was born in Britain on the 22nd of July 1922. At the age of 17, he was recruited as a soldier and fought in India during the World War II. He joined the Jesuits in 1947 and was ordained Priest in 1958. He came to the then Rhodesia as a priest in 1960 and in 1964, he founded Silveira House, a leadership and development centre. Under the leadership of Father Dove, Silveira House became the country’s leading labour centre. One of the first youths to be trained by Father Dove in 1965 was former cabinet minister, Dr Herbert Murerwa. Silveira House became a platform for nationalists such as the late Cde Maurice Nyagumbo and Cde Edson Sithole to teach and mobilise youths to go against the oppressive policies by the Rhodesian regime. Through Cde Sabina and Bridget Mugabe, who were part of the Silveira House staff, President Robert Mugabe made his first visit to groups meeting at the centre in 1974 and addressed a number of youths and workers before leaving the country for Mozambique. Father Dove retired from Silveira House in 1984 after serving for 20 years. Current Director of Silveira House, Father Gibson Munyoro confirmed that Father Dove will be buried at Chishawasha Mission after a funeral mass on Monday the 23rd of June at 10am.
Posted on: Sat, 21 Jun 2014 13:07:41 +0000
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