UGANDA: UEC mourns the death of another Bishop Emeritus
The Secretary General of the Uganda Episcopal Conference (UEC), Msgr. John Baptist Kauta on Monday July 4, during the Weekly Mass at the Catholic Secretariat announced the passing on of Bishop Emeritus, Rt. Rev. Robert Mary Gay who passed on in his home country in Canada at the age of 89.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Rt. Rev Robert Mary Gay, Bishop Emeritus of Kabale diocese who passed on in his home country. He was committed to the people he served in Kabale. May his soul rest in peace,” Msgr. Kauta said.
Bishop Gay was ordained as a priest of the Congregation of the Missionaries of Africa on January 30, 1954. He also served as the Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) from 1980- 1986.
On July 15, 1994, Bishop Gay was appointed as the Apostolic Administrator of Kabale Diocese after the retirement of the late Bishop Barnabas Rugwizangonga Halem’Imana, who also passed on earlier this year on January 3.
He was appointed Bishop of Kabale on January 11, 1996 by Pope John Paul II and two months later, on March 9, he was ordained Bishop and installed as the third bishop of Kabale. He retired in 2003, but remained involved in church life assisting the priests in Uganda for renewal courses and retreats at St. Augustine’s Institute, Kampala which belongs to the UEC.
Bishop Gay was succeeded by the current Bishop, Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira. He will be remembered for bringing peace and sanity by reconciling and uniting the clergy and Christians in Kabale diocese during his tenure.
By Jacinta W. Odongo, Media Officer, Uganda Episcopal Conference
