Saturday 2 June 2012

Memoirs of Cardinal Rugambwa: His Last Journeys to Europe and Bukoba


By
Fr. Stanislaus Mutajwaha, PhD
Catholic Diocese of Bukoba, Tanzania
(Writing from USA)

(6) Belgium en route

Finally the time came for His Eminence to say “Arrivederci” (Goodbye) to Rome. But his last leg on the Italian soil was not the last one on the continent of Europe. We first flew to Belgium and a few days later back to England. In Belgium we were not expecting any hectic programs or tight appointments. It was a leisurely visit at the invitation of some families of His Eminence’s old friends. I found the more relaxed atmosphere there conducive to prompting His Eminence into finishing up the story that he had just started to narrate at Collegio San Pietro that afternoon when the official from the Vatican brought to His Eminence the timetable of the activities he was requested to participate in during the days leading to the climax of the celebrations of the Pope’s Jubilee. When I asked His Eminence wondering whether he could tell me more about that story, he spoke without reserve of different incidents.

He spoke about the various demanding tasks he had to face that were involved in founding the new Diocese of Rutabo. He recalled the assistance that came his way changing some stumbling blocks into opportunities that contributed towards a successful ministry.  He would describe some moments of this assistance as providential. He praised the high degree of collaboration and personal initiative of the members of his Diocese as shown in the forms of time and talent from lay people, religious and clergy alike. As an example of team work and collaboration he cited the work of Fr. Henry Rwehikiza, one of his diocesan priests who at one time tried using his motorcycle to ferry poles/beams needed to build one Mission school. You could sense a touch of humor in His Eminence’s narration as he passed from one incident to another injecting here and there a description of his involvement as Bishop and leader.

As the narrative unfolded even further I came to realize that whatever his greatness His Eminence was not above the almost universal law that governs the operations of those who are dedicated to the service of others. I came to understand that just as there is almost no way for a farmer who tills the land keeping their hands immaculately protected from touching the soil, it is probably naïve to think of bringing service to those in need without allowing oneself to be bruised in the process. In his pursuit for the betterment of the life condition of his brothers and sisters Cardinal Rugambwa was bruised as at least the following example can testify. With regard to the incident I shall give what His Eminence experienced but in the general terms.

During one of the several banquets thrown to congratulate him at his elevation to the College of Cardinals His Eminence spoke to one person about his plans to work on bringing some transformation in his Diocese in the areas of education and health. Seemingly thrilled by the idea, this person assured his assistance to his Eminence and proposed a meeting about it in a setting of more serious work at his office. On the appointed day His Eminence travelled by train to meet the person who had indicated lively readiness to give some help.  But when His Eminence arrived after several hours of train travelling this person did not seem to remember anything about the appointment. His Eminence was baffled. Still he accepted both the answer he received and the bruise inflicted on him by it. But what is even more surprising is that after that experience His Eminence did not feel totally discouraged from trying to explore on other possible avenues. His ambition to do something for his people in need at both the spiritual and the social level remained undefeated if not even more deeply energized.

At this point let me add, by way of comment, that surely that experience did not diminish His Eminence’s name. On the contrary it is another tangible reason to affirm and grasp his greatness. Beneath the fragrant roses of his renown one can also see thorns that pricked his head while he stood on his pedestal and a bruised skin of an engaging shepherd.  Probably, that is another important part of the general picture of His Eminence’s story that brings out even more forcefully the idea, that for those who know what he did and the kind of struggles he endured for the sake of others, celebrating him now is like a duty.

 From Belgium we flew to England.

To be continued

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