M.J. and family of Brikama regret to announce the death of their friend

Mr J.J. Bakker (known as Dady Cool )

on the 16th of September 2008, in UK.

This sad news is extended to all friends in The Gambia and Aborad.

May his soul rest in peace.

The late Patience Riley & Late John Maxwell, Mr & Mrs Arthur Maxwell & family, the entire Riley family, the late Simeon Macmason, Lady Haddy M
acmason, Simon Macmason of Sweden, Comfort Monday of UK, Sunny Maxwell Sweden, Muhammed Carey, Fatima(Phebian) Loum of UK, Agie Betty Saine & family of Kotu, Agi Nancy Waggeh of Bakoteh regret to announce the death of

Agi Fatoumata Maxwell

(Baby Hannah Loum of Bakoteh)

who died on Sunday and was buried on Monday at 2:00 pm.

This sad news is extended to Alh. Ma-Ansu Nyang of Sirmang, Alh. Amadou Bah & family, the Sey family of Tiaoun, the family of the late Imam Abdoulie Jobe, Ebrima Loppy and family.

Condolence can be conveyed at the deceased compound opposite Tippa Garage

May her soul rest in perfect peace.

Mr. Gassama, who reportedly went missing some four months ago, is still said to have not returned home after leaving his house for work.

Speaking to this paper yesterday on behalf of the family, Sidat Gassama, Bakary Gassama’s younger brother said Bakary left home on the 13thMay 2008 for work and never returned home.

He noted that despite numerous complaints and searching, their loved one is still missing.

“We have done all that we can but we cannot still know his whereabouts. He left the house for work and never came back,” he said.

For Sidat Gassama, his brother has not done anything wrong and any attempt to implicate him should not be accepted, adding that if there is anything wrong that he has done let him be charged as stipulated by law.

“We want the authorities help us release my brother. He is the breadwinner of the family and he should be released because since his disappearance, we have been going through very difficult times,” he said.

The family of the late Mbegan Ndure, the family of the late Njouga Ndure, the family of the late Joseph Ndure, of Banjul and Senegal, Mrs Elizabeth Omo Njie of 72, Dobson Street, the Richards family of Banjul, Mrs Daphney Sonko & family, father Tony Sonko, Aunty Baby Cris Njie & family of Kanifing Estate, Mr & Mrs Cherno Jallow of Kanifing, Mrs Abbey Njie of Kotu regrets to announce the death of

Mrs Getrude Stanley (Nee Ndure) of UK (daughter of the late Mrs Mary Ndure) which sad event occurred on July 31st 2008 & was laid to rest on 2nd August 2008 in the United Kingdom.

This sad news is extended to Dentist R.O.Carrol, Dentist M.O. George, Riley family of Rankin Street, family of the late Lilly Jones, Mrs Sainabou Jack-Jarra of Brikama, Mrs Ola Richards Ndow, Mrs Rose Sanyang of Ziguinchor, Mrs Abiosseh Mendy Nunez of Ziguinchor,  Mrs Mu Ndow Sanyang of Ziguinchor, the Barbosa family of Ziguinchor, Mrs Harriett Jandeh and family of Dakar Senegal, Mrs Tuty Sanyang of Dakar Senegal, the family of the late Anna Richards Faye of Jupel Quart Senegal and all friends in The Gambia and abroad.

May her soul rest in perfect peace

St. Therese’s Catholic Church over the weekend staged their first and historical Family Day. The chief celebrant pointed out the real meaning of family in contrast to the western style family system. This was organised by the Parish Pastoral Council, inviting all parishioners to come and see themselves as a single family in the same faith. It helped parishioners know each other share and talk on different topics. The Family Day ended with the sudden death of Anthony J. Mendy, the president of the Parish Pastoral Council, also the president of the Senior Choir who was a staff of WAEC at Banjul. His demise towards the end of the celebration made the Family Day historical by nature as many came in joy and returned home in tears and sorrow. Augustine Kanjia was there and finds out about the day and how it all started and ended.

The Family Day in line with the church’s drive for self reliance and a dynamic church, St. Therese parish has started its hard push to get off the ground, started off with parishioners knowing each other and taking each other as a family. They called all to be a part of the occasion by involving all church groups to prepare something for sale, which came out well. The day was remarkable, as the church premise was full of life and joy. Each group had its own stall and sold while music kept coming at no cost. The church was kept lively as people sang and danced with a musical band that played soul-moving melodies including the Senior Choir that moved the church. Little did any one know that Anthony J. Mendy their dynamic Parish Council Chairman was to celebrate with his members for the last time when he was pronounced dead at the West Field Clinic.

Fr. Joseph Carl Gomez, the Rector of the St. Peter’s Junior Seminary and the Vocation Director and the Youth Chaplain, in his sermon said when people are thirsty they find a drink shop or cold water to quench their thirst. “If that aspect of our human body is satisfied there remain the spiritual thirst. When God Himself will wipe away their tears and make life meaningful then. God is inviting us today to come to the water; we shall not be thirsty again. God is going to fulfill all He has said to us,” he said.

In St. John’s Gospel, Fr. Carl continues, it tells us about the Word of God.” I could have decided to go to the beach but I have come to celebrate with others. St. Augustine said ‘our heart is restless until it rests in you.” He further said that nothing can come between God and man, some one may come between you and your friends but not between you and God. Your experience also will never waver for the love of God.

Addressing St. Therese on the word Family, Fr. Carl said

The word family means a group of people united by marriage, blood or adoption and live together. The family is seen as mother father and children by some. “We have extended family and nuclear family. Nuclear family is only by paper because they have their own parents, brothers and sisters, uncle, niece etc. blood does not refer to the same blood. If someone is married but has no child and the uncle gives that person a child to take care of or have children but the aunt or uncle brings a child to be taken care of by that family, it becomes a family its another blood,” he said.

He advised parents to play their role as husband and wife. They share their conjugal love, if they have children their love is extended. Their love he said must be constant. “Parents must care for their children and their love must not cease. Children must obey their parents. Wives must love their husbands and husbands are to respect their wives. The family must play its own part, as the community must. The family has an educational role to play.”  Fr. Carl said it is not written in the Bible that wives should feed men. He observed that there were women who go shopping to satisfy their husbands and others take 1 by 6 only to buy make up.

Father Carl said parents should allow their children to know that it is end of month, that there should be a difference and to buy meat at least once a month to avoid their kids going to neighbours. He warned parents, brothers and sisters in law to be careful to protect their children’s marriage. “I should not go into his home to cause trouble,” he said.

Affection he said must be nurtured or else children will not be sympathetic when they grow. He urged couples to always pray for the other if things go wrong. He urged children to read Hebrews 12: 5-12 at home. “When parents beat you its not that they hate you, be obedient.

The day continued in joy but ended abruptly when the parish chairman, Anthony J Mendy collapsed while dancing, rushed to West Field Clinic where he was pronounced dead. Indeed his family that is the St. Therese’s Catholic Family will forever remember him and the day seen as historical.

St. Therese’s Parish Family Day celebrations came to a tragic end yesterday at the Caritas Grounds when their Parish Council Chairman, Tony Mendy, passed away after he collapsed during the peak of the day’s celebration.

The late Tony Mendy, who worked at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and served as the St. Therese’s Parish Council’s Chairman and President of the Senior choir, died suddenly yesterday evening during the peak of celebrations at the St. Therese’s Family Day Celebration.

According to one of the Parish Council members, the Family Day celebration was initiated by the late Tony Mendy during his short tenure. The member added that the late Mr. Mendy’s chairmanship brought lots of changes in their church.

Some parishioners who were eyewitnesses to the scene, said the late Tony Mendy was involved in all aspects of the celebrations, discussing with people on pertinent issues. “During the dance the late Tony Mendy collapsed and was rushed to Westfield Clinic, where he was confirmed dead. He was taken to the RVTH for post mortem,” a close friend of his said.

The attendants of the celebration were gripped by grief. Parishioners thronged at West Field Clinic to find out what exactly led to the death of their active church leader, a parent and an educator.

The deceased had previously worked as a teacher at St. Augustine’s Junior Secondary School in Banjul from where he later landed employment with the West African Examination Council at Banjul.

Patrick Kargbo, an examiner, said: “He was a very kind man to me at the Council. He helped me with all I did at the Council. I am mourning but I pray he will go to heaven, in Jesus’ name, amen.”