FRANCISTOWN: Bishop Anthony Pascal Rebello, of the Diocese of Francistown in Botswana will be buried tomorrow at the Our Lady of the Desert Cathedral in Francistown. Rebello died aged 74 on May 4 after he ‘collapsed’ during Mass.
Briefing members of the media about the bishop’s funeral arrangements on Tuesday, Father Anthony Mosalagae said that the Kenyan-born member of the Society of the Divine Word will be taken from Kagiso Funeral Parlour this afternoon to the Cathedral around 4:15pm.
Mosalagae revealed that Rebello of Indian origin was ordained a priest of the Society of the Divine Word in May 1977 and appointed local ordinary of the Francistown Diocese in July 2021.
“Rebello was amongst the three pioneers of the Society of the Divine Word members in Kenya in 1984, they opened their first mission in Kayole in Kenya’s Archdiocese of Nairobi and later the Galba Tulla mission in the country’s Diocese of Meru. An alumnus of the Rome-based Pontifical Gregorian University where he studied Licentiate in Spiritual Theology, Rebello previously served as the provincial superior of the Society of the Divine Word in Kenya and parish vicar in Angola. Prior to his appointment as bishop, he served as the parish priest of Holy Cross Mogoditshane Parish of the Diocese of Gaborone in Botswana,” Mosalagae stated.
On May 4 after his passing, members of the Southern African Bishops’ Conference (SABC) shared their heartfelt condolences.
“The news of the unexpected passing away of bishop Rebello reached us. We are shocked and sad about this news. On behalf of the SACBC, I extend heartfelt condolences to the Diocese of Francistown, the Society of Divine Word, and his biological family,” said SABC president, Bishop Sithembile Sipuka.
In Botswana, Rebello was known for his ministry to migrants and refugees. A statement from the church in Francistown said that Rebello arrived in Botswana as one of the first four Missionaries of the Divine Word in 1981.
