Fr Oscar Goapper IMC

We met when I was a teenager and Fr Oscar Goapper had been a priest - I believe - for a few months. He had been appointed to Buenos Aires to raise awareness on the missionary dimension of the Church. He welcomed our youth group that was looking for a priest. Two or three years' later I joined the seminary and he was our formator. In 1982 he left for "Zaire" (DRC). He then asked to study medicine and in the process started a hospital in his Mission (Neisu). Parish priest and doctor. The last time we met was in 1996 in Buenos Aires. He had just arrived on holidays and was not sure he would be able to go back because of the war. One weekend, twenty years' ago, he got sick and died a few days' later. His friends in Italy came together to remember him. The Sisters that used to host him during his studies wrote the lines below.

* * * * *

We are here tonight to remember Father Oscar. Twenty years' ago he would have said his "Here I am" to God who called him to eternal joy.

But ours is not just a suffrage Mass but rather a Mass of thanksgiving to God for having given us to live a few years of our existence with him, welcoming him among us as a missionary and as a brother and to share his desires and above all his dreams.

Yes, because Father Oscar had a dream. It was Christmas' eve. At Neisu the Mass had begun and the choir was about to begin the KEMBO, the "Glory to God" who became Man - Child to save us all.

From the back of the church enters a woman crying and carrying in her arms a newborn baby, lifeless. Father Oscar looks at her and inside his heart he hears the voice of Jesus: "I came so that they may have life and have it in abundance". He takes the child between his arms, he baptizes her and calls her ELIKIA - HOPE. And this becomes the his dream: TO DEFEND LIFE.

This dream of his, touched so many of us.

We helped him make it possible with prayer, sharing, affection and sympathy until the Neisu hospital was born and developed.

The community of Neisu by the tomb of Fr Oscar Goapper IMC

Many years have passed and the hospital still lives spreading so much hope, care, dignity and solidarity among the poor people of Neisu.

Today we say "THANK YOU" Lord for letting us live such an intense period, full of fraternity and attention to our distant brothers, next to a special Missionary.

We ask you to open our hearts to those who seek asylum and protection, to those who need us.

We are here today to pray to you Lord: make our hearts still live in generosity, love and fraternity; may they have the joy of sharing and arise in our young people the desire and joy of living your Word "I came so that everyone may have life and have it in abundance"

So we will respond to your immense love and we will make Father Oscar from Heaven, happy.