The Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia announces the funeral celebrations for its Archbishop Emeritus, Lewis Jerome ZEIGLER.
As thousands across Liberia, Africa and the world continue to extend deepest condolences to the Holy Catholic Church, the Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia and the family of the late Archbishop, the celebrations will be held on FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2022 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Monrovia beginning at 10:00am.
The removal of the body from the Samuel Stryker funeral parlor takes place on Thursday, August 25, 2022 beginning from 10:00am and taken to the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Monrovia, where it will be laid to allow the faithful and the general public pays their respect until the celebration of the Office of the Dead, beginning at 6:00pm.
It is at this time that all tributes are paid except for specific tributes reserved for the Funeral Mass on Friday.
Meanwhile, a Book of Condolence will be opened in front of the Cathedral, beginning Wednesday at 12:00 noon.
The late Catholic Archbishop dedicated himself to ensure the Archdiocese of Monrovia grows and loss is immeasurable in the religious community and the country in general.
A statement signed by Rev. Msgr. Dr. Gabriel Blamo Jubwe, Diocesan Administrator said, “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that we, the members of the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Monrovia, announce the death of our beloved former Archbishop, Archbishop Emeritus Lewis Jerome Zeigler, whose sad event occurred on the evening of Friday, August 12, 2022, at the Catholic Hospital, Monrovia.”
“We rejoice in the confident knowledge that he is at peace now after his ill-health turned for the worst in the past few weeks. Funeral arrangements will be sent out as soon as we have them finalized,” Diocesan Administrator stated.
Speaker Bhofal Chambers asserted, “His contributions to the religious Community and society are matched only by the depth of his thinking about the making of liberatory futures for human societies. He was an extraordinary human being. A thinker, a leader, and a shepherd. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this most difficult period.”
The late Catholic prelate was appointed Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Monrovia on February 12, 2011 following the death of his predecessor, Archbishop Michael Kpakala Francis.
He retired in 2021 at age 77 and the Pope accepted his resignation but prior to his ascendancy, he served as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Monrovia from 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI and ascended to head the Archdiocese in 2011 after his predecessor died in office.
Born in Harrisburg on January 4, 1944, he was ordained Priest in 1974 and appointed in 2002 by Pope John Paul II as the Bishop of Gbarnga.
On 11 June 2018 he made his first “ad limina apostolorum” visit to Pope Francis. The “ad limina apostolorum” is an obligatory visit made by all bishops to Rome.
