PROF. (Fr.) LAWRENCE NJOROGE EULOGIZING THE LATE FR. GEORGE GATHONGO. (Excerpts of the article in the daily nation Thursday, December 17,2020)

Fr. Gathongo was a man of many gifts: teacher, musician, linguist, communicator, author and liturgist. He understood himself first and foremost as a priest. His CV reads in its concluding paragraph: ”As I am writing this, I wish to stress the point that I have always been attached to a Parish, whether here or abroad… keeping in mind that “the harvest is plentiful and the labourers few”.

Talented with a rich baritone, Fr. Gathongo loved singing the old Latin Gregorian Chant. But he was equally at home with modern liturgical music innovations.
He was an engaging personality who owned a genuine, infectious laugh. Yet he spoke his mind without fear, sometimes to the discomfiture of authoritarian personages. Those who know him vouch for his deep love for the Church.

Sense of humor

Fr. George, as his friends fondly called him, had a sense of humour. When Fr. Dr. Boniface Kariuki, who is Chaplain at KU, visited him recently at the retirement Clergy Home in Ruaraka, the veteran priest remarked regarding the imposing building: ”This place is beautiful. It’s heaven on earth. The only better place one can go to is Paradise”, he concluded with his signature laugh.

A few days later, he passed on aged 87 years.  

Fare thee well Fr. George Gathongo, in the dew of the heavens.