Father Clement Chimwala laid to rest: Pictorial focus

The remains of Reverend Father Clement Chimwala, who was the parish priest for St. James Catholic in Chilomoni in the Archdiocese of Blantyre, was laid to rest on Wednesday amidst tears and wailing  at the Limbe Cathedral Cemetery, Blantyre.

Hundreds of priests, led by Archbishop Thomas Msusa, Archbishop Tarcisius Gervazio Ziyaye of Lilongwe Archdiocese, Bishop Monfort Stima of Mangochi Diocese, Bishop George Desmond Tambala of Zomba Diocese, Bishop Emmanuel Kanyama of Dedza Diocese, Bishop Peter Musikuwa of Chikwawa Diocese  and Emeritus Bishop Allan Changwera, several religious and thousands of lay faithful, including family members, friends and associates of the late priest turned out to pay their last respect at a requiem mass held in his honour at the Limbe Cathedral.

Also in attendance were politicians like Minister of Information Nicholas Dausi, who represented  President Peter Mutharika, member of Parliament from the area Noel  Masangwi, Mark Katsonga, John Bande and former minister Patrick Mbewe.

The  late Chimwala collapsed on the night of Sunday, January 8 and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

In his highly emotional homily at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Archbishop Thomas Msusa described the late Fr. Chimwala as a very jovial personality whose pleasant disposition would be highly missed by all. “In the Archidiocese of Blantyre , he was  well loved by all priests.”

His Grace  while consoling fellow Bishops, similarly consoled relatives, sisters and relations.

He said the deceased was very devoted to Mother Mary and was always clutching his rosary where ever he went.

“Pray for the deceased,” he enjoined, “and for yourselves, for no one knows the time and hour when death shall come knocking.  Fr. Clement  is in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ,”

The homilist appealed to all, especially priests, to always take good care of their health by going for regular  medical check-up.

Archbishop Msusa also spared some time appealing to the authority to open Universities such as the Polytechnic attributing that the late Fr. Chimwala loved teaching and wanted the youths to be educated.

“The soul of Fr. Clement will rest in peace if you open all Universities which were closed. I repeat open the Universities like the Polytechnic so that our children should resume classes,” he repeatedly mentioning this plea for five times.

The body of the deceased was later interred at  Limbe Cathedral cemetery at exactly 2:03pm.

He was born on May 23 1966 at Lundu Village, Traditional Authority Mabuka, Mulanje, and went to Pius XII Minor Seminary in Chiradzulu before joining Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji where he studied philosophy. He later joined St. Peter’s Senior Major Seminary in Zomba where he studied theology.

Chimwala was ordained a priest by the late Archbishop James Chiona on July 13 1996 at Limbe Cathedral.

During his priesthood, Fr Chimwala served at Mthawira Parish from 1996 to 1998, then took up teaching at Pius XII Seminary until 2001.

Between 2001 and 2005 he was in Rome where he studied for a masters in church history.

From 2005 to 2014, he served as a lecturer, and then acting rector at St. Peter’s Seminary. He moved to the Archbishop’s office in 2012 where he served as secretary and financial administrator before being assigned to St James Parish where he served until his death.

Chimwala also served as consulter of the Archbishop.

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