FR. FRANZ JOSEF EILERS SVD
11 May 1932 – 13 January 2021
Fr. Franz Josef Eilers was born in Emsdetten, Germany on 11 May 1932. He entered the seminary in Bad Driburg in 1945 and professed his first vows on 1 May 1953. He was ordained to the priesthood on 8 December 1959 in Saint Augustin. His first assignment was in the SVD Mission Seminary in Steyl, the Netherlands where he was the Assistant Prefect from 1960 to 1961. Then he went for further studies in Muenster where he obtained a licentiate degree in Missiology in 1964. Then he went to Papua New Guinea for fieldwork and research in preparation for his doctorate. In 1967 he earned his Doctorate in Missiology with his dissertation on Communications of non-literate cultures in North-east New Guinea. From 1967 to 1971 he was at the Generalate in Rome where he served as Secretary for Communications. At the same time, he was very much involved in Communications and Media, establishing an academic quarterly in Mainz, Germany entitled “Communicatio Socialis” which still exists today. He was also a co-founder of the Catholic Media Council in Aachen, Germany. He was also involved in the World Council of Churches in Geneva where he served as Communications Secretary. He also served in the Vatican as a Consultor for the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. In Rome he also taught at the Gregorian University and the Salesian University. In 1985 he was assigned to the Philippines and joined the faculty at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay. He taught Social Communications and Missiology. In 1995 he was appointed as the Executive Secretary for the Office of Social Communications by the Federation of the Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC-OSC). In 2003 he moved residence to Catholic Trade Manila. He accepted teaching positions at the University of Santo Tomas where he became the Program Coordinator of the Masters in Theology major in Social/Pastoral Communications. He taught Social Communications also at the Maryhill School of Theology of the CICM and at the Don Bosco Center of Studies. In 2009 he was a Board Member and Program Director of the Saint Joseph Freinademetz Communications Center located at the Radio veritas Asia compound in Quezon City. He was also an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna. In 2010, while still based in Manila, he accepted the post of Executive Director of the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communications at Saint John’s University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Fr. Eilers received the 2018 AMIC Award for “Transformative Leadership” at the 26th Annual Conference of the Asian Media, Information and Communication Center (AMIC) on 8 June 2018 at Manipal’s Academy of Higher Education in Karnataka, India. On 27 November 2018, he was awarded the Titus Brandsma Leadership in Social Communication Award in a Ceremony at the Carmelites’ Titus Brandsma Media Center in Quezon City.
He was also a favorite Spiritual Director of priests and seminarians, SVDs and non-SVDs. The Franciscan Conventuals in Manila also had him as their confessor. All this time, he wrote a number of books on Social Communications, Interculturality, and Missions.
Looking at all his accomplishments and activities, one can only marvel at how he managed to juggle all these various activities. At the Provincialate Community in Catholic Trade Manila, he was considered a pillar of the spiritual life of the community, presenting an exemplar of prayer life and meditation. He would begin his day at 4:30 AM in the chapel, enjoying the quiet solitude before the rest of the community members trickled in for the daily Lauds and Eucharist.
Going well into his late eighties, he was asked now and then whether he considered enjoying retirement at the Villa Cristo Rey. He refused good naturedly to transfer to the retirement house, claiming he still has something to do. His favorite expression before leaving the breakfast table was, “Now, let’s try to do something!”
The end came rather unexpectedly. During the Lauds and Eucharist on January 11, it was noticed that he was sitting down most of the time. The next day, he was unable to attend mass. He claimed difficulty in walking and complained of some body pains. It was decided to bring him to the nearby hospital of the University of Santo Tomas. On January 13, at 2:41 in the afternoon, he suffered a heart attack and did not respond to efforts to revive him. He would have turned 89 in May 2021.
As news of his death spread in social media, there were many expressions of gratitude from priests, seminarians, and lay people, all of whom claimed gratitude and appreciation for what Fr. Eilers had done for them. Whether as Spiritual Director or as Thesis and Dissertation adviser to countless student-priests, he left an indelible imprint in the lives of those he touched. For the community at Catholic Trade, his sudden demise created a feeling of loss and emptiness - a sense of losing a presence that always reminded everyone of how to be constant and faithful in the religious life. May the Lord welcome him into the joy of His Kingdom!
Requiescat in pace.
FR. FRANZ JOSEF EILERS SVD
11 May 1932 – 13 January 2021
Fr. Franz Josef Eilers was born in Emsdetten, Germany on 11 May 1932. He entered the seminary in Bad Driburg in 1945 and professed his first vows on 1 May 1953. He was ordained to the priesthood on 8 December 1959 in Saint Augustin. His first assignment was in the SVD Mission Seminary in Steyl, the Netherlands where he was the Assistant Prefect from 1960 to 1961. Then he went for further studies in Muenster where he obtained a licentiate degree in Missiology in 1964. Then he went to Papua New Guinea for fieldwork and research in preparation for his doctorate. In 1967 he earned his Doctorate in Missiology with his dissertation on Communications of non-literate cultures in North-east New Guinea. From 1967 to 1971 he was at the Generalate in Rome where he served as Secretary for Communications. At the same time, he was very much involved in Communications and Media, establishing an academic quarterly in Mainz, Germany entitled “Communicatio Socialis” which still exists today. He was also a co-founder of the Catholic Media Council in Aachen, Germany. He was also involved in the World Council of Churches in Geneva where he served as Communications Secretary. He also served in the Vatican as a Consultor for the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. In Rome he also taught at the Gregorian University and the Salesian University. In 1985 he was assigned to the Philippines and joined the faculty at the Divine Word Seminary in Tagaytay. He taught Social Communications and Missiology. In 1995 he was appointed as the Executive Secretary for the Office of Social Communications by the Federation of the Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC-OSC). In 2003 he moved residence to Catholic Trade Manila. He accepted teaching positions at the University of Santo Tomas where he became the Program Coordinator of the Masters in Theology major in Social/Pastoral Communications. He taught Social Communications also at the Maryhill School of Theology of the CICM and at the Don Bosco Center of Studies. In 2009 he was a Board Member and Program Director of the Saint Joseph Freinademetz Communications Center located at the Radio veritas Asia compound in Quezon City. He was also an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna. In 2010, while still based in Manila, he accepted the post of Executive Director of the Asian Research Center for Religion and Social Communications at Saint John’s University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Fr. Eilers received the 2018 AMIC Award for “Transformative Leadership” at the 26th Annual Conference of the Asian Media, Information and Communication Center (AMIC) on 8 June 2018 at Manipal’s Academy of Higher Education in Karnataka, India. On 27 November 2018, he was awarded the Titus Brandsma Leadership in Social Communication Award in a Ceremony at the Carmelites’ Titus Brandsma Media Center in Quezon City.
He was also a favorite Spiritual Director of priests and seminarians, SVDs and non-SVDs. The Franciscan Conventuals in Manila also had him as their confessor. All this time, he wrote a number of books on Social Communications, Interculturality, and Missions.
Looking at all his accomplishments and activities, one can only marvel at how he managed to juggle all these various activities. At the Provincialate Community in Catholic Trade Manila, he was considered a pillar of the spiritual life of the community, presenting an exemplar of prayer life and meditation. He would begin his day at 4:30 AM in the chapel, enjoying the quiet solitude before the rest of the community members trickled in for the daily Lauds and Eucharist.
Going well into his late eighties, he was asked now and then whether he considered enjoying retirement at the Villa Cristo Rey. He refused good naturedly to transfer to the retirement house, claiming he still has something to do. His favorite expression before leaving the breakfast table was, “Now, let’s try to do something!”
The end came rather unexpectedly. During the Lauds and Eucharist on January 11, it was noticed that he was sitting down most of the time. The next day, he was unable to attend mass. He claimed difficulty in walking and complained of some body pains. It was decided to bring him to the nearby hospital of the University of Santo Tomas. On January 13, at 2:41 in the afternoon, he suffered a heart attack and did not respond to efforts to revive him. He would have turned 89 in May 2021.
As news of his death spread in social media, there were many expressions of gratitude from priests, seminarians, and lay people, all of whom claimed gratitude and appreciation for what Fr. Eilers had done for them. Whether as Spiritual Director or as Thesis and Dissertation adviser to countless student-priests, he left an indelible imprint in the lives of those he touched. For the community at Catholic Trade, his sudden demise created a feeling of loss and emptiness - a sense of losing a presence that always reminded everyone of how to be constant and faithful in the religious life. May the Lord welcome him into the joy of His Kingdom!
Requiescat in pace.
