Clément Ndagijimana
We have just placed the body of our brother Clément Ndagijimana in his waiting place until his resurrection.
As you remember, Brother Clément died on Sunday, 13 April in a road accident in Kenya. It was the Sunday of the Good Shepherd. We believe that the Lord called him by name to join our Founder and the other Marist saints. He had accomplished his 33 years like Jesus, and pronounced his last yes as he was the only victim of the accident in the minibus he was traveling in. Clément was born on 5th September 1974, entered the postulate in Save in 1997, started the novitiate in Obala- Cameroon and completed it in Save with his first profession in 2000. Then he went to Nairobi where he finished his four year formation in 2004. He was immediately appointed to the postulate in Nyakato (Mwanza) in Tanzania. He had his final profession on 18th August 2006. At his death on 13th April he was still working in the postulate. He was getting ready for the Mission ad Gentes.
His body was taken to Mwanza on Wednesday, 15 and there was a Eucharist celebrated by the archbishop of Mwanza. The following day, Brothers Valentin Djawu and Valerian Kalendelo with three postulants took it to Save by road. With Brothers Stanislas, Viateur, Raphael and Protais, I went to wait for them at the border and we arrived in Save at 22.30. The Brothers and novices were waiting and they spent a good time in prayer.
Friday, 18 morning, many people from Clément's family started to arrive in Save at 9.00. We had the Eucharist at 11.00 in the presence of his parents, relatives and friends. Many religious attended and seven priests concelebrated.
All those who spoke about Clément highlighted his prayer life, his simplicity, his love of liturgical music, his readiness for service, his creativity and his sharpness in understanding people and events. They also said that it was difficult to be sad in his presence: he knew how to sow joy around him. May we learn from him these virtues.
This Sunday we are praying in his family.
Let us remain united in prayer as we remember Clément.
In J.M.J.Ch.
Your brother, Eugène Kabanguka