We regret to announce the death at the Buergerheim in Brixen, Italy, on 1^st July 2012 at the age of 88, of

Fr Josef Wassermann

May he rest in Peace

Fr Josef Wassermann was born on 28^th September 1923 in Sexten in the Diocese of Brixen-Bozen, Italy. He was the son of Josef Wassermann and Theresa Stauder, and had one brother and one sister. He completed his secondary education with the “Matura” at the Vinzentinum in Brixen. From 1943 to 1946 he studied Philosophy and Theology at Brixen. His studies were interrupted by the war when he had to serve in the army from 1944 to 1945. From 1947 to 1949 he studied Theology at St Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London where he took his Perpetual Oath on 29^th May 1948. On 29^th June 1949 he was ordained priest at Brixen Cathedral by Bishop Johannes Geisler.

After ordination Fr Josef Wassermann was appointed to the Missionshaus in Brixen and remained in his home region till 1972. During that time he also took up an appointment to the Missionshaus in Absam before returning once again to Brixen. In 1966 he obtained a PhD in Philosophy from Innsbruck University. In 1972 he received an appointment to Kuching in Malaysia. He served there as a teacher and pastor till 1981, when he was appointed to parish work in Weissenbach, Diocese of Innsbruck, in Austria. He was appointed to teach Philosophy at the Apostles of Jesus Seminary Langata, Nairobi in 1983 and remained in East Africa till 1993. During that time he also taught at the National Seminary at Mabanga, Bungoma, and was a lecturer and dean of studies at the newly established Philosophy Centre Jinja. He returned to parish ministry in Austria in 1993, and was parish priest of Hollersbach and Landl in the Archdiocese of Salzburg. In 2001 he retired to Herberthaus in Brixen.

During his long life as a missionary Fr Josef Wassermann served in Sarawak, Kenya, Uganda, and in his home region as a teacher and pastor. He had a wide variety of experiences in classrooms, lecture halls, parishes and as the editor of the St Josefs Missionsbote( 1950-1972). Josef helped many people on three continents in their journey of faith and life. His students appreciated his dedication and clarity as a teacher of Philosophy.  

His failing health made it necessary for him to be moved to the Buergerheim in Brixen. Fr Hans Stampfer visited him frequently and celebrated the Sacrament for the Sick with him last Friday.

Fr Josef Wassermann died peacefully last night at 11.30pm.  The funeral mass will take place on Thursday 5^th July at the parish church of Elvas near Brixen at 2.30pm followed by burial at the cemetery there. 

The previous obituary (7/2012) was that of Fr Jeremiah Doona, who died at Our Lady of Lourdes, Kilcummin, Killarney, Ireland on 14^th June 2012.