Monsignor Kaleso laid to rest at Zomba Diocese cemetery

Thousands of mourners that included Bishops, politicians and former Malawi First Lady Calista Mutharika gathered at Zomba Diocese cemetery on Friday to pay their last respect to the late Monsignor Henry Kaleso, who was laid to rest after battling with diabetes and hypertension.

The late Fr. Kaleso, who was the diocesan administrator died on Wednesday at Blantyre Adventist Hospital.

At exactly 2:20pm, the body of the late Kaleso was lowered into the grave.

He was born on 31^st March 1959 and consecrated as a priest on a 22^nd August 1987 by Bishop Emeritus Allan Chamgwera.

The whole funeral ceremony started with a requiem mass at 10:00pm which was led by Archbishop Thomas Msusa and other Bishops like Bishop Mathews Mtumbuka, Bishop Peter Musikuwa, Bishop Montfort Sitima, Bishop Pagan, Bishop Emeritus Allan Changwera.

Archbishop Msusa in his eulogy called upon the priests to be ready to save the community with total dedication and commitment just as the late Fr. Kaleso did.

His Grace also appealed to the priests to be humble heartened diligent to the services they render to the congregation.

“You should not intimidate or shout at the Christians you save. Instead you should have the spirit of meekness and docility to all the people you are saving in order for you to make a greatness impact,” he said.

The Archbishop also stressed that the church had lost a pillar, who was a role model to all the priests basing on the fact that he was also the administrator of Zomba diocese.

Local clergy chairperson Fr. Gracious Makande described the late Fr Kaleso as a humble, who was willing to work even during odd hours.

“We should also get prepared for spiritual things because God can call us at any time and this is the greatness lesson we have learnt in sudden death,” he said.

The late Fr Kaleso was born on 31^st March 1959.He was hailing from Kachikuni Village, T/A Nsamala, Machinga District, Lisanjala Parish in Zomba Diocese.

He was the first male child of Julius and Esther Kaleso in the family of four children two of which were boys and girls.

He did his secondary education at Pius XII Minor Seminary in Blantyre Archdiocese from 1976 up to 1980 after his primary school at St. Pius in Blantyre. He studied theology at St. Peter’s Major Seminary in Zomba from 1983 up to 1987 after successfully finishing his philosophical and human science studies at Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji.

He was ordained deacon on 28^th February 1987 by late Bishop Allessandro Assolari, then Bishop of Mangochi Diocese.

Later on 22^nd August 1987 he was ordained priest by Bishop Emeritus Allan Chamgwera, then Bishop of Zomba Diocese.

His motto for priesthood was; ‘Son though he was, Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered.’ Hebrews 5.8.

 He has served in the following capacities:

1987-1988                  Curate at Mlombozi Parish

1988-1989                  Curate at Matiya Parish

1989-1990                  Parish Priest Liwonde

1990-1992                  Gaba University in Kenya: Pastoral Studies

1992-1996                  Director of Thondwe Pastoral Centre

1997-1999                  Training for Transformation: MEDI in Dowa

1999-2000                  Parish Priest Magomero

2000-2002                 Parish Priest Thondwe

Diocesan Pastoral Secretary

2002-2005                 Parish Priest St. Charles Lwanga

2005-2007                 Parish Priest Lingoni

2007-2015                  Parish Priest- Zomba Cathedral

Vicar General Zomba Diocese

2014-2015                  Diocesan Administrator

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