Maltese missionary bishop dies
Mgr Francis Baldacchino, a Maltese bishop who dedicated 35 years of service to the Capuchin mission in Kenya passed away on Friday night.
For the last 10 years, Mgr Francis Baldacchino was the first Bishop of Malindi but was among the first group of missionaries who left for Garissa in 1974.
He focused his attention on the southern area in Mpeketoni and Lamu, and assisted health projects and the formation of a local Christian community. Between 1982 and 1988, he was elected Superior of the Mission and invested his energy in the formation of Kenyan Capuchins.
Mgr Baldacchino was elected Bishop of Malindi in 2000. But he did not live to see the results of his final mission - the arrival of the Cloistered Poor Clares from Uganda in the monastery he had just succeeded in completing. His medical condition led him to Malta on September 1. He was hospitalised a month ago.
4 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Josephine Gauci
Oct 11th 2009, 09:13
I visited Mgr Baldacchino every morning for this last month.I must admit that I was visiting a Holy man without realising.He was a Great Man.The last days of his life he made me realize how precious God is.The last words he told me the day before he passed away were" Spiccajt issa mieghu biss,HU BISS (ALLA).
Sandro Agius
Oct 10th 2009, 15:39
This is one of the many diamonds of the Maltese crown who far from our island make us proud to be what we really are - Christians....with values much more than anyone can ever imagine....the Lord will re-pay you much more than every any person can pay...May you now rest in peace
M Gatt
Oct 10th 2009, 14:44
A true gentleman and spiritual leader has died. Whoever knew him knows what a sense of altruism Mons Baldacchino had. He gave most of his religious life working in the missions in Kenya and surely the seeds of Christian love were sown deeply in the African communities evidenced by the work he did and by the legacy he leaves behind him. A true Capuchin who lived the ideals of poverty and love for the poorest of the poor. The Capuchin community and the Maltese have lost a wonderful man. A void has been created in the Kenyan diocese but hopefully another holy person will be found to lead the church. May God give him the eternal peace he so rightly deserves.
J Galea
Oct 10th 2009, 14:30
Was this person ever awarded Gieh ir-Repubblika? Seems like he deserved it.