AFRICA/MALAWI - Diocese of Mangochi mourns its Bishops

Mangochi (Fides Service)- Mangochi diocese in Malawi is mourning two Bishops who died in a month, one after the other. Bishop Alessandro Assolari emeritus and first Bishop of the diocese died on 13 April in Bergamo (see Fides 14 April 2005). His successor Bishop Luciano Nervi died on 8 March of cerebral malaria. Both were members of the Society of Mary, the Monfort Fathers.
“Bishop Nervi chose as his motto: Thy Kingdom Come, Ufumu Wanu Udze and this was significant” said Fr Santino Epis, a close collaborator at the “Apostle of Mary” publication of which Bishop Nervi was editor for 17 years.
“Mangochi in 32 years of life has passed through two stages: childhood and growth. It has grown from a community of 40,000 to a community of 250,000. In this time structures for pastoral work, education, social and medical assistance have been built. Now it is time to enter the third stage which is growth in quality. Bishop Nervi started with the Beatitudes (Mt 5,1-12) a Gospel passage which he chose as the Gospel for the Mass of his ordination as Bishop. Here it is more important to be, than to do. What counts are not deeds but ‘attitudes of the heart’ which render the Christian similar to the One in whom he or she believes and which build the Kingdom of God here on earth. And this is what the Catholic community here in Mangochi needs most of all today” said Fr. Santino Epis.
“Father Luciano did not have time to complete his pastoral programme, or rather he paid for it with death, the contribution which God had foreseen in his mysterious plan with which he guides history. How will people remember the 38 days of Bishop Luciano Nervi” Fr. Piergiorgio Gamba asks in a letter from Balaka. This is his reply:” His name will not be simply one on the list of Bishops who led the church in Mangochi. From the first day even before people learned his name, he was easy to recognise with his pale blue mitre decorated with African symbols. It earned him the title of the blue bishop. And this is how they will remember this missionary who was Bishop for a few days and who helped this Church to dream and to be convinced that it is possible renew one’s self and start afresh every day”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/5/2005 righe 32 parole 432)