Narrow screen resolution Wide screen resolution
Kenya: Pioneer Catholic Missionary to the Gabbra of North Dies Print E-mail
Written by CISA   
Monday, 11 May 2009
The Consolata Missionaries and the Catholic Diocese of Marsabit are mourning Fr. Paolo Tablino, IMC, who died on Monday aged 80.

Fr Tablino died of a sudden heart attack at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.

A first requiem mass was held in Nairobi at Kileleshwa Holy Trinity Church on Thursday at 9.30 am, presided over by Bishop Luigi Paiaro of Nyahururu, a long time friend of Fr. Tablino's. Representatives of religious families and of the Gabbra community of Nairobi were present.

The funeral was celebrated in Marsabit, on Friday at 10.00 am in the cathedral. The mass, presided over by Bp Peter Kihara, assisted by Bishop emeritus Ambrose Ravasi, had a large participation of local people. The body was buried at the grounds of the new diocesan cemetery at Maria Mfariji Shrine.

Born on May 24, 1928 in Alba, Italy, Tablino was ordained a priest of Alba on Dec. 3, 1950, and arrived in Kenya in 1959 to teach at St Paul's Seminary in Nyeri. In the '60s he joined Bishop Cavallera in Marsabit, where he pioneered the evangelization of the Gabbra community.

A missionary of outstanding zeal, deep love for the people and high cultural level, he wrote several books including, The Gabbra of Kenya and Christianity among the nomads.

Fr Tablino joined the Consolata Missionaries in 1999, ministering in Maralal and lately in Marsabit, Maria Ufariji Shrine.

He joined the newly established in 2006 for a life of prayer and contemplative encounter with Christ in the Eucharist.

After his 80th birthday, his health started deteriorating. The long years of toil and hardship of nomadic life with the Gabbra, taking their toll on him. Unable to breathe properly and with an infection in his body, he was rushed to Wamba Hospital and later to Aga Khan Hospital where he died.
Last Updated ( Monday, 11 May 2009 )