The remains of the bishop of Luena, Moxico province, who died on February 22, in Verona, Italy, aged 64, due to illness, arrived this Friday in Luanda.
"Along with our feeling of regret at his departure, after days of painful illness, we are moved by immense gratitude, both for his consecration and service in his congregation, and for his fruitful ministry in the Angolan church", said the archbishop of Luanda.
"You are accompanied by the young people you loved so much, the priests you always wanted to save and many grateful and felt hearts, you are not at this time, as you have never been in your life, alone, you have always been a man with others and for others", mentioned Filomeno Vieira Dias, who presided this Friday, in the parish of São Paulo, in Luanda, at the funeral mass present.
Father Jesus Tirso Blanco, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, had been in Angola since his priestly ordination on September 28, 1985 and was appointed Bishop of Luena on November 26, 2007.
The urn containing Tirso Blanco's remains arrived this Friday at Luanda's 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, coming from Italy and afterwards the bishop was honored in the parish of São Paulo.
"His 36 years of priestly ministry left a deep mark wherever he went and with good reason he was loved and today with tears and tears he is welcomed and remembered with nostalgia", highlighted Filomeno Vieira Dias during the homily.
Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST), priests, nuns, Catholic and Christian faithful, scouts, Salesian missionaries, Argentine diplomats and anonymous citizens paid tribute this Friday to Bishop Tirso Blanco.
The remains of Bishop Jesus Tirso Blanco follow this Friday to the city of Luena, Moxico province, east of Angola, where they will be buried on Saturday.
With missionary activity in Luanda and Cuanza Norte, the bishop built several social works in Luena, including schools, training centers, residences for priests and others.
Jesus Tirso Blanco studied Philosophy and Theology at the Salesian formation house in Buenos Aires and was licensed in Missiology and Social Communication.
