He knew when he would die
Jun 10, 2007
FOR all the many people he helped, Fr. Jack Raffaele Dellagiacoma would have been a household name in Uganda.<br>But, the Italian Comboni missionary, who first came in the run up to Uganda’s independence, was little known when he died on April 12.
By Jean-Marie Nsambu
FOR all the many people he helped, Fr. Jack Raffaele Dellagiacoma would have been a household name in Uganda.
But, the Italian Comboni missionary, who first came in the run up to Uganda’s independence, was little known when he died on April 12.
For one, he was shy. Despite his wealth of experience in national and global issues, Jack remained quiet and only discussed critical matters with a few.
The one thing he perhaps spoke so openly about was the year in which he expected to die – 2007.
He was editor of the 50-year-old Leadership magazine. Two of his elder brothers had died upon reaching their 71st birthdays.
Also Comboni missionaries, the two, Fr. Vittorino Dellagiacoma and Carlo Dellagiacoma died respectively on December 20, 1999 in Khartoum, Sudan and August 22, 2001 in Kalongo, Kitgum District.
One Saturday afternoon in 2001, I bumped into him at the Comboni House in Mbuya. He had been transferred, a couple of years back to Arua, as a Religious Education Coordinator.
It was, therefore, a surprise when Fr. Jack returned to Kampala. I was looking for a priest to celebrate mass for students of St. Augustine College, Wakiso. It was not his duty, but Jack readily offered to say the mass the following morning, to initiate some into the Young Christian Students (YCS) movement.
His small black Suzuki Samurai was cranky. Not because it was old, but that Father was driving it in gear three, his concentration being on talking to me.
There was a lot to catch up on. He complained about his abrupt transfer, just as his sudden bounce return to Leadership.
He talked of people that had swindled his millions of shillings, when he wanted to give them assistance. By the time we crawled into the school, albeit in time, I could write a book on our conversation.
In 2005, when he turned 70, Fr. Jack called to assign me tasks at Leadership. “My time is drawing near. I feel weaker, that is why I want you to help out with some work.â€
His grey eyes looked into mine. He stood shakily, in a very loose Tshirt falling over faded jeans.
Jack smiled when he noticed confusion in my face. “I am approaching 71. At this age family members tend to leave this world for the next.â€
He revealed how Vittorino and Carlo, had both died after just making 71 years. After what seemed like an eternity, a disabled woman called Jack and was seeking assistance from him.
Because he did not know Luganda, Jack asked me to translate what the woman said. “She need money to repair her wheelchair,†I explained.
Fr. Jack disappeared into his office and re-emerged with a few thousand shillings, which he handed me to pass on. “Please tell her not to tell anyone. I do not have money for everyone,†he pleaded.
He paid tuition in different school for more than 50 children. However, some abused his kindness and would forge receipts, after squandering the money.
Other people would borrow, from tens of thousands to millions of shillings from Fr. Jack and refuse to pay back. What often hurt him is that they would become hostile to him when he asked them to pay back. He surrendered them in prayer.
Eulogising him at Mbuya Church, Comboni vocations promoter Fr. Ruffino Ezama said Jack was a loving missionary. Ezama, whom Jack taught said, “He had a heart bigger than his person.â€
Jack was born in November 1935, in a devoted Catholic family of nine children. Three of his brothers were also missionary priests – one a Salesian of Don Bosco and the other two, Combonis. One sister also joined missionary life as a Salesian nun.
He had his novitiate in England and theology at the Urban University in Rome. There, he would study with now Emeritus Bishop Paul Kalanda and Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala.
Soon after his ordination in Rome, the young priest was sent to Arua on April 2, 1962 and he taught at Pokea Seminary. Notable among his seminarians was (now Bishop) Frederick Drandua of Arua and (Archbishop) John Baptist Odama of Gulu.
In 1981, he went to Birmingham University for a Master’s in Sociology. He returned to London in 1989, for a diploma in Journalism, before he was assigned as editor Leadership.
Cardinal Wamala, then Archbishop of Kampala appointed Jack chaplain of Makerere University Business School in 2001, with a task to build a chaplaincy. After a few years, he handed over to Fr. Dr. Lawrence Ssemusu, a diocesan.
In 2005, Jack was suddenly rendered incapable of continuing work in Uganda. He was rushed for treatment of acute cancer of the liver, although he claimed no pains.
Whenever he would communicate to the staff back at Leadership, Jack declined to discuss the state of his health. He would only ask to be prayed for. Jack died in his sleep.
HIS LIFE AT A GLANCE
Born: November 1935
Education: Studied theology at the Urban University
1981 — Masters degree in Sociology
1989 — Diploma in Journalism
Experience:
1962 — Taught at Pokea Seminary
Editor with Leadership magazine
Died: April 12, 2007
FOR all the many people he helped, Fr. Jack Raffaele Dellagiacoma would have been a household name in Uganda.
But, the Italian Comboni missionary, who first came in the run up to Uganda’s independence, was little known when he died on April 12.
For one, he was shy. Despite his wealth of experience in national and global issues, Jack remained quiet and only discussed critical matters with a few.
The one thing he perhaps spoke so openly about was the year in which he expected to die – 2007.
He was editor of the 50-year-old Leadership magazine. Two of his elder brothers had died upon reaching their 71st birthdays.
Also Comboni missionaries, the two, Fr. Vittorino Dellagiacoma and Carlo Dellagiacoma died respectively on December 20, 1999 in Khartoum, Sudan and August 22, 2001 in Kalongo, Kitgum District.
One Saturday afternoon in 2001, I bumped into him at the Comboni House in Mbuya. He had been transferred, a couple of years back to Arua, as a Religious Education Coordinator.
It was, therefore, a surprise when Fr. Jack returned to Kampala. I was looking for a priest to celebrate mass for students of St. Augustine College, Wakiso. It was not his duty, but Jack readily offered to say the mass the following morning, to initiate some into the Young Christian Students (YCS) movement.
His small black Suzuki Samurai was cranky. Not because it was old, but that Father was driving it in gear three, his concentration being on talking to me.
There was a lot to catch up on. He complained about his abrupt transfer, just as his sudden bounce return to Leadership.
He talked of people that had swindled his millions of shillings, when he wanted to give them assistance. By the time we crawled into the school, albeit in time, I could write a book on our conversation.
In 2005, when he turned 70, Fr. Jack called to assign me tasks at Leadership. “My time is drawing near. I feel weaker, that is why I want you to help out with some work.â€
His grey eyes looked into mine. He stood shakily, in a very loose Tshirt falling over faded jeans.
Jack smiled when he noticed confusion in my face. “I am approaching 71. At this age family members tend to leave this world for the next.â€
He revealed how Vittorino and Carlo, had both died after just making 71 years. After what seemed like an eternity, a disabled woman called Jack and was seeking assistance from him.
Because he did not know Luganda, Jack asked me to translate what the woman said. “She need money to repair her wheelchair,†I explained.
Fr. Jack disappeared into his office and re-emerged with a few thousand shillings, which he handed me to pass on. “Please tell her not to tell anyone. I do not have money for everyone,†he pleaded.
He paid tuition in different school for more than 50 children. However, some abused his kindness and would forge receipts, after squandering the money.
Other people would borrow, from tens of thousands to millions of shillings from Fr. Jack and refuse to pay back. What often hurt him is that they would become hostile to him when he asked them to pay back. He surrendered them in prayer.
Eulogising him at Mbuya Church, Comboni vocations promoter Fr. Ruffino Ezama said Jack was a loving missionary. Ezama, whom Jack taught said, “He had a heart bigger than his person.â€
Jack was born in November 1935, in a devoted Catholic family of nine children. Three of his brothers were also missionary priests – one a Salesian of Don Bosco and the other two, Combonis. One sister also joined missionary life as a Salesian nun.
He had his novitiate in England and theology at the Urban University in Rome. There, he would study with now Emeritus Bishop Paul Kalanda and Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala.
Soon after his ordination in Rome, the young priest was sent to Arua on April 2, 1962 and he taught at Pokea Seminary. Notable among his seminarians was (now Bishop) Frederick Drandua of Arua and (Archbishop) John Baptist Odama of Gulu.
In 1981, he went to Birmingham University for a Master’s in Sociology. He returned to London in 1989, for a diploma in Journalism, before he was assigned as editor Leadership.
Cardinal Wamala, then Archbishop of Kampala appointed Jack chaplain of Makerere University Business School in 2001, with a task to build a chaplaincy. After a few years, he handed over to Fr. Dr. Lawrence Ssemusu, a diocesan.
In 2005, Jack was suddenly rendered incapable of continuing work in Uganda. He was rushed for treatment of acute cancer of the liver, although he claimed no pains.
Whenever he would communicate to the staff back at Leadership, Jack declined to discuss the state of his health. He would only ask to be prayed for. Jack died in his sleep.
HIS LIFE AT A GLANCE
Born: November 1935
Education: Studied theology at the Urban University
1981 — Masters degree in Sociology
1989 — Diploma in Journalism
Experience:
1962 — Taught at Pokea Seminary
Editor with Leadership magazine
Died: April 12, 2007