7
Volume 24 No. 1 | Autumn 2014
Remembering Fr Edgar Blain
SVD– missionary work in
India left significant legacy
Fr Edgar was born in Nanango, Queensland, the son of
Edgar and Kathleen Blain. The family had four sons and
one daughter. Edgar joined the SVD seminary in Marburg
QLD in 1947. After profession of first vows in February of
1951, he went to the USA to study both Philosophy and
Theology. Edgar was ordained a priest in 1958 and was
assigned to India. He arrived there in 1960.
Edgar spent 15 years in Sambalpur, working in schools in
Gaibira, Orissa State, principally in the roles of boarding
master and secretary. He also worked as Province
Treasurer for a term. Edgar was probably best known for
his work in producing the first dictionary in Sadri, the local
intertribal language. This was a very big task that assisted
him enormously with his work in schools with boys
originating from different tribes. It also left a significant
legacy for missionaries working in Orissa State.
In August 1976, Edgar returned to his home state of
Queensland Australia where he resided at the SVD
retreat house in Marburg. Edgar spent the next 10 years
preaching retreats and providing spiritual direction.
In 1986 he was appointed novice director for the AUS
Province in Sydney. He held this role for 12 years, prior
to returning to Queensland. He spent three years as the
spiritual director for the Society of St Vincent de Paul and
then retired.
As his health deteriorated, he moved to the Holy Spirit
Nursing Home. He was subsequently diagnosed with
lung cancer and died peacefully just two months later, on
Monday, August 26, vigiled by both his SVD brothers and
SSpS sisters.
Edgar’s Funeral Mass was held at the Holy Spirit Chapel in
Carseldine on August 30.
May he rest in peace.
“I am very blessed to be
working here with the
young but marginalised.
In these children I see and
experience the living Jesus.”
Joys
Despite all the challenges and difficulties I face here
in Moldova I still enjoy it. I am very blessed to be
working here with the young but marginalised. In
these children I see and experience the living Jesus.
The Jesus that challenges me to be patient, loving,
caring and at the same time firm. In these children
I experience the Jesus that yearns to be loved and
it is with great responsibility but with much greater
honour to respond to ‘His’ yearnings. But at the
same time, my ministry with the young gives me the
opportunity to be the living presence of Jesus in
these their lives.
Please pray for me and the church in Moldova
As I end this reflection, I continue to thank God for
the gift of life and especially of the gift of my vocation
as a SVD missionary priest. I pray for all the people of
Moldova but especially for those to whom I minister.
Please pray for the church in Moldova and for the
people of Moldova. Please pray also for me so that I
can be a faithful witness to the values of the gospel.
God bless.”
Fr Hiagi Motofaga Tavo SVD
