With great sorrow, Sister Nalini Meachariyil shares the following news.

May 4, 2024, marks a profound loss for the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN), the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), and the entire Church in Botswana. Bishop Anthony Pascal Rebello SVD, the Bishop of Francistown, passed away suddenly, returning to his Creator. Serving as the Bishop from Sept. 4, 2021, until his death, he collapsed during Mass at the Marian Grotto/Shrine after a 20-kilometer Rosary Walk with the youth of the Johane Mokolobetsi community – a spiritual practice he cherished. During the Mass, he felt uneasy, and after receiving the Holy Eucharist, he suddenly collapsed. Though he was taken to a clinic in the village, he died a short while later.

Bishop Rebello was deeply connected to the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, having initiated a partnership in 2004 to assist those affected by HIV/AIDS. This collaboration led to the founding of Pabalelong Hospice in 2010, where he was director for many years, providing daily visits, prayers, and Mass for the patients. Known affectionately as Father Tony, he was a mainstay for the SCN community over the past two decades, offering Holy Mass, and was a pillar of support in difficult moments. Bishop Tony was a member of our SCN Welfare Association (Registered Society).

Arriving in Botswana in 1981, Bishop Rebello was among the first SVD missionaries in the country. His ministry extended from Botswana to Kenya and Angola, where he served in various capacities, including pastor, Provincial Superior of the SVDs, and Master of Novices, before returning to Botswana in 2003.

Bishop Rebello was beloved for his deep spirituality, simplicity, and generosity. “The people loved Bishop Tony so much because he was a man of prayer, and he reached out to everyone with deep love and compassion. He was a role model for the young and the old. He loved the Blessed Mother and had a great devotion to Divine Mercy, so much so that he spent hours before the Blessed sacrament. He lived a very simple life and gave generously to the poor and needy. His very presence drew people to God. Many people used to say that he is a living saint. We SCNs used to call him the St. Vincent de Paul of our times,” says Sister Nalini Meachariyil.

His death is a significant loss to Botswana and the global Church. May Bishop Anthony Pascal Rebello’s soul find eternal peace in the arms of God.