Many people sign book of condolences

There was a huge turnout at The Chancellery of the Paramaribo Diocese because many people wanted to sign the book of condolences to pay their respects to the late Bishop Aloysius Zichem. Faroz Abdoelrazak, media coordinator at the Roman Catholic Diocese, told Times of Suriname that people from all over the country show up at The Chancellery to place their signatures in the book of condolences. “Some of them started to cry,” said Abdoelrazak who added that one must not forget that many people loved the late monsignor. The media coordinator expects many people to keep showing up at The Chancellery. Members of the community can sign the book of condolences today until 1 p.m. Today will be the last day that they will be able to do so. The public can also bid a final farewell to the late bishop today. His body will be placed on the bier in the Saint Peter & Paul Cathedral Basilica from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. After that there will be a prayer service until 20:30. “People will not be given the opportunity to bid a final farewell after the prayer service,” said Abdoelrazak who added that people do not need a ticket to attend the prayer service. They will, however, need a ticket for Sunday’s funeral service of Monsignor Zichem. Tickets are available at the following locations: Maria Koningin van de Wereldkerk – Franklinweg 2, Latour, Driekoningenkerk (Rajpur) – Verlengde Mahonielaan 27, Alfonsiuskerk – Verl. Keizerstraat 65 and at the Secretarial Office at the Cathedral Basilica located along the Mgr. Wulfinghstraat 2.

Monsignor Zichem passed away on Sunday at the age of 83. According to the Roman Catholic Diocese, Zichem was the bishop of Paramaribo from 1970 until 2002 which means that he was the head of the Roman Catholic Church in Suriname.