It was with great emotion that I received news that His Excellency, Archbishop Henryk Hoser, SAC, had returned to the Father’s house. Sorrow is intertwined with gratitude and evangelical hope, and above all, a prayer of praise flows from my heart: My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior …
A great man, who loved the Church and his homeland, has passed away, a missionary “of flesh and blood”, a Shepherd – in the measure of the Heart of Jesus, a patriot and – I do not hesitate to say – a man who always looked far beyond the horizon. His sermons and teachings will guide our earthly pilgrimage for a long time, remaining part of our ecclesial, national, missionary and Pallottine heritage. We need Him today; his preaching and paternal presence, his loving chastening words calling for conversion and love of life. Without a shadow of exaggeration, it can be said that Archbishop Henryk Hoser SAC found the wisdom of the heart, which he included in the bishop’s exclamation: Maior est Deus – God is greater.
Passage to the house of the late Archbishop Henryk was interrupted by our common history, common issues and, plans. Today, however, we are once again united in spiritual closeness and hope to meet again. Let the love that transcends mortality and the limits of death last forever: for us in the form of gratitude for the life of Archbishop Henryk, for him as a gift of salvation. The Archbishop will remain among us, not only in prayer and kind memory, but above all in the will of his works, to which the evangelical fire and love will not go out, neither here in Poland, nor in Rwanda, nor in Medjugorje …
“Thank you” seems too small a word to express the gratitude that we Pallottine Sisters have in our hearts for the late Archbishop Henryk. Words from the Gospel of St. John are beautifully reflected in his priestly, apostolic and missionary life: “I am the resurrection and life. Whoever believes in me will live even though he dies. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (Jn 11: 25-26).
Today we entrust this man into the maternal hands of Mary, Queen of Peace, a man of great righteousness and modesty, full of warmth and kindness, kind to all people and completely devoted to his service. May he rest in peace …
United in the hope of the Risen Lord
Sr. Izabela Świerad SAC
General Superior
Rome, 20 August 2021
