Madagascar: Friar killed and a novice gravely wounded in attempted robbery

In the early hours of the night between Saturday and Sunday on April 23, 2017, our brother Njiva Lucien, Guardian of the novitiate friary of the Province of Madagascar, was murdered in an attempted robbery. A young novice was also gravely injured. The tragic events occurred in the area of Ambendrana. The robbers, a gang made up of four persons, entered the friary with the clear intention of theft and plunder, especially of some bells. Some days ago was the first attempted robbery.

Br. Edouard, the Provincial Minister of Madagascar, reports that already “in mid-February the bandits were seen, in their first attempt, in the bell tower of the novitiate, but they didn’t succeed. On April 14, in a second attempt, they were able to bring down the bell. The brothers, however, were able to intervene and recover it. A week later we have witnessed this armed attacked. The case is already in the hands of the police. The Premier of the country and four ministers, as well as some representatives, have visited the friary to give their condolences and have promised to conduct a thorough investigation and to guarantee the security of our friary. The bishops’ conference and the nunciature have been informed of the situation. They are all in communion with us […]. Our novices are somewhat traumatized.”

The funeral of the Guardian will be  held on Wednesday afternoon.

Though his body and blood have fallen to the earth of Madagascar amidst our pain and tears, Br. Lucien is before us for what he really was; not a sign of a life taken by pointless violence and tragedy, but a life offered and lived each day in his mission as a friar, as a friend of peace, as a brother to all for the love of Christ the Lord.