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.

Mother weeps for Fr Chimwala-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Prayers at the funeral-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Hundreds attened the requiem mass for Fr Chimwala-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Priests carry the casket of Fr Chimwala.-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Brothers in mourning mood-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Catholic bishops pay their tribute-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Lawyer and councillor Noel Chalamanda also came to mourn Fr Chimwala-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Catholic faithfuls at the cemetry-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times
Fr Chimwala last mile-Photo by Jeromy Kadewere, Nyasa Times

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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Johni
Johni
7 years ago

This was a priest who was moving shamelessly with a “wife” and parading him to people in drinking joints all over Blantyre. He built the hule a nice house complete with solar power in her village, bought her vehicles. And you are busy splashing good titles on him. The hule was actually boasting that “Tidye zaku Vatican Za Aroma”.

kanchenga
kanchenga
7 years ago

Chalamanda as handsome as Blantyre would have looked like a few years from now had stupidity not prevailed. Photographer thanks for picking him up.

Stear Smith Time
Stear Smith Time
7 years ago

Ngati Rev. Fr Chimwala amapanga zokuipirani bwanji simunawauze kuti asinthe?Ngati mpingo wakatolika ukupanga zomwe mukuona kuti ndizoipira MULUNGU bwanji osauza outsatira kuti alowe mu mpingo mwanumo.Anthu ena timafuna kukhala ngati amzeru pa zinthu zosayenera.Kwatsala tchiretu nkumene moto umapita, lero Fr.Chimwala kwao kwatha inuyo okhulupilikanu likadzakwana lanu anthu adzanena chiyani?

Joseph Banda
Joseph Banda
7 years ago

May His Soul Rest in Eternal Peace

Zangaphee
Zangaphee
7 years ago

Huleyo ndakamutenga ndineyo. Bambo amenewa amathawa ku Chilomoni koma amakanyenga kutali. Mutha muona. ndei nkhope zachisoni ngati zoona. these fathers will one finish the catholic church. while others are pedophiles, kunoko kunyenga akazi a eni. mxiiiii you go rot.

Lords Fighter
Lords Fighter
7 years ago

Godsfighter

Lords Fighter
Lords Fighter
7 years ago
Reply to  Lords Fighter

father Chimwala died at Premier Lodge at Chileka while drinking beer. Why is the report not telling us the truth? Shame. Catholics are 666 devils and these men in gowns are busy fucking poor women. This Father Chimwala has a bitch and was evacuated immediately after the death. Come on Myasatimes. Collapsed where, on the pulpit? Mwadya eti Mxiiiii

Neta
Neta
7 years ago
Reply to  Lords Fighter

May you be struck down you sick sick human being. This man was a friend and a decent person. May your soul be cleaned of your evil

Sign post
7 years ago

May thel soul of Father Chimwala rest in peace. My fellow Christian,a good person cannot be replaced with another good person. He lived by good examples.Can other priests emulate late Father’s examples?

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