With great sadness and grief, Uganda Spiritan Group lost Deacon Anthony Ahebwe in a deadly car accident on 18^th December 2020. As a confrere who knew the late Deacon Anthony very well, this is what Fr. Gerard Majella Nnamunga, Rector of Spiritan House Nairobi, had to say to celebrate the gift of his life in a homily delivered at the funeral mass, Namugongo Postulancy, on 23^rd December 2020: Led by Fr. Martin Andama, CSSp, Superior, Uganda Group.

“…Anthony Ahebwe was born in Kampala on September 11, 1987. He died at a young age of 33. His home parish is Kihani in Ibanda district. He is the first born of a family of 7 children. He grew up in a very Catholic family, no wonder that after his Primary School, he joined Kitabi Minor Seminary 2002 where he studied both his O and A levels. In 2008, he continued with seminary studies at Alokulum Major Seminary where he stayed for one year and decided to leave. He was admitted to Spiritan Postulancy in 2011. He has journeyed with us for Philosophy at Njiro, Arusha and Novitiate at Magamba, Lushoto, Tanzania. He was professed in the Congregation on June 16^th 2016. For his pastoral experience, he did it in this place (Namugongo) between 2016 and 2017.”

Since August 2017, Anthony “has been doing his studies at Tangaza University College” and residing at the Spiritan Community, Langata. “He was professed perpetually in the Congregation on September 25, 2020 and the following day, he was ordained a deacon at St. John Evangelist parish, Langata by Archbishop Bert Van Megen, Apostolic Nuncio, Kenya and South Sudan. Anthony was a very committed member of the community. He attended to community needs. He has been very reliable in community. He mixes well with every member of the community regardless of their ethnic background. He has invited some members of our community to visit his home. He has no problem with intercultural community living. He was also the barber of the community until Covid 19 set in. He was ready to assist anyone anytime of the day and night. He spoke with calmness and politeness. Members of the community loved him. He easily made friends and had many friends in Tangaza and beyond.”

“One of the hallmarks of Anthony’s life was that he was a very clean person. His room was very neat and clean. He spent some of his private time cutting the hedges in our compound. Anthony was a man of prayer. He liked to pray his Rosary. He also liked to do pastoral work. For his Mission appointment (first appointment), he had been appointed to Nigeria, South West. The people of Nigeria will miss a young, committed and enthusiastic Spiritan.”

“In our present condition, we are not holy enough to go to heaven, so we need a place to purge our iniquities so that we may be united with God who is infinitely Holy. In a way this is also reminiscent of Anthony’s life. He kept himself clean. He purged himself. Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies.” (John 11:25) Jesus tells Martha that he is the source of life not only of everlasting life but also of our physical earthly life. That’s why he raised Lazarus from the dead.”

“We are praying for an immediate end to reckless driving which has claimed many lives in Uganda… Jesus who gives life to believers will also give life to our brother Anthony. He looks dead but still alive. Our duty is to pray for Anthony. Prayer is not only efficacious but also makes us remember our brother who was kind and loving to each and every person.”

May the soul of Anthony rest in peace!