It is with regret that we inform you of the death on the evening of the 1^st day of July, 2020 in St Josefshaus, Absam at the age of 78 of

Father Hermann Gufler

Mill Hill Missionary

May he rest in peace

Hermann was born on the 25^th of October, 1941 in the town of Langenfeld near Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria. His father was Hermann Joseph, and his mother Berta (Walser) Gufler. Hermann’s father was a professional skiing instructor and an accomplished mountain guide. The family was made up of Hermann’s 2 brothers and 5 sisters.

Hermann was baptised almost immediately after birth on the 25^th of October, 1941, as was the tradition. His schooling began in the mid 1940’s. By 1948 he was schooled in Burgstein/Langenfeld school, then in 1954 he progressed to the Gymnasium of Innsbruck, to complete his secondary education in 1962. Feeling called to the missionary priesthood, he studied Philosophy at the Mill Hill College in Brixen, then Theology at St. Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London.

The Perpetual Oath in the Society was taken by Hermann on the 1^st of May, 1966. Just over a year later, Hermann was ordained a priest at St. Jakob’s Parish in Innsbruck by Bishop Paulus Rusch on the 29^th of June, 1967. After ordination, Hermann was appointed to work in the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon. His first appointment was as curate in Njinikom, then in 1969 as curate in Widikum, This lasted until 1973, when he was appointed to Nkambe, where he became parish priest in 1974. After six years, he was appointed parish priest at Mankon, until he returned to Nkambe 1982. After a year there, he was appointed to Bishop’s House in Kumbo as Secretary and Financial Secretary. In August, 1985, having deeply missed his pastoral ministry among the local people, Hermann was appointed, as a curate, to Tabenken with a view of opening a new parish in Nwa Subdivision (Sabongari Parish), which was successfully opened on 25^th June, 1987. He was parish priest there until August 2001, when he was appointed parish priest at Elak-Oku. It was in this parish that Hermann and his cook survived a very violent robbery.

This was to be Hermann’s final appointment, until he retired to his Home Region in late 2017, after serving the Church in Cameroon for fifty years! To have served in so many parishes and offices is a sign of Hermann’s generosity and willingness to go wherever the need was greatest. A litany of love and service to be proud of! On the occasion of Hermann’s Silver Jubilee the General Superior wrote, “It is probably impossible to estimate success, but by our human standards you have been a successful messenger of the Good News… and you have given the people (of Cameroon) the Message in their own languages.” Such a tribute recognised his priority to immerse himself, as fully as possible, into the culture of the peoples he served, especially the Yamba and Oku people. Such an attitude and practice led to Hermann being appointed a member of the Advisory Council to the Paramount Chief of the Oku people. Several of Hermann’s articles about various aspects of indigenous culture were widely published and much appreciated.

In retirement, Hermann’s health was challenged greatly. Indeed in the final weeks of his life he was cared for by a nurse at St. Josefshaus, and surrounded by his confreres in Absam, until his death. Hermann’s funeral rites and burial will take place in his home place of Langenfeld on Monday the 6^th of July at 2.30.pm.