By Paschal Norbert

NAIROBI, MARCH 16, 2026 (CISA) –  While the moist of the earth and the dust of the soil covered the last of the bodily remains of the late Fr. Antonio Magnante, IMC, in his hometown in the province of Frosinone, Italy, the Kenyan community, those he formed and influenced, his confreres and the land to which he devoted nearly half of his adult life, was still reeling from the shock of losing an erudite scholar and Professor of Sacred Scripture.

Fr. Antonio Magnante, IMC, died on April 11, 2026, in Frosinone, Italy. Fr. Magnante was 81 years old, having lived 56 years in religious profession and 54 years in priestly ministry.

Many of those he moulded eulogized him with deep affection; one priest captured the sentiment succinctly in a WhatsApp status: “If you see me interpreting the Bible with ease and understanding, it is all thanks to this man.” Such was the quiet impact of Fr. Magnante; such was his towering presence, not in the physical sense, but in the academic world where he walked the halls of Tangaza University.

In this spirit, and in total submission to the will of God, the Tangaza University community, students, faculty, religious, and clergy, together with the Consolata Missionaries, gathered at the university’s main hall to pay tribute to one of the last pioneer lecturers of Tangaza University , an institution founded under the auspices of  the first three pioneer congregations: the Consolata Missionaries, the Salesians of Don Bosco, and the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), united by the vision of establishing a common theological center of higher learning.

The Holy Mass was presided over by Rev. Prof. Patrick Mwania, CSSp, Vice Chancellor of Tangaza University, and concelebrated by Very Rev. Evans Mochama, IMC, Vice Regional Superior of the Consolata Missionaries Kenya-Uganda Region, alongside a host of clergy and religious.

The hall, filled beyond its usual weekday capacity in a rare and striking scene, bore testimony to the profound legacy of the late missionary. The liturgical office of the university, accustomed to ordinary attendance during such services, was taken by surprise at the overwhelming turnout. During the Mass, Fr. Magnante’s eulogy was read, recounting a life marked by missionary zeal, intellectual depth, and unwavering dedication to priestly formation.

Born on September 24, 1944, in Veroli, in the province of Frosinone, Italy, Fr. Magnante joined the Consolata Missionaries’ novitiate in Bedizzole in 1968, made his first profession in 1969, and his perpetual profession in 1972. He was ordained a priest on March 26, 1972. His missionary journey soon brought him to Kenya, where he served in Ichagaki and Kerugoya before pursuing further studies in Rome and London. Over the decades, he became a central figure in theological formation, serving as Professor and Vice-Rector at the Consolata Seminary in Lang’ata and later as a long-serving Professor of Sacred Scripture at Tangaza University from 2004 to 2020. His influence extended globally, with thousands of priests and religious formed under his tutelage.

Delivering the homily, Fr. George Kocholickal, SDB, former Principal of Tangaza University College and a former student of Fr. Magnante and one of the members of the first cohort of students at Tangaza, offered a deeply reflective tribute, situating the late priest within the Church’s mission of witness.

“Today, we remember with gratitude Father Antonio Magnante, a great son of the Church who testified to Christ throughout his life, especially as a missionary in his teaching, his formation of future priests and religious and his rather substantial writings,” he said.

Recalling his formative years as a student, Fr. Kocholickal described Fr. Magnante as a demanding yet inspiring teacher of Sacred Scripture.

“In the class, again and again, he reminded us and insisted on the seriousness of theological study, especially studying the Holy Scriptures… he would remind us in his own colourful Italian way that theological formation requires discipline, sacrifice, and hard work,” he said.

He praised him as “an excellent teacher, especially in Pauline literature and the Gospel of John,” whose intellectual legacy continues to nourish both academic and pastoral ministry.

The homilist emphasized Fr. Magnante’s firm theological convictions, noting that “he was totally convinced that there is no forgiveness of sins and salvation except in and through Jesus Christ. He had no doubts about that,” underscoring a Christ-centered theology that shaped his missionary outlook.

He further described him as “an intellectual giant who for many years safeguarded the quality and integrity of theological studies here at Tangaza,” adding that the late priest himself once remarked that over 4,000 future priests had passed through his hands.

Fr. Kocholickal also highlighted his personal virtues, particularly his frankness and courage: “He did not hide his thoughts. He spoke plainly, honestly, able to call things by their proper name… We must obey God rather than men.”

In a moving testimony, Rev. Prof. Patrick Mwania, CSSp, reflected on his years working alongside Fr. Magnante, describing him as “a very dedicated man, very intelligent, very committed, but also a very principled man.”

He recalled their collaboration as heads of departments within the School of Theology, where Fr. Magnante’s discipline and clarity of purpose stood out.

Prof. Mwania illustrated this with a characteristic anecdote: “He believed meetings should last one hour thirty minutes. If the meeting was to start at 2:30, he would be there five minutes before… but exactly at 4 p.m., whether the meeting is over or not, Fr. Antonio would walk silently, take his small bag, and leave the room,” he said, noting that this habit reflected a deep respect for order and principle rather than inflexibility.

Addressing perceptions of his strictness, he added, “Sometimes people perceived him to be rough and strict… but that was not exactly the case,” recounting how Fr. Magnante often went the extra mile to support struggling students.

He noted that many students admired him deeply, recalling his often-repeated exhortation: “Remember you are God’s wheelbarrow to carry Jesus wherever you go.”

In his thanksgiving remarks, Very Rev. Evans Mochama, IMC, Vice Regional Superior of the Consolata Missionaries Kenya-Uganda Region, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Tangaza community for their solidarity.

“On behalf of our IMC family… I wish to express our deep and sincere gratitude to you all… your presence is consoling,” he said, acknowledging the shared grief and unity in prayer.

He paid tribute to the late missionary as “a priest, a confrere, and a dedicated lecturer who gave his life to form minds and souls,” adding, “We have prayed for him as a priest, remembered him as a confrere, and honoured him as a teacher.” Entrusting him to God’s mercy, he prayed that “the Lord, whom Fr. Antonio served so faithfully, now grant him eternal rest.”