God, the Father of mercies, has called our confrere Fr. Hugo Büchel, CPPS in the early evening of January 10th 2014 into his eternal rest. He was nearly 86 years old and in his 62nd year of Priesthood. The recent months and particularly the last two weeks since suffering a stroke were difficult and painful for him.
Fr. Hugo was born on February 3rd 1928 in Schellenberg , Liechtenstein, the manger of the German Province . He got to know the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood through the missionaries, who were ministering in Schellenberg and who knew him from his childhood. He first visited the school in Fribourgh and then he studied theology in Salzburg .
On March 18th 1952 he made his final incorporation and on July 1st 1952 he was ordained a priest in Salzburg and served from this point onward as a priest and missionary in the German Province. From 1953 to 1959 he was parish assistant in Lindenberg /Allgäu; then until 1963 was pastor in Stadlpaura, Upper Austria. In 1963 he became a member of the group which served in the field of popular missions. At the Provincial Chapter of 1968 he was elected as third councillor. In 1969, the leadership of the Popular Missionary group was entrusted to him. In 1974 he took over the Mission Procure in Pankofen, Bavaria and moved his residence in 1977 to Maria Baumgärtle, Schwaben, while reamaning on the Popular Mission team. 1989 his superiors asked him again to change his residence. He moved again to Maria Hilf, Kufstein, where he had previously lived from 1963 – 1974. So this place literally became his second home, where he could develop his life and work as a priest and missionary until the day of his departure to the Father in Heaven.
Fr. Hugo was a well liked pastor and confessor, during his ministry in Popular missions and in the almost 25 years of his missionary work in Maria Hilf. He helped people to find their trust in a loving and merciful God and was himself a loving and very patient person. The old and sick people in the elderly home nearby became his special concern in the last years. With great love and devotion, he celebrated the Holy Eucharist, as long as it was mentally and physically possible for him. Here, he allowed himself to experience the power of the Precious Blood, and he did not become tired to share this gift with those to whom he ministered. We really thank him from our heart for his wonderful example as priest and missionary under the sign of Christ’s blood.
On Wednesday, January 15th 2014, at 11.00 clock the funeral mass and homily was held by the Provincial director in our Sanctuary Maria Hilf; concelebrating with about 30 priests of the community and priests from the parishes around Kufstein, as well as a big crowd of faithful people. After mass Fr. Hugo was buried on our community cemetery where he is expecting the resurrection of the dead. R.I.P.
Text and photo courtesy of Andreas Hasenburger, CPPS