Suspected Murderer of Belgian Priest in South Africa “well known to him”

“Let us pray for the soul of our beloved grandpa,” Bishop Phalana has stated referencing the 83-year-old murdered Belgian priest, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI).

“The suspect appeared in court this morning,” Bishop Phalana stated in his January 17 Facebook post and continued with regard to the suspect, “He will appear again on Friday (January 24) for his bail hearing. This will be at the Lichtenburg Magistrates court.”

In a message to ACI Africa, Bishop Phalana stated in reference to the suspect expected to seek bail, “If he gets, then he will be freed and attend his trial from outside.”

“Where is your conscience, taking someone’s life for material things. You killed us,” Bishop Phalana has probed and lamented.

Bemoaning the manner in which Fr. Hollander’s life was cut short, the South African Prelate said, “He did not deserve to be humiliated, tortured and killed like an animal.”

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The Bishop continued referencing the late Flemish missionary in his South African diocese, “He was a man of dignity. He was the anointed man of God. He was old and feeble.”

The late missionary cleric “was just doing his work: Evangelization – in the spirit of St Eugene de Mazenod,” Bishop Phalana has stated in reference to the French priest who founded of the 237-year-old OMI religious congregation that commissioned the late Fr. Hollander to South Africa.

A couple of memorial Masses have been celebrated in honor of the late Father, one on Saturday at the Holy Trinity Church and the other Sunday, January 19 at the parish of Tsogong in Bodibe where the Belgian missionary ministered.

As a mark of respect for the fallen missionary, a guard of honor is expected to receive Fr. Hollander’s body in Bodibe Tsogong Tuesday, January 21.

There will be an all-night vigil and divine office and requiem Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer, Klerksdorp slated to take place Wednesday, January 22 before leaving for the cemetery “where he (Fr. Hollander) will lie next other great Oblate missionaries who have build this diocese and served us with excellence,” the Bishop of South Africa’s Klerksdorp diocese has stated.

“May perpetual might shine on him,” Bishop Phalana has concluded.

Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla is ACI Africa’s founding Editor-in-Chief. He was formed in the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans), and later incardinated in Rumbek Diocese, South Sudan. He has a PhD in Media Studies from Daystar University in Kenya, and a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication from Marist College, New York, USA.