Pioneering Divine Word Missionary remembered in Jamaica
| Rev. Edward Herberger, the first Divine Word Missionaries to work in Jamaica, was fondly remembered during a memorial Mass in Morant Bay. Fr. Herberger died at age 79 in Techny, Ill., on Feb. 9. |
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Morant Bay, Jamaica – On Feb. 20, parishioners of Our Lady of the Assumption, St. Bartholomew and St. Francis of Assisi came out in numbers to reverently remember Fr. Edward Herberger, SVD, who died on Feb. 9, 2012.
During the memorial Mass, they shared tributes and sacred stories of how the first Divine Word Missionary assigned to Jamaica ministered to the various needs of the people throughout St. Thomas, the southeastern-most region of Jamaica.
"Fr. Ed was compassionate, caring and careful in his service, willing to go out to a BEC [Basic Ecclesial Community] gathering or counsel a couple in need," said Brother Bernie Spitzley, SVD, who has lived and worked in Jamaica since 1999.
"This pioneer died peacefully as he had lived," he said. "Fr. Herberger’s passion for life, the Eucharist and serving the poor continues on through the Divine Word Missionaries who have followed in his footsteps here in St. Thomas. His memory lives on in the many people who were blessed and baptized in the Church. May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace."
To read Fr. Herberger’s obituary, go to:
http://www.divineword.org/news/fr_edward_herberger_19322012.aspx
For more information, contact Theresa Carson at (847) 412-1606 or
tcarson@uscsvd.org.