Fr. Nshinga laid to rest
…as Archbishop Banda urges integrity and hope in God amid loss”
The clergy, religious, and faithful, together with the family of the late Fr. Maybin Nshinga, gathered today at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus and later at Kasisi Cemetery to bid farewell to the former Parish Priest of St. Stephen–Situmbeko, who passed away on May 30.
Fr. Nshinga, born on May 16, 1973, was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 2003. Over the years, he served in various parishes, beginning as Assistant Priest at St. Paul’s Parish in Chongwe, where he later became Parish Priest. His pastoral journey also included service at St. Paul’s Parish in Chipata Compound, St. Joseph Parish in Kanyama, Holy Saviour Parish in Kafue Estates, St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Obama, and St. Stephen- Situmbeko.
During the Requiem Mass, Archbishop Alick Banda called on Christians to remain faithful to God and live with sincerity, honesty, and integrity.
The Archbishop reflected on the fragility of life, the inevitability of death, and the enduring hope found in God.
“Today, we bring the mortal remains of our brother, Fr. Maybin Nshinga for burial. He was a son, a brother, a friend and a companion,” Archbishop Banda said, thanking mourners who had traveled from near and far to pay their respects.
He acknowledged that the Archdiocese has experienced a series of painful losses in recent weeks, following the deaths of Archbishop Emeritus George Telesphore Mpundu and Sr. Margaret HBVM.
“The answer lies in God, who is the alpha and omega of our life. In death, we come face to face with Him. In death, we come to our destined home already prepared for us, when our earthly life comes to a close,” he said.
Turning to the Gospel reading, Archbishop Banda drew parallels between the hostility Jesus faced and the challenges encountered by those who remain faithful to their divine calling. “Those who choose a path of life away from God… will feel challenged by the quiet integrity of those who remain faithful,” he explained. “It is this discomfort which slowly turns into hostility, and hostility turns into a deliberate plan to destroy those who remind them of the truth.”
He warned against hypocrisy, likening it to the deceit of the Pharisees and Herodians who sought to trap Jesus with questions about paying taxes to Caesar. “A hypocrite is a pretender, like the so many hypocrites of our time, who say one thing and mean the opposite,” Dr. Banda said. “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God” as a call to justice and sincerity. “The coin bears the image of Caesar, so let Caesar have it. But we bear the image of God. Therefore, we must give ourselves in totality to God alone.”
Archbishop Banda urged the faithful to embrace truthfulness and integrity in their lives. “The Lord invites us to be sincere. To let our words, actions, prayers, and choices become truthful before God. At the same time, the Lord invites us to give the world what justice requires: honesty and integrity. But over and above, the Lord invites us to give to God what belongs to God; namely, our whole being.”
“May the light of Christ continue to shine upon him and ourselves, as we face the darkness of death, the sorrow of loss, and the pain of separation. May God comfort and console our priestly fraternity, his immediate family members and friends, especially in this moment of sorrow.”
Fr. Maybin Nshinga was laid to rest at Kasisi Cemetery, remembered not only for his priestly service but also for his faith and dedication to the Church’s mission.
