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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