Goodbye Fr. Eduardo
Entry posted by markdohle in personal reflection
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Goodbye Fr. Eduardo
I retired from the infirmary in 2013 and started my stint as a retreat/guest master. It was time for a change.
In 2020 when COVID came onto the scene, I was called back in to do a few shifts a week.
In 2020 when COVID came onto the scene, I was called back in to do a few shifts a week.
Since I like the early hours, I was put on the 3:30-8 AM shift. I enjoyed it. Fr. Eduardo was
one of the three that needed full-time assistance.
one of the three that needed full-time assistance.
I first met Fr. Eduardo in 1968 when I came for a month to see what monastic life was
like and if I felt called to enter. I was 19 but turned 20 a couple of weeks after I arrived.
He would have been 40 at the time. I noticed that he was
a serious man and quiet. However, when you talked to him about any subject,
he became very animated. I was amazed at his depth of knowledge on many subjects.
like and if I felt called to enter. I was 19 but turned 20 a couple of weeks after I arrived.
He would have been 40 at the time. I noticed that he was
a serious man and quiet. However, when you talked to him about any subject,
he became very animated. I was amazed at his depth of knowledge on many subjects.
He was in the Jesuit order when he entered our monastery in 1962. So, he
was highly educated and would have made a good teacher if he remained a Jesuit.
He suffered from dementia, but not so extreme that on most days he could get around on his own during the day.
At night we had the door locked with a combination so that he would not wander off. During the day there was
always someone around where he was at who could help him if he was going through a period of confusion.
At night we had the door locked with a combination so that he would not wander off. During the day there was
always someone around where he was at who could help him if he was going through a period of confusion.
He had a great sense of humor. On some mornings he would get up and not know where he was at, or that he was a monk,
or who I was. Yet, he did not panic, and would even laugh about it. After eating breakfast with some coffee, he would
be okay for the day. At least for the first couple of years. His dementia slowly got worse, but even then,
he was never a problem to take care of. True he could be stubborn, but that is not always a bad thing.
or who I was. Yet, he did not panic, and would even laugh about it. After eating breakfast with some coffee, he would
be okay for the day. At least for the first couple of years. His dementia slowly got worse, but even then,
he was never a problem to take care of. True he could be stubborn, but that is not always a bad thing.
He was a man of deep prayer and would often sing during the day. He would laugh easily,
and a bright smile was never far below the surface. He was a true man of God, who even
when suffering from dementia was a man in touch with God and was always kind to others.
and a bright smile was never far below the surface. He was a true man of God, who even
when suffering from dementia was a man in touch with God and was always kind to others.
I enjoyed taking care of him. There is sadness about his death but also joy that now he has gone to be with God with
whom he had a deep love. One aspect of the sadness is that of all the monks who were here when I entered, there
are now only two left. Yet loss is something we all deal with, and in the not near future, I will follow.
whom he had a deep love. One aspect of the sadness is that of all the monks who were here when I entered, there
are now only two left. Yet loss is something we all deal with, and in the not near future, I will follow.
I learned a lot from him. About being patient, keeping a sense of humor, and how important it is to smile at others.
May God give him eternal joy and rest.-Br.MD
May God give him eternal joy and rest.-Br.MD
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