By Frt. Bernard Lubuva
The 4th of May 2021 was a day of sorrows to our Diocese. It is the day we lost our beloved Fr. Onesmo Makami whose life has been inspirational to many of us. His demise came as a surprise. I remember receiving a voicemail from home explaining to me what had just happened. I took my phone only to hear a distressed voice saying; “The last day we heard him talking was on the 3rd of May 2021. He was on the hospital bed but none of us expected the news that broke this morning. This morning, we woke up having memories that we closed up our eyes for the night, just as he did. Unfortunately, when we opened up our eyes, his eyes were un able to. He was already gone.”
I was not yet convinced until I started receiving phone calls and messages. The day become tense and tense hearing his relatives saying; “We are crying in prayers as the candles are on”. Even his fellow priest mourned for him as they were writing to me saying; “Indeed, we are in sorrows and tears looking for consolation to our lady of the seven Dolours. Take courage we are together in prayers”. The phone calls were a bit of consolation to me. Above all were the prayers and powerful words from friends. I remember telling them that I have lost my uncle who is also a priest and one of my friend from Angola told me; “ooh! sacerdote del Signore è tornato alla casa del Padre” (A pries of the Lord has returned to the house of the Father). His facial expression said it all, he was sympathetic but happy that my uncle died as a priest.
It was however still hard to accept the truth that Fr. Onesmo Bernard Makami was no longer with us. All the same, the 4th of May is the day we won’t forget; it is the day we will always remember the 61 years of his life on planet earth.”
Him was not a genius like Einstein or Newton, not even a great theologian like Augustine or Aquinas. Fr. Makami was just a Priest. He was a priest not only of a humble ground, but humble himself. He was born and raised in a catholic family of ten plus two siblings. He had a chance to study at St. Peters seminary of Morogoro and then went to Kibosho and Kipalapala for philosophy and theology respectively. He became a priest, happy in his ministry.
Thinking of him triggers the memories of old. I knew him much as a priest than my uncle. I lived with him a couple of years in Ovada and Kondoa and I have a lot to remember of him as a priest than my uncle. In all this time, I don’t remember seeing him angry; he was always happy. He was happy even in his last days when he went through tough moments. Yes! suffering never took away his happiness.
He was a reliable priest, highly dedicated in his ministry. Him was a priest of no protest. He was a bit quiet but loud in actions. He was really patient and knew how to respond patiently to patients. He took seriously the emergency situations of those in need. He spent his time sometimes just listening to others. He also never forgot to dedicate some of his time to cheer up with his siblings at home.
He was a wise man; his wisdom I want to share with you a piece. Fr. Makami respected the choice of others. I remember involving him to choose for me but he refused. It was back in 2014, when I wanted to make the most important decision in my life; to join major seminary for priesthood formation. So I asked him to help me choose between the religious and the diocesan way. He plainly told me that, I’m not going to choose for you. Choose it for yourself. I’m very happy now he left me to choose by myself. It made no sense then until now that I have come to realize the importance of free choice. He left me to choose, and I’m happy with the process. He has taught me that, choosing for others will make them feel like they are thrown into the river and left to be taken by the river to whatever destination. I grieve for him, as I remember him and its bitter he went while I was away unable to attend his requiem mass for my last farewell. I believe my tears did for me.
Now, if we have a lesson to draw from him, it could be his humility. Fr Makami was trustworthy, hardworking, available, a good confessor, man of few words but his humility is all I admired. He was a holy man in his own way. He was a good example as a priest just by a look. We miss him as we remember him as a person he was, the souls he has touched through his life and the soul he saved through his ministry as a priest. May God grant him to see vividly the mysteries he believed and celebrated. He has indeed completed the mission that God had given him. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
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