Archbishop Msusa Orders Suspended Blantyre Priest to Be Buried at Cathedral Cemetery

Maravi Post
September 30, 2014

http://www.maravipost.com/201409307188/Society/archbishop-msusa-orders-suspended-blantyre-priest-to-be-buried-at-cathedral-cemetery.html

Archbishop Thomas Msusa

BLANTYRE, Sept 30: A Catholic priest in Blantyre, who was suspended in 2010 after it was discovered he had broken his celibacy and fathered two children with a Mulanje woman, was buried with a full solemn and his remains interred at the Limbe Cathedral cemetery before two bishops, scores of priests, nuns and the faithful on the orders of Archbishop Thomas Msusa.

Tasiano Kunkeyani, 32, died on Monday after a short illness at Mlambe Hospital in Lunzu.

He had been teaching at Matindi private secondary school after he quit priesthood following his love scandal.

But before he was admitted to hospital, the Archbishop had ordered that the ex-priest be housed at St. James home within Limbe Cathedral grounds, where sick priests and retired priests stay.

The Archbishop also ordered that he be admitted at Mlambe hospital where he died on Monday and the diocese was to foot the bill.

Sources told Maravipost that Msusa had also ordered that burial be held on Tuesday afternoon after his remains were picked from College of Medicine morgue in the morning. A modest coffin was bought by the church.

The cathedral was full of parishioners from all corners of the diocese who came to say bye to one of the popular priests in Blantyre. The Catholic Women Organisation members wore their funeral cloth of white and pink.

“The Archbishop has shown his compassion for giving Fr. Kunkeyani such a mass funeral. He has not judged him of his deeds but has let God be the final judge,” one faithful said.

Another praised Msusa for going out of his way to accord the priest such a funeral, a rare occurrence.

“Let’s pray for his sprit to be received by God. He was a cheerful and humble priest,” Clement Chimwala, one of the priests who spoke on behalf of fellow priests said.

Kunkeyani was planning to go back to priesthood and had been in talks with the Archbishop over his plans.

Chimwala thanked the Archbishop for looking after Kunkeyani, saying although he had left priesthood, Msusa kept his door open for him.

Blantyre Archdiocese , with over 40 parishes that spread to Mwanza, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Thyolo and Phalombe, has about 76 priests.--Maravipost