Many here do not know Father Manwelo, and those who do certainly struggle to picture what he looked like these last years. You know, the face is elusive. I remember when I went to bid my mother farewell for the last time at the morgue, I exclaimed, “This is not her!” Indeed, the face fades into the night and gradually disappears.
But what remains are the shared experiences—the laughter and tears, the successes achieved, and the hardships and fears endured. It is like the f footprints on soft cement: Even when the traveler is gone, the marks remain, telling the story of their journey. This echoes the truth we just heard from the book of Wisdom 3:1: “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.” Father Manwelo’s true face is not just in old photographs but in the lives he touched, the lessons he taught, and the friendships he nurtured.
Indeed, those who met Paulin remember an affable man, a tireless worker, an exceptional professor, and a companion who knew how to arouse in others the taste for a job well done and how to ignite in others a passion for God. But those who knew him well also remember that he was sometimes a lone rider. His discretion also appears in how he has left us: He arrived in Nairobi quietly, and just as we learned he was here, he was already saying his grand farewell.
(A Gospel of Openness and Unity)
I did not want to search for a special Gospel passage, one more fitting for today’s occasion. I chose instead to remain with the Gospel of the day, in which the disciples report to Jesus that they saw someone casting out demons in His name, yet this person was not part of their group. The disciples, seeing themselves as the legitimate followers of Christ, were troubled by the outsider’s actions. But Jesus offers a broader perspective:
“Anyone who acts in My name, even if they are not visibly part of the inner circle, is contributing to My mission.”
This response reveals an essential teaching about openness, unity, and recognizing God’s work beyond the boundaries we set. God’s grace works in ways we do not always understand. Father Manwelo was part of this greater plan. His life, his kindness, and his love were all responses to God’s call.
When Jesus says, “Whoever is not against us is for us,” He reminds us to be open to the many ways people serve God throughout their lives. This passage teaches us to focus not on differences but on the goodness that unites us.
This Gospel text urges us to trust in God’s mercy and His ability to work in ways beyond our understanding. Just as Jesus acknowledges the works of those outside His immediate followers, we can take comfort in the hope that God, in His infinite compassion, sees and values the efforts, struggles, and faith of the deceased.
This assurance brings us solace and strengthens us during the difficult moments we are leaving nowadays. For Paulin, we keep our hope that he is now received into God’s eternal embrace. End this is not the end of the story… A proverb from the Akan people of Ghana states:
“When the great tree falls, the birds find another place to sing.”
This reflects the reality that while a person’s physical presence is lost, their influence and legacy endure. Mark 9:38-40 teaches us that a person’s worth is not confined to their visible affiliations but is found in the good they have done and the lives they have touched. Paulin will be deeply missed by his family in Congo and beyond. He will be missed by the Central Africa Province; as a former Provincial, I can testify to the quality of the work he accomplished there. He will be missed by the Madagascar Province, where he was on mission, bringing added value to the Institute of Philosophy. He will also be missed by JCAM for the invaluable support he provided through his teaching.
My brothers and sisters, as we gather here, let us remember God’s generous love and the many ways in which He calls His children to Himself. Saint Paul, writing to the Romans 14:8 reminds us: “If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”
As a takeaway for all of us, The Gospel encourages us to look beyond human distinctions and see the broader movement of God’s grace. God recognizes even our smallest acts of goodness. Our Lord looks first at the desire to please Him hidden in our hearts. And our desire to please Him, even when we falter, brings Him joy. “Whoever is not against us is for us.” May this assurance bring peace to those who mourn and hope in the promise of eternal life.
Dear Paulin, When we last met, we had plans for the future. God looked down on us, smiling because He knew He had a better plan for us.
May God grant eternal rest to our brother, Father Paulin Manwelo, S.J. Amen.
José Minaku Lukoli, SJ
President – Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar (JCAM)
