In Pace Christi

Fr. Günter Brosig was born on 7 October 1924 in Waldenburg, Silesia. In those days Waldenburg belonged to the Archdiocese of Breslau. He belonged to the generation who had to go to war because of Hitler. In 1942 he was called up and was involved in the turmoil of the conflict until May 1945, when he was captured by the British army. On 12 August 1945 he was released, but he did not know where to go, as in the meantime his parents had been expelled from Silesia. He had no idea where to look for them or even whether they were still alive. He went to see a relative in Hamburg. Soon after his arrival his relative received a letter with his mother’s handwriting on the envelope. He was so relieved to know that his parents were alive and how to find them.

Missionary vocation
The desire to become a priest and a missionary, a desire that he had nurtured for some time, grew stronger. So he started philosophy at the University of Bonn. Every time he recalled those years, he always mentioned how poor and hungry he was, as those were the post-war years.

In 1947 he joined the Missionary Sons of the Sacred Heart (MFSC) as a postulant in Bamberg and continued with his studies. On 13 July 1949 he made his first profession. He was ordained priest on 16 March 1952. Soon afterwards he was sent to South Africa to work in the Lydenburg Diocese. His missionary life in South Africa was only interrupted from 1967 to 1973, when he was elected Superior General of the MFSC, based in Ellwangen. Except for those six years, he served the Mission in South Africa, namely from 23 February 1953 till his death on 16 May 2006.

His first period in South Africa
During his time in South Africa Fr. Brosig worked in a good number of missions and parishes. His first appointment was at Glen Cowie, where he learned Sepedi. In 1958 he started Probeeren-Mashabela together with Bro. August Cagol. From 1961 to 1967 he was elected as the regional superior of the MFSC in South Africa, an office which was only part-time in those days. In 1962 he looked forward to settling down in Burgersfort, but, after Fr. Andreas Nagler was killed in a car accident on Mount Anderson, he moved to Maria Trost. In 1966 he went to High Over, by which time it became possible for the religious superior to be independent from the role the local bishop played in the Comboni Missionaries’ assignment and governance.

Superior General of the MFSC and return to South Africa
During the General Chapter of 1967, Fr. Brosig was elected Superior General of the MFSC, as at that time was called the German speaking branch of the Comboni Missionaries. He accepted the burden of this office in obedience and, patiently, carried it for six years. He was happy when the term was over and he longed to immediately return to South Africa, which he did in 1973, and committed himself especially to pastoral work. His main concern was to be near the people and to bring them nearer to God, which filled him with endurance and perseverance in his work. In Africa he always felt at home. When on in years, he would not go back to Europe for his home leave. In 2002 he wrote to Fr. Silvester Engl, then provincial of the DSP: “I am thankful that I am still able to help here in pastoral work”, though his health had started to give him problems.

His second period in South Africa
After his term as Superior General in Ellwangen, we find Fr. Brosig back in South Africa, first at Luckau, then at Glen Cowie, Silverton, Mashabela, Burgersfort and, in 1995, once again in Glen Cowie, where he remained till his death.

Fr. Konrad Nefzger, who considered it a privilege to have known Fr. Brosig for many years, writes that he was always willing to go wherever he was sent by his superiors. Even when transfers were hard for him, he always accepted the decision of the superior as the will of God and never made an issue of his personal opinions.

He was loyal to the bishops of the diocese. He served under Mgr. Johann Riegler, Mgr. Anton Reiterer, Mgr. Mogale Paul Nkhumishe and Mgr. Paul Mandla Khumalo. Even when he was not in agreement with some of their decisions, he always cooperated and never criticised them or their decisions in public. He used to say that those who were too critical of the bishops and quarrelling with them would not last long in pastoral ministry. One thing we admired in him was his consideration towards everyone. When news of confreres’ misbehaviour reached his ears, it made him sad, but he never condemned anyone. Very often, indeed, his only comment was that it was necessary to pray for those persons in particular.

Community life and spirituality
All those who lived with Fr. Brosig are very familiar with his remarkable faithfulness to his responsibilities and the timetable. He was regular for church, regular for meals, regular for community activities, regular for his work and, right up to his death, he was regular in ringing the bell at Glen Cowie. Whether other confreres took part or not in community activities, one knew that at least Fr. Brosig would be present. He liked community life and used to welcome everybody. When he had visitors during his final days in hospital at Polokwane, even if he could not recognise them, he used to thank them over and over again for coming.

His spiritual life was the source of his faithfulness to the Institute and to his service to the people. In his prayer life he trusted God and he had a deep love for the Heart of Jesus, an inspiration for his kindness and compassion to all. Fr. Konrad recalls that, during his last talk with him, he appeared to be saddened by two things. The first was that while so many people went to receive Holy Communion, so few went to receive the sacrament of reconciliation; the second was that so few married in church. His was the sadness of the Good Shepherd.

In March 2002 he celebrated his fiftieth anniversary of ordination to the priesthood in reasonably good health.

A faithful servant till the end
Fr. Brosig has worked up to the last days of his life. It had been his desire to die in Africa and to find his resting place among the graves of his African people, in the graveyard of Maria Trost. His wish was fulfilled.

We remember him as a very kind man with a very friendly way of dealing with people. He had a good sense of humour and was a very pleasant person to converse with. A humble man, he was rather modest and preferred to keep in the background.

We thank Fr. Brosig for the example he has given us, though we know that he would probably say: “I only did what was my duty”. May the Good Lord grant to this faithful servant eternal reward and everlasting life. May he rest in peace with the eternal Good Shepherd.
(Fr. Konrad Nefzger, mccj)
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 232 suppl. In Memoriam, ottobre 2006, pp. 70-74.