REQUIEM MASS FOR FR. PAULIN MANUELO AT HUC

The Provincial Father and the Jesuits of ACE commend to your fervent prayers the soul of Father Paulin MANWELO, SJ

• Born in Kikwit (Kwilu, DRC) on May 23, 1960
• Entered the Society on September 17, 1980
• Ordained priest on July 18, 1993
• Final Vows on January 1, 2006
• Piously passed away in Nairobi (Kenya) on February 22, 2025

“Keep your intelligence alert, do not be distracted, and set your hope completely on the grace to
be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13)

Shaped by the Spiritual Exercises, tested through various experiments during long years of probation and formation, strengthened by the sacraments, including Holy Orders received in 1993, confirmed by the school of the heart and his definitive incorporation into the Society in 2006, and animated by the spirit of Magis, Fr. Manwelo lived by three major principles: rigor, quality, and boldness.

•  Rigor. Fr. Paulin was a recognized intellectual, respected for his rigor.From Loyola University of Congo (ULC, Canisius Kimwenza) to Magis University (Madagascar), through Hekima College (Nairobi), Boston College (USA), Arrupe College (Harare, Zimbabwe), the Hekima Institute of Peace and International Relations (Nairobi), the University of Kinshasa, and CADICEC (Kinshasa), he shone as a diligent worker, an outstanding teacher, a brilliant pedagogue, a talented organizer, and an indefatigable researcher.
• Quality. Fr. Paulin took great care in everything he undertook. He was deeply concerned about the quality of his work. His preaching, teaching, and numerous writings reflected a high level of thought, profound reflection, and a rich interior life.
• Boldness. “A Jesuit does not settle for the ‘already seen.’” Fr. Paulin fully embraced this principle. He ventured beyond conventional paths, and loved exploring new avenues, creating, inventing, and opening doors to new possibilities. In the Central African Province, he was one of the pioneers of the Internet. He founded the “Forum ACE”, a tool for communication and unity of hearts and minds. He encouraged his students to dare to read, write, and publish new ideas while maintaining a critical perspective.

Fr. Paulin was a giant… but for years, he was afflicted by illness. In recent weeks, he was hospitalized in Antananarivo, where he had been teaching since 2022. As his health did not improve, he was transferred to Nairobi. Arriving in the Kenyan capital on Thursday, February 20, 2025, he was immediately admitted to Coptic Hospital. It was from there that, early in the morning of Saturday, February 22, 2025, he returned to the Eternal Father.

All his confreres will remember him in the Eucharist (Vade-mecum, 119).