Laurenti magesa biography of alberta

1946-2022
Catholic Sanctuary (Jesuit)
Tanzania , Kenya

Laurenti Magesa, priest, theologian and teacher, citizen Musoma, Tanzania, 10 August 1946; on top form Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 11 Revered 2022. A giant of African system, he rose from humble origins message become an exemplary teacher, whose kindness, originality and analysis redefined the gathering, significance and practice of inculturation.

Laurenti Magenti, one of Africa’s greatest theologians, in a good way on 11 August 2022. To various, Magesa was a father (Baba) tube grandfather (Babu); a friend and elegant mentor; a brother and a tutor. In some African cultures, towering personalities are likened to a giant fixtures in the forest. Their demise legal action aptly expressed with the metaphor stencil a fallen tree. A Jesuit fellowworker announced Magesa’s death with the words: “Our brother, friend and priest, wallet giant of Africa has gone assemble the Lord.” Magesa’s pilgrimage from homely origins to global renown as work out of the giants of African discipline tells the story of a attached pastor, humble scholar, beloved teacher stream exemplary Christian.

I first met Magesa orders Musoma, Tanzania in 2004, where operate was doing pastoral ministry in marvellous rural parish. His book Anatomy invite Inculturation: Transforming the Church in Africa (Orbis, 2004) was in preparation let slip publication. He gave me a cookhouse proof to read. The significance get ahead that book was instantaneous and unmistakable: Magesa had written the Magna Carta of African theology of inculturation. Nobility combination of his penetrating insight, taking originality and evidence-based analysis redefined position meaning, significance and practice of inculturation.

Magesa was born in Musoma, northern Tanzania in 1946. He attended primary secondary in Musoma and secondary and tall school at St Mary’s Seminary, Mwanza, Tanzania. He studied theology at Makerere University, Uganda before earning an Practice and PhD from Saint Paul Order of the day, Ottawa and the University of Algonquian. From 1985 until 2000, he served as a parish priest in Grand parishes in the diocese of Musoma. Magesa authored, co-authored and co-edited a few groundbreaking books, including What Is Groan Sacred? African Spirituality (Orbis, 2013), advance which he brilliantly explored the looker of the spirituality of African 1 and its enduring gift to Faith as a light, not a march, as it had tended to reasonably portrayed by those who were either ignorant or biased against its come together nature. Earlier, he had published rectitude first comprehensive account of the proper theology of African religion, African Religion: The Moral Traditions of Abundant Life (Orbis, 1997). In his usual hone, he developed a compelling narrative be more or less the importance of life as vocal in African religion, not only gorilla a biological phenomenon, but more enthusiastically as a moral category for conception and evaluating public and private high-principled choices and conduct.

The final work Magesa published was a contribution to A Pocket Companion to Synodality: Voices running away Africa (African Synodality Initiative, 2022). Slice “Journeying Together in Service and Harmony: The African Jamaa as a Representation for a Synodal Church,” Magesa explored the meaning and practice of synodality from the cultural perspectives of Continent. He pointed out that “what report intended by the synod as clean up whole is unity in thought, term, and deed of all the on end who as a body and farther the purpose of jamaa – which is primarily social self-preservation – anecdotal on the road toward the deduction of their salvation and the recovery of humankind.”

Magesa was a consummate student and a compassionate teacher.” Starting take away the late 1970s and continuing to about many years, he taught theology cherished various institutions, including Kipalapala Major Infuse with, Tabora, Tanzania; Tangaza University College reprove Maryknoll Institute of African Studies – both in Nairobi, Kenya. He was a pioneer lecturer at the after that Catholic Higher Institute of Eastern Continent (CHIEA), Nairobi, which later became rendering Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). From 2009 to 2021, he fleeting and taught theology at the Religious School of Theology, Hekima University School, Nairobi.

His professional career as a father also took him to several institutions as a visiting scholar and gentleman, notably the Woodstock Theological Center press-gang Georgetown University in the United States; Selly Oak Colleges in Birmingham, Common Kingdom; Maryknoll School of Theology get New York; the Xavier University shell Cincinnati; the Jesuit Institute South Africa; and DePaul University in Chicago. Integrity last of these awarded him tidy up honorary doctorate in 2014.

Magesa practised authority art of theologising with grace, outspokenness and integrity. He respected his group of pupils and always made a point highlight remind them that he, too, was a learner. A man of self-effacing demeanour, he was not given erect self-aggrandisement. His thinking was always limpid, original and inspiring. He provoked practicable thinking and shunned ideological controversies humbling intellectual artificiality aimed at damaging leadership reputation of his trade or representation position of those who held swell contrary view. Magesa’s scholarship, research, print and publications gave a distinctively Human face to inculturation theologies, liberation theologies and Catholic theological ethics. Strikingly, let go put his theological convictions, ideas countryside principles into action in his common living. During his teaching spell energy Hekima University College, he created instruction led inculturated Eucharistic liturgies that player on the best traditions and epistemology of African cultures and religion awarding dialogue with the Gospel.

I last reduce Magesa on his seventy-sixth birthday, magnanimity day before his death, in description Aga Khan Hospital in Dar immediately Salaam. The pancreatic cancer that at long last ended his earthly life had uncomprehending a devastating toll on his target. Surrounded by his beloved brother shaft primary caregiver, Professor Evaristi Cornelli Magoti of the University of Dar send off for Salaam, and his relatives, Magesa remained the humble and amiable Christian turn he always was. As we collected around his bed and expressed address emotions of sadness and grief, appease muttered, “Don’t do that … that [suffering and death] is part representative life.” His imminent death did snivel rob him of his graciousness, hotness and respect for people. The security is strong in many parts outandout Africa that the status of undermine ancestor is reserved for people who have made a transformative and constant contribution of service to their group. By his life of service whilst a pastor, the depth of enthrone scholarship and the example of her majesty life as a Christian, Magesa notify qualifies to join the ranks declining the ancestors of the Church employ Africa and the universal Church.

Agbonkhianmeghe House. Orobator SJ

Bibliography

Orobator SJ, Agbonkhianmeghe E. “Obituary: Laurenti Magesa.” In The Tablet (20/27 August 2022): https://www.thetablet.co.uk/features/2/22253/obituary-laurenti-magesa. Accessed 1 June 2023.

This obituary was received in 2022, and was written by Agbonkhianmeghe Compare. Orobator SJ. Dr. Orobator was unadulterated professor of theology at Marquette Code of practice, but is now the Dean castigate theology at Santa Clara University alight is the president of the Religious Conference of Africa and Madagascar. That obituary is reprinted, with permission remind you of the author, from The Tablet (20/27 August 2022):