SANTAREM, BRAZIL — Father Maurus Hawickhorst, OFM, died Nov. 12 at the friary of San Francisco in Santarem, Brazil, South America. He was 86 years old.
Father Maurus (Frank) was born July 10, 1931 in Teutopolis, the son of Albert and Mary Hawickhorst. He was ordained a priest in June 1958 and left in November 1959 for the mission in the Amazon Valley of Brazil, South America.
He lived his mission as a Franciscan friar and priest of the Catholic Church and worked in several places in the Diocese of Santarem. One of his great initiatives was to bring water to thousands of people in the outskirts of Santarem and Region of the Plateau, digging artesian wells together with a group of workers who were his inseparable companions.
As a parish priest he was a great caretaker of families, working with love in the preparation of young engaged couples. His love and dedication to the sacrament of confession made Frei Mauro decide to place himself at the disposal of the Diocese of Rome as confessor in the Basilica of St. John Lateran between the years 1996-1999. He was rector of the Seminary of Sao Pio X in Santarem for several years, and he commanded the maintenance work of all the land of that property.
Father Maurus suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and his passage to the Father was quiet and among his Franciscan brothers who took turns caring for him in his last hours.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law Bob and Becky Hawickhorst, and brother-in-law Paul Schmidt.
Father Maurus is survived by his six siblings: Jerry (Norma) Hawickhorst of Columbia, Marie Schmidt of Effingham, Ben (Sandy) Hawickhorst of Des Peres, Mo., Rose Ann (Ron) Croak of St. Louis, Joan (Roger) Newenham of Dieterich, and Richard (Wendy) Hawickhorst of Teutopolis; numerous nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was held on Nov. 13 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Santarem, where he had been a parish priest in past years. Burial was in the cemetery of St. John the Baptist. In addition a memorial service was held on Dec. 2 at St. Francis Church in Teutopolis.
Memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Missionary Union in St. Louis.