RIP: 14/04/2024 - Fribourg
Fr. Eugen Andermatt was born in Aarau on 17 November 1929, a citizen of Merenschwand and grew up in Cham. After grammar school in Gottschalkenberg and Fribourg, he entered the novitiate in Passau on 11 October 1951, where he made his first profession exactly one year later. After studying philosophy and theology in Passau, he was ordained a priest on 29 June 1956 in Passau. After his ordination, he prepared himself at the University of Fribourg for his later many years as a teacher, prefect and sports teacher at the Society’s own boys’ institute in Drognens. In 1977, the school was closed due to a lack of new vocations. Fr. Eugen moved into the parish pastoral work in various places. He became a parish priest but also loved replacing other priests or serving in small “orphaned” parishes. Within the Salvatorian community, he also fulfilled for a period the service as local superior in Zug and for a while helped in the composition of the Salvatorian magazine Unterwegs, the offshoot of the historical magazine “Der Missionär”. From May 1989 to April 2004, Fr. Eugen was parish priest in a rural parish near Lucerne. The fact that he was well received there and was able to respond to the people is proven by the many visits he received from there time and again. When Fr. Eugen returned to the community in Zug, by no means he completely retired. He loved to keep active assisting in parishes around and taking on small jobs around the house. He was always happy to try something new and unusual. In this context, it should also be mentioned that he was a pastor to the deaf and hearing-impaired for 32 years. P. Eugen used to study theological writings every day. Praying the rosary was important to him and in recent years, he got more and more involved with the spirituality of our Blessed Founder. On 14 April 2024, after having prayed Lauds and taken breakfast, he went as usual to his room, where he was waiting for the nurse, who found him dead already. He was 94 years old and had been a Salvatorian for 71 years.
