A Message of Condolence on the death of Bishop Dino Gabriel

Message of condolence from Archbishop Thabo Makgoba on the death of Bishop Dino Gabriel, formerly of the Diocese of Zululand and the Diocese of Natal

Dear Bishop Nkosinathi,

On behalf of the Province, the Synod of Bishops, Lungi and myself, please convey our deepest condolences to MaDlamini, the children and the whole family, as well as the Diocesan family, on Bishop Dino’s tragic passing.

Even as I give thanks to God for Dino’s life and ministry in the Dioceses of the Highveld, Zululand and Natal, I also say to MaDlamini and your children, thank you for sharing Dino with the Province and even beyond. He is now at rest with his and our Lord and Saviour, whom he served with such love and energy.

It is especially sad when illness and death come so early and seemingly unfairly, and so we come to God today in confusion and deep grief. Yet Dino would want us to give praise and thanks to God that God was able to use him for His service and to His glory here on earth. And Jesus gives us space to weep for our friend, remembering that Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus—even though he knew Lazarus would be raised. So let us not be afraid to mourn our loss, even as we hold fast to our faith—for, as Jesus also assured us, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

I spoke to Dino for a long time over the phone before he was to be discharged from the rehabilitation centre for his step-down process. He cried before being able to speak but after thanking me for calling, his first words were: “Thank you for the opportunity to minister. Where I have erred, forgive me.” He knew he was dying, and appealed to us to pray for and look after MaDlamini, who—also knowing that he was dying—had been so supportive of him. He hoped I might get there to see him, but added that knowing my schedule it was enough to have had the conversation. He was anxious about his medical bills, and we have since been able to approve a modest grant to help.

We ended our conversation with prayer, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer. I was scheduled to come to visit Dino this coming Wednesday, but alas it was not to be. Bishop Nkosinathi called last week to say he was at the hospital, where Dino was peacefully slipping away. I managed to pray with the family afterwards whilst they were still in hospital.

I am so sorry not to be with you, since I am in Glion, Switzerland, fulfilling a prior commitment with the United Nations. Thank you, Bishop Nkosinathi, for standing in my stead and to Bishop Sitembele for preaching. Well done, Dino, God’s good and faithful servant. Rest eternal, grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

††Thabo Cape Town