Father van Roosmalen, who was affectionately known as Mudama, was among the missionaries who came to Africa in the early 1950s.

He reached Shambyu Roman Catholic Mission on December 8 1950 and joined the late Father Bernard Hartman there.

He served as mission leader and parish priest at Shambyu for 22 years.

His health condition started to worsen in 1998, when he was taken to Nyangana Roman Catholic Mission, where he stayed for eight years.

Earlier this year, he was transferred to Tondoro Mission in western Kavango, where he passed away.

Father Van Roosmalen was much loved by the people of the Kavango, and was given the name Mudama by his congregation for his kind-heartedness.

Van Roosmalen was born on June 12 1921 in the village of Boxel in southern Holland.

Different Catholic congregations in the region have started with memorial services ahead of his funeral, which will take place at Shambyu Mission, 30 km east of Rundu, on Friday.

- Nampa

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