Fr. Edmund’s Funeral — Fr. Ray’s Homily

Not just early – very early – in the morning following the Sabbath two Marys and a Salome set out to find a trader. Intriguingly someone is open at that hour to sell them spices. Then, as the sun rises, they walk to the Jerusalem cemetery.

Picture the scene – they are anxious, and terribly sad. They arrive at the plot where they had stood two days beforehand. Surprisingly they find they are able to enter the tomb. It was probably damp, maybe cold, certainly dimly lit in the early light. And they find themselves not alone with a body – there is no body – but with a young man. There’s four of them in that cramped space. He sees they are startled and afraid and he speaks to them. He tries to soothe them and assures them he knows why they are there – to look for Jesus who’d been buried.

Then he makes an announcement that marks a moment that changed history – “Jesus was crucified. He is risen”. What a memory for those women to later share. Someone, their friend, who was dead has risen – something utterly beyond their comprehension, incredible by any human reckoning, something that can only be believed, in faith.

Whether the women did believe entirely we don’t know. But they hurry back, to pass on the message. “Go and tell…”. News that Jesus could have announced to the disciples himself – he subsequently appeared in person and spoke to them many times – but news, he indicated through the young man, that he first wanted people, and initially women, to announce. And they hurried off to do so.

Our coming together like this today witnesses the fact that we too share the tradition that started that morning, we share the faith of those women, and of all the early disciples. Still without understanding we’ve gathered together because we too believe what the women believed – He rose!

Eddy was born into that faith too, in 1926, the son of Joseph, a builder, and Maria. His family, including 3 brothers and a sister, believed. He learned to believe. He learned too that Jesus wants us, uses us, all of us – men and women – to announce him – to tell others he is alive and is still with us.

Eddy heard God’s call to him, to announce Jesus in the ministry of priesthood. He was ordained in 1958, after an apprenticeship as a carpenter, after the war and the imprisonment that followed to the end of 1946, and after what appears to be 9 years required to complete his interrupted secondary studies and his seminary training. The following year he set sail for this country.

The material things that Eddy became involved in a sense are secondary to the mode in which he lived. He was appointed initially, and for 22 years, in aboriginal ministry, then for 9 years in leadership, then another 10 in the pastoral work of the German chaplaincy. Throughout he kept strongly in his heart – as had Vincent Pallotti who was his inspiration – the message of that Easter morning that everyone is called, like the women, to announce Jesus. That core truth governed his life, and became the pervasive theme of how he acted and what he said, and of the multiplicity of practical concerns that he took on in the name of spreading the Gospel.

Maybe one anomaly, which you can judge for yourselves and which often caused much amusement in the West, was a building he was involved with as part of a training program with aboriginal men. On the outskirts of the isolated town of Mullewa there’s a quite prominent brick construction that punches the skyline across a seemingly featureless plain. It was the centrepiece of an old fringe camp which has long since been pulled down – and it stood there like a monument to Eddy,  public toilet and ablution block!

The same inspiration fired his enthusiasm for the revival of our Founder’s concept of a team, a union, of laity and religious ministering side by side in the Church. Eddy was thinking with our Leaders when, already in the ‘80’s, he applied his  tremendous drive to re-start that Union and re-energise it. Twenty years later it has again begun to fire but without doubt he was ahead of his time.

Many adjectives have been used in the last few days as people strive to highlight the qualities of character which made Eddy such an exceptional person – missionary, visionary, fine and sensitive, leader, friend, respected, gentle, compassionate. You will have your own. Others that jump out at me are his sense of justice and equality, particularly through his years within the sub-culture of the aboriginal community – but with anyone really. And his tolerance and good humour, evidence for which I have to look no further than myself and my first three years as a bumbling young priest under his tutelage. A death notice commented succinctly – like his leader Jesus he was a carpenter and like Jesus he was a humble, respectful and sensitive pastor.

We thank God to whom we are indebted for allowing us to share Eddy’s companionship, for allowing his life to touch ours, for reflecting that same God to us. We pray that he now enjoys the fullness of the peace Jesus gave the disciples when he finally caught up with them that first morning.

We pray with the Church – ‘make him radiant with Christ’s glory’!

Memories of Fr. Eddy

Ed – I share the story from the perspective of Mariana members.
Ed – a long time loyal friend and confidante
Ed – a prayerful and quiet man

This is a compilation of reflections of individual Marianna members.

The first connection with Ed was in 1960 through Margaret Mary at the Tardun community. Margaret Mary as you are all aware had a very close friendship with Ed that continued to his deathbed.

Ed arrived at Tardun in the latter part of 1960. Margaret Mary went there six months earlier. His initial work was to help with the harvest and grading roads. Ed later became rector and took on the role of forming and managing the community and developing facilities. With the lay missionaries Margaret Mary kept the rules, and Ed softened the blow!

Ed believed in and respected the aboriginal people. I tell a story from the time in Geraldton that Mary Whiting shared last night. Ed started a cray-pot project. He worked with the indigenous blokes helping them make the clay pots. He was watched by many cynics yet was committed to work along side them in a meaningful way – they with him and he with them. In the time the project was in progress; the group: came to work, had purpose and gave up the grog.

Ed was prepared to go the extra mile, to make small steps – to be a fool of love for the aboriginal people. These attributes and attitudes were reflected in all aspect of his life: he was available and made time for people – he was among them – en equal, and for me a God presence. Ed gave respect; you did not have to earn it. He gave people their dignity and listened with compassion.

But I digress. All those on the mission loved Ed, and through this ministry many Mariana members came to know and love him. In fact Ed was champion for all lay missionaries and remained in contact with many of them over the years.

Ed firmly believed in and was committed to his priestly call at all times (that we remember) he was influential in inviting and involving lay people to be part of the Pallottine charism and family. Ed had a great love of music, an excellent ear and perfect pitch. He had a beautiful voice, in fact he was frustrated with those of us who could not reach that same pitch.

Ed appreciated times when he could quietly play the guitar, piano or organ. He claimed he could be moved to tears and become emotional when listening to beautiful music.

He often described him self as phlegmatic, not in a hurry to do anything. From our worldview he was peaceful, considered and reflective – he didn’t make rash decisions and he put things in perspective.

Equally, a man of contradictions – typically German – he expected certain standards to be met and correct protocols to be observed.

Ed was focused, a humble and wise man, yet a man with a sense of humour. He had a certain presence – a transcendent presence someone stated. He stood tall and walked tall. He was extremely skilled and gifted – naturally, practically and technologically, and he very generously shared time and gifts – through music, his digital camera, and computer skills.

Ed as we know stayed really connected with his family, with Elizabeth his sister who died in Tasmania in 2004 and maintained constant telephone and email contact with his relatives in Germany, even up till the final days of his life in St Vincent’s hospital.

Ed often mentioned his ministry and relationships with the German community and Camberwell with fondness and appreciation of his heritage.

In recent years Mariana as a community had more association and connection with Ed. Our more immediate memories are of Ed singing the psalm in pure voice on the occasion of Walter Silvester’s 1st anniversary Mass a few weeks ago. Cheryl thought she would never hear his beautiful voice again. The other celebration we will never forget is Ed joining us at Guildford for Easter and then sharing Mary Whitings’ 25 years of commitment within Mariana on Easter Monday.

Ed battled with life in recent years and demonstrated Calvary like courage in this struggle. Another person would have been in care. His tenacity and independent streaks were apparent.

Ed would not like or expect fuss. He would want us “to get on with it”, and encourage us to live with integrity.

Ed lived with this conviction: “Christ being a fool of love for me” and Pallotti’s response “I will be the fool of love for Jesus”

In his memory let us do the same

Homily for Maureen Rath

Easter, at least on the surface, does not seem to be a good time for the Pallottine Family.  Last year we farewelled Fr. Waler Silvester and this year we farewell another significant member of our family – Maureen Rath.   When we look closer though, we see that this feast of Easter is perhaps the most appropriate time to farewell Maureen.  Easter is central to our faith – something close to Maureen’s heart – and is a celebration of life overcoming death; a recognition and thanksgiving for sacrificial love and celebrates sadness turning to joy and hope.  Although we are feeling the sadness of the loss of Maureen from our midst we also should hold on to the faith that we have, the faith that she lived out, and believe that we will be re-united with her one day. 

Just as the disciples of Jesus gathered together, prayed and recalled what the Lord had taught them, we are gathered here in prayer and have, through the eulogies, begun to recall all that Maureen has taught us.  By living out the example she gave us, we not only treasure her memory but keep her alive in our hearts.

Maureen was someone who it was good to be with.  She brought a loving warmth with her wherever she went and a Pallottine Priest in Rome, upon hearing of her death wrote “she was a lovely woman, capable, caring and very convinced of the UAC”. 

Capable: It goes without saying that one must be capable to do all the things that I know Maureen did – and there are no doubt lots of other activities of which I am unaware. When I first met Maureen in 1980 she and Willem were part of a Married Couples Team, together with Fr. Walter, sharing their experiences and insights with other married couples. More recently she has shared from her faith and life experience in “Celebration of Life” weekends.  Along with raising a large family Maureen was active in her local parish and had been involved in Pregnancy Action in Ringwood.  Maureen also worked as a Charge Sister at Caritas Christi in Kew.  The idea that “in heaven we shall rest” rings true for Maureen who seemed to squeeze more that 24 hours out of every day and yet be always able to see the positive in a situation.

Convinced:  Maureen was committed to her family and her faith. Maureen gave us an example of what family life could, and should, be. When I subsequently learnt how large Maureen’s family was I realised that here was someone who had a lot of love to share.  Maureen had no limits on who received that love.  She once shared how she combined the two – she prayed for each of her children as she hung out the washing.  In latter years her dedicated care of Willem continued to give witness to the love she bore him. Maureen also had a deep commitment to the Pallottine Family – UAC – where she held a position of leadership in Melbourne and was a member of the National Coordination Council. She will be greatly missed as a person and for her dedication to making Pallotti’s vision a reality.

Caring: She had a vibrant faith that she lived out as a true Christian as evidenced by the closeness of her family.  The many lives she touched show that this was not just reserved for her family, nor was it some theory or once a week adherence to a set of beliefs, but was central to her life. The words of the first Reading sum up beautifully the way in which Maureen lived out her life in love. 

Maureen also had a deep love of and for St Vincent Pallotti and she wore a Pallottine medal everyday.  She seemed to have made the motto of Pallotti - “Caritas Christi urget nos” the love of Christ impels us – her own and therefore it seems to me fitting that she held in a senior position in the UAC and  at Caritas Christi where she was a very caring presence to both patients and staff over many years. Maureen has given us a model of living and apostolic life of loving, accepting the imitation and challenge of Christ to be loving as our heavenly Father is loving.  For us at this time, we need to put our trust in a loving God and so I invite you to turn to the second back page and pray with me one of Maureen’s favourite prayers.

Maureen at St. Clare’s.

St. Clare’s, Mt. Dandenong is one of the five communities which make up the parish of Belgrave.

Our thanks to Sr. Joyce White, Pastoral Associate, for sharing with us Maureen at St. Clare’s.

Joyce writes:   “When I think of Maureen, there isn’t a positive adjective which doesn’t fit her. The ones that stand out for me are: Deeply spiritual, calm, motherly, true friend, caring, selfless, living………

Maureen is (not was) someone to set your personal goals by. You know you would not make them, but you would be a far better person for having tried.  If you could be half the woman she was, with half the energy she had, you would be proud of your achievement.

Memories at random. 

Small Christian groups: Of course, Maureen wanted to be involved. She saw great benefit to the community and was so encouraging. When Willem experienced another set back to his health, Maureen was not deterred. She offered her home for the meetings so that Willem could continue his involvement. This did put extra stress on her---no matter how hard we tried to avoid that. She would have the tea trolley ready, the fire alight,  candles lit, Gospel text ready etc. We were lucky to be allowed to wash a cup.

Lenten groups: She would be there with her amazing insight, when possible, with Willem. In the year there were only nighttime meetings, she drove through the fog to attend.

Outreach:   When Maureen felt she could no longer attend the meetings of the Pastoral group, she continued to pray for the sick in the community, keep in touch with cards and greetings.
She was so good at writing the right words. I have kept many notes and prayers she sent to me. That was especially significant when my mother died. When I arrived home from the hospital, there was a food parcel on my doorstep.

Music:  ‘Deep Peace’---Not only a favourite track but so descriptive of the service given by  Maureen and Willem.

Special ministry:  When Maureen was at Mass, she would always turn her head  to see if some else was stepping forward to fill a need. It will be years before I don’t see her expressive face, giving the sign of acknowledgement.

Prayers of the Faithful:  The parish calls:  ‘Yes’, says Maureen, ‘I can do that at home’ Of course she did more than that, asking for a copy of the previous week’s if she had missed them, so she would be ‘tuned’ into the life of the parish as a whole.

Attendance:  Just to get Willem to St. Clare’s was a Herculean task But if she could, she did. Willem’s stays in hospital occasionally meant she could not be present for Mass. Maybe she would come for coffee and time with the community Other times, if Willem was at home and could not be left for any time, she would come to bring Communion to him. My last memory of her was one of those occasions. She had forgotten her pix and was so grateful to be able to use a purifier. That was the last time I saw her. As I look back, I can see what how much that small giving meant to both of us.              

Rest in peace and joy,     Maureen.                        

We have this prayer, in Maureen’s hand writing, dated 3.3.2001:-

God of my life, I welcome this new day.
It is your gift to me
I thank you for the gift of being alive this morning.
I thank you for the sleep that has refreshed me.
I thank you for the chance to live life again today.
Lord, this day is full of promise and beauty:
help me to waste none of it.
This day is full of mystery and of the unknown:
help me to face it without fear or anxiety. Amen

“I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.”   Phil. 4.4

There was a memorial Mass for Maureen at St. Clare’s on June, 19th.
Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.

LOST, STRAYED, NOT STOLEN BUT WHERE IS IT?