Farewell, Father Isaac, go in peace into the Father’s Kingdom

Fr. Enrique Sánchez G.,
Superior General,
of the Comboni Missionaries.

Today, in the morning, the body of Fr. Isaac Augustine Adaku was made available for the last farewell at the Policlinic of Tor Vergata, before the casket was sealed in the presence of a medical officer. The requiem Mass was celebrated at 3 p.m., presided over by the Superior General Fr. Enrique Sánchez González.

Tomorrow, Thursday 12, the two Comboni missionaries Fr. John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw and Fr. Chris Aleti Apalolem Z., two Ugandan missionaries presently in Rome, will travel to Uganda in time to receive the body of Fr. Isaac Adaku that will be transported to his country on Friday 13.

According to information reaching us from Uganda, Fr. Isaac will be laid to rest at Ombaci Mission Cemetery where a number of Comboni missionaries, including the Servant of God Fr. Bernardo Sartori, have also been buried after a fruitful missionary service in the Pearl of Africa.

On the fateful day, Wednesday, December 4, 2013, Isaac woke up well and did all his normal chores and actively participated in the morning sessions of the on-going formation course. After lunch he had a brisk walk around the perimeter of the premises of the Comboni Generalate. At 3 p.m. Bro. Jacek Andrzej Pomykacz, a Polish confrere and a regular tennis partner of Isaac, contacted him for a game. Isaac won the first set and then they exchanged positions on the court. It was Jacek’s turn to serve. Jacek won the next two games. As he was about to serve the next volley, Isaac asked him to stop for a while because he was feeling dizzy. These were his last words as he leaned on the upright racket and then tumbled over like a dead weight. Jacek jumped across the net and rushed to Isaac now lying flat on the tennis court and offered him some first aid doing a chest massage. He then hastily sent for Bro. Daniele Giusti, a medical Doctor who continued with the first aid mouth to mouth respiration. In the meantime the ambulance rushed to the scene and tried to resuscitate him with specialized gadgets for some twenty minutes but to no avail. The medical team then declared Isaac dead. The Italian Police was immediately alerted. They came and began the tedious task of paperwork. Their documents were transferred to the Funeral Agency, using also the very cooperative offices of the Uganda Embassy in Rome.

Farewell, Fr. Isaac, go in peace into the Father’s Kingdom!

Farewell of the confreres of the Comboni Year of Ongoing Formation to Fr. Isaac.

Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, Assistant General, thanked all present for their participation
in this moment of great sorrow for the death of Fr. Isaac, and in particular
he thanked Her Excellency the Ambassador of Uganda to Italy, Grace Dinah Akello.

Her Excellency the Ambassador of Uganda to Italy, Grace Dinah Akello.

Her Excellency Grace Dinah Akello and Fr. John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw.