It is now eleven years since our brother, Fr. Alexius Felician Lipingu, imc, died in a terrible car accident in South Africa, November 23, 1999. His memories are still strongly felt in the minds, not only of his confreres but also of the people all over the world who knew him. Fr. Nicholas Makau, imc, would like to share with us his testimony on Fr. Lipingu.

INTRODUCTION

I have known Fr.Lipingu since 1987 when I started orientation course in the Consolata seminary. At that time he had just arrived from Tanzania after his ordination. He was starting his appointment as a formator to the seminary. In the first sight, I got impression of what kind of future priest I wanted to be. Happy with the people, close to the people and above all prudent. For this is what he showed me. He became my formator and later on my confrere. It was 12 years after knowing him that I lost a friend, brother and preacher.

PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER

Simplicity: the first thing that strikes you when meeting with Fr. Lipingu was his simplified approach to life; he would be down to earth speaking a normal language of the day which all could clearly distinguish. Among the seminarians he was one with them. After evening prayer when it was getting dark, while waiting for meals he would be talking with us listening and simply amusing without taking the tellers part. He was part of the groups of dishwashing, cleaning utensils, mopping the floor and wiped windows. He told by his work. In all, he took part humbly to the activities without feeling any gap, rank or position differences. During games, manual work, he was fully engaged. He never chooses duties. He was down to earth king of priest. During all this activities and moments the message was clear and clean to all, a priest must be normal, simple and do normal duties as long as he has the physical possibility to do so.

Charitable: Fr.Lipingu's very nature was charitable. He was so convinced that charity is a virtue that we receive as a gift and should be extended to others. As a matter of fact, he extended his charity to even those of the neighboring. If he would see you doing something wrong he normally used to say, "Mbantu usijinyonge" by which he meant think before, consult someone if not sure, refer before doing it your own way. He was not the kind that accumulated things for himself. He would share personal books, Radio, cassettes, etc. with all. He introduced us to the slogan of "for us" to conquer the ideology of "its mine" or it's for "the wish of the majority" as against the "will of the minority." He believed that in a religious family even the minorities have equal value with the majority.

Human: Once I had an issue to sort out with him. He thus invited me to walk and he told me; "being a priest and formator to you, as a student you have your private things to hide from me. It is okay and normal, but I ask you of one thing; make sure that they don't grow to be a burden and an obstacle to your joy, your life and later your priesthood. I am not an investigator or journalist interested to publicize privacies." Fr.Lipingu would be hurt to see one suffering yet quietly. He would be disappointed to see one hiding a problem. He used to tell us as young students lets realize fully our humanness. Then we can be strong religious persons. When we were back from holidays, he would go from student to student enquiring about family situations, the parent's health, the social situation and worries. During school time, he would be interested in asking us "did your family write, did you write to them,…"? He advised us that solid family and friendship ties are important. He wanted us not to hide our humanness in the seminary but show it to the other seminarians and friends that we meet every day. This, he said, would be the family through out the year. Connected to his humanness is the true spirit of politeness, humor and care. As a person he treasured a lot relationship. He derived his point home without causing eyes brows. He was polite with all people whether young, youths or whoever came to visit us. He was very kind and polite with us seminarians, to the other formators and to any one he met. In his speech, it would be very hard to discover anger, violence, hatred, pride or sarcasms. Instead it would be full of determination, hope, joy and vividness. He was gifted to calm situations of fatigue, worry, fear and absentmindedness that came out crisis, family problem and any kind. He used stories and the old wisdom of our forefathers. His humor goes beyond words. He would never fail to listen to anyone for whichever the situation. Without complaining of tiredness, boredom, burden of work, he was human to all. In his tone of speech he was welcoming and fatherly, socially accommodating all.

Religious: The religious life is a stepping-stone to holiness. One embraces religious life for the sake of the kingdom of God. He leaves everything, every other commitment in order to get committed to the kingdom. One joins new life where all people are brothers and sisters, in which all places are home and never a visitor to any situation. Fr. Lipingu qualified for these aspects.

He often used to remind us jokingly that, "your home reflects mine, and your backgrounds of growth reflect mine. There is nothing special in me that is not in you except the accidental thing that, I was born before you and became a priest before you, which is nothing to be proud of." He used to refer to us as his young brothers while he was our old brother. For this kind of idea, which he held, he used to fit in the situation of all of us despite coming from different places. From the western Kenya, the central parts and even to the remotest tribes of the Eastern Kenya he was at home. He respected each ones way of life and background. He believed strongly that religious people must overcome the tribal differences and embrace a global kind of atmosphere. Especially for an international family like ours with different kinds of people, various mentalities, different levels of education and different religious backgrounds and various religious believe. Then there must be respect and mutual growth.

As a Consolata, he demonstrated the founder's will and intention by his simple life style. He was for the growth and promotion of others welfare. He was particularly concerned with the care of the less advantaged people. He gave full attention to those with little self-esteem. He was always available to take a commitment whether already busy but fully committed to the spirit of help. He emphasized and lived the spirit of brotherhood in a family. All for the sake of others. Community was for him the center of life lived together giving a meaning to living.

CHALLENGES

It is certainly not easy for any culture for missionary life demands. All struggle to achieve a certain level of life.

1. Way/approach: He was a critical and outspoken person; the method he used was a silence listening and initial acceptance from others. Only after in a very simplistic manner he would start revisiting the issues on discussion point by point verifying them.

2. Patience: He never lost his temper easily in discussions. He was in control of his speech and emotion; he was not the kind who defended himself when accused. He let all say their position and only stood to clarify. This was clearly noticed when there were conflicting parties he would drive his wise opinion home without having to raise voices. It is through this that he was an approachable person and one to whom you could easily confine yourself to.

3. Reconciler: People living without communicating would hurt Fr.Lipingu. He would reconcile them saying that a family must be able to build up out of love. Even when brothers hurt one another it is not the end of their relationship, they are tied together by strong bond of blood. They apologize and restart a new. He believed that hurting one another in a family is normal but the members should be able to approach each other with love, sincerity and honesty, thus square their conflict. This is a mature family. But not running away from each other or stopping to talk. This weakens and spoils a family.

4. Witness: He did not ever claim to be better or worthy than others; he sympathized with suffering people, the sick, mourners, poor, and prisoners. I recall that he used to encourage us to visit the prisons to know the situation, to visit public court case session and know the societal situation, go to visit the sick in hospital spend time with them, and go to the slums to taste part of the poor. Go through the rich peoples estates and compare life styles, he himself used to do all this things, he did not identity himself to a class or group of people. He was open for all. He never despised or belittled people. He had a great sense of equality and respect for human's dignity. Through his humility and simplicity he was able to be approached and be accepted when he approaches others. He gave a strong sensitivity to situation that reduce human dignity, Peace and Justice, Human Rights and especially to women and children's oppression.

5. Good will: He was a man of good will and did all in a clear conscience, he dedicated time for all people who came to him for a talk, guidance or consultations, when students went to him for dialogue he would start by saying "I share with you what I know only because that is what I am". Due to his good will, which was religiously motivated and rooted, he would not watch silently one straying but help him.

So, it is eleven years since Fr. Lipigu passed on. He was a great priest, formator, and a friend of everybody. While foreseeing at the XII General Chapter next year, do we, the Consolata Missionaries, learn anything from this “simple” missionary?