The oldest
member of the Congregation, Fr. Alexandre KAYSER, chose the season of Lent for
his paschal journey to the Father. He died on March 16, 2012, at the age of
108, in his 89th year of religious life and his 83rd year
as a priest. Three days before his
death, he had said: “I love the Good God; I love the Virgin Mary; I love the
Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
He did most of
his formation as an Oblate in Belgium. Ironically, his health was fragile during
his scholasticate years and at other points in his life. He had the privilege
of being ordained to the priesthood in 1929 by the Oblate Superior General,
Archbishop Augustin DONTENWILL.
Having lived
through two World Wars, he was twice coned into the army. He also served
as a scholasticate formator and teacher; a parish priest; a preacher of
missions and retreats; and a hospital chaplain. He finally retired at the age
of 93 to the Oblate house in Strasbourg. There, he gave witness to faithful Oblate
life by his prayer, his regular life, and his correspondence with people
seeking spiritual direction. He was a missionary to the very end.
On the occasion
of his 60th anniversary of priesthood, he had said: “Brothers and
sisters, believe me, it is good to have consecrated one’s whole life to the
Lord and to stay faithful to him. I assure you, if I had to start over, I would
do nothing different.”
