Catholic Information Service for Africa (Nairobi)
27 November 2009
Nairobi — Renowned Catholic theologian and missionary Fr. Cecil McGarry S.J. from the Eastern Province of the Society of Jesus who died on November 24 following a long illness will be buried on Saturday November 28, at the Jesuit Cemetery of Pedro Arrupe Jesuit Community, Langata in Nairobi, Kenya.
Fr Cecil McGarry died while at Pedro Arrupe Community where he lived and worked for over 10 years.
According to Fr Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, Cecil's condition had deteriorated rapidly due to a relapse of his prostate cancer, which compromised his kidneys.
A few weeks ago, Cecil spent some time in hospital and then was taken back home, according to Fr Orobator.
Fr McGarry's funeral service will begin with the viewing of the body at St. John the Evangelist Parish, South Langata Road, at 1pm and then the Holy Eucharist will follow at 2pm.
Cecil was born on January 1, 1929, in Galway, Ireland. He joined the Jesuits on September 7, 1946; he was ordained to the priesthood on July 28, 1960; and took his final vows on February 2, 1964. He was professed of four vows in the Society of Jesus congregation.
After finishing his doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Cecil was assigned to teach theology at Milltown Park Institute, Dublin. He became rector of the faculty and community in 1965, a position that he held for only three years, because he was appointed provincial of the Irish Province in 1968.
Later, at GC 32, he was appointed a General Assistant of the Society with responsibility for formation. In 1975 he moved to Rome and worked under Fr. Pedro Arrupe until 1983.
Cecil came to Eastern Africa Province in 1984, as part of the team chosen by Fr Arrupe himself to found Hekima College, the first theologate of the African Assistancy. He was Hekima's first dean of studies and professor of Systematic Theology from 1984-1994. Then, he became its rector from 1995 to 1998.
Cecil's availability to serve the Church and the Society of Jesus in Africa took him beyond his full-time job at Hekima College. For many years he was frequently called upon by both AMECEA and the Kenyan Episcopal Conference (KEC) to assist the bishops and to advise them as a resource person in many important seminars and conferences.
He played a very important role in the first African Synod in Rome in 1994, where he was a member of the synod's secretariat. Cecil was also involved in the development of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), as consultant as well as a professor of theology.
Moreover, at our province level, Cecil assisted our provincials with the governance of the newly established Eastern Africa Province, as well as with his availability to listen and give sound advice to many companions.
After a well-deserved sabbatical, Cecil was assigned to continue his apostolic mission in retreat ministry at Mwangaza. He devoted his entire life to this ministry from 1999 until a few weeks ago.
All this time, Cecil guided the retreats of many people, gave spiritual direction to numerous bishops, priests, religious and lay people, and assisted many religious congregations in their efforts towards renewal and growth.
Fr Orobator said Cecil lived an exemplary life, "fully devoted to the Society's mission, the formation of ours and the apostolates. Not infrequently, he was likened to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, for the depth of his courage and the breadth of his vision as a Jesuit."
"The fruits of his presence among us will last a long time", Orobator said.
Meanwhile, St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary lost its Dean of studies, following the death of Fr. Francis Ngoci, A.J.
The fully professed member of the Religious Missionary Institute of the Apostles of Jesus passed away on November 15, 2009 at the institution, from what was described as kidney problems which he developed back in 1999 while ministering in the Archdiocese of Nyeri.
He took his first vows in 1979, while his final profession was on August 22, 1985, and a year later, he was ordained priest by Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi, Mccj, co-founder of the Apostles of Jesus Congregation.
His latest ministry was at St. Thomas Aquinas National Major Seminary, as a teacher and Dean of studies.
The late was laid to rest at St. Austin's Msongari Cemetery, after a requiem Mass on Thursday, November 19, 2009, at the Sacred Heart Shrine, Langata, Nairobi, at 10.00am.
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