In his spiritual writings, Our Founder, saint Joseph Allamano, addresses the topic of death. In so doing, he laments that, on some occasions, in the world outside, the diseased persons are sometimes too often forgotten immediately after their burial.
By Orero Charles *
The Founder states that we, as Missionaries of Consolata, do not forget our departed Confreres, for we pray for them every day and remember them in a very special way during the Eucharistic celebration. Allamano continues to assert that, ‘’what a consolation it is to think that we belong to a Society that will endure until the end of the World.’’
With these sentiments of Saint Joseph Allamano, we the participants of the renewal course in Sagana, visited the family of our late Confrere, Fr. James, who died in Brazil. On arrival, we celebrated the Eucharist together with his mother and the whole family. The Mass was presided over by Fr. Jared Mayak, assisted by Fr. Gedfrey Barasa, who were classmates of Fr. James Wahome.
After the Eucharistic celebration, the confreres got an opportunity to say a word of encouragement to the family, especially to the mother. Fr. Erasto Mgalama, The Continental Councilor, in his speech, thanked God for enabling him, together with the whole team, to visit the family of the late Fr. James. He went ahead to say that this visit was indeed providential and graced by God.
Fr. Mgalama, assured the family, especially the mother, that our visit to the family was an opportunity to bring God’s blessings to them. At the same time, Fr. Mgalama made it clear to Wahome’s mother that, she is and she will always remain a mother to Consolata missionaries. This is indeed in relation to what Our Founder said concerning our parents, as he wrote, ‘’ at the point of death, then, and in heaven or purgatory, they (our parents) will understand how useful it has been for them to give a child to the missions, to the service of God.’’
In her speech, Fr. James’ mother narrated to us a touching story of Wahome’s vocation, saying that James chose to join the seminary instead of the university, and on the day he was reporting to Propaedeutic (the initial stage before starting Philosophical formation), she accompanied him to Nairobi. On the day he left for Brazil, she did the same, accompanying him till the Airport. Little did she know that would be the last time she ever set her motherly loving eyes on her son.
Gathering courage and strength amid her tears, she finished, saying that, God gave James to her, and the same God called him back home. From Wahome’s place, we proceeded to Tuthu.
In context
Fr James Wahome was born on July 25, 1987, in the city of Nyeri, Kenya, son of Samwel Irungu and Mary Wanjiku. After completing his secondary studies, he entered the community of the Consolata Missionaries, studying philosophy in Nairobi (Kenya), doing his novitiate year in Sagana (Kenya), and theology at the seminary in Merivale (South Africa).
He made his Religious Profession on 14of July, 2012, his Perpetual Profession on 8 of December, 2017. He was ordained a deacon on 9 of December, 2017. He carried out his diaconal service in Tanzania and returned to Kenya to be ordained a priest in Nairobi on 20 of October, 2018. He was sent as a missionary to Brazil in 2019, and on February 11, 2021, he arrived at the Parish of Jaguarari, where he gradually adapted to the lifestyle of a town in the interior of Bahia.
Tragically, on November 14, his life and mission here on earth were cut short in the waters of the São Francisco River, leaving the entire parish, his biological family, and the congregation to which he belonged in shock.
His body rests in the cemetery of Jaguarari, in the sertão of Bahia, where he served as a good and faithful missionary. It was a difficult moment, one of great sadness due to his sudden departure, but strengthened by faith in the resurrection; that he is with God in heaven.
* Father Charles Orero, IMC, a Consolata missionary working in Tanzania.