Sr. Mary Owens Remembering Fr. Angelo And His Funeral Mass
Category Remembering Fr. Angelo
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REST IN PEACE, FR. D’AGOSTINO, WITH OUR LOVING GOD
Fr. Angelo D’Agostino SJ, MD, was laid to rest on Monday 27th November, 2006 in a very moving and prayer-filled ceremony.
From 9.00a.m. onwards, crowds thronged the Consolata Shrine Church in Westlands to pay their last respects as Fr. D’Agostino lay in view for the last time. Throughout the viewing, prayers and hymns ascended to God, thanking God for the gift of his life and commending him to God’s loving care. A scan of the congregation, numbering approximately 1,000, confirmed once more the extent of Fr. D’Agostino’s compassionate outreach. People from all walks of life were there: the young represented by all the Nyumbani Home children and a great number of the Lea Toto 2,000 children; the adult congregation representing leaders in State and Church, Staff from Nyumbani Home, Lea Toto and Nyumbani Village, Religious Sisters, Priests, Brothers, friends, a variety of nationalities, professions, services, the wealthy and the needy.
Shortly before 10.00a.m., His Excellency, Archbishop Paul Lebeaupin, Papal Nuncio, arrived. At 10.00 a.m. His Excellency, Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya and his wife, Her Excellency Lucy Kibaki arrived.
Mass of the Resurrection then began, the Chief Celebrant being His Grace Raphael Ndingi Mwana ‘n Nzeki, Archbishop of Nairobi, assisted by Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa, his predecessor, Archbishop John Njenga, and Bishop David Kamau, Auxiliary of Nairobi, with Archbishop Lebeaupin in attendance. Nearly 70 priests also concelebrated.
The Nyumbani Home Children, with some assistance, formed the choir, the readers being children from Nyumbani Home and Lea Toto, and the liturgical dances were performed by the Nyumbani Home children. Fr. Valerian Shirima, Jesuit Provincial Superior, gave the homily where he emphasized Fr. D’Agostino’s compassionate outreach to HIV+ children at a time when they were being shunned by society. ‘By serving them, he was serving Christ.’ He called on all Christians to respond especially now to AIDS orphans who number approximately 1.5 million in Kenya alone.
After Mass, Dr. Joseph D’Agostino read the Life History of his brother and then spoke on behalf of both the family and the USA Nyumbani Board. He recalled that very soon on in his life, the family knew that Angelo was different and that they would have to share him with a wider circle. He ended with the very moving statement of a Kenyan lady who described Fr. D’Agostino’s work as helping to save the next generation of Kenyans. A group of children from Nyumbani Home then presented a heart-rending poem on how death robs us and a young boy from the Lea Toto program paid an extraordinary tribute to Fr. D’Agostino.
Prof. Dominic Makawiti, Chair of the Kenyan Nyumbani Board, spoke next: He paid a glowing personal tribute and read Fr. D’Agostino’s retirement statement in which he handed over leadership, effective from 1st November, to Sister Mary Owens, Loreto Sister, who was then invited to say a few words. Equally glowing tributes were paid by the Chairs of the UK and Italian Boards, who also pledged their continuing support. Her Excellency, the First Lady, during her speech described Fr. D’Agostino as her colleague in caring for orphans and in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and assured the children of her continuing support.
His Excellency, the President, then addressed the congregation. He called on all associated with Nyumbani to carry on Fr. D’Agostino’s work, saying: ‘I am sure that this is the assurance Fr. D’Agostino would have liked. He founded these homes and wanted them to succeed in reducing the prevalence and effects of HIV/AIDS. You should take the responsibility of ensuring that Fr. D’Agostino’s work continues.’
After the final prayers, Fr. D’Agostino’s coffin was escorted out of the Church and the funeral cortege left for Nyumbani Home where the coffin was solemnly carried by the staff from the entrance gate to a memorial centre in the Home. There followed a short service of prayers and hymns and then, Fr. D’Agostino’s remains were brought to his final resting place at Pedro Arrupe Community. Archbishop Lele led the final commendation in the Pedro Arrupe Chapel after which we all escorted the coffin to the burial ground. After further prayer, each child placed a rose on the coffin followed by the adults. When the grave was filled in, Joe D’Agostino and his wife, Mary Ellen, laid a wreath, followed by a wreath from the Jesuit Society. Others present placed a white rose on the grave.
Bookmark :
REST IN PEACE, FR. D’AGOSTINO, WITH OUR LOVING GOD
Fr. Angelo D’Agostino SJ, MD, was laid to rest on Monday 27th November, 2006 in a very moving and prayer-filled ceremony.
From 9.00a.m. onwards, crowds thronged the Consolata Shrine Church in Westlands to pay their last respects as Fr. D’Agostino lay in view for the last time. Throughout the viewing, prayers and hymns ascended to God, thanking God for the gift of his life and commending him to God’s loving care. A scan of the congregation, numbering approximately 1,000, confirmed once more the extent of Fr. D’Agostino’s compassionate outreach. People from all walks of life were there: the young represented by all the Nyumbani Home children and a great number of the Lea Toto 2,000 children; the adult congregation representing leaders in State and Church, Staff from Nyumbani Home, Lea Toto and Nyumbani Village, Religious Sisters, Priests, Brothers, friends, a variety of nationalities, professions, services, the wealthy and the needy.
Shortly before 10.00a.m., His Excellency, Archbishop Paul Lebeaupin, Papal Nuncio, arrived. At 10.00 a.m. His Excellency, Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya and his wife, Her Excellency Lucy Kibaki arrived.
Mass of the Resurrection then began, the Chief Celebrant being His Grace Raphael Ndingi Mwana ‘n Nzeki, Archbishop of Nairobi, assisted by Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa, his predecessor, Archbishop John Njenga, and Bishop David Kamau, Auxiliary of Nairobi, with Archbishop Lebeaupin in attendance. Nearly 70 priests also concelebrated.
The Nyumbani Home Children, with some assistance, formed the choir, the readers being children from Nyumbani Home and Lea Toto, and the liturgical dances were performed by the Nyumbani Home children. Fr. Valerian Shirima, Jesuit Provincial Superior, gave the homily where he emphasized Fr. D’Agostino’s compassionate outreach to HIV+ children at a time when they were being shunned by society. ‘By serving them, he was serving Christ.’ He called on all Christians to respond especially now to AIDS orphans who number approximately 1.5 million in Kenya alone.
After Mass, Dr. Joseph D’Agostino read the Life History of his brother and then spoke on behalf of both the family and the USA Nyumbani Board. He recalled that very soon on in his life, the family knew that Angelo was different and that they would have to share him with a wider circle. He ended with the very moving statement of a Kenyan lady who described Fr. D’Agostino’s work as helping to save the next generation of Kenyans. A group of children from Nyumbani Home then presented a heart-rending poem on how death robs us and a young boy from the Lea Toto program paid an extraordinary tribute to Fr. D’Agostino.
Prof. Dominic Makawiti, Chair of the Kenyan Nyumbani Board, spoke next: He paid a glowing personal tribute and read Fr. D’Agostino’s retirement statement in which he handed over leadership, effective from 1st November, to Sister Mary Owens, Loreto Sister, who was then invited to say a few words. Equally glowing tributes were paid by the Chairs of the UK and Italian Boards, who also pledged their continuing support. Her Excellency, the First Lady, during her speech described Fr. D’Agostino as her colleague in caring for orphans and in fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and assured the children of her continuing support.
His Excellency, the President, then addressed the congregation. He called on all associated with Nyumbani to carry on Fr. D’Agostino’s work, saying: ‘I am sure that this is the assurance Fr. D’Agostino would have liked. He founded these homes and wanted them to succeed in reducing the prevalence and effects of HIV/AIDS. You should take the responsibility of ensuring that Fr. D’Agostino’s work continues.’
After the final prayers, Fr. D’Agostino’s coffin was escorted out of the Church and the funeral cortege left for Nyumbani Home where the coffin was solemnly carried by the staff from the entrance gate to a memorial centre in the Home. There followed a short service of prayers and hymns and then, Fr. D’Agostino’s remains were brought to his final resting place at Pedro Arrupe Community. Archbishop Lele led the final commendation in the Pedro Arrupe Chapel after which we all escorted the coffin to the burial ground. After further prayer, each child placed a rose on the coffin followed by the adults. When the grave was filled in, Joe D’Agostino and his wife, Mary Ellen, laid a wreath, followed by a wreath from the Jesuit Society. Others present placed a white rose on the grave.
There followed a reception at the Jesuit residence.
Fr. Angelo D’Agostino has left us physically, but the memory he has left behind will continue to inspire us. Each person who came in contact with him has their own story to tell, how he touched their life, this encounter leaving a lasting memory. For many of us it was his compassion which touched us, experiencing this compassion as a reflection of God’s own compassion. Through his charismatic presentation of and action in the mission to HIV+ orphans , he called us beyond where we would go, invoked our generosity and challenged our commitment. He did not allow any obstacle to halt him in his efforts to make possible the holistic care the HIV+ child needed, even if this meant challenging authority and meeting with opposition. The needs of the children were his focus, not his own image. He reached out to all people in all walks of life in a way that Jesus did in his lifetime. No one was excluded from his social outreach, each one felt welcome and significant.
May each of us whose lives were touched by Fr. D’Agostino, in our own way spread that compassion of God wherever we are.
The following day, November 28th, a group of us with Joe and Mary Ellen and our donor, John Noel, went to Nyumbani Village to be present to welcome the first families into the Village. Four families and two grandparents were received, following which Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Lele assisted by three other priests and the 19 children and the grandparents were formally handed over to our care. We then had lunch with the families. Sad though we are, we rejoice in this final fulfillment of Fr. D’Agostino’s earthly vision.
We thank you for your expressions of condolence which were truly a great support to us during this time of loss, and, together with you, we pray with trust that Fr. D’Agostino is now enjoying fullness of life with our loving God.
Sister Mary Owens I.B.V.M. Executive Director COGRI, Nyumbani
Fr. Angelo D’Agostino has left us physically, but the memory he has left behind will continue to inspire us. Each person who came in contact with him has their own story to tell, how he touched their life, this encounter leaving a lasting memory. For many of us it was his compassion which touched us, experiencing this compassion as a reflection of God’s own compassion. Through his charismatic presentation of and action in the mission to HIV+ orphans , he called us beyond where we would go, invoked our generosity and challenged our commitment. He did not allow any obstacle to halt him in his efforts to make possible the holistic care the HIV+ child needed, even if this meant challenging authority and meeting with opposition. The needs of the children were his focus, not his own image. He reached out to all people in all walks of life in a way that Jesus did in his lifetime. No one was excluded from his social outreach, each one felt welcome and significant.
May each of us whose lives were touched by Fr. D’Agostino, in our own way spread that compassion of God wherever we are.
The following day, November 28th, a group of us with Joe and Mary Ellen and our donor, John Noel, went to Nyumbani Village to be present to welcome the first families into the Village. Four families and two grandparents were received, following which Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Lele assisted by three other priests and the 19 children and the grandparents were formally handed over to our care. We then had lunch with the families. Sad though we are, we rejoice in this final fulfillment of Fr. D’Agostino’s earthly vision.
We thank you for your expressions of condolence which were truly a great support to us during this time of loss, and, together with you, we pray with trust that Fr. D’Agostino is now enjoying fullness of life with our loving God.
Sister Mary Owens I.B.V.M. Executive Director COGRI, Nyumbani
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