In Pace Christi

Fr. Ayele was born on 13 July 1955 in Woki, near Asmara (Eritrea). Temporary vows on 3 May 1978 and perpetual vows on 3 May 1981. He studied theology in Kampala (Uganda) from 1979 to 1982. He was ordained a priest on 16 May 1982. He worked in Uganda among the Langhi from 1982 to 1986; in the Ethiopia-Eritrea province from 1989 to 1998, then he was sent to Uganda where he remained until 2004 and then returned to Eritrea until 2011, the year in which he returned to Uganda.

Fr Ayele was a sociable person, always in the company of someone. He loved being with people. He was brilliant and had a great sense of humour, which made people feel at ease with him. He was generous and charitable towards the poor and needy. He had leadership qualities and was full of initiative. He was very intelligent, capable of organizing and animating people, especially the young. He had a friendly and simple manner with a certain unconventionality.

Both in Ngeta, in the diocese of Lira, and in Dongora, in the diocese of Hawassa, he competently managed some catechetical centres.

He had a knack for journalism, though he had never taken a journalism course, and was in charge of Leadership for a few years and wrote articles for Lobo Mewa. He had the courage to denounce some LRA leaders and dictators from neighbouring countries for human rights violations.

At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, he lost his mother and this year his sister; these were two terrible blows for him, especially since he was unable to attend their funerals.

We were shocked at the news of his sudden death on 16th December in Nairobi.
(Fr. Tesfaghiorghis Haile, mccj)