Br William Regner
Born 26th March 1932
First Profession - 8 September 1957
Perpetual Profession - 24 August 1963
Died 27th June 2010 - Freetown Sierra Leone
For example, he was never heard complaining about food, or accommodation or the hardships of missionary life. His simplicity and humility were outstanding; he was a man of few words and much work. His hands were the hands of a worker, always dirty with engine oil or the dust of building materials. You can find his “touch” behind all Salesian buildings in Lungi and Freetown.
“Death for the Salesian is made bright by the hope of entering into the joy of his Lord and when it happens that a Salesian dies working for souls the Congregation has won a great triumph” (C 54)
Br Bill was a man of prayer. As busy as he always was, he was the first to arrive in the chapel. Like a contemporary Artemide Zatti, he used to animate for his confreres morning and evening prayer and the rosary. He lived poverty to the fullest. He never preached or talked about poverty but he lived it.
For example, he was never heard complaining about food, or accommodation or the hardships of missionary life. His simplicity and humility were outstanding; he was a man of few words and much work. His hands were the hands of a worker, always dirty with engine oil or the dust of building materials. You can find his “touch” behind all Salesian buildings in Lungi and Freetown. He had such a great love for the Church, for Don Bosco and the Salesian Congregation. He was always sensitive to the needs of poor children, always kind and welcoming with the poor, never bossy with his workers.
Br Bill had recently celebrated his 50th anniversary as a Salesian Brother. What a beautiful example of Salesian life in the Brother Vocation and dedication to God and to the young he leaves us!
Dear Fr. Jorge,
ReplyDeleteI would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for letting us informed about the sudden death of Rev. Br. Bill Regner.
It is indeed a sad news for all confreres of the AFW Province, in particular for us who knew him and have lived with him. It is rather a shocking news to us. Ordinarily, it is hard to accept but with faith I think one can accept. It is with a great sympathy and sorrow I am writing this mail to you, I believe that at this moment our province is undergoing a great trial, pain and suffering over the loss of a great pillar in our province.
Br. Bill, since I came to know him in 2000, he has always being my model and example in the religious life in general and Salesian life in particular. He thought me many religious and Salesian values. All his life was prayer and work, he indeed practiced the Salesian virtues. His love for the young especially those in Sierra Leone was worth emulating and inspiring. I know, his life among the young in Sierra Leone inspired many young people in that part of the world. He was indeed a cheerful man, quiet and simple in all what he does. He was a great builder buildings and community, intelligent and God-fearing man. He was jack of all trade, one can rightly say he was a genius in his own way. This is the man we have missed in our province. I believe that his mortal remains is not with us but I believe his spirit is with us and still continue to help us to be inspired more and more in our Salesian life. He is a true son of Don Bosco, no doubt that he is now enjoying the beatific vision which he had laboured for the past 50 years he had been with Don Bosco. Let us be comforted with his human and spiritual legacy. Let us mourn as people with faith, all is not lost. We are people of the resurrection, which is our hope and our final end. All what remain for us is the crown of glory as the 2nd Reading today from the book of Timothy says: "He has fought a good fight, he has finished the race, all what remains for him is the crown of glory", that is seeing God face to face as a true son of Don Bosco. As we remain to mourn our dear brother, let us pray fervently for his soul to have eternal rest in heaven. It also calls for more unity and love for each other in the province, so that the legacy the deceased man has left with us may not perish. We pray that the good Lord who has called him from this life to His eternal life may guide and protect him safely in His bosom. I have no doubt that Br. Bill lived a very good life here on earth, we thank God for his life well lived. Thanks also to God that He did not leave him to be corrupted. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, may his soul rest in peace. Amen.
Daniel Libby
Dear Father,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your answer. Bro Bill is worthy of a biography which only those Salesians who lived with him for many years can do.
What I have a better knowledge of is his spiritual world, since he used to come to me regularly for confession when I was in many ways in charge of that area. I have never met a delicate man like Bill, though during the years I was parish priest many events happened in the Salesian community that made everybody suffer because of certain situations. However there was no gossip, no accusations, no historic words from Br Bill. He had to be faithful to his spiritual way first, then he was able to understand even other people’s miseries.
As a catechist he was simply fantastic in the zone assigned to him since the very beginning. He started to have care of the farthest west part of the Parish that was Tagreen. We had there only a school attended by some hundreds of students. Though he was an American with an American accent, no one had any difficulty to meet him , to share jokes, to enjoy his presence at school that he loved so much. He enlarged the building, then he asked the Salesian community to search for benefactors, in order to raise funds for the building of St. John the Baptist church.
Once they entrusted the burden of new constructions to other companies arriving from Freetown, he continued beeng always reach of suggestions, doing at the main time the work of maintenance of the California and the St Augustine Secondary School that he had built “con intelleto d'amore" (Dante). The time I was re-building the Holy Cross Church in Lungi, he allowed his co-operator Andrew Conte to work for me. He realized many artistic works iron-made, admired by all the Mission visitors.
During my last 3 years work in Lungi (2003-2005) before leaving the Mission, … His suggestions were wise and his co-operation precious.
The rest will remain a treasure in my heart, his confident dialogues and his spiritual proposals for his perseverance. A world that he has now entrusted completely to God.
May he rest in peace,
Yours in Christ
fr Vito Gabriele Scagliuso sx
from Tiberias (Galilee).
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