ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE RELEASE
Thursday 11 July 2013
FR ANDREW Hrdina OFM Cap died Tuesday morning in Melbourne aged 94 years. There will be a Vigil for Fr Andrew at St Anthony's Shrine, 182 Power Street, Hawthorn at 7pm on Thursday 11 July, and the Funeral Mass will be held at St Anthony's Shrine on Friday 12 July at 2pm.
Fr Andrew celebrated 75 years of Religious Profession and 70 years of Priestly Ordination in 2011. He was born in 1919 in Antlerka, Czechoslovakia. After completing his secondary education he entered the Capuchin Novitiate in Prague and made his first profession of vows in 1935.
He was sent to the Capuchin province of Paris for three years to study philosophy and then returned to Czechoslovakia for theology. Fr Andrew was ordained a priest for the Capuchin Order at Olmouc on 30 November, 1941 (the Feast of St Andrew). This was during the dark days of World War II, which were to change Europe and ultimately affect the destiny of Fr Andrew’s priestly ministry.
After his ordination Fr Andrew was sent to the Porciuncu Friary in Prague, where he remained until the end of the war, when he was sent to the Friary of St Joseph in the same city. In the social and political turmoil after the war, Czechoslovakia fell under communist domination and was cut off from the free world by the infamous Iron Curtain. The oppression and persecution suffered under communism is so well known and chronicled that it needs little to imagine the difficulties encountered in the early years of Fr Andrew’s priestly and religious life. His last posting in his native land was to the Friary at Susice.
The story continues in Fr Andrew’s own words:
“I remained here only for a few months. I remember, after Easter, I was visited by some friends from Prague who told me that all the monasteries were closed and all the religious men and women were put into concentration camps and no doubt the same would happen here.
“I spoke to the three friars with me and we decided to divide all the money, to place the valuables in the hands of people we could trust and to leave, everyone going his own way.
“That happened at the end of April and, when the communists arrived on 2 May, they found an empty friary.
“Then I spent a few months in Prague, living in one house after another. I realised that my only sensible course would be to leave the country, which at the time was a very dangerous adventure.
“I was put in touch with someone I could trust and given a false passport. I was told that I would be travelling as a missionary returning from Africa to France and that at the border I must be confident, relaxed, showing no signs of nervousness or fear, and speaking only in French. Before the journey I never prayed so hard in my life to Mary and Jesus and as a result I was confident that everything would be OK.
“I boarded the train in Prague. At the border I was interviewed by many officers. When finally the train moved I thanked God in my heart. I arrived in France and remained with the friars a few months. Although they asked me to remain I expressed a desire to go to Australia, even though I did not speak the language or know anybody there. Why I had that desire I do not know.”
Fr Andrew did in fact reach Australia and since arriving he has been a valued and loved member of the Australian Capuchin Province. He has generously served in many places and in many ministries throughout Australia. His strong love for the Order, our Province and for us, his Capuchin brothers, is expressed in so many ways.
We thank God that he safely guided Fr Andrew to Australia and we thank him for his joyful, courageous and generous witness of Capuchin life. As our most senior friar he holds a special place in our hearts and in our Province.
May God bless you, Fr Andrew, and grant you all the graces you need.
Words first published in The Capuchins, Volume 2, Issue 2, Spring 2011 and then reprinted inKairos Catholic Journal, Volume 23, Number 1, 5-18 February 2011.
Above photo: Fr Andrew Hrdina OFM Cap, by Fiona Basile.
Below photo: Fr Andrew Hrdina OFM Cap on the day of his ordination in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia, 30 November 1941. Photo courtesy Fr Andrew Hrdina OFM Cap.
Vale Fr Andrew Hrdina OFM Cap
Thursday 11 July 2013FR ANDREW Hrdina OFM Cap died Tuesday morning in Melbourne aged 94 years. There will be a Vigil for Fr Andrew at St Anthony's Shrine, 182 Power Street, Hawthorn at 7pm on Thursday 11 July, and the Funeral Mass will be held at St Anthony's Shrine on Friday 12 July at 2pm.
Fr Andrew celebrated 75 years of Religious Profession and 70 years of Priestly Ordination in 2011. He was born in 1919 in Antlerka, Czechoslovakia. After completing his secondary education he entered the Capuchin Novitiate in Prague and made his first profession of vows in 1935.
He was sent to the Capuchin province of Paris for three years to study philosophy and then returned to Czechoslovakia for theology. Fr Andrew was ordained a priest for the Capuchin Order at Olmouc on 30 November, 1941 (the Feast of St Andrew). This was during the dark days of World War II, which were to change Europe and ultimately affect the destiny of Fr Andrew’s priestly ministry.
After his ordination Fr Andrew was sent to the Porciuncu Friary in Prague, where he remained until the end of the war, when he was sent to the Friary of St Joseph in the same city. In the social and political turmoil after the war, Czechoslovakia fell under communist domination and was cut off from the free world by the infamous Iron Curtain. The oppression and persecution suffered under communism is so well known and chronicled that it needs little to imagine the difficulties encountered in the early years of Fr Andrew’s priestly and religious life. His last posting in his native land was to the Friary at Susice.
The story continues in Fr Andrew’s own words:
“I remained here only for a few months. I remember, after Easter, I was visited by some friends from Prague who told me that all the monasteries were closed and all the religious men and women were put into concentration camps and no doubt the same would happen here.
“I spoke to the three friars with me and we decided to divide all the money, to place the valuables in the hands of people we could trust and to leave, everyone going his own way.
“That happened at the end of April and, when the communists arrived on 2 May, they found an empty friary.
“Then I spent a few months in Prague, living in one house after another. I realised that my only sensible course would be to leave the country, which at the time was a very dangerous adventure.
“I was put in touch with someone I could trust and given a false passport. I was told that I would be travelling as a missionary returning from Africa to France and that at the border I must be confident, relaxed, showing no signs of nervousness or fear, and speaking only in French. Before the journey I never prayed so hard in my life to Mary and Jesus and as a result I was confident that everything would be OK.
“I boarded the train in Prague. At the border I was interviewed by many officers. When finally the train moved I thanked God in my heart. I arrived in France and remained with the friars a few months. Although they asked me to remain I expressed a desire to go to Australia, even though I did not speak the language or know anybody there. Why I had that desire I do not know.”
Fr Andrew did in fact reach Australia and since arriving he has been a valued and loved member of the Australian Capuchin Province. He has generously served in many places and in many ministries throughout Australia. His strong love for the Order, our Province and for us, his Capuchin brothers, is expressed in so many ways.
We thank God that he safely guided Fr Andrew to Australia and we thank him for his joyful, courageous and generous witness of Capuchin life. As our most senior friar he holds a special place in our hearts and in our Province.
May God bless you, Fr Andrew, and grant you all the graces you need.
Words first published in The Capuchins, Volume 2, Issue 2, Spring 2011 and then reprinted inKairos Catholic Journal, Volume 23, Number 1, 5-18 February 2011.
Above photo: Fr Andrew Hrdina OFM Cap, by Fiona Basile.
Below photo: Fr Andrew Hrdina OFM Cap on the day of his ordination in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia, 30 November 1941. Photo courtesy Fr Andrew Hrdina OFM Cap.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE
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