The burial was preceded by an exequil mass at the Our Lady Consolata Cathedral in Nyeri town. The mass was presided over by Archbishop Peter Kairo of Nyeri Archdiocese. In attendance was bishop of Embu Paul Kariuki, the, Fr Franco Cellana, Consolata Missionaries Regional Superior and over 30 priests.
The homily was delivered by Fr John Bonanomi who had the opportunity to work with Fr Lerda for many years in formation. Fr Bonanomi described him as a simple and down-to-earth person.
“He was a real and dear friend to me. He is now with the lord and he is in joy,” he added
Fr Lerda worked in the field of animation and formation for many years. He had zeal of working with the youth as evident in his assignments. He was a teacher, vocations animator, vocations director, formator, assistant novice master among others.
He was in the Vocations Director office for 14 years. He personally contacted all the missionary priests and brothers who joined the Consolata Institute during these years and he proposed them for admission into the Consolata Missionary Family.
“He was a real teacher and a man of the youth. I want to emphasize three things about Fr Attilio, his humility, his availability and his sacrifice which we should emulate,” said Fr Cellana.
Fr Attilio first came to Kenya in 1969 and left for England in 1980. He came back in 1991 and spent the last 20 years of his mission in animation, as a Vocations Director, Spiritual Director and formator.
Comments