ZAMBIA: Medardo Cardinal Mazombwe Laid to Rest
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| Mourners View the body at St. Theresa Cathedral in Lusaka |
Thousands
of people from all walks of life witnessed the burial of the first indigenous
Zambian Cardinal H.E Medardo Cardinal Mazombwe who succumbed to cancer last
week.
of people from all walks of life witnessed the burial of the first indigenous
Zambian Cardinal H.E Medardo Cardinal Mazombwe who succumbed to cancer last
week.
The late Cardinal was laid to rest at St. Therese Cathedral in Lusaka on
3rd September 2013.
Mourners
watched sorrowfully as the cream white coffin carrying Cardinal Mazombwe’s
remains was lowered into the ground after a moving requiem mass at the
Cathedral of the Child Jesus led by H.E. John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of
Nairobi, Kenya.
watched sorrowfully as the cream white coffin carrying Cardinal Mazombwe’s
remains was lowered into the ground after a moving requiem mass at the
Cathedral of the Child Jesus led by H.E. John Cardinal Njue, Archbishop of
Nairobi, Kenya.
AMECEA
was represented in the funeral by the Chairman of the Association Most. Rev.
Tarcisio Ziyaye, Archbishop of Lilongwe, Malawi, AMECEA Patron H.E.John
Cardinal Njue, and the Secretary General of the Association Rev Fr. Ferdinand
Lugonzo.
was represented in the funeral by the Chairman of the Association Most. Rev.
Tarcisio Ziyaye, Archbishop of Lilongwe, Malawi, AMECEA Patron H.E.John
Cardinal Njue, and the Secretary General of the Association Rev Fr. Ferdinand
Lugonzo.
Cardinal
Njue described Cardinal Mazombwe as a great man of God who sacrificed his
entire life to serve the poor and marginalized in society. At the same time, Archbishop Ziyaye
said Cardinal Mazombwe’s death was a blow not only to the Catholic community
but the entire nation as a whole.
Njue described Cardinal Mazombwe as a great man of God who sacrificed his
entire life to serve the poor and marginalized in society. At the same time, Archbishop Ziyaye
said Cardinal Mazombwe’s death was a blow not only to the Catholic community
but the entire nation as a whole.
Also
present at the burial ceremony was the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia, His Grace
Archbishop Julio Murat who described the death of Cardinal Mazombwe as a great
loss not only to the country but to the entire church.“The Mother Church has
lost a very hardworking servant of God who dedicated his life to God,” he said.
present at the burial ceremony was the Apostolic Nuncio to Zambia, His Grace
Archbishop Julio Murat who described the death of Cardinal Mazombwe as a great
loss not only to the country but to the entire church.“The Mother Church has
lost a very hardworking servant of God who dedicated his life to God,” he said.
The
Finance Minister Mr. Alexander Chikwandawho represented the Zambian President
Michael Sata said he remembers the late Cardinal Mazombwe as being among the
many devoted clergymen who provided spiritual leadership at defining points. He
said that Cardinal Mazombwe’s death has cast a dark cloud on Zambia because he
was a man whose priestly zeal, authority and fidelity to the gospel were
appreciated by multitudes and united the country.
Finance Minister Mr. Alexander Chikwandawho represented the Zambian President
Michael Sata said he remembers the late Cardinal Mazombwe as being among the
many devoted clergymen who provided spiritual leadership at defining points. He
said that Cardinal Mazombwe’s death has cast a dark cloud on Zambia because he
was a man whose priestly zeal, authority and fidelity to the gospel were
appreciated by multitudes and united the country.
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| Casket carrying the remains of Cardinal arrives at the cathedral |
“He
touched many lives in many ways. He was a source of strengthen, inspiration and
moral courage for the many people across the denominational line,” he said
adding that “Indeed, this is one loss too many, a loss that makes our hearts
feel so empty, our bodies numb and our spirits extremely low. The feeling of
defeat is written all over the faces present here.”
touched many lives in many ways. He was a source of strengthen, inspiration and
moral courage for the many people across the denominational line,” he said
adding that “Indeed, this is one loss too many, a loss that makes our hearts
feel so empty, our bodies numb and our spirits extremely low. The feeling of
defeat is written all over the faces present here.”
He
said Cardinal Mazombwe was among the many devoted clergymen who provided
spiritual leadership at defining points in the history of the country, such as
during the political transition in 1991 when the Church played a critical role
to ensure that the country held together and was ushered peacefully into
multi-party politics.
said Cardinal Mazombwe was among the many devoted clergymen who provided
spiritual leadership at defining points in the history of the country, such as
during the political transition in 1991 when the Church played a critical role
to ensure that the country held together and was ushered peacefully into
multi-party politics.
“The peaceful transition has placed Zambia in
a permanent spot as a shining example of a thriving democracy,” he said adding
that “The late Cardinal Mazombwe contributed immensely to the growth of the
Church in general and the Catholic Church in particular, both in terms of the
spiritual welfare of the people and infrastructural growth of the church.”
a permanent spot as a shining example of a thriving democracy,” he said adding
that “The late Cardinal Mazombwe contributed immensely to the growth of the
Church in general and the Catholic Church in particular, both in terms of the
spiritual welfare of the people and infrastructural growth of the church.”
Meanwhile,
AMECEA Secretariat Staff Members in Nairobi Kenya celebrated a Special Mass on
3rd September 2013 the day of the burial of the late Cardinal to
pray for the repose of his soul.
AMECEA Secretariat Staff Members in Nairobi Kenya celebrated a Special Mass on
3rd September 2013 the day of the burial of the late Cardinal to
pray for the repose of his soul.
In
his homily the AMECEA Pastoral Department Secretary Fr. Febian Mulenga Pikiti said
that the AMECEA family thanks God for the life of the late cardinal especially
on his dedication to serve the people of God not only in Zambia but in the
whole of AMECEA Region. “May the Lord grant him a share in His Kingdom,’ he
said.
his homily the AMECEA Pastoral Department Secretary Fr. Febian Mulenga Pikiti said
that the AMECEA family thanks God for the life of the late cardinal especially
on his dedication to serve the people of God not only in Zambia but in the
whole of AMECEA Region. “May the Lord grant him a share in His Kingdom,’ he
said.
May
His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace.
