Colleagues pay tribute to Fr Martin Addai

Fr Martin Addai, the Ghanaian priest killed in Nairobi ten days ago was much-loved for his simplicity, gentleness, humour and commitment to the Church in Africa, his colleagues said at the weekend. During a memorial Mass held at the headquarters of the Missionaries of Africa in Rome, Fr Martin was remembered as "a spontaneously joyful type of person, committed and reliable, with solid personal convictions [and] willing to sacrifice his time for the common good." The Mass was presided over by the superior general of the Missionaries of Africa, Fr Gerard Chabanon. Delivering the homily, Fr Dominique Arnaud whom Fr Addai replaced two years ago as rector of the congregation's formation house in Nairobi, said the death of his colleague was shocking. But Fr Addai's life and death were "a call [to the Missionaries of Africa] for renewed dedication: for only love is worthy living; only love is stronger than death," Fr Arnaud said. The society's secretary general, Fr Henri Menoud, said: "The wave of messages of sympathy and condolences which have reached us are witness to what was expressed from the beginning: we have lost a great confrere and friend; our society has lost a competent and enthusiastic member; the church in Africa and at large has lost a faithful and dedicated servant and missionary." Speaking in London, Sister Pat Robb CJ, told ICN: "I had the privilege of working alongside Martin in Chimoio, Mozambique in the 1990s. He was a delightful person; friendly, enthusiastic and always welcoming. May he rest in peace Fr Addai was killed on March 10 by unknown people who had hijacked his car as he drove from the congregation's formation house to a major highway nearby. Born in Ghana on November 12, 1960, Fr Addai was ordained on July 21, 1990, and appointed to Mozambique, where he worked for four years. After further studies in Rome and Canada, he returned to teach at Maputo Major Seminary. Fr Addai returned to Ghana, in 2000 and stayed there until 2004. He was appointed to Nairobi in 2005. He was also a lecturer in Medical Ethics at Tangaza College, a constituent college of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Source: CISA/ICN