Fr Karl Herman SJ, a Jesuit priest who died at St Paul’s Musami Hospital on the 22 nd of July, was
laid to rest at Chishawasha cemetery in a hearty send off by congregants who included Jesuits
and members of different religious congregations.
Fr Karl was 66.
In his homily at the funeral mass held at Chishawasha mission, Fr Konrad Landsberg SJ said Fr
Karl’s soul is no longer imprisoned by any fear and illness.
He encouraged the congregation not to fear death but to view it from a positive perspective.
“Death is not a threat, it is only a wretch to those who worship this world, and to those who
worship God, it is a door to glory and to rejoicing for being alive,” he said.
He also said true life is a life of glory, fulfillment of hopes and dreams, and living with these
perspectives helps people to stop being slaves to the values of this world.
Attending the requiem mass were several retired Jesuits, Chinhoyi Diocese Bishop Emeritus
Dieter Scholtz SJ, the Southern Africa Jesuits Provincial Fr Leonard Chiti SJ among several
other priest and religious.
Fr Karl was born in 1956, in Germany, and joined the Society of Jesus in 1987.
He was ordained into the priesthood in 1997 and professed his final vows in 2006.
He worked in several missions in Zimbabwe including St Rupert Mayer Makonde, Sacred Heart
Banket, Visitation Makumbi, as well as St Paul’s Musami Mission which was his last mission, as
the assistant parish priest.
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