Tributes pour for late Alex cleric

Tributes are pouring in for the late Father Ronald Cairns (OMI) of St Hubert Parish in Alexandra, who died on 6 February at about 5pm, aged 75.

One such tribute has come from Alex historian and community leader Thabo Mopasi, who described himself as a born Catholic who was baptised at St Hubert Parish in 1972. Mopasi said he was devastated to learn that Father Cairns was in the hospital.

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“I was informed about his sickness and later told that he was in the intensive care unit. I was really paralysed and all I could ask friends to do was to ask them to pray for him.

“I know Father Cairns as a very strict, honest and forthright theologian, and I remember him praying for the Alex Taxi Peace Accord and the last time I met him last year I had gone to him to talk about civic education programmes.

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“In our discussions, we also touched on issues around the increased resourcing of the church school and a programme to stop [people urinating] at the Mission House by hawkers outside the Pan Africa Mall,” Mopasi said.

Mopasi added that Father Cairns had told him he had all the plans in place and he would present them to the church council soon. “May his soul rest in peace, and we thank him for the wonderful work he did within the community.”

Facebook was also abuzz with messages of condolences:

Kgomotso Moloi: We have lost. May your soul RIP Father Cairns.
Roslynn Farrell Greeff: May his soul rest in peace.

Petunia Mpho Mogane: May his soul rest in peace.

Masebedi Mapela: MHSRIP.

Pule Hlatshwayo: He fathered most of us who didn’t have fathers…

Pholo Sepeng: May his soul rest in peace.

Lerato Sekosana: He baptised me and my kids.

Tutu Singo: My Parish father… I will miss him for the sound doctrine and he always [stood] for truth. I share my 2nd name with his mother. May his soul find eternal peace.

Clement Thipe and 44 others: Thank you for the light and love you shared with the community of Alex.

Ntshegiseng Mphande: MHSRIP.

Tebogo Modiba: May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Linah Mmabosa Maake: RIP.

Nomzi Ndlovu: May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Mike Hadebe: He was a member of Alexandra Ministers’ Fraternity who distributed food parcels where I served as a field worker at O’Connor Foundations.

Masaile Tshayama: Condolences to the entire family and may his humble soul rest in peace.

Deborah Francisco: Rest in peace Father Cairns you have run your race, go and rest you will be missed Father.

Lorraine Mathebula: May his soul rest in peace.

Mpho Moraka: Rest in eternal peace Fr Cairns. We thank you for the light and love you shared with the community of Alex.

Judith Molefe: May his soul rest in peace, He did so much in Alex, We grew up knowing him as the father of all in Alexandra.

Sibongile Pule: Eish may his beautiful soul rest in peace.