‘A Chisale’ buried at Mua Mission
Thousands of mourners on Thursday thronged to the Kungoni Centre of Culture and Arts ampitheatre at Mua Mission of the Catholic Church in Dedza for the burial of renowned missionary and cultural enthusiast Father Claude Boucher.
Known mostly by his given Malawian name, a Chisale, the anthropologist died on Tuesday after a long illness. He is known for his promotion of the preservation of the cultures of the Yao, Chewa and Ngoni tribes that surround the Roman Catholic mission.
Apart from encouraging locals in creating works of art, Boucher, who founded the centre in 1976, is renowned for holding exhibitions nationwide as well as curating works in the Chamare museum at the mission.
Boucher was interred in an artistically carved coffin, which according to his successor Brenda O’shea, was put together by 30 artisans at the centre within 24 hours.
In his homily during the requiem mass before the burial, Dedza Diocese Bishop Peter Chifukwa hailed Boucher, who died aged 83, for his missionary work and prayed that his legacy will live on.
“It is with great sadness that we learned of his demise. We are sure that our Lord will reward his works to the church in Malawi, especially here at Mua Mission. He expressed the understanding of the inculturation,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of President Lazarus Chakwera, Deputy Minister of Lands Deus Gumba said the President was saddened with the death as Boucher contributed a lot in the development of the area.
“The President offers his condolences as we have lost a missionary who contributed a lot to the development of the mission’s outlying areas. Apart from cultural preservation, we will also remember his works in caring for the environment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Blantyre-based La Caverna Art Gallery director Lois Losacco says the major art exhibitor is inviting artists for a memorial exhibition in respect for Boucher, whose works included paintings, carvings and other media.
“We would like to celebrate his life and legacy by inviting our fine artists specializing in all mediums to create one piece for a memorial exhibition to be held at La Caverna,” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Before coming to Malawi in 1967, Boucher also did missionary work in his home country, Canada and the Great Britain. He retired in 2020.
