“We pray that the Good Lord may consider her 41 years of religious life and her selfless services as a teacher and treasurer of the Chalice program,” Sr. Kagulura said.
Sister Matilda, 60, died on Sunday, October 25 while undergoing treatment at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka where she, alongside Sr. Okafor Assumpta had been transferred from a District hospital.
Sr. Matilda is said to have sustained deep cuts in her forehead and head and therefore remained hospitalized in the intensive care unit until her death. Sr. Assumpta, on the other hand, was treated and discharged from the hospital after a short time.
The two were, on the evening of August 24, injured when an armed bandit entered St. Barbara Parish, Kataba Township in Itezhi-tezhi District of Monze Diocese. The criminal is said to have taken Sr. Assumpta, 49, and Sister Matilda by surprise.
“Sister Matilda suffered deep cuts on her forehead and head, with a serious eye injury, while Sister Assumpta suffered a deep cut on her head after the criminal hit them with an iron bar. The two victims had surprised the burglar when he tried to break into the monastery,” a police spokeswoman reportedly said.
In his homily at the burial of Sr. Matilda, Archbishop Alick Banda of Lusaka Archdiocese recounted that the late nun was attacked on her way to prayers.
“Since then, Sr. Matilda lay unconscious in hospital but with her praying heart, placing her life in God’s hands as she travelled her final steps along the road of our earthly life,” Archbishop Banda said in his homily.
He Zambian Archbishop added, “We all prayed with her and for her with the straw of hope that she might be well again but it was not meant to be. The Lord in his mercy has chosen the best option for her, that of eternal rest from pain… eternal rest away from barbaric acts of violence against women.”
Archbishop Banda further said that in Sr. Matilda’s death, Christians are reminded of the importance of spending their talents, time and treasures responsibly and profitably.
“Sr. Matilda did her part. She spent herself in the pastoral ministry and especially in education so that the world might come to believe in the loving, caring, healing, educating and welcoming God,” Archbishop Banda said.
