RIP Bishop Anthony Rebello - Beloved Bishop in Botswana Dies Suddenly During Holy Mass after Praying the Rosary in Procession with the Faithful
.jpeg)
The Catholic Church in Botswana, Africa, are mourning the loss of the Bishop of the Diocese of Francistown. Bishop Anthony Pascal Rebello SVD (Society of Divine Word), died suddenly on Saturday, May 1st, in the morning during Holy Mass.
In a Saturday afternoon statement, the Vicar General of the Diocese of Francistown confirmed the passing of Bishop Rebello, who was 74 years old. Botswana is a member of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference.
The Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) President, Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka said: “The news of the unexpected passing away of Bishop Anthony Rebello reached us. We are shocked and sad about this news. On behalf of the SACBC, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Diocese of Francistown, the Society of Divine Word, and his biological family. May all be consoled by the fact that Bishop Rebello was a humble man of strong and exemplary faith who we believe is now in the company of his Risen Lord. May you all be consoled, and may Bishop Rebello rest in peace,” said the SACBC President.
On 5 July 2021, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Anthony Rebello, referred to in some circles as Bishop Tony, as the Local Ordinary of Botswana’s Diocese of Francistown. He took over from Archbishop Franklyn Atese Nubuasah SVD, who was transferred to the Diocese of Gaborone in 2019.
Before becoming Bishop of Francistown, Rebello served as parish priest of the Holy Cross Mogoditshane Parish of Gaborone Diocese in Botswana. He began his ministry as an SVD missionary to Botswana in 2003.
Bishop Rebello, who hails from Fatorda, Goa, was born on 18 March 1950 in Nairobi, Kenya. He entered the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in 1969, completing his novitiate in Khurda, Madhya Pradesh, India. He was ordained a priest in Goa on 10 May 1977.
Divine Word (SVD) priest Fr Gabriel Afagbegee, who was hosting the Bishop in his parish though the Bishop was staying at Johane Mokolobetsi—an Outstation of the main parish—said Bishop Rebello’s sudden death was “unexpected. He hadn’t been sick nor complained about anything amiss, health-wise,” he said.
Last week he called to inform me that he wishes to spend some days with our outstation community of Johane Mokolobetsi (John the Baptist) & requested that I arrange that with the community. When I went for Mass on Sunday, I informed the community & they happily & enthusiastically welcomed the news & almost immediately set out to prepare for his arrival on May 1st, which was a public holiday.
He arrived at Tati Siding around lunchtime & the community had organised lunch for all with the Bishop.
After lunch Bishop sat with them & together they planned the activities of his intended one month stay with them. The activities included daily morning Mass, then he goes to the office in town (Francistown) and back in the afternoon to Tati Siding. Early evening they gather in the home of a member, to pray the rosary & some other Marian devotions followed by some teaching, he (Bishop) gives. The statue of the Blessed Mother is then taking to to next family to host the evening gathering in homes.This was the schedule for the month plus the Rosary Walk, which he had planned with the community - from the church compound at Tati Siding to the Marian Grotto/Shrine at the main parish centre grounds here at Tonota (over 20 kilometres walk).
This morning Bishop & the members of Johane Mokolobetsi started the Rosary Walk around 06:00 praying the Rosary all along the way. Arriving at the grotto, all gathered for the celebration of the Eucharist to conclude the prayer walk.
Bishop had asked me to be the homilist at the Mass, so he was seated after Gospel reading while I was delivering the homily. He seemed to have felt dizzy & collapsed. Some of the members of the congregation quickly attended to him. When I realised what had happened, I stopped preaching & went to where he was lying. He had moved a few meters from where he had been sitting. They brought him some water & fruit juice of which he drunk a bit & looked revived. Some members remained with him where he laid resting & I went to continue the Mass. According to those who were with him, when I had said "Behold the Lamb of God ...", he asked them to seat him on the chair so that he can receive the Communion. I brought him the Body & Blood of Christ, which after receiving, he was helped to walk to parish house to rest while I continued with the rest of Mass. Our confrere, Fr Tomek who was at the parish to attend a meeting of the Patsyamatebele Pilgrimage Committee was called when Bishop collapsed & was with him from then on.
After Mass when I went in to see him, together with Fr. Tomek we decided that it will be necessary to take him to the clinic in the village. Thus, Tomek & the two Sisters of the parish to him to the clinic & I was to follow then shortly. Before I could leave the house one of the Sisters called crying & told me that the nurse on duty said there doesn't seem to be life in Bishop anymore. However, she put him on oxygen in the meantime & called the doctor on duty.
When I got to the clinic, the doctor had arrived & examined Bishop & pronounced him dead.
That was & is HARD news. Nothing had prepared us for this! It seems like a bad dream but it's true - the reality. Death had laid his icy hands on Bishop Tony! But that is only on his human body. His spirit lives & returns home
. He looked as if he was just sleeping peacefully. Fr. Tomek was kneeling by the bed side & our two Sisters - Doris & Limi, praying when I went home into the room where he laid. Death is painful for loved ones left behind. While I pained & struggling to come to terms with the suddenness of Tony's depart, I am consoled & all of us can be consoled that one brother left this material world having completed the over 20 kilometres Rosary Walk with members of the Johane Mokolobetsi community - a spiritual exercise & devotion very dear to him. And in his weakness & frailty (having collapsed), hearing the words "Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world ..." and requesting that he be helped to sit on a chair so that he can receive Holy Communion - the Body & Blood of Christ; I feel & can only think that, our confrere had prepared & was prepared for the journey his spirit has embarked on.
May his gentle soul rest in God's peace
Comments