By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
A low-key mass was held Saturday at Mutemwa in Mtoko to mark John Bradburne’s 42nd anniversary amid Covid-19 restrictive measures allowing only those who have been vaccinated to attend church services.
With the onset of Covid-19 pandemic in March last year hundreds of thousands of Catholics have been unable to attend the celebrations in compliance with lockdown restrictive measures.
The service led by Father Linus Mukumbuzi (Franciscan Friar) who is Priest in Charge of Administration at Mutemwa Leprosy Centre, a few congregants were reminded of Matthew 5:13 to 16 about the ‘salt and light’ of the earth.
Father Mukumbuzi called on congregants to serve others and leave a legacy just as what Bradburne did to the lepers who were seen as outcasts.
Despite their condition, Bradburne who settled in Mutemwa Mountain in 1962 opted to give the 80 lepers who at the time were excluded from society and community accommodation, food and medication so they could survive.
But there were sparks of good cheer as physically handicapped and some villagers turned out to celebrate through food, music and drinks.
Bradburne is famously known for his heroic faith is assisting people living with leprosy.
Those who knew and lived with him the likes of Mbuya Coleta Mafu (70) testify that Bradburne showed love to lepers through feeding, clothing and washing them.
He, however, was abducted and killed on September 1979 before the end of the liberation struggle.
At his funeral, a pool of blood was seen beneath his coffin. Upon opening the coffin, there was no evidence where the blood came from.
However, an oversight was revealed that Bradburne had not been clothed like St Francis, as is the privilege of members off the Secular Order of Franciscans, and had been his wish.
The habit was found and Bradburne was clothed in it. Since his death there have been many signs of his sanctity with reports of miracles, claims of cures, as well as answers to prayer.
More importantly, many have turned to God through Bradburne’s extraordinary example.
Mutemwa started as a leprosarium in 1937. It grew into a massive leprosarium in the forties and fifties with nearly 1000 patients.
Then with the advent of the drug Dapsone, which can cure the leprosy bacteria, it was decided in 1962 to close Mutemwa and treat all patients at home.
However, about 200 patients had no suitable or local residences. Thus, Mutemwa had to stay open to care for these patients and others who had no homes to return to
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