Brother Augustine Loes, FSC 1913-2013

Given by
Brother Colman Coogan, FSC

It is a great honor to have been invited to offer these reflections on behalf of the community as we pay our last respects to the Brother with the longest number of years professed in the American Districts.  I had the greatest respect for Brother Augustine having known him for the better part of fifty years.  I hope I can do at least some small justice to the lasting influence he had on me and the history of our common Districts.

My earliest contact with Brother Augustine took place at Lincolndale on the occasion of a visit I made there in 1963 where “Gus”, as he was affectionately known, served as Director.  His wise yet compassionate handling of the students and staff there early on identified him as a Brother with a potential for significant leadership.

These early impressions were confirmed later as we met again toward the end of the sixties and into the seventies when we shared mutual administrative positions as the community undertook to take on the ethos of Vatican II.  At that time many of the essentials of our life had to be discerned from among the nonessential customs and language that no longer served us well.  As a delegate to the Thirty-ninth General Chapter, a renewal watershed, he undoubtedly made a contribution to its final “Declaration” that became our vade mecum in succeeding years.
Moving forward to Regional and District Chapters as well as at countless Conference meetings, where changes were hotly debated, Gus always reflected an intelligent, perceptive and commonsense approach that inevitably prevailed to give us the foundation upon which we continue to build.

Once his time in District leadership had been concluded, Gus turned his attention to the furtherance of a renewed understanding of St. John Baptist de LaSalle by taking a keen interest in a revival of the Founder’s published works.  In this role, he was ably joined by Brothers Luke Salm, Frank Huether, Richard Arnandez and Miguel Campos.  Gus was especially interested in the Meditations for the Time of Retreat where, together with Brother Miguel, an invaluable introduction brought out the fundamentals of our Lasallian heritage particularly in the Founder’s unique use of scripture incorporated in these essential reflections.  Once the work was completed by Miguel, Brother Augustine was at great pains to do a translation of the original French version which stands as a testimony both to his insight into and an understanding of that language.  The Introduction alone will remain as a classic, clear definition of our identity that has subsequently enjoyed worldwide circulation.  Anyone reading it today cannot but help to be inspired by the Lasallian charism that embodies baptismal giftedness, personal ministry, and educational service to the most needy of our time.  Brother Augustine stayed with the publication ministry through several years providing us with an outstanding library of updated Lasallian literature.

But this was not the end of the story – for later in the Buttimer Institute series, along with Brother Luke and others, Brother Augustine continued as presenter to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for things Lasallian, mainly through his commentaries on the Founder’s letters.  In doing so, he not only enriched the Brothers but had a seminal influence on our newly joined Lasallian partners.

But this is not the end of the story, since Brother Augustine’s life was more than what he did, great as these achievements were – it resided in who he was as a person.  Impressive by appearance, he had a voice matched with eye contact that broadcasters today would die for.  As an ardent golfer, he probably had the greatest fund of the worst jokes peculiar to that sport which he told shamelessly with an irresistible, hearty laugh.  More importantly still, it was the vibrancy of his prayer life that was so abundantly evident, not in a preachy show of religiosity, but rather through a calm, peaceful demeanor and an ever present sense of social engagement.

It was difficult for us standby to watch this talented persona suffer the ravages of age; yet even here one might recognize a restless spirit that was unwilling to give in as he “raged out” against profound deafness and forced inactivity.

In closing, may I suggest that Brother Augustine’s life might best be summed up by the concluding paragraph of the Introduction to the Meditations for the Time of Retreat that speaks of celebration paraphrased as:  “. . . .celebration of life lived in openness to the Mystery of God; ….celebration of gratitude for the goodness of God; … celebration of the poverty of the minister dependent on God to touch hearts; … celebration of the confidence of the minister in God’s fidelity; …celebration of hope as the origin of his commitment; … and, the celebration of my own ‘story’ as a Paschal way of life.  May these words stand as a lasting tribute and commentary on the life of Brother Augustine Loes.