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Tribute to Fr Robert Kaggwa - a mighty tree has fallen

  • Diana Klein

Fr Robert Kaggwa

Fr Robert Kaggwa

Ealing Abbey was full to capacity for the funeral of Fr Robert Kaggwa MAf on Thursday, 29 January, 2015. He was buried at St Mary's in Kensal Rise the next day. A friend and colleague Diane Klein has written the following personal tribute:

People had travelled from Uganda, the USA, Germany and many places in the UK. There were representatives from the White Fathers and White Sisters, and other religious congregations Robert had known, especially the Sacred Heart Sisters. There were a couple of busloads of staff and students from Roehampton, students from BSAC (the Benedictine Study and Arts Centre where Robert had taught some evening modules, a good representation of ex-Missionary Institute (MIL) students and old friends of St Edwards, the Ugandan community and, of course, his parents, other relatives and close friends. The editor of ICN (Independent Catholic News was there. She had been an MA student of Robert's at the MIL. The editor of the Tablet, Catherine Pepinster, was also there - despite being in the midst of treatment for cancer. Robert wrote a few pieces for the paper and used to come with me to The Tablet Table, where the staff and friends invite people to speak about something topical and then have a lively discussion afterwards. I usually gave Robert and Catherine a lift home afterwards.)

The large church was packed, the liturgy was well-planned, prayerful, dignified and respectful - enhanced by the choir of about 80 students from Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith ( ed: beautiful singing - in particular a wonderful rendition of Donna Pena's joyful On Holy Ground. ) and by a Ugandan choir who sang a hymn in one of the Ugandan languages.

One of the auxiliary bishops from Southwark, Pat Lynch, presided. The homily, by Bruno Ssenyondo, a young Ugandan White Fathers, was excellent - sensitive, personal, catechetical. He spoke about the faith of Robert's parents, who had told him earlier in the week that God gave Robert to them as a gift; God had taken his gift back - but they were grateful for the service he offered to people and they wanted to show appreciation for the time they had him. (editor's note - he also described the Baobab tree, which can live to a thousand years and not only provides food, but shelter and clothing to generations of people. "When a great man dies, we say a Baobab tree has fallen" Fr Bruno said.)

One of the most moving parts of the liturgy was when the provincial, Terry Madden, invited all the White Fathers, White Sisters, a representative from Roehampton and from the Ugandan community and also members of Robert's family, to surround the coffin following the final commendation and farewell chant. They each blessed the coffin with holy water and then sang the Sancta Maria. The coffin had been 'dressed' with a crucifix and a Bible as always; but there was also a colourful alb and a large WF rosary on it at the beginning of the Mass.

I felt that Robert was enveloped by those he had loved and by those who had been loved by him. Some of my sadness at his loss was lifted by the feeling that people had got a glimpse of the very special, highly intelligent, sensitive priest, theologian and friend that some of us were graced to have known. It makes me think of the importance of what each of us is doing where we are - and how what we do, who we are can have an important impact on others.

See also ICN Saturday 10 January 2015 Fr Robert Kaggwa has died: www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=26442

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