KENYA: The Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) Mourn Malindi Bishop Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Barbara, (OFM Cap)
Bishop Emmanuel Barbara passed away on Friday, January 5 in the morning at his residence and his body was taken to Star hospital mortuary in Malindi.
In his message, the Archbishop of Mombasa Most Rev. Martin Kivuva wrote, “It is with deep sorrow and grief that we announce the passing on of the Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Barabara, who was the bishop of Malindi. He passed on this morning. Let us join the clergy, the religious and the lay faithful of Malindi as we mourn and pray for the repose of his soul. May his soul rest in peace. May Almight God Rest his soul in Eternal Peace.”
There will be a vigil Mass on 17th January at St. Anthony’s Cathedral Malindi while the funeral Mass will take place at Central Primary School, which is the same venue where he was installed Bishop of Malindi six years ago. Thereafter the body will be flown to Malta his native country for the burial on 27th January. This is in accordance to the late Bishop’s wish.
He was born in Gzira Malta on October 27th, 1949. He joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and took his solemn profession on 26 September 26th, 1966.
In 1973 he was ordained to the diaconate and a year later on July 20, he was ordained priest. Until 2008, he served as a priest in the Diocese of Malindi. He also served as Provincial Minister of the Maltese Capuchin Province.
In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Bishop of Malindi in Kenya and was consecrated on October 1st, 2011, by His Eminence John Cardinal Njue.
On November 1st, 2013, he was appointed as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Mombasa after the see fell vacant following the resignation of Archbishop Boniface Lele.
He studied Philosophy and Theology at the I.N.S.E.R.M. (a Maltese Institute for Consecrated Life) and obtained a Licentiate (S.Th.L) in Moral Theology from the Academia Alphonsiana in Rome (1976 – 1978). He later on obtained a Doctorate (S.Th.D) in Moral Theology from the Academia Alphonsiana in Rome (1990 – 1995).
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By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications Ltd. KCCB
