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Pioneer Catholic Bishop of Kenyan Diocese Eulogized as “courageous man, gentle soul”

Late Bishop Paul Darmanin, who was at the helm of the Catholic Diocese of Garissa since its establishment in 1984 till his retirement in December 2015. Credit: Capuchin Television Network

Bishop Paul Darmanin, who was at the helm of the Catholic Diocese of Garissa since its establishment in 1984 till his retirement in December 2015 has been eulogized as a man of great courage.

In an interview with ACI Africa, the Local Ordinary of Garissa Diocese, Bishop George Muthaka shared details of the passing on of the 82-year-old Catholic Bishop, who he said was found dead in his room in his native country of Malta, at the Franciscan Capuchins’ convent in Floriana during the early hours of Tuesday, July 25.

“He was a very gentle soul, a very calm man, a very hardworking man,” Bishop Muthaka told ACI Africa during the July 25 interview about his late confrere. 

The member of the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchin (OFM Cap.) further eulogized the late Bishop as “a man who was very dedicated to his mission, a man who had a passion for the people especially the poor.”

Shepherding the people of God in Garissa Diocese when the territory of the Kenyan Episcopal See was still suffering from the aftermath of the Shifta War, Bishop Darmanin was “a very courageous man”, Bishop Muthaka, who has been at the helm of the Kenyan Diocese since May 2022 said.

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The third Bishop of the Kenyan Diocese recalled the challenges his late Maltese confrere had to endure, saying, “He served at a time of great suffering because of the Shiftas. He had been a victim of their attacks a number of times and his car was once shot at while he was driving but he escaped unhurt. A number of times, he was physically assaulted by the Shiftas.”

“He laid a very good foundation for the Diocese. We owe a lot to him as a Diocese,” Bishop Muthaka told ACI Africa July 25.

Born in November 1940 in Ħaż-Żabbar, Malta, Bishop Darmanin was ordained a Priest in 1966.

Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Garissa in February 1984. He was at the helm of the Episcopal See from June 1984 when he was consecrated to December 2015 when he retired at the age of 75. 

Bishop Darmanin was succeeded by his confrere, Bishop Joseph Alessandro, the immediate predecessor of Bishop Muthaka. 

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Plans for a Requiem Mass for Bishop Darmanin are underway in Garissa Diocese, Bishop Muthaka told ACI Africa during the July 25 interview.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.